Page 20 of Aidan

I turn back to the kids. “Before you make up your minds, you should know that if your sister marries me, we would all need to live in Dublin. The pub will still be here for when you get older if you want to come back. I’ll take care of it. But until then, you’d have to leave here.”

Quiet settles over the entire room until Sorcha finds her voice. “Nothing has to be decided today. I just wanted to let you know that he asked. We can talk about it later tonight if you want. Give yourselves time to think on it.”

She heads over to the oven to check on whatever she’d put in there. It must be done, because she brings it out and sets it on the counter. I glance over at the three kids.

“It’ll be okay,” I mouth to them with what I hope is an encouraging smile.

Sorcha opens the fridge and brings the jam and cream to the table. Then she carries a basket over and sets it down as well. She glances at me. “Hope you don’t mind scones again.”

“I don’t mind.”

While we eat, the atmosphere is thick with tension. Aisling’s chatter fills the silence, but the boys pick at their food and keep their eyes downcast. This morning is entirely different than yesterday. What if Kellen and Carson are opposed to not only the marriage, but moving? Sorcha’s not going to do anything that will make her siblings unhappy. They’ve had enough unhappiness in their lives. They all have.

I need to find a way to make them happy.

CHAPTER10

Sorcha

Breakfast had been awkward.The boys were subdued and while Aisling kept up most of the conversation, even she grew quiet. I’m the oldest—the pseudo-parent. I should have been reassuring them that marriage to Aidan is going to be great. That they’ll love living in Dublin. There is so much to do there. More friends their age. But my fears and worries are just as big as theirs if for different reasons.

I finish cleaning up the kitchen. The twins and Aisling excused themselves as soon as they were done eating. I join Aidan at the table with my tea.

“What other questions do you have for me?” Aidan asks. “I’ll try to answer them as honestly as I can.”

I’m still smothered in overwhelm that my brain is struggling to process. “I need to weigh all my options. Let’s say I turn down your offer of marriage, and you loan me the money,”—I hold up my hand when Aidan attempts to speak—“and I do meanloan, what would happen?”

He sighs. “I don’t know. Campbell knows you don’t have the money on hand, and he already refused to let me pay it directly. Which means he’ll assume I gave it to you. He will probably charge interest you can’t pay and despite my telling him I’ll kill anyone he sends to try and collect, it will eventually start a war between our families.”

I swallow at the image. “Can’t your sister talk him into taking the money?”

“Maybe, but that has other potential consequences. It will only cause a further rift between everyone. Liam will accuse us of using Imogen to manipulate him,” he explains. “Then, if she doesn’t talk him into it, then it pulls at the tentative relationship my Da is building with her.”

It’s damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

“I know it’s no consolation, but I’m sorry that you, Imogen, and Nessa are caught in the middle of this battle between Campbell and my family. It’s not fair to any of you.”

Him saying it actually makes me feel better. Because itisn’tfair that us three women appear to be the only thing stopping a bitter war. Also hearing Aidan casually mention killing people had been jarring. And more than a little terrifying. Is this really what my life has come to?

“So we get married. Why can’t we stay here and you stay in Dublin? You can come visit anytime.” Nothing would have to change except I’d be Aidan’s wife.

“I can’t protect you if you’re here and I’m not,” he says and there’s a hint of impatience in his tone that’s easy to identify.

“Why do we need protecting if you pay off Da’s debt?” It should be over and done with by then.

“Because we don’t know that Sheehan was the only person your Da borrowed money from. What if there’s another debt somewhere and more guys show up to collect?”

I hate that with every argument, he presents a counter. Everything he’s saying makes sense.

“What happens after we get married, then?”

He shrugs. “I’ll take care of Campbell. Then I’ll hire a family to run the pub for you. Make sure nothing happens to it. You and the kids come to Dublin with me. Bring whatever personal items you want. I’ll need to speak to Da, but there’s no reason why, for now, you all can’t live at our estate.”

Aidan makes it sound so easy. Only he’s not the one being uprooted from the only home he’s ever known. Kellen, Carson, and Aisling have grown up here. Not just in Burtonport, but in this flat itself. Since the day they were all born. He and I are asking them to leave it all behind. Not to mention, what happens between Aidan and me once we’re married? I assume we’ll be intimate. He’s not going to be celibate the rest of his life and there’s no way he’d cheat. That’s just not the kind of person he is. Except I’m too scared to ask for an answer I’m not ready to hear the answer to. Call me a coward.

“I’m not trying to appear ungrateful for everything you’re doing for me. Truly. It’s just a huge decision.” I reach over and lay my hand on his arm. “Will you be upset if I ask you to let the kids and I have some time alone to talk about this as a family?”

“Of course not. I’ll head to the bed and breakfast. Maybe we can all have dinner together, though?”

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