Page 54 of One Bride for Three Single Dads

“You’ve got a bedroom over there!” Her left arm shoots out to one side, finger pointing.

Ambrose has set up the travel crib directly next to the bedroom door. Harmony coos and makes little sounds as I place her down into it. She’s asleep almost immediately.

“And you’ve got another one over there!” Her right arm shoots out to the other side of the living room.

Ambrose glances at me, then looks away.

The driver bends at the waist and leans toward me. “There is a wee kitchen in the back, too, up by the bog. I’ll show ye where it is!”

As if sleepwalking, I follow her through the narrow door at the back of the parlor area into what I am happy to say is a nice, spacious kitchen. It has cabinets and a long farmers table in the middle of the room. It even has a rather gigantic fireplace on one side. I walk over to it, smiling in spite of myself.

“People cook in this?” I marvel.

“Only if you have to!” she scoffs. “I’m just teasing you. We put a lot of expense to making this kitchen work for your modern housewife. You’ll find the refrigerator, stove, oven, over here. Running water, too!”

I just give her a plastic smile. Running water? That’s a big accomplishment?

“All right, all right,” she confesses. “I’m just making another joke. This part of Ireland didn’t even have electric power until the 1970s. We like to joke about ourselves. It’s really quite modern. You’ll see.”

Modern? That is not the word I would use.

“And here’s the bog!”

I follow her cautiously, expecting her to lead me out into some kind of swamp area, but instead she flips on the electric light in a nicely done bathroom. Looks like it was updated a few years ago, with a clawfoot tub and all the usual bathroom amenities. I make a mental calculation that involves seven people sharing a single bathroom, then force myself to stop calculating because what good would it do me?

“It’s all really wonderful,” I force myself to say, because she is standing there staring at me like she really needs me to say it.

“We’re tickled you are here!” she declares, clapping her hands in front of her giant bosom. “All right then, call if you need me!” she announces as she pulls her cap back on and leaves the kitchen.

When I come back into the living room, the guys are all staring at me expectantly, frozen and cautious.

The three of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this tiny room sort of make the point for me.

I don’t need to say it, right?

Do I?

“It’s gonna be great, Jolene,” Ambrose murmurs reassuringly. “I promise.”

Chapter 23

JOLENE

The room kind of swirls in front of my eyes.

I go to take a deep breath, but that doesn’t work, and all of a sudden I’ve got three ginormous dudes diving toward me to keep me from hitting the floor.

“Jolene!”

“Whoa, there!”

“Take it easy!”

Ambrose’s expression is concerned but stable. I focus on that while the whole world threatens to go dark.

“You’re okay. You’re okay,” he mutters. “Just breathe. Harrison, get her some water.”

“From where?” I hear Harrison scoff.

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