Page 86 of Forever Flames: Padraig & Stevie
“Of course,” I say quickly, though this is the first I’ve heard of it. “Mom will be thrilled.”
Padraig nods, but before he can speak, Isla—bold as ever at seven—steps right up to him and Mara.
“Who are you?” She tips her chin up, curiosity blazing in her eyes.
“Isla,” I correct her gently, “manners, please.”
She shoots me a quick glance before adding, “Who are you…please?”
Mara crouches slightly and offers a practiced, warm smile. “I’m Mara. This is Padraig.”
There’s nothing unkind in the way she says it, but by taking the lead in the interaction there’s a quiet claim there too. So subtleI almost miss it. Mara isn’t oblivious, my guess is she’s heard about Padraig and me. How much, I can’t begin to guess..
Isla nods, apparently satisfied and skips back toward me, clutching the gift bag she’s giving to my mom.
Glancing up at Padraig, I catch something unreadable in his expression It’s there for half a second before it’s gone, replaced with polite neutrality.
Rather than second-guess, I gesture toward Lila perched high on Cooper’s shoulders. “Our other daughter, Lila,” I shift the baby slightly on my hip, “and our son, Jude.”
Mara smiles at each of them in turn. “Your kids are beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I smooth a hand over Isla’s shoulder.
Padraig’s gaze catches mine for half a second longer than it should before he nods toward the McGloughlin house. “The troops are waiting so we’re gonna head up.”
“Yeah,” I say quickly. “We’re already late. We’ll see you later for cake.”
I watch Padraig and Mara walk up the steps to his family’s house, her hand hooked familiarly at his arm. Jude shifts restlessly so I adjust him higher, glancing toward Cooper.
“Well,” he raises his eyebrows as we turn toward my parents’ house next door, “we knew we’d run into the rockstar eventually. It wasn’t as awkward as I thought it’d be.”
I exhale a short laugh. “No, it wasn’t.”
It was. Ittotallywas.
“Girls.” Cooper ruffles Isla’s hair. “Did you know your mom, Aunt Joni, and Uncle Ziggy grew up right here next door to Padraig and his brothers? They all met when they were about your age.”
Isla spins to face me, eyes wide. “Wait. You were kids?”
“Believe it or not,” I adjust Jude’s sunhat, “I was a little girl once.”
“But, you’re so old now.” Isla stares in awe, completely serious.
“Thanks, honey,” I deadpan.
Cooper chuckles. “Your mom, Padraig and his twin Liam used to run all over this neighborhood. Thick as thieves.”
“Twins?” Lila tilts her head. “Wait, you knew that man when you were little?”
“I did,” I say as we climb the short porch steps. “We were best friends.”
“Weird.” Isla wrinkles her nose, processing.
“Someday, you’ll have your own stories about your friends. You’ll see.” Cooper winks at me.
Isla doesn’t look convinced, but she’s already distracted by my mom, who’s waving at the front door.
“Grandma!” she squeals and races inside with Lila following close behind.
