The Summer Garden (8 page)

“When we’ve been in a bind, yes. Waiting tables is my forte, but I have experience with a few dishes. Most of the pubs where I worked didn’t have the luxury of a huge staff, so we all knew a little of everything. Grandfather actually thinks my cooking is better than the regular cook’s.” She shrugged. “Of course, he’s bound to be biased.”

Luke nodded slowly. “Good to know.”

“Now show me the rest,” she said. “Pictures of the tables and chairs, everything. And I’ll want to see the paint color, too. Have you chosen it?”

“To be honest, that’s why I was late last night. I was painting test strips on the back wall to pick the final color, but after a while they all started to looked the same.”

“Show me,” she commanded, her eyes alight with interest.

He led her to the wall where it looked as if a mad artist had been testing every color from palest turquoise to darkest green with all the shades of blue and green in between.

Moira went straight to a shade of azure. “This one,” she said at once.

Luke immediately knew that she was right. He could already envision it on the walls, drawing the sea inside. “You’re right,” he said with amazement. “But why that one? What did you see that I missed last night?”

“For one thing, it was probably dim in here last night, so none of the colors looked the way they do right now. This one…” She tapped her finger against the chosen test stripe. “It’s the color of the sky and sea on a sunny day. With white trim, it will be bright and cheerful.”

“Most pubs tend to have a dark decor,” he reminded her.

“Reflecting the too-often dreary Irish weather, if you ask me,” Moira said. “People respond to cheerful, warm and welcoming. It’s the difference between a seaside town here and one in Dublin, just as the rest of Chesapeake Shores is. I felt it the minute Mick drove us into town. I told him exactly that.” She grinned. “I think he was pleased that I’d noticed.”

“I’m sure he was,” Luke said, equally pleased to have her impression of his hometown be so obviously positive.

She stepped closer and held his gaze. “Luke, it truly is going to be amazing,” she told him, then stepped back before he could steal the kiss he was suddenly longing for. “Now, put me to work. Let me look at the things you’ve chosen to get a sense of your style, and then I’ll get started sorting through those musicians. Do you have a CD player in your office?”

He nodded. “Are you sure you want to sit inside, rather than going out to explore the town?”

“I’m sure I’ll see everything there is to see eventually. For now, I’m exactly where I want to be, as long as you’ll promise to take a break for lunch. I believe I’d like to have it where we’ve a view of the water. Although your weather’s nothing like Ireland’s, I’ve been conditioned to take advantage of the sun whenever it appears.”

Luke smiled at the simplicity of her request. “Then that’s exactly what we’ll we do.”

He wrote down the websites from which he’d ordered furniture and supplies for the pub and gave her model numbers. He stacked the CDs beside her and showed her how to work the player, then he left her to it, marveling as he went back into the main room to work that she’d fit in so readily. Who on earth would have guessed that the impossible woman he’d met just a few months ago would turn out to be both undemanding and soothing to have around?

Nell drove Dillon into town just before lunchtime. She could hardly wait to show off both the community and the way O’Briens were so much a part of it. She found a parking spot on Main Street right in front of Flowers on Main. Bree had her usual colorful assortment of bouquets lined up in buckets on the sidewalk and a window display of more formal arrangements. It delighted Nell that her granddaughter had learned the art of flower arranging from her and made a success of it.

“This is Bree’s shop,” Dillon said as they exited the car.

She regarded him with surprise. “You remembered!”

He laughed. “It was just yesterday when Mick was bragging about it as we drove into town.”

“Ah, yes. I’d forgotten that. I probably shouldn’t say this, because it’s surely bragging, but Bree learned everything she knows about flowers from me,” Nell confided. “Of course, I must admit the student has surpassed the master now. Her arrangements are quite dramatic compared to the simple ones I do at home.”

“Don’t be selling yourself short,” Dillon scolded. “The bright flowers in your cottage are a welcoming touch. Better yet, I can see that they’ve come from your own garden.” He studied her. “Is that something you enjoy doing, Nell?”

