Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
~MAGGIE~
“ C an I get you some more coffee, Mr. Dugan?” I ask the elderly man who isn’t actually an overnight guest of the inn. Still, he comes in for coffee and a full Irish breakfast, which consists of enough food to feed a family of four, three times a week. Sinead told me that she doesn’t even charge him because he lost his wife last year, and this gets him some company. He’s a sweet man, and he enjoys chatting with the guests, asking them questions about where they come from and then giving information about the area.
He should be a tour guide.
“Aye, thank you, lass.” He holds up his mug for me and smiles gratefully. “You’re a lovely sight to see first thing in the morning, sweet Maggie.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dugan. And you’re as handsome as can be. Just wave me over if you need more coffee, you hear?”
I’ve been working hard, day and night since I arrived a week ago. I can’t complain, as I knew I was here for work, and it helps to keep my mind off a certain American back home.
“I’ve got the dining room covered,” Sinead says when I walk back to the kitchen for a fresh pot of coffee. “Now that the biscuits are out of the oven, do you mind seeing to the laundry upstairs? Guests should be checking out soon, and then we can get started on cleaning the rooms.”
“Sure thing.”
“Maggie.” Sinead, a pretty woman just a few years older than me with dark red hair and happy green eyes, looks concerned as she takes my hand in hers. “Are you all right? You’ve seemed so sad since the day you got here, and I didn’t want to intrude. But it breaks my heart to see you this way day in and day out.”
I sigh, wrinkling my nose. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me because I’ve known you for most of your life. I may not see you often, but I know you’re usually much happier than this.”
“There’s a man back home.” The comment is simple but says it all.
“Ah, and a man can surely bring out the sadness in a woman, can’t he? I’m going to the pub tonight for a pint and some food that I don’t have to make myself. Why don’t you join me?”
I immediately start to decline. After all, I’m not a ton of fun right now, but then I reconsider. Why should I be sad and mopey the whole time I’m in Ireland?
“You know, that sounds like a lot of fun. What time should I be ready?”
“By five. Excellent.” Sinead smiles and pats my shoulder, then leaves the kitchen with a tray of biscuits for the customers.
The workday runs smoothly and quickly, given that we only had four couples check out today. I’m all finished with my duties by early afternoon, so after a quick change of clothes, I grab my windbreaker and a hat and set off for the cliffs.
The salty sea air is a welcome thing as I make my way over the green grass to the cliffs and just stand, breathing in the air and watching the waves.
Yes, this is my happy place. I could stand here forever.
The truth is, I’ve been angry and sad this week. Confused. And then angry again.
Cam hasn’t reached out even once. Last night, I picked up my phone, and when I brought our last texts up, I saw three dots as if he were typing something. I was so excited and nervous to hear from him, but then the dots disappeared, and there was nothing.
Not one thing in more than a week.
I have so many questions, and I know that he won’t answer any of them.
And that’s damn frustrating.
I make my way inland to the castle ruins that I played in and around as a child. I used to daydream about leprechauns and faeries running around, granting wishes. Once, I could have sworn I heard the music from long ago being played through the mists around the ruins, but I didn’t tell anyone because they would have told me I was hearing things.
But if you can’t think of such fanciful things in Ireland, then where can you?
There’s an ancient cemetery behind the ruins with stones long ago weathered, so the names aren’t readable. But I think it’s a beautiful place. Every day after I finish work, I come walk out this way, listen to the waves crashing against the cliffs, and sing softly to myself.
I haven’t posted on social media in more than a week.
I’ve unplugged, as they say. And although I miss Cam something terrible, it’s been nice to be here, working hard and letting the sea soothe my bruised heart.
I check the time and realize that I need to head back to the guest house so I can get ready to go to the pub with Sinead. I haven’t been yet, and it’ll be fun to run into locals that know my family, sing, and listen to the old-timers tell tall tales.
For one evening, I’ll forget that I’m homesick. Not for a place but for a man.
“I always had such a crush on your brother Kane,” Shannon O’Dwyer says with a laugh as she sets my fish and chips in front of me. “And still do, if I’m being honest. But his wife is a sweetheart, and I did just fine with my Danny. How’s your family, Maggie?”
“They’re all doing well,” I reply. “More babies are on the way, and my parents couldn’t be happier.”
“Well, isn’t that fine, then?” Shannon says with a wink. “Would you like another pint?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Be right up,” she says and hurries off with her tray lofted in the air.
