“How did you read my mind?” Caitlyn asked him, giving a hug to this man who’d come back into her great-grandmother’s life only a few brief years ago.
“How are you, you darling girl?” he asked, studying her closely with his perceptive gaze. “Do I detect a certain glow about you?”
Nell regarded him with amazement. “What makes you ask a thing like that? The girl just told us not a half hour ago that she’s pregnant.”
Dillon winked at Caitlyn. “I’d love to have you believing that I’ve a touch of second sight, but the truth is Abby called to fill me in. She said it had turned awfully damp and cool to be walking outside and thought you might want a bracing cup of tea when you got here. I’ve herbal for you, Caitlyn.”
A pleased smile spread across Nell’s face. “Is there any question about why I fell for you so many years ago and all over again when we went to Ireland for Christmas a few years back?” She turned to Caitlyn. “If your young man is half as thoughtful, you’ll have a good life.”
“Noah is patient, kind and considerate,” Caitlyn assured her. She smiled at Dillon. “But it probably wouldn’t hurt if you want to give him a few lessons in catering to a woman’s needs.”
“I’d be happy to,” Dillon said. “Will we be seeing him soon?”
“Tomorrow more than likely,” she said. “I called him before we left to walk over here. He’s coming for Sunday dinner, unless I’ve scared him off with all the warnings about the interrogation he’ll likely face.”
“Why don’t I stick close and see that he’s not overwhelmed,” Dillon offered. “I know all too well what Mick can be like when he’s feeling protective. I imagine he’s a little crazy right now.”
Caitlyn laughed. She recalled her grandfather’s reaction when he’d discovered that his mother was being courted by an old flame in Dublin. He’d been all but impossible to reason with.
“We’ll both be keeping a sharp eye on Mick,” Nell promised. “Now, let’s get to that stew. I’ve all the ingredients ready to go. Do you have paper and a pen?”
Caitlyn took them out of her pocket. “Right here.”
Apparently satisfied that she and Nell were warmed up from their walk back to the cottage, Dillon left them to their cooking.
“You really did luck out with that man,” Caitlyn told Nell.
“I was twice blessed,” she replied. “You didn’t know your great-grandfather, but he was a fine man, too. I think that was one reason it took Mick so long to warm up to the idea of Dillon being back in my life. He loved his father. I think he thought I’d always mourn him.”
“But he finally realized that we have an unlimited capacity for love, didn’t he?” Caitlyn said. “Do you think the O’Briens mate for life like a few of the creatures in nature? You’re with the first man you ever loved, even after having a whole family with another man. Grandpa Mick and Grandma Megan got back together after years of being divorced. Even Mom eventually came back to Trace, her own first love.”
“Are you really wondering if this Noah of yours is your soul mate?” Nell asked gently. “Or if you’re going to be acting too hastily by marrying him just because of the baby?”
Caitlyn was relieved to have Nell recognize her real worry. “Exactly,” she said.
“Only you know the answer to that,” Nell said as she diced vegetables and put them into a pot of water on the stove along with various spices. As they began to simmer, filling the air with a wonderfully rich aroma, she sat across from Caitlyn. She took a sip of her tea and waited, then smiled. “Since you haven’t had a word to say to that, I assume you don’t know the answer.”
Caitlyn shook her head, yet another batch of tears forming in her eyes. At this rate, she’d be dehydrated throughout her pregnancy.
“I don’t,” she whispered. “I really don’t. It’s disconcerting. It seems as if I’ve always understood what I wanted to do professionally, what I was meant to do, but when it comes to love, I never had a plan at all. I certainly didn’t have any idea how to combine the two.”
“Then you won’t make a decision until you do. And we’ll all of us wait for that moment, even your grandfather.”
“Grandpa Mick’s never been very patient,” Caitlyn said with a sniff. “He’s going to push to book the church. You know he is.”
Nell squeezed her hand. “This time he’ll find a way to wait for your decision, and that’s a promise from me to you.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary,” Nell said. “This is your life to lead as you think best. If you want our guidance, you’ll ask for it. As for our support, that’s a given.”
Caitlyn looked into her great-grandmother’s blue eyes, faded now with age, and felt better than she had at any time since she’d first read that positive pregnancy test.
“I love you,” she said, hoping she’d have years and years left to say those words to Nell, praying that her child would have time to get to know this wise and wonderful woman.
“Now don’t be getting all sentimental on me,” Nell said briskly, though she wiped away a tear of her own. She tapped a finger on the blank page in front of Caitlyn. “Start writing or your second attempt at making traditional Irish stew won’t be any better than the first.”
Caitlyn pushed aside all other thoughts and started writing down the recipe, just the first of many that would connect her to her Irish roots.
* * *
Despite all of his brave declarations about facing the O’Briens at Cait’s side, Noah was decidedly nervous as he drove into Chesapeake Shores and followed her directions to her grandfather’s house on a cliff overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
Before he made the turn onto the shoreline road, he caught a glimpse of the town green, which was still bright with the few remaining yellow daffodils in the May sunshine. It was just as Cait had described. There were shouts of childish laughter coming from the colorful playground at one end of the green. He couldn’t help thinking what a wonderful place it would be to raise a child. He doubted, though, that Cait was ready to hear his thoughts on that or on the research he’d done that revealed that the nearest local doctor’s office was miles away.
