Certain Sure (25 page)

“That was artful simplicity, but which one convinced you to ask me?” Katie said.

“Just you, Katie darlin’, just you,” he said before he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.

Rose pulled at her skirt. She and Fin looked down. Rose laughed up at them. “I told you he’d ask.”

“You did?” Katie said.

Rose rolled her eyes. “I told you the prince would ask you.”

They chuckled. James picked up Rose as they all stood near Katie and Fin.

“And will we live happily ever after?” Katie asked.

“No, silly, lovingly ever after,” Rose said. “When do I get a cousin?”

Fin wrapped his arms around Katie, caressing her stomach. “Soon, I hope,” he said.

“How about in nine months?” Katie whispered in his ear.

He whooped, picked Katie up, and spun them around. Katie laughed as he set her down. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“About everything?”

“Certain sure,” she said, confirming it with a kiss.

Epilogue

Rose: Nineteen years later

Rose gazed at the rolling green hills. The inn was nestled down in the valley; her cousins Joe and Brian walked with their parents, her wonderful uncle Fin and aunt Katie, and Grandma Mavis, Grandma Aleen, and Grandpa James. The familiar calm settled on her, as it used to when she visited Ireland.

“I can see why you told me how magical it is here,” her cousin Maura said as she pushed back her long black hair.

“Hard to feel that now,” Rose said. Her magic had all left with her father.

“Thinking about your dad again?” Maura asked. Rose nodded. “He’d want you to be happy. That’s what my dad says. Maybe if you forgave your mom…”

“Let her stay in New York.”

“It wasn’t her fault.”

“She didn’t help anything. Maybe if I’d been there…” Rose trailed off. The hurt bit again, fresh as the breeze that whipped Maura’s hair around, though it had been five years now.

“You were away at college, like he wanted for you. We all miss him. He was a good man, true and loving.” Maura squeezed Rose’s hand.

“Thanks.” Rose glanced at Maura, her blue eyes so like Grandma Mary’s and Rose’s dad. She stood next to her cousin, thinking about her father’s funeral: her mother’s screaming that he had left her alone, he was a weak man, she had tried to make him strong but he had failed her. It was one of the few times Rose saw Grandma Mary angry. She’d slapped Maureen before crumpling into Grandpa Pat, who held her, averting his eyes from his daughter, who whispered to him before being taken out by Grandma Mavis. Grandpa James had his eyes closed, embracing Grandma Aleen while Uncle Fin held Rose and Aunt Katie, all of them crying. Almost two years later they had a similar scene at Grandpa Pat’s service, Maureen crying that he’d never loved her, before she left. Thank goodness she hadn’t come for Grandma Mary’s service the year after.

Rose bit her thumb before she clasped her hands together.

It had taken the family a long time to decide what to do. Grandpa James took them all to Ireland so Grandpa Pat and Grandma Mary’s ashes could be laid to rest next to their daughter, Maura, here in their homeland. Grandma Mavis hoped they’d find peace now in the place they’d known so much turmoil. Grandpa rented out the whole inn where they stayed, their weeks-long sojourn coming to a close.

Rose didn’t want to leave, though she loved her job and living with Grandma Mavis, right across the street from Uncle Fin’s family. Mrs. Knight had moved into the cottage when Maura was a toddler, giving the house to Uncle Fin and Aunt Katie. She said she wanted to see them enjoy her old home, which she would leave to them in her will, but she had no intention of dying anytime soon. Rose smiled. Mrs. Knight had seen them all off at the airport, her latest gentleman friend on her arm. Rose knew she must be ninety, at least, but she couldn’t tell. Mrs. Knight looked the same as when Aunt Katie and Uncle Fin married. It was one of Rose’s earliest memories. She’d been the flower girl. More importantly, one of the secret group who’d helped bring Aunt Katie and Uncle Fin together. Her dad called them the fairy godpeople.

“Spinning your thoughts again?” Maura asked. Rose nodded with a smile. “This wind’s having its way with my hair. I’m heading back.”

“I’ll be along soon.”

“Find some magic,” Maura said. She laughed merrily as she ran down the hill.

“I will,” Rose called after her. She turned, knowing she needed to go up the hill a little further. Someone would be waiting, if her vision held true.

She hiked up, turned at a bend in the path, and stopped short on seeing him.

“Hello, sorry to disturb you,” Rose said as the man rose and faced her. She studied him as a broad smile broke over his face, a friendly, open face, sandy brown hair; he had a pleasant, masculine build and was a little taller than Rose, who had her mother’s height. They shook hands.

“Not disturbed, to be sure,” he said with a voice that made Rose liquefy. “Dylan Boyle, pleased to meet you.”

“Rose Dunbar. Boyle…my grandma Mavis knew a Danny Boyle back in her college days, in Cork.”

“Mavis Murphy as was?” he said. Rose nodded. “Grandpa Dan was telling me about her yesterday. The one who got away, he said. But, it all worked out, I said, or I wouldn’t be here.” He laughed. Rose warmed to her fingertips and laughed too.

“I’ve said the same to my grandparents. Do you live near?”

“Visiting Grandpa,” he said as they walked together down the path. “I’m an engineer at a firm in Cork. And you?”

“My family and I are visiting. Grandpa’s rented out the inn down there,” Rose said, pointing as it came into view. “I’m on break. I teach middle school back home in California.”

“Your first visit?”

“No, I used to come at least once a year, until my dad passed away five years ago. This is my first time back since then.”

“My dad passed away too. Just me and Grandpa now…well, my mother, but we’re not close.”

“Me either. I mean I’m not close to my mother either. An only child?”

“Yes. Grandpa says we’re the smallest family in the land. My dad was the only child too, divorced parents no less. Can’t believe I’m telling you all that.”

Rose grinned at him. “I can keep secrets,” she said as they approached the road to the inn. “My family’s expecting me for lunch.”

Dylan studied her as they stopped. “It was good meeting you,” he said. “My granddad would love to meet you and your family. Would you like to join us for dinner?”

“Why not come to lunch and we’ll ask everyone? My aunt Katie’s having an extra place set.”

“Grand. You sure they won’t mind?” he said, offering his arm.

“Certain sure,” Rose said with a grin as she hooked her arm in his and they strolled together to the inn where her family waited. Magic could still be found after all.

About the Author

Reina likes stories of family, friends, and happy endings. An enthusiastic cook and baker, food always makes an appearance in her books. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For recipes or to find out about her Regency romances, visit
reinamwilliams.com
.