Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
TEAGAN
Teagan hobbled slowly along the path, breathing in the scents of wet earth and pine.
The sun was shining brightly. The temperature was warmer than it had been, and the biting wind was still.
It was as if winter had paused for a moment, offering a temporary thaw before January grabbed the region in another tight, icy grip.
Bear trotted along beside her, occasionally running off to investigate a squirrel or a tasty stick, but he never went far.
The sound of a snowmobile in the distance brought back memories of riding with Noah on Christmas Day. Had it only been a week since she’d felt such freedom? Such joy? It seemed like a lifetime ago.
She almost wished she’d never agreed to come here. That he hadn’t shown her a proper Christmas or given her a perfect day. Losing something precious hurt worse than never having it in the first place.
The sound of the engine grew closer. Teagan hesitated as she approached the clearing, her heart picking up speed when she saw the sleek snowmobile and figure wrapped up in black.
Noah.
He hadn’t come back to the cabin last night, or if he did, he’d left again early this morning. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he was avoiding her, or to see that things had changed between them. There was a tension there that hadn’t been there before.
She supposed it was inevitable. Even the most golden-hearted protector types were bound to grow weary after a while.
Those words he’d spoken in the hospital about her never having to be alone again echoed in the back of her mind.
It seemed like he’d been putting distance between them since they’d left the hospital, even though he had been so insistent that she stay at his place.
Maybe, now that Donal had made himself known, Noah no longer felt compelled to look out for her.
The thought hurt, even if she was in no position to offer him anything.
Noah pulled close, then shut off the engine and removed his helmet, revealing tousled hair and golden-amber eyes.
“Checking on me?” she said. “As you can see, we’re fine.”
He reached into an inner pocket and withdrew a sealed envelope. “Actually, I came to deliver this.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It arrived this morning.”
She accepted the envelope, her fingers shaking slightly, and removed a sheet of heavy linen paper. Her eyes roamed over the bold handwriting twice before she folded the paper and put it back in the envelope.
“It’s from Donal,” she said, unable to refer to the man as her father. “An invitation to lunch at his hotel. He says there are some things he’d like to tell me in person before he returns to Ireland.”
Noah frowned, but he didn’t look surprised. “Will you go?”
Teagan was torn. On the one hand, she was curious about the man who claimed to be her father. On the other, she felt no obligation to a stranger. But if she didn’t get answers now, she might never have another chance.
“I think I have to, for my own peace of mind. To be able to move on.”
He made no attempt to convince her not to go or to tell her it wasn’t a good idea. He simply nodded, his expression carefully blank.
“Want a ride back?”
“I’d like that, thanks.”
She climbed on behind him with care, silently appreciating the feel of his strong back. In a short but intense time, Noah had become her anchor. The touchstone by which she would compare all others going forward.
The ride back to the cabin was subdued. Noah kept the speed low, ever the gentleman, conscious of her recovery. Bear galloped along beside them, oblivious to the tension.
A short while later, Teagan was climbing into the back of a glossy black SUV while Noah and Bear watched from the porch. Noah had offered to go with her, but she’d declined. His offer had felt hollow. Besides, this was something she had to do on her own.
The SUV was luxurious, and Teagan couldn’t help but wonder how much something like that cost. The driver didn’t speak or attempt conversation, which was fine with her.
Forty-five minutes later, they pulled into the Celtic Goddess—a high-end resort that Teagan had heard of, but would never have dared to step foot in, except as possibly the hired help.
Walking into the gleaming tower was like entering an alternate universe. The lobby boasted polished white marble with gold accents, soft lighting, and an abundance of plants and flowers. Everything screamed money, wealth, and privilege—things that had never been part of Teagan’s world.
The tuxedoed concierge greeted her by name. “This way, Miss McKenna. He’s expecting you.”
The elevator was as posh as the lobby. The mirrored panels emphasized how out of place she was in her jeans, sweater, and well-worn boots. The ride was smooth, the air pleasantly scented. Nothing like the cheap motels she’d stayed in.
Donal’s room wasn’t a room; it was a suite.
Plush carpeting, crystal lighting, and decorative arches separated the area into distinct spaces.
Teagan stopped just inside the door and glanced around.
Urns filled with fresh, vibrant flowers sat upon pedestals.
Through the arches, she saw a desk covered in papers and sleek tech.
“Thank you for coming,” Donal said, appearing from yet another set of arches, wearing black dress slacks and a cashmere sweater. “I took the liberty of ordering lunch.”
She swung her gaze toward the dining area, which had been set for two, complete with silver-domed dishes, crystal decanters, gleaming silverware, and linen napkins folded into origami.
Talk about feeling out of place.
“Please,” he coaxed. “Come in and sit down.”
Teagan warred with accepting the invitation and marching right back out the way she had come. Curiosity eventually won out.
She sat at the table with caution, folding her hands in her lap.
“Don’t be nervous, Teagan.”
“I’m not,” she countered. “I’m just afraid to touch anything.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t afford to pay for anything I break.”
Instead of being irritated, he laughed, the sound soft and lilting, breaking some of the tension. “Don’t worry. I can.”
His words weren’t entirely unexpected. The chauffeured ride, the VIP suite, and the elegant spread had been strong context clues, but it was still hard to grasp.
The next several hours passed in a blur. Donal did most of the talking. He spoke of his family—her family—in Ireland and the generations of O’Callaghans that had come before. When he was finished, he asked if she had any questions.
“Would you tell me how you met my mother?”
Donal smiled wistfully. “My father thought it wise to send me to the US to study business and law at Harvard. I was in the last semester of my senior year, and Maggie was working in a café near campus. It was love at first sight—at least for me.”
“What happened?”
Donal sighed. “Life. My father became ill, and I had to return to Ireland. By the time I returned six months later, Maggie was gone. I tried to find her, but I knew nothing of her family or where she might have gone. Eventually, I had to accept that she had moved on, and I had to do the same.” His voice caught at the end, and he cleared his throat.
They sat in silence, giving her a chance to process that. Everything he’d said rang true. The sadness in his tone had been genuine. He really had loved her.
“Did you ever marry?”
“No. I never met another woman who made me feel the way Maggie did. And I swear, Teagan, had I known, I would’ve moved heaven and earth to find you. I would’ve taken you both back to Ireland with me, and your life would have been far different.”
“Yeah, well,” she said, feeling exhausted, “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.” She stood. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“It is your history as much as it is mine.”
Suddenly, Teagan wasn’t as anxious for him to return to Ireland. She wanted to know more. More about him, more about his—her—family. Just more. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“I’d like you to come with me.”
His words hung in the air, and she was certain she’d misheard.
“What did you say?”
“Come with me. Let us get to know one another. Meet your family. Discover your heritage.”
Family. Heritage. A father who wanted to get to know her. Things she’d once dreamed of, discarded as foolish fantasy by the time she reached high school.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you will consider it.”
That, she could do. “I will.”