Page 33 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

“And yet you’ve been happy here in Ireland. And mostly because of Bets. Don’t think I’m under any impression it’s me you’re solely here for now.”

He chucked her under the chin. “Don’t be silly, honey. You’re the apple of my eye and always will be.”

“But you were looking for a new life after retiring.” She touched his arm gently, a move she’d been making since she was a kid, wanting his full attention. “Daddy, you have friends here. People who don’t care anything about your money. Okay, some do, but they don’t count. And then there’s Bets. Daddy, you light up when you talk about her. I noticed the signs from the beginning. You even took her to our favorite restaurant in Paris the moment you met her. You’ve never taken anyone there but me. Not in all these years. Why do you think I was so nervous?”

He shifted in his chair, eliciting another dangerous creak. “Maybe you’ve developed a nervous stomach. Hell, Ellie, you and I both know why you’re getting the tummy butterflies. Because you—like me—realize three ex-wives is a harbinger of doom. I was a fool to think otherwise.”

Her mouth tipped up to the right. “A harbinger of doom?Daddy, you are hanging around way too many Irish people. Okay, so you made some bad choices in the past. Lupe told you not to marry the last two, something I would have told you too if you’d asked.”

“That would have been model father behavior, now, wouldn’t it?” He sipped his whiskey, but it was more sour than smoke now. “Asking your baby girl if your relationship is going to last. Please, Ellie, give me some credit.”

“I do.” She hugged him briefly before saying, “I know you married them hoping to give me something you thought I needed. But, Daddy, you were the one who was supposed to be getting something out of it. Not me.”

“Honey, you are the most important thing in my world.” He caressed her sweet little cheek. “How could I not have wanted to find you a real mother? How could I have not scoured this here earth to find her for you?”

She pressed her hand to her mouth, emotion brimming between them. “I had Lupe, and I had you. I was lucky, despite everything. But I’m grown up now. It’s time you chose someone for you. Lupe happens to think Bets is perfect, and after a lot of reflection on my honeymoon, I agree. Hearing about Sorcha drove it home. Go after Bets, Daddy. Don’t let her slip through your fingers. Not over something like this.”

He let his chin drop to his chest. “I’m still angry.”

She jostled him. “So is she. But you’ll both get over it. You just need to make up. I happen to know that can be pretty fun.”

He winced and stuck his fingers in his ears. “La, la, la. I don’t want to hear that.”

She rose and kissed him loudly on the cheek. “Gotta keep reminding you I’m growing up. What are you going to do when I get pregnant, Daddy?”

He groaned. “Probably smoke a cigar and cry my heart out a little. Honey, I’m not ready to think about grandchildren. Have mercy.”

Her grin was completely unapologetic. “Never. Daddy, I love you, but it’s time you found your own life. That means Bets.”

Taking his fingers out of his ears, he shot her a look. “You know, you used to be more respectful. Oh, the old days. Well, I think we beat this horse plenty dead. You heading back to the arts center to work on your stained glass window?”

“You betcha.” She kissed him again, this time a little sweeter. “I want to have it done before the local fair. Brady has been getting comments on Facebook that people are planning to visit the pub to see my installation there. I figure it might be nice to have my crowning glory done. Sorcha will be happy, seeing as my figure is modeled after her.”

Sorcha was immortalized in Caisleán, but she was still a pain in the butt. He was glad she hadn’t appeared to him since that first day, because he would have had some choice words for her. If she appeared again, he might even hire an exorcist. “I can’t wait to see your new window in its rightful home.”

“You still planning on being part of the crew to install it?”

He nodded crisply. He hadn’t installed a window since the first years of his company, but if his daughter wanted his help, sign him up. “You betcha. I’ll probably even tear up.”

She laid her hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. “You’re going to be all right, cowboy.”

He playfully swatted her behind. She knew damn well that was Bets’ nickname for him, one he loved. “One last thing before you go. Did Mary only tell those ladies at the beauty parlor about the money I offered on her house?”

She tilted her head to the right. “Yes. Why?”

He simply shook his head. “Just getting the stories straight. There are a lot of them right now. Now off with you. Go make something beautiful today.”

“Always,” she said with a laugh as she all but skipped out of the cottage.

Moments later, Donal appeared. “Wait until you meet my two daughters. They talk to me just like that.”

He snorted out a laugh. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Never liked milquetoast females myself.” No, Bets wasn’t the slightest bit bland or unopinionated, and he loved her all the more for it.

“Me either,” Donal said, sitting back down and sipping his whiskey.

“Seems like we have one victory today,” Linc told his friend as he tapped the rim of his glass. “Mary didn’t say anything about Owen potentially being released from jail.”

Donal smiled. “People in Caisleán would have been outraged.”

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