The Promise by Amanda McIntyre

Author:Amanda McIntyre
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Amanda McIntyre
Published: 2016-10-31T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Brady’s heart twisted as he walked up the cobblestone path. The grand home exuded charm, character, and wealth. But it was not the finely carved woodwork, nor the beveled glass donning the front door that stopped his heart. It was the single candle glimmering softly in the front window and, framed by the lace curtains, one of the most beautiful Christmas trees he’d ever seen. Brady stood for a moment and remembered how insistent Mary Margaret was about certain Gaelic traditions. The irony that the candle in the window symbolized welcome to the weary traveler brought a sudden lump to his throat. His feet would not move. A swatch of light blinded him for an instant as the front door opened wide. Daniel ran out, bounding down the front steps with utter jubilance.

"Look, Da! Look! It’s how we did things at home. Do you remember, Da?"

Daniel tugged on his coat sleeve. Aye, he remembered and with the memory came enormous, gut-wrenching sorrow. A silhouette paused at the door. Her features were unclear in the dusky evening, but her shape was unmistakable. Saran stepped into the chilled night air, wrapping a soft blue shawl around her shoulders.

"Listen, Da. I’ve been teachin’ her all afternoon." Daniel turned toward the woman, his face radiating pride and excitement.

Saran seemed suddenly shy—not like the woman who’d nearly browbeaten him earlier.

"I’m not sure, Daniel. Your father looks very tired."

"Och, Miss Reichardt, come on, you’ve been practicing all day."

Somewhere between Daniel’s enthusiasm and the candlelit window, Brady found his voice. "What have you been practicing?" He was a bit fearful of finding out what the two had been devising all day—without him.

She grinned in a bashful, schoolgirl manner. "I’m not very good yet, I’m afraid."

For some bizarre reason, Brady had a flash of desire to find that out on his own.

"Go ahead. You’ve got it pretty good." Daniel wiggled his fingers.

She sighed and offered a feeble smile.

"Okay…Mr. McCormick, Nollaig Shona Duit."

Saran bit her lip as Brady tried for the second time in one day to figure out the woman in front of him.

"Da?" Daniel tugged on his sleeve. His expression prodded him to respond.

Brady smiled at her attempt at the traditional Gaelic holiday greeting. "Happy Christmas to you as well, Miss Reichardt."

Brady turned to his son. "We best go. We've an early day tomorrow. Run along, get your coat."

He followed Daniel up the steps and waited on the porch. For a moment he allowed himself the luxury of looking at her beautiful face in the glow of the light inside before he cleared his throat and checked over her shoulder for Daniel.

"I asked him to tell me about his Christmases in Ireland."

Brady gave a quiet chuckle, glancing at her and then at the tree sparkling from behind the lace curtains. "I’m surprised he remembered. He wasn’t very old when—" He stopped himself short, unable to finish with the lump forming in his throat.

"Did you notice the candle?" She followed his gaze to the tree and he noticed how she wore her hair down, cascading in soft ebony waves over her shoulders.

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