“Aye.” I know he’s right.
“Do you think they had anything to do with what happened in Boston?”
“Aye.”
He doesn’t offer any more, and I don’t ask any more.
We’re too tired to do more than clean each other off, after we’ve rinsed and dried and changed into clean lounge clothes.
“Your things will be here tomorrow, and you’ll have your new phone,” he says. “But for tonight… maybe we unplug.”
I smile at him. “Oh, aye, I like that idea.”
We lie in the large bed and watch mindless TV. We order food from the kitchen and eat shepherd’s pie and greens fresh from the McCarthy greenhouse. We follow it with large portions of spiced apple cake with whipped cream.
“Jesus, but it feels good to be home, doesn’t it?”
He entwines my fingers with his and nods his head. “Aye, lass.” He kisses my fingers. “It’s bloody good to be home.”
I wake in the night and reach for him. He opens one eye and drags me to his chest. He kisses the top of my head and we fall asleep like that, with me curled up beside him and our fingers still locked.
The next day when I wake, he’s gone. I sit up and look around the room, but find him a few minutes later out in the living room. I see him pacing back and forth across the floor, talking animatedly on the phone. He’s cursing in Gaelic, his hand waving back and forth.
I want to ask him if everything’s alright, but I’ll wait for him to tell me. I look to the bedside table, where he’s placed a glass of water for me. With a small smile, I sip it. Beside it lays a brand new phone. I lift it and turn it on, to find that it’s been synced to my old account. I have seven unread messages.
Aisling: GIRL what happened? Are you alright? You can’t keep me in the dark anymore!!!!!
I sigh. She’s right, of course. I can’t.
Megan: So good to have you home. Will you be joining us for breakfast? I glance at the clock. 11:22. Ah, that would be a no. Seems Megan figured that out, for the next message reads, Guess not. Lunch, then?
I message her back. Hi! Maybe for lunch. I’ll have to see what Lachlan’s plans are.
Oh, God, but it feels so damn good to say that.
Tiernan: Got in last night at midnight. Staying in the Clan Mansion until further notice. Keenan pulled us all out of Boston.
Jesus God, I’m grateful he’s okay.
Maeve: My sweet girl, I hear you’re home. Welcome home. And I hear Lachlan’s claimed you. Funny how my boys are making such a big deal of it. I’ve known since he met you this day would come.
What are they planning? What does she mean, ‘making such a big deal of it?’ Oh, Lord.
Now I do have questions for him. But first, I have to answer these messages.
Maeve!! I’m so glad to be home. Leaving Ballyhock wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. How are you feeling???
She responds right away. I understand, sweetheart. One wants to spread her wings, but you’re so loved here. Stay with us, we’ll give you room to fly. :) I’m feeling much better, thanks!
A knock comes at the door, and Lachlan, still on the phone, wearing nothing but pajama bottoms, answers the door. He gestures impatiently for Sebastian to come in, then returns to his phone call.
Sebastian comes straight to me. I tug the sheet nearly up to my eyeballs, since I’m stark naked under here.
“I’m fine,” I tell him. “No need to check me again.”
But he brushes me off, and still takes my temperature and blood pressure.
“Sebastian?”
“Aye.”
“What happened to Maeve?”
His face goes sober. “Don’t know yet, but Keenan’s launched an investigation, though.”
I really need to talk to Lachlan. I swear, the women of the Clan are being targeted.
“Is everyone else alright, Sebastian? Aileen and Caitlin… Megan?”
“Aye,” he says, giving me a curious look.
A few minutes later, Lachlan enters and has a brief, hurried conversation with Sebastian, who assures him I’m fine. Lachlan tries to brush him off, but I insist he get checked as well.
“If you’re insisting I do, you will, too!”
He rolls his eyes heavenward and mutters something about “feisty woman with a mouth on her.” Sebastian checks him, and finally takes his leave.
“What is it?” I ask after the doctor’s gone. “Can you tell me?”
He works his jaw. “Not yet,” he says. “Not yet, lass.” He crawls into bed next to me and kisses my bare shoulder. “Do you mean to tell me you were just inspected by the Clan doctor, stark naked?”
I give him a coy look. “Oh, aye,” I say with a shrug. “Does that bother you?”
Before I know it, I’m pinned onto the bed and he’s kissing me while he holds me down.
“Thought I could only claim you once, didn’t you?”