As they both laughed, Liam grabbed my hand. “Come along, dear, Nora will hunt me down if I’m not back within the hour.”
Due to the incredible size of the house, I gave up trying to memorize the layout and simply enjoyed the ride. Liam’s endearing stories of his childhood captivated me as we ventured through the grand foyer, the drawing room, the dining room, the kitchen, the great hall, the billiard room, the study, the conservatory, and my favorite...the indoor pool.
The long body of water was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows overseeing the gardens and my second favorite location…the outdoor pool. Maybe I wouldn’t be reading as much as I thought. I loved to swim.
As if sensing my longing, Liam told Max to steer him outside. “This pool is heated all year round and is practically a gigantic hot tub in the winter.” He chuckled. “Betty enjoyed swimming but despised cold water.”
“Max told me she designed these gardens.”
“Yes, she was creative in every way. Most of the artwork inside is hers, too.”
“She sounds like an incredible woman.”
“She was. I miss her terribly.”
Max continued to the old elm tree and parked Liam beneath it before wandering off to speak to the gardeners. I sat on the cast-iron bench beside him.
“This is where I want my ashes scattered,” Liam said, relaxing into his chair as he gazed over the gardens. “With my family.”
“Your wife is here?” I searched for a memorial plaque on the chair but found none.
“My family thinks she’s in an urn on the mantel, but I scattered her years ago. This was our favorite place. I asked her to marry me in this very spot.”
I fiddled with my crystal bracelet, fighting the emotion surging through my body—both Liam’s and mine. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’ll make sure your wish is fulfilled.”
“Thank you.” He sighed. “Sometimes, my requests fall on deaf ears around here.”
“Well, I’m here to advocate for you now. So, I’ll make sure you are heard.”
Liam’s shoulders eased. “Thank you.”
We sat there for some time, getting to know one another, and I found him as warm and charming as he was in my initial phone interview. We connected instantly, and our conversation never wavered. It was hard to believe he had only months left.
“So, tell me, Cassidy. What sort of books do you read?” Liam asked, gazing up at the charming tower overlooking the gardens.
“Oh, this and that.” My cheeks reddened. “Mostly love stories, I guess.”
“That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Betty loved reading romance. Our library is full of them.”
I gaped. “Really?”
“I never understood why anyone would shame another for their reading choices. My wife read romance to escape the trauma of losing our youngest son at birth. It gave her a moment’s peace, and that is a powerful thing.”
The crushing blow to my chest was unexpected. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“It was a very long time ago.” He blinked away tears. “William doesn’t like us talking about it, so we don’t. My grandsons don’t even know they had an uncle.”
“What was his name?”
“Adam.” Liam gazed at the soil beneath the elm. “He’s here, too.”
“Isn’t Adam your grandson’s name?”
Liam’s chest expanded. “Yes. William defied our family tradition and named his first-born after his little brother.”
“That is very honorable.”
“Yes. He surprised us with that one.”