She nodded. “My knees are getting a little creaky, so getting up and down is trickier these days, but I can’t imagine a time when I can’t care for my garden.”

“You can always hire help and supervise.”

“It’s not the same,” she said sadly. “Not at all. Jake would come and do whatever I ask, but I like the feel of the earth between my fingers and knowing that I’ve coaxed something from seed to blossom.”

“Or you could boss me around a bit,” he offered. “I’ve some experience in the landscaping business, you know.” He winked at her. “You might enjoy telling me what to do.”

She laughed then. “I might at that. Shall we go inside and say hello to Bree?”

“Of course,” he said at once. “I want to tell her how impressed I am.”

Once they’d spent a few minutes with Bree, Nell led the way to Shanna’s bookstore next door. She had to admit that she was relieved to take a seat in the café area and accept the cup of Earl Grey tea that Shanna brought her while Dillon explored the shelves for a supply of books about the region.

“I have most of those at home,” Nell told him when he showed her his selections. “Thomas sees to it that I read everything on this area. He’s always turning up with the latest book he feels supports his cause to save the bay.”

“But I want to give Shanna the sale, and these can be shipped over to Dublin, so I’ll have them on my own shelves.”

His words sent a cold chill through her. “Are you already so anxious to get back home?”

He looked stunned by the question. “Good heavens, no. Why would you ask such a thing?”

She hesitated, then said, “The truth is that I’ve been hoping to convince you to stay longer. I didn’t want to broach it just yet, but there it is.” She met his gaze. “Will you at least consider it?”

Dillon reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “I thought we agreed—”

She cut him off. “I know what we agreed,” she said impatiently, “but sometimes things change. People change.”

Worry carved deeper lines in his forehead. “Nell, this isn’t the first time I’ve sensed that something’s wrong. Will you tell me what it is? Please. I’m worried. Are you ill?”

She sighed at having been caught so easily. “It’s nothing, really. Nothing specific, anyway. When I came home, for the first time ever, my blood pressure was high. The doctor put me on medication and insisted I monitor myself. I know, in the overall scheme of things, something like that shouldn’t be a shock at my age, but it was to me. After years of avoiding most medications, I’m now taking something that leaves me light-headed and tired. All of a sudden, I feel every one of my years. It’s shaken me a little—far more than it should, given what a simple remedy there is for it.”

“Has the medicine worked?”

She nodded. “The doctor’s pleased. Other than the annoying side effects, I should be as well. Still, I know how these things go. First it’s blood pressure medicine, then something for cholesterol. The next thing I know, I’ll have an array of bottles on my kitchen table and one of those little daily pill containers so someone reliable can sort them all out and be sure I take them on schedule.”

Dillon looked surprisingly relieved by her admission. He reached in his pocket and pulled out exactly the sort of pill container she’d just described.

“You mean one like this?” he asked. “I’ve had it for years. No one’s filling it for me just yet, and I don’t imagine that’ll be necessary for a good many years to come as long as I keep my wits about me. I imagine you’ll be in full control for a very long time as well, given that stubborn streak you O’Briens are known for.”

She looked from the rectangular plastic container to his bright and sparkling eyes. “Mountain out of a molehill?” she asked.

He nodded. “That’s the way I see it.”

“I’m afraid I was seeing it as the first step on a slippery slope.”

“Ah, Nell, don’t give in so easily. There are far too many of us who need you right here and you’re not the type to abandon ship.”

“I never thought I was,” she admitted. “I’ll take what you’ve said to heart.” She met his gaze. “But I still wouldn’t mind it if you’d consider staying longer, as long as you’d like, in fact.”

“Now that,” he said readily, “would be my pleasure.”

For the first time since the doctor had completely disconcerted her with that prescription and his dire warnings about ignoring her hypertension, she felt hopeful again. In fact, she was suddenly as optimistic about the future as she’d been when she’d first reconnected with Dillon in Dublin.

