“After I have both of them in my sights.”
She left them, and nearly ran straight into Marco.
“Time for another song,” he told her. “We’ve got requests.”
“Can’t. I’m trying to watch Aisling’s kids because she’s having the baby.”
“Okay, after— What! Now? The baby? Now?”
“Finally!” Breen threw up her hands. “A normal reaction. I’m trying not to freak, but nobody’s freaking even a little and it makes me have to try harder not to freak.”
“Should we do something? Is somebody boiling water?”
“I don’t know. Nan’s with her.” And oddly, Marco’s reaction calmed her down again. “Nan and Tarryn and Mahon are all with her. It’s fine.” She blew out a breath. “It’s all fine. I just have to watch the boys, and— Okay, I see Finian now. He’s riding Keegan’s shoulders. And now he’s picking up Kavan, so corralled at last. I need to go do my part with them.”
“I’m going to go tell Brian. We’ll send vibes. That’s a good thing, right?”
“Sure, whatever.”
She made her way to Keegan.
“They’re not a bit tired,” he told her as Kavan’s head drooped on his shoulder and Finian’s heavy eyes struggled not to close.
“We’re not!”
“I can see that.” Breen transferred Kavan to her shoulder.
“Ma said we could stay up as long as we wanted because we all got married. And now the baby’s coming.”
“And how do you know that?” Keegan asked Finian.
“Because.” Heavy eyes closing, he rested his cheek on Keegan’s head. “Before midnight, and I can stay up and say welcome.”
“We’ll just walk you on home.” Keegan reached back, shifted the boy into his arms.
“I don’t know how far off midnight is, but he’s not going to make it. He’s already asleep.”
“Not but an hour left on this side of the night. He’ll say welcome in the morning.”
They carried them in, and Keegan led the way to the room they shared. When they laid them on their cots, Keegan straightened. “I’ll get them out of the jackets and boots. You should go over and let Aisling know we’ve got them abed.”
“All right. Should we stay with them after?”
“No need. They’re deep in sleep. But let her and Mahon know their boys are safe in bed.”
She went out and down a little hall to where she heard voices, saw firelight flickering.
And stopping in the open doorway, stared.
Aisling, eyes glassy with pain and focus, sat naked on the bed with Mahon behind her, Marg between her updrawn knees, and Tarryn holding her hand.
“All right now,” Marg said, “bear down, girl, and push.”
Aisling sucked in air, pushed.
“There’s the way, my brave one.” Tarryn pressed her lips to Aisling’s hand.
“A bit more, just a bit. That’s fine, that’s good. Stop, stop now and breathe.”