Page 58 of After Indigo Irish Nights
“Agreed. He’s usually all about being positive.” Ellie pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry. I’ll ask Brady later. What are you going to do about Declan? I know him leaving upset you. This was supposed to be a big night for you two.”
“Yeah. I’m having a hard time giving him a pass here.”
This kind of thing used to happen with Axl, who used to run off if the mood took him to write a song, or so he’d say. She still thought it was rude. She’d never lefthimwhen she’d gotten an idea for a new metal sculpture.
“Me too,” Ellie said. “Do you want to leave?”
She wasn’t going to let a guy ruin her time. “Not on your life. I’m going to hang with my BFF and drink some more whiskey.”
“Can an old man join you?” Linc drawled, draping his big arms around them in a hug.
“Please!” Kathleen and Ellie made room so he could stand in the middle of them.
“I heard you wowed them at the board meeting,” Ellie said, giving him a searching look. “Daddy, I thought you were retiring. Not becoming the new developer for the Sorcha Fitzgerald Arts Center.”
He set his whiskey on the bar top. “What can I say? I have a skill set that will make things easier. Did you hear about my idea to go after Sophie Giombetti?”
“Yes, and I love it!” Kathleen said, knocking her whiskey against the one he’d set down. “Her work is brilliant, and I’ve heard she’s so nice.”
“She is…” Linc said with a wink. “About as nice as y’all.”
“I can’t wait until people come and beg me to make a sculpture for them.” Kathleen hugged herself. She would think positive thoughts and not how she wanted to rage a little about Declan.
“I don’t plan on begging Sophie.” Linc rolled his eyes. “The case speaks for itself.”
“Whatever, Daddy,” Ellie said with a laugh.
“After your installations, you both should be able to write your ticket,” Linc said, lifting his glass. “I’m only doing what I can to showcase your work more.”
Kathleen glanced at Ellie for her reaction, but her friend seemed unbothered. She and her father had found new ground. In the past, Ellie had taken his support poorly, thinking it would prevent her from achieving success on her own merit, but he’d backed down, and she’d bucked up, and it was wonderful to see.
“Cheers to that,” Ellie said, and Kathleen repeated it.
They toasted again, and Kathleen thought this particular whiskey was all the sweeter for the moment they were celebrating. She almost forgot about Declan. Almost.
“I hear you and Bets are going to be taking another trip together to see Sophie,” Kathleen said, nudging him in the side.
“Don’t you start with that kind of ribbing,” Linc said. “Lord, if I’d known the teasing our dinner in Paris would cause. Eoghan’s coming, in case you didn’t hear.”
“I heard.” She smiled. “He’s beside himself. It’s so cute. He’s never left Ireland before.”
“They’re going to love Saint-Paul de Vence,” Ellie said with a sigh. “I told Eoghan the entire village is magic and that the roses and jasmine should be starting to flower, perfuming the air.”
“It’s going to be one hell of a trip.” Linc stood up as Brady’s mother slid behind the bar. “Oh, no,” he said with no small measure of amusement. “Seeing that woman next to Brady only means one thing. The Lucky Charms are about ready to start dancing.”
“Let’s join them,” Ellie exclaimed as “Born To Be My Baby” started to play. “I love this song.”
Linc put a hand on Kathleen’s arm as Ellie rushed off to where the women were congregating. “You sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve got something else on your mind.”
She made herself smile. He couldn’t know about her and Declan, could he? If he did, he would probably take Declan to the woodshed for up and leaving her. “Of course, Papa Linc. How could I not? I mean, I’m about to dance to Bon Jovi in an Irish pub in Ireland. Do you mind videoing it so I can send a clip to my brothers?”
She could well imagine their tortured response. The fun thought punched through her pique.
“I’d prefer to be shot and stuffed by a local taxidermy than video you dancing like that,” Linc groaned, but he took her phone when she handed it to him. “You’re going to owe me, O’Connor. Especially if your pop finds out I took this video of you two strutting your stuff.”
Laughing, she took her place between Ellie and Bets as the guitars purred and the song began to rock. She let her eyes close and danced out her frustration. Ellie bumped her hip, making her look over at her friend, who was grinning. They put their hands on each other’s shoulders and started to sway like they would have back at O’Connor’s on a Friday night. Man, it took her back and made her miss home.
She’d told her family about the expanded project—and timeline—on their Sunday call. Pop had been thrilled for her—they all had—but she’d caught the telltale gleam in their eyes. She’d thought about telling them about Declan but that had seemed premature. Tonight had proven that.