And, she thought wryly, she’d have to tell Luke and his mother, they could stop hovering. The pair of them weren’t nearly as subtle as they clearly thought they were.

7

L
uke picked up sandwiches, sweet-potato fries and drinks from Panini Bistro, then led Moira to a bench across the street so they would be near the water while they ate. On a weekday in early spring, the narrow strip of sand was mostly deserted, and the only people out for a stroll were the locals. They had the view mostly to themselves.

“Would you have preferred eating in a restaurant?” he asked her. “I could have taken you to Brady’s. It’s on the water.”

“No, this is exactly what I wanted,” she said, unwrapping her sandwich and taking a bite. “Perfect. The jalapeños were a nice touch.”

He chuckled. “I remembered how you love spicy things. That Indian curry we had just about took the top of my head off.”

“As it was meant to do,” she teased. “And there’s a lesson in there as well. Spicy food encourages people to order more drinks.”

“Pub food isn’t known for its kick,” he pointed out.

“That doesn’t mean you couldn’t make a few adjustments to liven up the menu.”

“And give Gram heart failure?” he asked, feigning a scandalized tone.

“I’m sure she’d approve of a change here and there to make the menu more modern, as long as you don’t alter the traditional dishes too much. Why don’t I run the idea past her when she and my grandfather show up for their inspection of the place?”

“Sure,” Luke said readily, oddly pleased that she wanted to take the initiative. “I wonder what’s kept them. I expected them to be nosing around long before now.”

“I imagine they’ve stopped to visit with the entire family en route. She’ll want to show off all the O’Brien businesses. It’s impressive how intertwined your family is with this town. They’re an important part of the business community as well. Taken together, it goes far beyond your uncle creating Chesapeake Shores.”

“True on all counts,” he said. “And no one in my family is short-winded, either. It could be late afternoon when they finally get around to me.”

“Or just now,” she said, nodding in the direction of the pub.

Luke spotted his grandmother and Dillon on the sidewalk. She was giving the door a frustrated jiggle. Luke stood up.

“Over here, Gram! We’ll be right there.”

“No need,” Dillon called back. “We’ll join you. I’d like a closer look at the bay from here.”

He guided Nell across the busy road, then patted the remaining spot on the bench. “You sit. I’ll just wander closer to the water.”

“Why don’t I walk with you?” Moira suggested. “I wouldn’t mind sticking a toe in to see if it’s as freezing cold as the sea is back home.”

As they went off, Luke glanced at his grandmother. “Have you been giving him the high-priced, all-inclusive O’Brien tour? It must seem to an outsider as if we own the whole town. Moira was just saying something very much like that.”

She laughed. “So far, we’ve only been to Bree’s and Shanna’s. Dillon made all the appropriate noises of approval at the flower shop, then bought out half of Shanna’s supply of books about this region. Thomas will be over the moon to have another convert to his cause.”

“Does Dillon seem to like it here so far?” he asked, then saw the sparks of delight in Gram’s eyes. “Or do I even need to ask? Has he already agreed to stay longer?”

“He has,” she said. “It wasn’t even a discussion. I just suggested it, and he agreed at once. We’ll have to work out the details at some point, especially with Moira’s schedule.” She met his gaze. “I don’t suppose you’ve been wise enough to try to persuade her to stay, have you?”

Luke shook his head. “Don’t push. I’m just growing used to the fact that she’s here at all.”

She frowned. “You’re not happy about it?”

“I’m delighted about it,” he said. “But I don’t know what will happen next. I don’t even have time to stop and think much beyond tomorrow or the pub opening at the end of the month.”

“Have you thought about what you’d like to happen?”

“Maybe, in a pie-in-the-sky kind of way,” he admitted. “But it’s not so simple.”

She reached over and clasped his hand. “Yes,” she said solemnly. “It is exactly that simple. It’s only when your head gets in the way of what your heart wants that things get complicated. If you take no other advice from me, Luke, take this. Listen to your heart.”

