Long Journey Home by Sarah M. Eden

Author:Sarah M. Eden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western Romance, Historical romance, Clean & Wholesome Romance, irish romance, Historical Western Romance
Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC
Published: 2018-09-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

The O’Connor family held weekly family suppers on Sundays, rotating from one house to the next. Today was Maura’s turn to be hostess. She fully suspected ’twas not actually her turn in the rotation, but rather a ploy to get her and Aidan to attend an O’Connor supper at all.

They’d been invited before, but she’d not felt ready herself yet. She was finding her footing, accustoming herself to being with Grady’s family again, of hearing voices so like his, smiles matching the one she’d loved so well. She might have demurred again when Mrs. O’Connor gently informed Maura that her turn had come ’round. But looking at Aidan’s hopeful face when his grandmother spoke of the family being together, Maura knew she couldn’t refuse. He was ready to truly join his father’s family; she would not deny him that.

They would arrive any moment. She’d prepared all she could, but was still nervous. Suppose there wasn’t room enough, or she’d forgotten something significant? She wanted the evening to be a success.

Her gaze fell on Mrs. Callaghan. “Are you certain you’ll not suffer for enduring company?” Maura must’ve asked her that same question four dozen times over the past week.

Mrs. Callaghan had insisted again and again that she wasn’t worried about overtaxing herself or having her peace disturbed. “I enjoy the O’Connors. It’ll be lovely to have them here.”

“Why is it you’ve not asked me how I feel about being overrun with O’Connors?” Ryan sat near the fireplace, eying Maura with mingled amusement and, if she wasn’t mistaken, a bit of playfulness.

“In that case, do tell, Ryan.” She sat on a chair facing his and gave him her most overdone look of eager curiosity. “How do you feel about having this house filled to the rafters with O’Connors? Have you had trouble sleeping with so exciting a prospect before you?”

He leaned back in his seat, crossing his boots at the ankles. “You, Maura O’Connor, are funnier than you first let on.”

“Ma’s always been funny,” Aidan said. “Lydia giggled and giggled whenever she looked after her.”

“Who is Lydia?” Mrs. Callaghan asked.

“The wee daughter of a dear friend of mine back in New York,” Maura said. “Eliza—that’s the lass’s mother—is like a sister to me.”

“You must miss her,” Mrs. Callaghan said. “I’ve a sister in Cork, and I miss her fiercely.”

“I’m hoping, if I can save a bit of money, that I can send for her. She would love Hope Springs, and this town would love her, I’m certain of it.”

“And Ivy would insist that Lydia be her friend,” Aidan tossed in.

Ryan gave Aidan a commiserating look, one that barely concealed his mirth. “Ivy is a force of nature.”

Aidan smiled, something he did more often and far more easily than he used to. “I think she drives her sister a little mad.”

She detected the hint of tenderness that Ryan had mentioned hearing in Aidan’s voice when he spoke of Emma. Ryan hadn’t imagined it. She met his gaze with wide-eyed amazement. He silently nodded in acknowledgment, a half-hidden smile on his lips.

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