“Why don’t you get up there and sing, Maggie?” Another cousin, Shaemus, says from across the hightop table. “We’d all love to listen.”
“Maybe after another pint,” I say with a wink. “And you’ll have to do it with me.”
“Deal.”
“Excuse me, Mary Margaret.”
I look up into Finn O’Leary’s cornflower-blue eyes and smile.
“Hi, Finn.”
He rests his hand on my shoulder and leans in for a chat so we can hear each other well over the music that just started. “I’d like the chance to take you out while you’re here. If you’re agreeable to it.”
“Oh, I?—”
“You’re going to want to take your hand off her.”
The voice I’ve wanted to hear for a week comes through loud and clear. But as Finn starts to move away, I take his hand and plant it back on my shoulder.
Cam’s eyes narrow.
I glare right back at him.
“You don’t get to just walk in here and dictate who can and can’t touch me, Cameron Cox.”
Stop this. You’re happy to see him! Jump into his arms and tell him you’re sorry for saying horrible things.
“It’s okay, Maggie, I’ll just go sit?—”
“You’ll stay,” I say to poor Finn and then turn back to Cam. “You don’t get to be bossy. You haven’t even called me since I got here. How did you know I was here, anyway?”
“I stopped by the inn first,” he says, calm as can be. “They told me where to find you.”
Finn tries to move away again, but I grab his wrist and narrow my eyes at him.
“If you know what’s good for you, Finn O’Leary, you’ll keep your hand right there.”
“You might want to listen to her, Finn,” Sinead says with a distinct laugh in her voice.
“I should have called,” Cam begins.
“You won’t get an argument from me. You should have called. You should have just talked to me when I was there so we could have hashed it all out right then and there. But no. You were pigheaded, and…Finn, I’m warning you.”
“C’mon, Maggie,” Finn mutters and then shakes his head woefully.
“Are you done yet?” Cam asks.
“I beg your pardon?”
“If you’re done with your little tirade, I’ll tell you that I’m madly in love with you and I’m here to make things right.”
I blink at him, then look over at Finn. “Okay, you can let go now, Finn.”
“Thank God,” Finn says and scurries away.
“Come with me,” Cam says as he takes my hand and leads me through the crowd in the pub, all of who are watching us now. We exit through a door to the outside. It’s cool outside, with a thick, heavy fog hanging, casting everything in shadow.
“We can go to my place,” I begin, but he frames my face with his hands and stares down at me longingly as though he hasn’t seen me in years. “Cam.”
“I love you, Mary Margaret. And I know that we have stuff to talk about, but damn it, I can’t go another day without telling you that.”
“I love you, too.”
He blinks as if he’s completely surprised.
“Why does that shock you? Why do you think I was so frustrated and angry?”
“Because of Joey?—”
“No, not because of Joey. Because of you. And we can talk about this later because I really need you to kiss me?—”
His mouth is on mine, not moving, just resting as if he’s relieved to be here finally. And then, with those hands cupping my face, he sinks into me in that amazing way Cam does that makes my toes curl.
“I’m staying in the guest house,” I inform him when he pulls away. “It’s private.”
“Let’s go there,” he suggests, not in a firm, stern way, but in a hopeful manner that makes me smile.
“If it will get us out of the cold, damp air, I’m all for it,” I say with a smile and walk with him to his car. I give him directions to the inn and the small guest house behind it, and once he’s parked and we’re inside, I light the peat fire to warm us and turn to find him staring at me with hungry blue eyes.
“First,” he begins, “I called my former boss and told him that I won’t be helping out on that case due to a severe conflict of interest. I can’t give you specific details, but I can say that I did the same several years ago for the same reasons.”
“But you already knew most of what there was to know,” I guess and can see on his face that I’m right.
“I understand your anger,” he says. “Hell, I’d be mad, too.”
“I promised you that I wouldn’t be angry or hold your job against you. Of course, I didn’t realize that this was part of that job, but I made the promise all the same, and my reaction that morning wasn’t the caring and supportive person that you need. I’m sorry for that.”
“And I’m sorry that I can’t tell you everything. However, I will say that you now know everything that I knew. I’m not withholding intel that you don’t have. I promise you that.”
“Intel.” I grin at him. “It’s sexy when you sound all smart and stuff.”
His shoulders sag as if he’s incredibly relieved. “Are we going to be okay, Mags?”