He smiled at her obvious conviction. “I would if I could hear it,” he said. “Right now all the noise in my head is drowning it out. I have lists of my lists these days. Once I’m past this opening and that part of my life is on an even keel, I’ll be able to hear more clearly.”

“As long as there’s not another excuse then, and another after that.”

“No,” he promised. “There won’t be. I spent a lot of my life just drifting along, but now the path before me is straight and I can just about see to the end of it.”

“Is it Moira who’s waiting there?” she asked.

He smiled. “Could be. I’ll know for sure when I get there, won’t I?”

“Okay, then,” she said with satisfaction. “I see our guests are heading this way. Let’s go over and take a look at this pub of yours. I have to admit that I’m beyond curious.”

Luke took her elbow and led the way. “I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

“As if I could ever be disappointed at anything you’ve poured your heart and soul into. What did Moira think?”

“She thinks it’s amazing, of course,” he said with a grin. “And since she’s never hesitated to speak her mind, I’m taking it on faith that she meant every word.”

As soon as Moira and Dillon had joined them, Luke unlocked the door and stepped aside. Since the crew wasn’t back yet, he let them enter without worrying about hard hats. It hardly mattered, though, because just as Moira had done earlier, his grandmother took one step, then halted.

“Oh, Luke, it’s going to be fabulous,” she said enthusiastically.

“You can tell that from here, just inside the door?”

She laughed. “I could tell it the instant I saw that color on the back wall. Did you not notice it’s the one I have in one of the guest rooms at the cottage? I chose it because it brings the sea inside.”

He turned to Moira. “Your room?”

She shook her head.

“Mine,” Dillon said. “And Nell’s exactly right. It’s the perfect color.”

“I told you,” Moira said delightedly. “Now you’ll have to accept that my taste is impeccable.”

Luke slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. “Never doubted it. Why do you think it’s already on the wall?”

“But I know you have at least two gallons in other shades sitting in the back, just in case you change your mind,” she teased.

“They’ll be gone before the day is out,” he promised. “Now, come in the rest of the way, Gram. Maybe you’d like to hear some of the demo CDs that Moira has chosen for possible music for opening night?”

“I’d love it,” Nell said.

“I’ll turn the speakers up while you and Grandfather look around,” Moira said.

Within half an hour, not only did Luke have their enthusiastic approval, but he had a final selection for the singer and band for the opening. The choice had been unanimous. It was one more thing to tick off on that endless to-do list of his. At this rate, he might actually get this place open on schedule.

He glanced at Moira, who had her head together with Nell’s as they debated his choice of china, and smiled. Apparently the design he’d chosen had been dismissed as boring and the order canceled. He’d decided it was a small price to pay to have them so happily involved.

Thinking of his grandmother’s earlier advice, he thought it was entirely possible that once he had O’Briens up and running successfully, he’d put his mind to the rest of his future and whether this was, in fact, the woman he increasingly wanted to share it with. In just the past twenty-four hours he’d become aware that the decision might be far easier than he’d ever imagined such a momentous one could be.

Mick dropped by the family’s real estate management company office on Main Street, hoping to catch up with his brother. As usual, he found Susie at her desk, but no sign of Jeff.

“Where’s your father gone now?” he grumbled.

Susie gave him an amused look. “He’s left just to annoy you.”

Mick tried to control his smile, but couldn’t. “That sassy mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble one of these days, young lady.”

Susie laughed. “But I live for those moments,” she responded. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Not really. I just thought your father and I should have a chat about Luke and Moira.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” she said very firmly. “You should leave them alone, stay miles and miles away from them, keep your mouths firmly shut.” She gave him a penetrating look. “Am I getting through to you?”

“You’re making your opinion plain, if that’s what you mean,” he said. “Do you honestly believe it will make a difference?”

She sighed. “Sadly, no.”

