Page 77 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
She hadn’t been in their tree house since Bruce had first built it. ABoys Onlysign hadn’t been needed. She’d known her sons wanted it for themselves. She climbed up the ladder and entered. Her breath caught at the sight.
A mattress with fresh, pale yellow sheets covered in rose petals stood on some kind of foot-high frame, a white coverlet folded in the corner. White candles of various sizes were arranged all around the space in glass holders. Her eyes teared up uncharacteristically as she took in the fresh paint smell of the lovely lilac walls.
She opened the letter again, brushing at her eyes, and turned the page.
I thought long and hard about what to give you to say thank you for being my mum. I finally realized you and Donal needed some help, so I created a place for you to go where no one would find you. Call it your secret love lair, if you like.
Mum, the doorbell wasn’t going to work, and you really don’t want to stop your friends from popping by. Trust me, I understand your dilemma. I feel that way when I’m dating. You only need to be a little creative. When you’re ready, climb down the ladder and follow the signs to the right.
She sank onto the bed, fingering the rose petals.Thank you, Liam.As she descended the ladder, she felt a thrill of excitement, wondering what he had in store for her next. She followed his hand-painted signs all the way to her newly renovated shed, the one where she’d imagined an arts center flourishing. Since that dream had died, she’d avoided coming out here. But Liam had changed that, and now she was eager to go inside. When she opened the door and stepped into the first floor, she clutched her heart as she walked toward what was tucked in the right corner.
He’d made her another love lair, as he’d called it. Oh, her boy! He’d moved one of the antique rugs and sleigh beds out of the third-story bedroom they never used. (How had he done that without her noticing?) There was a bottle of red wine, two glasses, and a corkscrew on a table next to the bed, along with more white votive candles. A couple of French screens from another room in the house offset the large space, giving the appearance of side walls.
She loved it and could already see a few additions she’d make. There were peacock feathers in a vase in her office she could bring in here. She smiled as she noted the red rose petals on the white down comforter. Her son was such a romantic. She opened the letter again and turned the page.
How do you like your next space? The tree house is great, but not so much on really rainy or cold days. I thought you needed another indoor space, one far away from the house. Now, follow the signs to the right of the shed, Mum. You know what to do when you get there.
She finally wondered if she should be embarrassed. No, she decided. She was incredibly touched that her son had cared enough to do this for her. He hadn’t needed to give her anything, but since he had, he couldn’t have given her a better gift.
She followed the signs to the next spot and stopped short at the entrance to her secret rose garden, the one Donal had planted for her to ensure her prize roses weren’t devoured by any escaped sheep. She looked around the square space. Not seeing anything, she took out the letter and turned to the next page.
This is your last love nest, so to speak. The garden is deeply secluded, and no one goes there but you and Donal. When you’re ready, turn the page.
She finally got it. There didn’t need to be any bits and bobs of romance. One had only to use their imagination. She could suddenly imagine making love with Donal above her, the sun streaming over them on a warm Irish day, the delicious scent from her roses wrapping around them. She flushed with heat at the image. She’d best keep reading.
Mum, I love you, and thanks for everything so far. I’m only ten minutes away if you’ll recall.
Now go call Donal.
?? ??
This was why he’d told her to bring her phone. Her heart brimming, her body eager, she dialed up the man she wanted. He picked up on the second ring.
“Morning,mo ghrá,” he said, his deep voice making her belly tight.
“Morning,” she said brightly, looking up at the powdery blue sky, feeling young and carefree. “If you could choose between a tree house, a shed, and a rose garden, which would you choose?”
There was a pause. “Did you drink too much last night? What kind of question is that?”
She wanted to smack him. “One you need to answer.”
“A tree house without question,” he said, “although you’re making me wonder where your mind is.”
Of course he’d chosen the tree house. “Can you come over? Right now?”
“Are you sure you’re all right? Must be tough on you, Liam leaving.”
She would miss him, but they were on the same page. Now they both needed to write a new chapter. “Donal, I’m more than fine. But I need to show you the tree house.”
Why not be a little mysterious?
“Your tree house? Is this some empty nest thing? Do I need to bring my tools?”
She almost made a dirty joke then and there. “Just bring yourself. I’ll see you in five.”
Usually it took him ten minutes to get to her, so long as he wasn’t out with his sheep. But he’d speed over after what she’d told him. She skipped all the way to the tree house, her belly full of longing and anticipation. After climbing the ladder, she grabbed the matches and started lighting the candles. The room softened, making her heart soar.
Romance.