I cross to him and wrap my arms around his middle, pressing my ear to his chest.
“We’re good. This past week, I discovered that I missed you more than I was mad at you. And it occurred to me that it makes sense that Joey was being investigated, what with all that money he had hidden away. I hope that you and your cohorts realized that I wasn’t a part of it.”
“We knew that,” he assures me and kisses the top of my head. His hands slide up and down my back. “I missed you, too. I wanted to call you, but I told you we needed a break, so I figured we’d speak when you got home.”
“Stubborn,” I whisper. “Both of us are stubborn.”
Cam tips my chin up and kisses me softly. Gently. And when I slide my hands up under his shirt, he groans.
“Where’s the bedroom?” he asks gruffly.
“Through there.” I gesture with my head toward the back of the house. Suddenly, I’m in Cam’s arms, being carried to the bedroom and tenderly laid on the bed.
Our movements are swift, both of our clothes shed until we’re finally skin to skin.
“I was homesick,” I confess and cup his face in my hand. “But not for Washington. For you , Cam.”
“Baby,” he whispers and kisses my lips, nudging his way between my legs. “I’m right here, my love. I’m not going anywhere. Well, until you do. And I know, I promised this before, and I let you walk away because I was suddenly scared and stupid, and I’m sorry for that. But, I vow to not let either one of us just up and leave at the first damn hurdle. We’re so much better than that.”
I grin and then gasp when he slips inside of me, holds one of my hands over my head, and begins to move in long, steady strokes.
“You’re mine, Mary Margaret.” Those blue eyes are fierce now. “And I’m yours until the day I die.”
Then, words are lost in the sighs and the moans of delight as I’m led back into the light and amazing comfort of being with Cam.
Six months later…
“Good God, there are so many signatures ,” I say with a sigh and sign my name for the fortieth time in less than twenty minutes. Maeve and the nice man from the title company both laugh at me.
Cam takes the paper I just signed and does the same next to my name.
“That’s it,” Maeve says and slides keys across the table to us. “It’s all yours.”
“Can we go there now?” I ask as excitement fizzes through me like bubbles in champagne.
“Absolutely, it’s yours,” Maeve says. “Congratulations.”
“Let’s go,” Cam says, and we are all smiles as we get in his car, and he drives us from the middle of town to the cliffs that overlook the ocean. The song that I recorded with Leo comes on the radio, and with a grin, Cam turns up the volume.
This song has been sitting in the top twenty on the charts for the past month. It’s absolutely insane to me. And, I agreed to tour with them on their North American dates later this year, but I don’t want to tour for years on end. That’s just not me.
My home is here, with my family.
“It’s just so pretty ,” I breathe as Cam parks in our new driveway and I stare up at the house. “I mean, just look at it. Maeve did a good job with this one.”
I hop out of the car and hurry up the steps of the porch, but Cam says behind me, “Stop. We can’t go in yet.”
I turn and frown at him. “We can’t?”
“Not quite yet.” He joins me, takes my hand, and leads me to the porch swing that wasn’t here yesterday.
“Did you hang this?”
“Your brother and da did,” he confirms. “I know you love your porch swing.”
“I do.” My eyes want to get misty. “That’s the sweetest thing.”
“Have a seat,” he suggests. And when I do, he drops to one knee before me.
“Holy crap.”
Cam chuckles and pulls a ring out of his pocket. “Before we go inside our new house, I want to do this out here first. Mary Margaret, you are everything I’ve never looked for. I feel like we’ve taken a long, twisty road to meet where we did, but I’m grateful. I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. You’re kind, smart, hardworking. And, frankly, I even love your temper.”
I reach out to brush my fingers down his cheek.
“Please marry me, Mags. Make a life, a home with me. I promise I’ll never make you regret it.”
“Of course, I’ll marry you,” I reply with a huge grin and then sigh when he puts the emerald on my finger. “Is this my grandma’s ring?”
“Yes. Your ma gave it to me when I went to ask them for your hand. I know it’s old-fashioned, but I wanted to do that.”
“And I love that you did.” I lean over and kiss his lips, then wrap my arms around his neck as he lifts me and carries me toward the door. He sets me down and then picks me up again, his arm under my knees and behind my back this time to carry me over the threshold.
Cam opens the door and steps inside into our new home, and I can see the ocean through the windows. But more than that, I can see our future here.
Our children.
Christmases and summer celebrations.
I see our life. And nothing has ever been so sweet.