Page 3 of Against Ebony Irish Seas

“A-word?” Ellie asked as Sophie fought laughter.

Kathleen rolled her eyes and whispered it in her ear.

“Oh, right!That word. Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t say that.”

Jamie gave a snort. “That’s not what your husband tells me. Shall we go? People are going to start hugging us in welcome if we stand here any longer, but it’s better than moss growing on our feet.”

“It will?” Greta asked.

He smiled down at her. “Not really. It’s only an Irish saying. We have a lot of them.” He held his hand out to Greta, and Sophie’s heart seized in her chest when she easily took it. When had Greta last taken to someone this quickly?

“My friend Eoghan taught me some,” her daughter said, “when he came to visit Sandrine. I should have said it earlier.Dia duit, Mr. Fitzgerald.”

“That’s very good, Greta,” Jamie replied. “One of the best ways to say hello and goodbye in Gaelic. You know, I met Sandrine a few days ago. She told me she’s taken care of you since you were a baby. Your mother too.”

Sandrine had left France ahead of them with Eoghan. It was one of life’s beautiful miracles that Sandrine had fallen in love with the charming man andwantedto come to Ireland, because Sophie wasn’t sure she could do without her.

“She’s Eoghan’s girlfriend, you know,” Greta told him with a little laugh. “Mama says it’s great they’ve found love at their age. I think she said that because they’re so old.”

She winced, but it was technically true. Eoghan was ninety-three and Sandrine was eighty-two. “How about we say seasoned? But itisan inspiration to see people at their age finding love and now talking marriage. Did you know they’ve moved in together? I’m glad Sandrine came early so she could settle in. She’d never seen his home.”

“It wasn’t so hard for us to do things by ourselves, was it?” Greta looked at her. “Even though wedocount on Sandrine for everything. Of course Sandrine helped Mama pack up our shipment that’s coming in a few weeks. But we managed the luggage. Right, Mama? Although it weighs a ton.”

“Oh, my God,” Ellie said, lurching for the handle of one of the bags. “We’re totally going to help you.”

“Thanks,” she replied, wanting to wince again, but once was plenty. “Like you said, Jamie, Sandrine has been with me since I was a kid, and my parents worked and traveled a lot. We’ve been inseparable, but yes, Greta, we’ve been managing great. And will continue to do so even though Sandrine will be living with Eoghan.”

“You look almost grown up enough to live on your own, Greta,” Jamie said with a teasing smile, making her daughter grin back. “You’ll be driving soon too. How about I take your mother’s bag, and we’ll start walking to the car park?”

“That’s very kind,” Sophie responded, as he gently removed her hand with a smile, the touch igniting a trail of sensation.

She watched as Jamie and her daughter walked off hand in hand, trying to still the shock of his brief touch. Goodness! She could still feel the warmth on her skin. She felt like she’d won the lottery. A handsome man who was great with kids? Ireland must be as lucky a place as people said.

“He’s a wiz with kids,” Ellie said as if reading her mind. “And such a great friend.”

She bit her lip at the endorsement. Had she made her attraction obvious?

“Declan told me some of the kids who have trouble with their parents ask if they can run away to his house,” Kathleen added, patting her heart. “It’s so sweet.”

She shook herself, wishing she’d had that kind of teacher growing up. “Thanks again for coming all this way.”

“Please! Wereallywanted to welcome you,” Ellie said, bouncing again. “I told Daddy I couldn’t believe he hadn’t introduced us before, especially knowing what a fan I am. Gosh, Idosound like a fangirl. Sorry.”

She chuckled. “It’s okay. The attention is always a little weird, but you two will find out for yourselves soon enough. I’ve seen your work online. I can’t wait to view it up close. Ellie, your stained glass captures the light as if you gather sunlight into your hands as you work. And Kathleen, your ‘Heartbreak’ series evokes in metal the very pain of loss and betrayal in relationships.” Her divorce and the collapse of her marriage had taught her a new level of agony, one she was finished with.

“She just complimented us.” Ellie slumped against her friend. “OMG! I’m going to expire right here.”

Kathleen gave her a goose, making the woman squeal, which caused the newly reunited group beside them to glance over and grin. “Keep it together, Buchanan, or Sophie’s going to go back to Provence.”

She laughed as Ellie made a face at her friend.

“Your sisterhood makes me wish I had a sister,” she told them.

“Ah… Now you’re going to make me get mushy,” Kathleen said. “I have seven older brothers. Ellie was my estrogen godsend!”

“Yeah, we love each other like crazy,” Ellie said, wrapping an arm around Kathleen. “Now we’re married to brothers and are technically related in a way we never imagined. Brady and Declan can’t wait to meet you. Hell, the whole village can’t wait.”

“Speaking of,” Kathleen said. “Jamie and Greta will be in the next county if we keep talking like this.”

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