Escape to the Irish Village: An emotional and heart-warming story filled with family secrets by Ann O'Loughlin

Author:Ann O'Loughlin [O'Loughlin, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

Emma, who had picked a huge bowl of strawberries stopped in the yard to pet Benny. She smiled as she heard Miles in the kitchen insist on helping with the preparations for the ‘Thanksgiving’ supper.

‘The kitchen is no place for a man. We have a lot of new recipes to conquer and we want to be able to gossip in peace,’ Marsha said.

‘I would love to hear all the gossip; it would be a chance to get up to speed with things around here,’ Miles said a little too sharply.

‘We just want to surprise you,’ Judith said, leading her son away from the table, which had become a large preparation area.

Miles pulled away from his mother. ‘Mother, please don’t treat me like a kid, and stop tiptoeing around me,’ he said testily.

Judith looked taken aback. ‘I’m sorry, but until you start accepting Emma is part of Killcawley Estate, that is the way it is going to be.’

Emma stayed with the dog, afraid she would draw attention to herself if she made to walk away.

‘Aren’t you just a little bit worried that a stranger is leading the way on the motorway challenge, handling your profile on social media and pushing ahead with a business from this address?’ he said.

‘But she’s not a stranger to us; she’s our Emma,’ Marsha said.

‘What she said,’ Judith said glibly.

Emma smiled happily as she saw Miles through the window pick four sweet potatoes and placed them on a chopping board. ‘Why don’t I get to work and you ladies can catch me up on all that Emma does around here,’ he said.

‘I would rather you took my word on this. If Emma wasn’t here, we would have JCBs digging up the Killcawley Estate lands,’ Judith muttered.

‘You won’t move on this, Mother?’

‘Just get to know Emma; give it a bit of time. I know you will end up feeling as we do,’ Judith said.

Miles shrugged and nodded. ‘A good lawyer always knows when it’s time for negotiation and mediation. But it doesn’t mean I am backing down; I am just agreeing to a small ceasefire.’

‘Call it whatever you like, darling, but once you get to know Emma, you’ll love her.’ Judith laughed.

‘OK, but let me make my signature dish. You can’t have a Thanksgiving dinner without my sweet potato and marshmallow casserole,’ Miles said.

‘Fine, if you insist on hanging with us old fogies, but you’re going to be bored,’ Judith said.

‘Come on, Mum, let’s have fun,’ Miles said, and she smiled, despite herself.

He hummed a tune as he peeled the sweet potatoes and cubed them, before putting them in a saucepan and setting them to boil.

‘Mashed sweet potato – interesting,’ Judith said, making a face.

‘Wait until I bake it with marshmallows, you’ll change your tune,’ Miles said.

Heads were down and they were all busy in the kitchen when Emma finally walked into the kitchen, cradling the bowl of strawberries.

‘I suppose I can’t have any space to make some more jam,’ she said.

‘You’re going to have to get a proper premises if the orders keep coming in,’ Miles said.

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