Christmas with the McCarthys: A Dangerous Doms Novella by Jane Henry

Author:Jane Henry [Henry, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 3

Keenan

I call Malachy again, not surprised when it goes straight to voicemail again.

“Come, sweetheart,” Caitlin says in her gentle way, her hand on my arm. “Let’s go visit with Santa and the children.”

It was a night just like this one, all the men of the Clan assembled in joyous wonder, as we celebrated a victorious year and another one yet to come, when my father pulled me aside and told me to prepare to take the throne as Chief. That time came sooner than we both likely expected. But he’d prepared me.

“Have a good drink,” Caitlin says, but as I watch mam playing games with the children, their laughter and joy filling the cozy room, my conscience plagues me.

I’m the Chief. And I just sent my men into the cold and unknown without me by their side. It doesn’t feel right.

“Ack, Keenan, you’re a mile away,” Maeve says. “Come sit and play pin-the-nose-on-the-reindeer.” There’s literally nothing I’d like to do less right now.

“I’m good, thanks.”

Mam nods and gets to her feet. Her eyes look distant, and she bites her lip as she looks at the storm outside. She walks to my side and peers out into the darkness, her hand over her eyes to block out the light.

“When I spoke to him this morning, he said he—”

“You spoke to him this morning?”

Her eyes widen as she turns away from the window and looks at me.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

She nods. “It’s alright. I was just saying I spoke to Malachy this morning, and he was planning on leaving with Daniel straight away after school.”

“Right.”

Why was she talking to Malachy this morning?

“He had a bit of work he was doing at the school. You know they had someone repaving and fixing the steps and bricks at the entrance.”

I nod slowly. How does she know all this? Caitlin’s eyes twinkle at me, and I swear she looks as if she’s going to burst out laughing.

What on earth?

“Right.”

“So we had to make sure—”

“We?”

She blinks. “Aye, Keenan. I went to pay him a visit.”

I’m perplexed. It makes no sense to me that she’s been to see him, that she knows more about his whereabouts and doings than I do.

“Why?” I ask, and to my surprise, Caitlin rolls her eyes.

What am I missing here?

“Granny!” Little Eleanor tugs on mam’s hand and drags her back over to the game. “Look, Granny, he’s cheating!”

I turn to Caitlin, and she only shakes her head.

“Come here, Keenan.” She takes my hand and leads me to the vacant chairs in front of the fireplace. “I have to speak to you.”

What is going on?

I force myself to be patient.

Caitlin speaks in a low voice. “Now, stay calm,” she says. “I won’t tell you everything. That’s for your mother to tell.”

What?

“She’s… interested in Malachy.”

“Interested in him?” I whisper back. “We’re all interested in him, Caitlin. He’s known all of us since we were little.”

She closes her eyes and blows out an exasperated breath, as if she’s reaching for patience with one of our children, then opens her eyes again.

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