As he approached Mick O’Brien’s impressive home a few minutes later, he sucked in a deep breath. Even though Cait had assured him she’d paved the way by speaking to both her grandfather and her stepdad, Noah couldn’t help feeling he was about to walk into the lion’s den, albeit a cozy-looking one with a sprawling front porch crammed with rocking chairs and old-fashioned wicker furniture. Fortunately, it was a little too cool for those chairs to be occupied by shotgun-bearing O’Briens.
As he pulled to a stop, Cait must have spotted him from inside the house because she emerged and ran across the grass to meet him. He studied her face, trying to guess how things might be going inside.
“You okay?” he asked, taking the time to kiss her thoroughly despite whatever prying eyes might be watching.
“Getting there,” she said, a little breathless from their kiss.
“Does everyone inside know what’s going on?”
“I’ve only told Mom, Gram, Trace, Grandpa Mick and Grandma Megan, but I think we can assume the word has spread. I was getting an awful lot of speculative looks just now.”
“What about Carrie? Is she around?”
“Nope, she’s at some fashion thing in Milan or Paris.” She shrugged. “Someplace in Europe. I’ll tell her next time she calls.”
He grinned. “Are you sure you two are identical twins?” he asked, checking out her loose-fitting linen slacks and oversize sweater in a shade of purple never intended to be worn with her coloring. He thought she looked amazing, but he imagined her fashion-conscious sister would have been appalled.
“I know what you mean,” she said, glancing down with a rueful expression. “I’m a mess.”
“Not even close,” he objected. “Just oblivious to the designer racks, thank goodness. I think you look perfect.”
“And that’s why I love you,” she said, linking her arm through his. “Are you ready to do this?”
“Are you?”
“I think so,” she said. As they neared the house, she leaned close and whispered, “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll protect you.”
Noah smiled at that, then stopped her when she would have opened the door. “Cait, have you made any decisions?”
She shook her head. “I told you I wouldn’t, not until we’d talked. Did you think I’d go back on my word?”
“No, it’s just that you seem more at peace than you did the other day.”
She paused, her expression thoughtful. “I think I am,” she admitted, sounding surprised. “It must be the Chesapeake-Shores effect.”
Whatever it was, if it had put a sparkle back into her eyes, Noah counted that as a blessing.
4
Caitlyn watched carefully as her family chatted with Noah. He seemed to be holding his own with all of them, even Grandpa Mick and Trace. The tension in Trace’s jaw had finally eased. He’d even nodded approvingly when her mom appeared at his side. Abby had looked ready to intervene if things got out of hand, but Trace’s glance evidently reassured her.
Still, Caitlyn held her breath as her grandfather pulled Noah aside. When she stepped in their direction, Noah gave a subtle shake of his head and Grandpa Mick regarded her with a forbidding expression.
“Let them talk,” Nell advised. “You come and give me a hand in the kitchen. I’ll give you a few more tips on the finishing touches for the Irish stew. And I’ve made Irish soda bread to go along with it. You can take notes on that.”
“I doubt I’m up to baking bread,” Caitlyn protested.
“It’s a great stress reducer,” Nell promised. “It’ll come in handy whenever you’ve worries on your mind.”
“In that case, bring it on,” she said. “I’ve plenty of challenges ahead, it seems.”
As she turned to go into the kitchen with Nell, she cast a last worried glance in Noah’s direction, then dutifully followed her great-grandmother. She still couldn’t seem to concentrate on Nell’s words, though.
“Child, my first impression of Noah is that he’s a fine young man with a quick wit and a good head on his shoulders. I think he’s capable of putting Mick’s fears to rest,” Nell said at last. “All your grandfather wants is to know that you’re loved.”
“Love doesn’t always solve all the problems, though,” Caitlyn said, thinking of how many things needed to be resolved to make this situation right. Some of the obstacles seemed insurmountable.
“Of course it does, at least if it’s the real thing,” Nell said impatiently.
“Then why do people say that love isn’t always enough?”
“Because they don’t understand that the problems don’t just vanish when you love someone. Love takes work and compromise and understanding and respect. Do you and Noah have those things?”
“I’m willing to work at the relationship and I respect Noah more than anyone I know outside of this family,” Caitlyn said. “I think I understand his hopes and dreams.”
“And he understands yours?”
“He says he does.”
Nell smiled. “Then it’s the compromising that’s the sticking point?”
“For me,” Caitlyn admitted. “I’m half-O’Brien, after all. We’re stubborn and sure of ourselves and we want what we want.”
“I can’t deny any of that,” Nell agreed. “But look around at this family, Caitlyn. Is there a single one of us who hasn’t compromised on the important things at one time or another? Your own mother is here, rather than in New York where she’d envisioned her future. Even your grandfather—and we both know how stubborn he can be—has given up control of his company and stopped most of his traveling, so he can spend more time with your grandmother the way she always hoped he would. Dillon gave up his life in Ireland to live here with me, when I told him I couldn’t be separated from my family.” She met Caitlyn’s gaze. “I could go on and on. Do I need to?”
