The entire intervention had taken less than thirty minutes.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me. I love you.” Clara fiercely hugged her dear brother before he turned and started for the door.
The love and support from his sisters, and the fear of looming consequences, had prompted Seamus to go willingly to the Flyaway Treatment Center. Bryan had told Clara that quick action was necessary, before Seamus’s defense mechanisms and excuses kicked in. The window of opportunity was a small one.
Seamus had been quiet and reflective when the intervention was over. He’d seemed to appreciate the objective competence of the specialists, and had paid especially close attention to Ian.
“I will be there, every step of the way,” Ian had assured Seamus. “I’m a recovering addict too, you know.”
As Seamus left with the two professionals and Ian, Clara lifted a prayer of thanks. The first step to Seamus’s recovery had begun. And it had all happened in thirty minutes.
Anna gulped her water and sank into a chair. Her hands trembled. “You know what it’s like to have the wind knocked out of your lungs? That’s how I’m feeling—physically and mentally exhausted.”
Clara drew a deep breath and nodded. She felt the same—emotionally drained.
“I’m meeting Ian outside as soon as Seamus is safely on his way. Wanna join us?”
Anna’s tone was genuine and imploring.
Clara shook her head. “You need time alone with your new fiancé. You don’t want a sister tagging along. I’ll head back to my flat.” Her cold, empty flat. “Besides, Colum and I need to straighten the studio before we leave.”
“You can always change your mind. I told Ian that this intervention either called for a swear word or food.”
“And you picked?”
“Food. Join us if you want.” Anna stood and finger-combed her canary-yellow hair strands into place. “What do you think of my new hair color?”
“Still matches Ian’s motorcycle.”
“Ian likes it. He’s thinking of dying his hair to match mine.”
“Now there’s a visual.”
Laughing, Anna slung her purse over her shoulder. Then she paused, studying her sister’s face. “Have you heard from him?”
Anna didn’t need to say Danny’s name. Clara knew who she meant.
“He hasn’t made the slightest effort.” Somehow, she kept her voice from breaking. She looked away for a moment and focused on the ballet mirror. “And it doesn’t matter anymore.”
She knew that she wasn’t fooling Anna for a second.
Tears sprang into Anna’s amber eyes. “You managed a wonderful intervention, Clara. You did the best thing for Seamus.”
“Thanks. It was a concerted effort. We’re a great team.”
“Ring me if you change your mind and would like to join us.” After a nod of assent from Clara, Anna headed for the lobby.
Clara turned to face the mirror again, allowing her relief at the successful intervention to flow through her. She still held the note she’d read to Seamus, and she looked down at it, reading the last line aloud. “So you see, Seamus, the Flyaway Treatment Center is your best option.”
She looked up to see a tall, handsome man with reddish brown hair and china-blue eyes step into the room.
Their gazes met.
“Missus, are you trained for this?” he asked.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Danny kept walking toward her and without hesitation took Clara in his arms.
Desperately, she tried to understand what was happening. Danny was here. He was here. This good-looking, grave man who was staring down into her eyes.
Slowly, tears slid down her cheeks. She stood motionless, unable to move, scarcely breathing.
He hadn’t uttered another word.
“Danny,” she whispered. “How? When?”
His strong arms held her closer, as if he could absorb the sadness he had caused her.
“If you ever think again of not answering the phone when I ring, I’ll put you on redial and never give you a moment’s peace.”
She tipped her head back and saw the anguish on his face, raw and exposed.
“And if I answer on the first ring?”
Tenderly, he kissed her cheeks, her temple,her hair. “Then I’ll finally be able to talk to you.”
She reached her arms around his broad shoulders. “And what will you say?”
“I only know a few words.” He framed her face, brushed his lips against her temple. “Clara Donovan, I’m sorry. And I love you so very, very much.”
His mouth captured hers. She kissed him back with an eager desperation equaling his. When the kiss ended, she stayed in his arms. Her fingers stroked the silky hair at his nape.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here, in Farthing. This past week, everything’s felt so—”
“Desolate? Empty?” She loved his persuasive baritone voice, the voice that had haunted her dreams.
“Lonely.” Her voice broke. “Danny Brady, I’ve missed you more than you will ever know.”
His response was his lips parting hers.
Clara looked so beautiful and Danny concentrated on memorizing each detail of her exquisite face and perfect figure. For several minutes, he hadn’t been aware that anyone else was in the dance studio. That is, until he heard two people clearing their throats.
“You’re kidding,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to a beaming Ian and Anna.
“What’s the craic?” Anna’s face was wreathed in mischievous laughter.
“How long have you two been standing there?”
