Page 35 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

Liam took her elbow. “If you’re going to talk so self-deprecatingly about yourself, I might as well pour us tea.”

He led her inside the partially constructed shed and over to a card table where he filled two paper cups from a stainless steel thermos. “Sit, Mum.”

The metal chair wasn’t nice to her backside, and it was a little wet besides. When Liam sat cross-legged on the concrete floor instead of taking the other chair, he waved off her protest. “I like sitting on the ground. Now, run me through what you said to Linc. From beginning to end.”

He kept his face neutral—she had to give him credit for that. By the time she’d finished her recitation, her cheeks burned with shame. “See what I mean? I was horrible to him, Liam.”

“So you apologize,” he said softly. “He apologized to you and said it wouldn’t happen again, but he should probably delve into why he didn’t talk to you for his own personal development. Clearly you need to work on communication. But there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you, Mum. Something that’s a core issue for you.”

When Liam talked like this, they were about to get down to business. She had a feeling it was going to hurt a little, but it couldn’t hurt any worse than this separation from Linc. “Okay, Yoda, let’s do this. I don’t want to keep falling into the same ditch.”

His mouth tipped up. “You’re continuing a cycle that you weren’t happy with. You had a pleasant life with Dad, but you weren’t fulfilled, and then you did the 2.0 version with Donal. Now you’re with Linc, and you’ve only agreed to a trial run even though you feel like you could have a love for the ages with him. It’s like you’ve dipped your toe in the water.”

She got chills when Liam said that phrase. “Why did you say it like that? Love for the ages.”

He lifted a shoulder. “It’s how I heard it in my head, Mum. Why?”

She smelled oranges just then, and she nearly teared up. “Sorcha called it that. About Linc and me.”

“Then it’s no wonder I heard it.” He smiled. “We’ll leave Sorcha out of things for the moment. This is about you.”

She cleared her throat. “Right. Toe. Water. Keep going.”

“You played it safe by calling it a run to protect yourself, and then you chose to come home for your dead roses instead of enjoying the man you love in the city of your dreams.”

She hung her head. “I hurt him doing that. And now I’ve hurt him again.” He’d hurt her too, of course, but she needed to own her own issues. “Why do I keep doing that?”

He touched her ankle gently. “I think you’re trying to see how much he loves you. Mum, you never pushed Dad like that. And the only time I know about you pushing Donal was when he talked about wanting to get married, something you didn’t want with him. With Linc, you’re testing whether this really is the love for the ages, and in doing so, you’re pushing him away instead of trusting in his love.”

His love. She thought of how things had been between her and Linc in Paris. And before. Hell, even after. He’d become her best friend. He made her laugh. He made her moan. She loved working on the arts center with him. In all things, he made her happy, except all along, she’d been looking for a sign that it wouldn’t last. That she couldn’t have the kind of relationship she’d always yearned for. That he didn’t love her enough. “I’ve got to stop that, Liam. I really love him. How do I change this?”

He rose and cupped her cheek. “Mum, you simply have to decide to trust him and his love, but mostly you need to trust yourself. Do you love him more fully and completely than you’ve ever loved anyone?”

She inhaled sharply as love swamped her. “Yes.”

“Do you believe he loves you like that too?” he asked, his deep green gaze intent on her face.

“I do, yes.” It struck her how much her answer sounded like the kinds of vows people made in marriage, and oddly, the thought didn’t make her palms sweat.

“Last question, Mum, and I’m going to say it in your vernacular.” He gave another dear smile. “Is Linc ever going to hold you back or cramp your style?”

She thought of all the things they shared—the arts center, travel, adventure, and the desire to build things. “No. You’re right, Liam. He only wants to give me wings.”

“Good. So stop listening to any competing thoughts and think about a way to convince him you love him like crazy and, more importantly, understand and accept who he really is deep down. Because I have a feeling he’s got you nailed.”

He did, her cowboy. “I don’t know how to do that, Liam,” she said, holding her steaming tea. “I don’t even know if he’ll listen to me anymore.”

“He’ll listen.” He made a face. “Ellie made a point of stopping by and telling me she’d talked to him. You too, I heard.”

“Yeah, she read me the riot act, mostly in that nice way of hers.” But it had still stung. She didn’t like being reminded of the way she’d assaulted Linc’s character. He was right. He’d always given her the benefit of the doubt. She had totally flown off the handle.

“She said her dad is pretty upset too, but he loves you. I’d bet on that, Mum.”

She lifted her tea and blew on it before scalding her mouth. “And I love him. Any ideas for your foolish old mum on how to win him back?”

“Not a one. That’s your department. But knowing you, I expect you’ll figure it out.”

He sipped his tea. She did the same. The tea was strong and comforting, unfurling warmth in her belly.

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