Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
A s they all exited the SUV in the parking area a few yards away from Desiree’s ranch house, Lani pulled Sara aside and lowered her voice. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” She boldly met Lani’s gaze, but inside a little voice whispered liar, liar, pants on fire.
“He’s only here for a week.”
“So?”
“Why are you flirting with him?”
She folded like a cheap shoji screen. “Because I’m an eejit.”
“A what?”
“Never mind. You’re right. I’ll?—”
“Are you girls coming?” their mom called out.
“Be right there, Mom,” Sara called back. “Lani saw something stuck in my teeth.”
“Because you’re lying through them,” Lani muttered as they walked toward the group of three standing by the porch steps. “I thought you liked Rance?”
“I do. He’s funny. But Kieran… gets to me.”
“Obviously.”
“Anyway, I can’t like Rance.”
“Why not?”
“You like him.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Now who’s lying through her teeth?”
“Go to hell, Sara.”
“Love you, too, sis.” Then she flashed her parents a smile. “Sorry to hold up the parade. It was a sesame seed from my hamburger bun. Sneaky little critters.”
Her mother gave her a look, clearly not believing a word of it. She probably had the urge to deliver the same message Lani just had.
“Maybe someone should check my teeth,” Kieran said. “My sandwich was on a bun with seeds.”
“Let me look.” She offered way too fast, but damned if she was turning that job over to someone else. She’d stop flirting, but she was still his sidekick. “Smile.”
A twinkle in his blue eyes, he obliged, putting her right back under his spell.
She quickly examined those pearly whites and did her best to ignore his sensual, kissable mouth. A faint shadow darkened his upper lip. He’d clearly found a moment to shave before making the drive from Missoula, but he’d have some prickles by nightfall. She longed to find out firsthand. “You’re fine.”
“Then let’s go in,” her dad said. He started toward the porch steps. “She knows we’re here. Sam just barked.”
“I thought I heard a dog!” Kieran lit up. “What kind is he?”
“A collie,” her dad said. “The spitting image of Lassie.”
“Yeah? Collies are my?—”
Before he could finish the sentence, Desiree appeared clutching Sam’s collar. “Hi, there. He heard a new voice and can’t wait to make another friend.”
Kieran moved forward eagerly. “Wouldya mind turnin’ him loose? I used to have?—”
“You’re Irish!” Desiree grinned as she let go of Sam, who made a beeline for Kieran.
“That I am. Born and bred.” Nudging back his hat, he crouched down and embraced the collie, burying his fingers in the dog’s silky ruff. “Hey, Sam. Hey, boyo. You’re a beauty, aren’t you, now?”
Sam wiggled with joy and made little moaning sounds of ecstasy.
Desiree came down the steps, her brow furrowed, as she gazed at her visitor. “What’s your name, son?”
He glanced up. “Kieran Haggerty. From County Kildare. Just arrived today.”
Her frown deepened. “How old are you?”
“Just turned thirty-two.” He slowly rose to his feet and took off his hat.
“You remind me of someone.”
“I do?”
She stared at him for several uncomfortable seconds. “Why are you here, Kieran?” There was a faint tremor in her voice.
Sara went on alert. Desiree was famous for keeping her cool, but judging from that tremor and her troubled expression, she was on the verge of losing it.
“I’m looking to find out what happened to my mum. She was here thirty?—”
With a soft cry, Desiree covered her mouth.
He stiffened. “You know?”
She nodded, tears in her eyes. “Come… come inside.”
Sara’s heart pounded. Whatever had Desiree this rattled had to be a very big deal. As they all trooped into the house, Lani grabbed her hand and squeezed. Her mom and dad exchanged a worried glance.
Desiree led the way down the hall to the living room. “Sit wherever you…” She swallowed. “Wherever you want." She murmured something to her dog, then gestured toward the large leather sofa and the armchairs that flanked it. Her gaze never left Kieran.
He took a ragged breath. “I’d as soon stand.”
“Me… me, too.” She pressed a hand to her chest.
They all stood, as if sitting would be disrespectful considering that something big was coming.
Digging in her pocket, Desiree pulled out a tissue and mopped her face. “Well, then.” She balled the tissue in her fist. “I knew your mother. Your mum.”
His face paled. “She’s dead, isn’t she?”
“Yes, but?—”
“I knew she was, but a part of me wanted to believe….”
“I’m sorry.” She took a quick breath. “There’s more, Kieran. You have—” She gulped. “You have a half-brother.”
Lucky . Sara gasped.
Kieran went white.
Sara lunged forward and grabbed his arm as he swayed. “I’ve got you.” Crazy thing to say. If he went down, she’d go with him.
He didn’t acknowledge her support, just stood there shaking and breathing fast, too fast. She took his hat from his unresisting fingers.
Her mom sprang into action. “I’ll get some water.”
Desiree went to him and gripped his shoulders.
