Page 80 of After Indigo Irish Nights
“No matter.” Liam gave her a friendly smile. “Kathleen, I was to ask if you’d be amenable to a sleepover at Summercrest. It was Declan’s idea, but he’s got other things on his mind just now.”
More help to talk her off the edge. “I appreciate the invite.”
Ellie hugged her gently. “Come on. We’ll wait for him at the pub.”
“It’s going to be a mad crush,” Brady said, eyeing the milling crowd around them. “I’d better be opening the doors soon or they’ll batter them down. A good fight makes people thirsty.”
Usually she was game, but tonight she was feeling raw. “I’ve had a day. I’m going to call it a night.”
“Me too,” Ellie said in sweet solidarity. “We’ll go to Summercrest and make brownies. Declan shouldn’t be too long, right?”
Liam grimaced. “They’ll want him to go to the pub. Let me see if I can find out what’s going on. Be right back.”
He melted away, following after Declan.
When they reached the outer edges of the crowd, Liam returned to them. “Declan is refusing to see anyone. Donal’s guarding the door to keep people away. Sounds like he’s taken this one hard. The men are worried.”
That wrecked her. “Liam, is there anything we can do for him?” she asked.
His expression uncharacteristically somber, he said, “He’ll shake this off and come home.”
Brady shared a look with him before nodding. “Take the women back to Summercrest, Liam. My dad and the others will see to Declan.”
Kathleen darted another look at the door Declan had disappeared through and watched as Donal waved off some local reporters. It made her feel helpless, but there was nothing more she could do here. “All right. Let’s go.”
When they arrived at Summercrest, Liam insisted on barbecuing in the backyard and capitalizing on the good weather. Neither she nor Ellie had an appetite, but they went along with it. Declan would be hungry, wouldn’t he?
Liam grilled cheeseburgers while she and Ellie baked the brownies in the kitchen. They set the picnic table behind the house and brought out candles and wine. She and Ellie managed to choke down some food at Liam’s nudging.
Afterward, they settled into the patio furniture Ellie had bought and stretched their legs out, wineglasses cradled in their hands. They spoke about art and travel and tried to fill the time while worry formed a hard ball in Kathleen’s stomach.
She kept looking at her watch as the hours passed. When was Declan going come back? He had to be exhausted. Was he still at the pub? She’d decided not to text him or call him. He had enough on his plate.
When Brady arrived home, she knew something was wrong. He squinted as if trying to see into the darker part of the backyard. “Declan’s not here yet? It’s nearly two in the morning. I had to shove out the last of my customers.”
“He didn’t come to the pub?” Ellie asked, tensing beside her.
“No. Dad said he was so bruised he could barely sit up. I’m going inside to call him.”
Liam stirred from his chair and went inside with him.
Kathleen dug out her phone. No messages. No missed calls. She was sick to her stomach now. And a little pissed. Didn’t he know she would be waiting for him? Dammit. “He hasn’t reached out.”
“He has to be upset,” Ellie said softly, gently stroking her arm. “I can’t imagine how hurt his body must feel. He’ll be here.”
But where was he right now?
Brady and Liam came back outside.
“He didn’t pick up,” Brady said, pulling a chair close to Ellie and taking her hand. “We both called. Kathleen, has he—”
“No.” She blew out a breath. “I’ve heard nothing.”
Ellie slid out of her chair, and Brady gathered her to him, hugging her tightly before settling her head against his chest. “After his last fight, he barely said anything for three months. I don’t want that to happen again.”
“Morag called off the wedding after he lost to Jimmy,” Liam said, pouring Brady a glass of wine. “That was different.”
“Should we go looking for him?” she said.