“No,” Caitlyn said. “But Mom and Grandpa Mick both got to live their dreams at least for a little while before they compromised. And you and Dillon visit Ireland every year.”
“And you feel as if your dream will be lost forever if you don’t grab on to it right now?” Nell asked, smiling.
“Something like that,” Caitlyn conceded, realizing that was part of her O’Brien need for immediate gratification.
“And those places you’ve dreamed of going, will they disappear?” Nell asked.
“Of course not. But I made a promise to be back soon,” Caitlyn said, clinging to her plan. “I don’t like the idea of breaking that promise. Promises are meant to be kept, especially one as important as this. You taught me that.”
Nell smiled. “Don’t throw my old lessons back in my face,” she scolded. “A delay doesn’t mean you’ll never keep your word.”
“I’m not sure that people who are counting on me for so much will be able to see it the same way,” she argued.
Once more Nell regarded her with a touch of exasperation. “This need you’ve seen in these places? Will that be wiped out anytime soon?”
“I’d like to think so, but realistically, no.”
“Then you and Noah could start this life together, perhaps, and then follow your dream a few years from now. You could even do it together, am I right? You’d be twice the help to people who need it.”
“But once we have children, we can’t just run off to save the world at the drop of a hat,” Caitlyn said.
Nell smiled at that argument, clearly dismissing it. “Haven’t you noticed the size of this family?” she asked. “I imagine there’s someone who could care for your children for a month or two if you wanted to volunteer in another country. Isn’t that what we do for one another?”
“It’s what you did for Grandpa Mick when Grandma Megan left,” Caitlyn replied, beginning to see what she meant. “You stepped in to help raise Mom, Kevin, Bree, Jess and Connor.”
“And your Grandma Megan helped out with Little Mick while Connor and Heather were working things out. We all did our part with Davey, too, while Kevin was getting over Georgia’s death and before he met Shanna.” She gave Caitlyn a penetrating look. “See what I mean?”
“Actually, I do,” Caitlyn said.
It just remained to be seen if she and Noah could reach the sort of compromise Nell was talking about, one they could both live with. The first step, she thought, was releasing that tight grip she had on the plan she’d formulated for her future.
* * *
Mick O’Brien’s office was lined with bookshelves and littered with architectural blueprints. There was a sweeping view of the bay through the French doors. A leather chair sat behind a massive mahogany desk with clean modern lines. The presence of toy trucks and even a few scattered dolls, though, told the real story of the man who ruled the O’Brien clan. He had a soft spot for his grandchildren. Perhaps he would, as well, for this unexpected baby who’d be his first great-grandchild.
“Sit,” Mick told Noah, his tone gruff. “And don’t look so worried. My instincts are telling me that you and I might be on the same side.”
“Really?” Noah said, not convinced of it. He suspected Mick was about two critical answers away from wanting to draw and quarter him.
Mick chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, that I’m a meddler, that I’m overly protective when it comes to my family.”
Noah smiled. “Those are the rumors.”
“Definitely true,” Mick confirmed. “But I’m also a pragmatist. This baby’s coming, whether I approve or disapprove. I just want to
ensure that the baby’s interests and my granddaughter’s are protected.”
“That’s all I want, too,” Noah told him with complete candor. “I love Caitlyn, sir. I’ve been very clear with her about that and you need to know it, too.”
“Are we agreed, then, that marriage is the answer?” Mick asked, though it was less a question than a statement.
“I want to marry her, no question about it,” Noah confirmed. “I’ve been eager to start a family with her for a long time now. The only thing preventing me from asking was knowing how dedicated she is to this dream of hers to go back to Africa to practice medicine.”
“And I totally admire her for that dedication,” Mick said. “O’Briens understand all about how blessed we’ve been and our obligation to give back.”
“I understand you’ve been dedicated to supervising the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity since you retired from your company,” Noah said. “I imagine that was part of Cait’s inspiration for her own goals.”
“I’d like to think so, but she’s young. She has years to make her own contribution to society. Right now the important thing is this child she’s carrying and what’s best for the baby.”
“I think Cait is mindful of that,” Noah said. “But it’s a delicate balancing act for her between knowing what’s best for our child and what she needs for her own fulfillment. This pregnancy came as a shock to her. I’m not surprised that she’s having a hard time adjusting.”
“It came as a shock to you, too, I imagine,” Mick said. “But you’re not lollygagging about doing what needs to be done. You want to get married.”
“Absolutely,” Noah confirmed. “But if there’s one thing practicing medicine has taught me, it’s to keep an open mind, to be flexible when it’s necessary. Cait’s not learned that lesson yet.”
Mick gave a nod of satisfaction. “So, how do we get her to that point?”
Noah gave him a startled look. “I was hoping you’d have the answer to that. You’ve had a lot more practice dealing with her stubbornness than I have.”
The Christmas Bouquet Page 5
