Page 87 of The Way Back Home
Suddenly, Teagan wasn’t as anxious for him toreturn to Ireland. She wanted to know more. More about him, more about his—her—family. Justmore. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“I’d like you to come with me.”
His words hung in the air, and she was certain she’d misheard.
“What did you say?”
“Come with me. Let us get to know one another. Meet your family. Discover your heritage.”
Family. Heritage. A father who wanted to get to know her. Things she’d once dreamed of, discarded as foolish fantasy by the time she reached high school.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you will consider it.”
That, she could do. “I will.”
CHAPTER FORTY
NOAH
Noah sat in the dark, ignoring the insistent pounding on his cabin door. He supposed his grace period of solitude had expired. Still, he didn’t feel like acknowledging whoever it was.
After watching Teagan be driven away, he’d gone to his cabin and stayed there.
“Open this door, or I will.”
Noah sighed and pulled himself to standing. Alex didn’t make idle threats, and it was too damn cold to go without a door.
“What?” Noah said roughly, opening the door a few inches.
Alex ignored the hint and pushed his way in.
“No,please, come in,” Noah muttered.
“Think I will, thanks.” Alex turned on a light, then grabbed a beer from the fridge and parked himself on the sofa.
Clearly, Alex had no intention of checking in and moving on. Resolving himself to that, Noah tossed a couple of logs on the dwindling fire, grabbed a beer for himself, and sat down in the adjacent armchair.
Seconds ticked by in silence until Alex asked quietly, “You okay?”
“No,” Noah answered honestly.
“She did what she had to do.”
He knew.
Teagan had told him about Donal’s invitation when she returned from their meeting. It wasn’t until the next morning that she decided to go. Until then, he’d held out hope that she’d stay.
Not that he’d given her any encouragement to stick around.
“Doesn’t make it any easier.”
“You really care for her.” A statement, not a question.