Good. With two of them bracing him, he’d stay upright.
“I shouldn’t have blurted it out.” Desiree’s voice quivered. “I should have waited, led up to it. I?—”
“A brother.” The faint words barely made it past his lips.
“His name’s Lucky. Born the same day as Rance.”
“What… what happened?”
“She… your mother wasn’t strong. It was… too much.”
His breath hitched and his jaw flexed as he looked past Desiree into a distant past. “Was she… did anybody….”
“She had a proper burial. And a stone.”
His eyes closed and he managed a gruff thank you . His chest heaved and he refocused on Desiree. “Granny will be… that means a lot to us. To me.”
“Your granny? Jane’s mother?”
“Jane?”
“It was the name she gave us.” She began gently massaging his shoulders.
Sara stepped back. This was a time for mothering, and Desiree was clearly a pro at that, even under stress.
So was her mom, who came in with a glass of water and gently pressed it into Kieran’s hand. He gulped it down, thanked her and handed it back.
“I’ll take you to the cemetery when you’re ready.” Desiree’s voice was steady but husky with emotion. “Clearly the right name isn’t on that stone.”
“It’s Freya.” He cleared the hoarseness from his throat. “Freya Noreen Haggerty.”
“She called herself Jane Smith.”
Anger brought a flush to his pale cheeks. “She married that shitehawk Ronny Smith?”
“No. I doubt that was his name, anyway. I never met him. He was long gone when your mom went into labor.”
“You spoke to her?”
“For most of an afternoon. When I heard she was alone, I asked if we could share a room until one of us was ready to deliver.”
“Did she… mention me?”
The vulnerability in that question made Sara’s throat hurt.
“She didn’t say anything about her past.”
“Nothing?”
“I think she was ashamed to find herself in such a fix. She didn’t want word getting back to her family.”
“But her postcards were… she sounded so happy.”
“Of course she’d write happy things. She knew she’d made a terrible mistake, but she told me she had plans to turn things around. If she’d lived, I would have helped her.”
He let out a groan of frustration. “If only she’d let Granny and Grandpa know the truth!”
“Would you have?”
He was silent for a moment. “No.”
“I’ll have the stone redone.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
Desiree opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Sara recognized that maneuver. Desiree wouldn’t argue the matter now, but etching the correct name on the headstone would turn out to be a bargain, just like Justine had given him one for his hat.
“That fecking Ronny Smith.” The steel was back in his voice and his blue eyes flashed. “Do you think he’s still alive? If I could track that bastard down, I’d?—”
“I tried, mostly for Lucky’s sake. Couldn’t find a trace of him. Men like him don’t usually live very long.”
“May he rot in hell.”
“I’m sure he will.”
As his anger slowly faded, he dragged in a breath. “And I have a brother .” He might as well have said he had a unicorn judging from the level of disbelief in his tone.
“Yes.”
“That’s… I can’t even….”
“I know.”
He turned to Sara. “You have that picture on your mobile. Can I see it, please?”
“Coming up.” She took it out of her purse and scrolled until she found the wedding shot. Then she enlarged it to give him a closeup of Lucky before she handed over her phone.
He studied the picture for a long time, as if looking at it would cement the idea in his brain. “He has her green eyes.” He sounded wistful and a little jealous.
“But you have her mouth,” Desiree said. “I wouldn’t have thought I’d remember that, but I do. And her cheekbones. You both got those.” She hesitated. “This will be huge for Lucky, just like it is for you, but I don’t want to rush you into….”
“Where is he?” He continued to stare at the image on the phone.
“Down at the bookstore with Oksana.”
“And she’s….”
“His wife and business partner. If you’d shown up last week, they would have been at the new location in Apple Grove, but they’re here this week. Do you want me to drive you to town so you can meet him?”
“Thank you, but… not yet.” He squared his shoulders, his expression resolute. “After he closes up shop is better.” He handed Sara her phone with a murmur of thanks. “If someone can please run me back before closing time, I’ll wait at the hotel until?—”
“You have a room there?”
“I do. And a rented vehicle. Sara’s folks were kind enough to bring me out, but once I get used to driving on the wrong side, I’ll be able to take care of myself just fine.”
“I can tell you’re used to that.”
“I am.”
“And maybe you’d prefer the hotel, but… you’re family. I would very much like you to stay out here with us. Will you consider it?”
He didn’t answer right away. After an audible swallow he ducked his head. Then he drew a deep breath and looked up, his eyes moist. “I’d be honored.”
“Thank you.” She drew him into a hug.
He hugged her back, his eyes squeezed tight.
The emotions crowding Sara’s chest threatened to spill out, but she didn’t want to add to the drama. She blinked away her tears and stared at the floor.
She’d promised Lani she’d dial back her natural response to Kieran, but that wouldn’t be easy. He’d captured her imagination from the get-go. Now he’d stolen her heart.