“Only a minute,” Ian replied. “I didn’t know that anyone could travel that many miles so quickly.”
“Now you know.”
“Glad you could make it, boss. Are you flying to America in the morning?”
Danny shook his head and held Clara tighter. “Kathleen is handling the American franchises.”
“I thought she was staying in Italy with a new guy she met on the Internet.”
“That guy turned out to be a thirteen-year-old kid playing a hoax. However, she met a hotshot American businessman on the plane, so they’ll fly to Boston together. And there are competent employees to handle the Rome coffee shop.” Danny kissed Clara’s shiny hair. “I need to spend my time on more important things.”
“Well, I’m glad you two are all settled, because I’m starved.” In the true nature of a matchmaker whose mind turned to food once the match was settled, Anna added, “Danny, Ian and I are headed to your shop for free Guinness cake. Then we’re taking a week’s vacation because Seamus’s intervention wore us out.”
Ian sheepishly looked at Danny. “Hope you’ll agree, boss. Anna wants to visit Portugal.”
“My birth country,” Anna declared. “I can hardly remember any details from when I was a child and I want to visit with my favorite cupcake.” She blew a kiss in Ian’s direction although he was only standing a foot away from her.
“Perfectly fine. Enjoy your time off,” Danny said.
“There goes a week’s profit,” Clara murmured.
Danny laughed and shrugged. “We’ll walk out with you and Ian, Anna.”
Clara perused the chairs, the empty water bottles. “Not yet. I need to clean—”
Danny shook his head and firmly took hold of her hand. “Tomorrow.”
Colum sat on the stoop as the foursome stepped outside. He held two dozen roses. “Forgetting something?” he asked Danny.
“A wee bit wilted,” Danny apologized as he handed the roses to Clara.
“They’re beautiful. They just need a little water. Thank you.”
They all wished Colum a good evening and started to leave. Colum called after them, “Congratulations on your engagement.”
Anna glanced back. “You already congratulated me and my cupcake.”
Colum shook his head. “Not you. Clara and Danny.”
Clara stopped in midstep. She turned to Danny. “
We’re engaged?”
“Aye,” Danny said. “I wanted Colum to be the first to know.”
The rain had started as Anna and Ian hopped on his motorcycle. “Does it ever stop raining in this country?” she asked him.
“How would I know? I’m only in my thirties.” Ian laughed at his own joke.
With a grin and a farewell, Clara slipped into Danny’s silver Mercedes.
He turned on the engine and let it idle. Then he reached for her and held her in his arms for a long while. “For our honeymoon we’ll travel to Italy,” he said. “I’ve seen the Egadi Islands, from the air, at least. They look beautiful. Then after our honeymoon, we’ll find your orphanage. If it’s still there, I’ll set up a fund for the children. And together, we will confront your bad memories.”
“Always the planner. Don’t forget my brother, Luciano.”
“Aye.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Your flat.”
She stared up at him. “Can I tell you something?”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t listen to you about Seamus.”
“The main thing is that Seamus is going to get the treatment he needs.” Danny pulled her closer. “You’ll see, he’ll be better soon.”
“And I’m sorry about the diamond necklace. During the intervention, Seamus confessed that he stole the necklace you gave me, but Ian and I will check the pawn shops and try to find it.”
“No worries. You’re more important than a thousand diamonds.” He gazed into her glorious eyes. His precious Clara.
She snuggled nearer and he kissed her tenderly.
When the kiss ended, she asked, “Now can I ask you a question?”
“Always.”
“Why did you return to Farthing?”
He grinned. “I like your smile. I like your lemon scones. And I love you.”
He waited a beat for her reply. When one wasn’t forthcoming, he continued, “And I want to sing the last two lines of my favorite song to you. I hope you will finish it for me.”
“Is it the song you’ve been working on?”
He shook his head. “It’s better than anything I ever attempted to write. May I?”
Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded.
To the tune of “Oh Danny Boy,” he sang, “‘Oh Clara Donovan, if you’ll not fail to say you love me—””
Clara’s smile was radiant as she finished the chorus:
“‘Oh Danny Brady, Oh Danny Brady, I love you so.’”
THE END
A Note From The Author
Thank you for reading OH DANNY BOY. I hope you enjoyed reading about the beautiful country of Ireland. I have had the opportunity to visit Ireland many times and wanted to capture the essence and flavor of one of my favorite countries in the world. Please help other people find OH DANNY BOY by writing a review.
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Acknowledgments
To my patient husband, Dave, and our three wonderful children.
About the Author
Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and live in an old house forever needing renovations.
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Also by Josie Riviera
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Oh Danny Boy: A Sweet Contemporary Romance Page 21
