Page 40 of Aidan

So far this outing is going far better than I expected. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so welcome. Maybe marrying into Aidan’s family won’t be so bad after all.

CHAPTER19

Aidan

So much forspending the rest of the day with Sorcha. I’m not sure why I’m bitching. I’m glad Caitlín and Nessa are taking her under their wing. Imogen is still balancing getting to know her new family while also being in a relationship with their rival, so we don’t see her as often as Da and Nora like. They hope the visits will grow more frequent with time. Still, I need to make it a point to introduce the two women soon.

Sorcha’s never said it out loud, but slowly losing her friends from uni really hurt her. She’d been so isolated in Burtonport. The village was full of people over forty or under fifteen. It’ll be good for her to have new friends.

I stride through the house in search of the kids. Aisling is in the kitchen standing on a stool next to Nora who’s showing her how to make whatever it is they’re making.

“Hey, little nightmare. Having fun?” I come up beside her and peek over her shoulder.

“Uh huh. Auntie Nora is showing me how to make the potatoes for shepherd’s pie.”

I raise my eyebrow at the older woman.Auntie Nora, I mouth and she just smiles. Not mhamó yet, but it’s close. “That sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it.”

Her gaze flits my way. “Where’s Sorcha?”

“She went to lunch with my cousin Caitlín and my brother’s girlfriend, Nessa, but she’ll be back before you know it.” I lean against the counter a short distance away. Far enough to stay out from underfoot.

“I wanted to show her what I was making.” Aisling pouts.

“You’ll have plenty of time to show her another day. Do you know where your brothers are?” I try to distract her.

She lifts a shoulder. “Outside somewhere.”

“I’ll find them and let them know it’s almost lunch time.” I head toward the dining room and the door to the back patio.

It’s an overcast day, but the temperature is mild. The expansive lawn that stretches out to the rolling fields is empty aside from the guest house that sits on a level area about halfway down. I walk around to the side of the manor where the hedgerow maze sits. When we were kids, my brothers, Caitlín, and I would chase each other through it. On the other side of the house, we used to set up targets while we taught her how to shoot.

“Kellen. Carson,” I call out their names while I walk.

Rustling sounds come from the hedgerow. I pause at the entrance and wait. Several minutes and more than one curse later, they appear. I’ll leave it up to Sorcha to give them the look for their language.

“It’s about time for lunch,” I tell them and wave them toward the house.

“This place is so cool,” Kellen announces.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I’ll have to show you the secret passages inside the house that lead out here.” I pause. “Although, if you’re going to use them to sneak out, make sure you stay out of trouble when you do it. No leaving the property. Stay within the gated walls or it won’t be Sorcha you have to worry about.”

Both boys swallow and nod sharply and continue walking with me.

“Speaking of Sorcha, it’s just the three of us and Aisling for lunch.” I open the door into the dining room for them and gesture for them to proceed.

“Why isn’t Sorcha eating with us?” Kellen asks.

“She went out to lunch with a couple friends. They’ll be back this afternoon.”

Kellen nods. “Oh good. She needs more friends. It can’t be all that fun for her to just hang out with us all the time, even though we know she loves us.”

For a twelve-year-old, he has the maturity of someone much older. I nudge him with my elbow. “You’re a good kid, you know that, right? You are too, Carson. Sorcha’s lucky to have you both.”

They flush but stand a little prouder.

“Why don’t you have a seat in here. The food should be coming shortly.”

While they sit next to each other at the table that’s already set, I go into the kitchen. Nora glances up. “There you are. Cian just arrived. He and your Da asked that you come to his office.”

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