He studied his niece intently. “You feeling okay?”

“I’m feeling great,” she said. “All clear of cancer on my last follow-up.”

“That’s great news, darlin’. You and Mack given any more thought to adopting children?”

She gave him a resigned look. “There are absolutely no topics that are off-limits to you, are there, Uncle Mick?”

“Not when it comes to family,” he said easily. “And I know you’re perfectly capable of telling me to butt out, if you don’t want me to know something.”

“Butt out,” she said.

“Is that because there’s something to tell?” he asked. “Or because there isn’t? Is Mack balking? I know he had his doubts about being a good father, but we all know better. I could convince him that he’ll be a fine one.”

Susie shook her head. “Mack’s on board. I’m the holdout. And that is all I intend to say. This is between me and my husband. It’s not a group decision.”

Mick relented. “Fair enough. When is Jeff due back?”

“Sadly, he’s just parking the car out front, which means he won’t be able to avoid you,” she said.

Mick leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Always a pleasure to see you.”

Susie chuckled. “Maybe from your perspective,” she said, just as Jeff came in.

“You here to see me?” he asked Mick.

“I am, but I’ve been catching up with your daughter in the meantime.”

“Be careful, Dad. He’s on a mission,” Susie warned as she grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “I’m going to Sally’s to grab a sandwich. Call me on my cell phone if he gets to be too much for you to handle.”

“I’ve been dealing with Mick since birth. I know all his tricks,” Jeff responded. In his office, he gave Mick a knowing look. “I’m guessing this is about Luke and Moira.”

Mick regarded him with amazement. “How’d you figure that out? It didn’t surprise me that Susie did, but you’re usually less intuitive.”

“Because everything’s running smoothly at the real estate company. There are no family crises that I’m aware of. That leaves my son’s social life for you to fret over.”

“Tell me you’re happy about the way things are,” Mick said. “Is Moira the woman you’d have chosen for him?”

“She beats out Kristen Lewis by a country mile,” Jeff retorted, then sighed. “But no, probably not. She was a hard woman to warm up to when we were in Dublin.”

“She was at that,” Mick agreed. “She seemed different when I picked up Dillon and her at the airport yesterday. She was a bit more mellow.”

“She was the same at Ma’s last night,” Jeff added. “And Luke was obviously delighted to see her. Maybe, just this once, the rest of us could stay out of it and let them work through things on their own.”

Mick lifted a brow at the suggestion. “That’s the difference between you and me. You’re content to sit on the sidelines. I like to take charge and be sure things work out for the best.”

“That’s the problem,” Jeff said. “You don’t always know what’s best, any more than I do.” He gave Mick a knowing look. “This is really about Ma, isn’t it? She’s told you to steer clear of her relationship with Dillon, so that’s left only Luke and Moira for you to focus on.”

Mick sighed with frustration. “When did you get to be so smart? Yes, it’s driving me crazy the way those two seem to be getting closer every minute. Did you see the way Ma was looking at Dillon last night? She looked like a young girl with her cheeks all pink and her eyes filled with sparks.”

Jeff chuckled. “I think we’re meant to be glad about that. We want her to be happy, don’t we?”

“Yes, of course,” Mick said, disgruntled just the same.

“Mick, I don’t think she’s going to pack up and move to Ireland,” Jeff consoled him. “If anything, I think this visit is the first step toward Dillon spending more time here.”

Mick wasn’t entirely reassured. “You don’t think she wants to marry him, do you?”

“Would that be so awful?”

Mick thought it might be, especially if it meant she walked out on the family to live in Ireland. He thought Jeff was wrong in ruling out that possibility. She’d been happier there over Christmas than he’d seen her in years. How much of that had to do with Dillon and how much with being back in the country where she’d spent so many happy summers with her grandparents? Sometimes people reached a certain age and grew nostalgic about the past. Nell could be all caught up in those old memories and wind up making choices she’d regret.