she'd decided on the best alternative she had-a cake.
When the icing consistency was perfect, she shut off the mixer and put a spoonful of the buttercream into a small bowl. She needed just a tiny bit of black to finish her creation.
'What is that?'
Keely glanced up, the pastry bag hovering over the cake. Her mother stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her hands braced on her hips. She wore a green apron with the McClain's logo emblazoned on the bib. 'I'm working on a new design.'
Fiona approached the huge worktable. 'We've got to deliver the Wagner cake before ten tomorrow morning, three tiers with your Edwardian lace decoration. And you haven't even put the crumb coat on yet.'
'I'll get it done-don't worry.'
'If you don't want to do the cake, just tell me. I'll have one of the other girls decorate it. It will take two of them to finish it but-'
Keely ground her teeth. 'I said I'll do it. I've got the rest of the afternoon and all night.'
'I don't think you realize how complicated that cake is.'
Her mother knew full well that Keely was capable of finishing the cake with time to spare. 'I designed the bloody cake, Mother. I know how complicated it is.'
'Don't use vulgar language, Keely.'
'Why? You do. You're not always the proper Irish lady that you pretend to be.'
Fiona ignored the provocation and stared down at the cake her daughter was frosting. 'Are those shoes?'
'Italian loafers,' Keely said. 'It's for a…' What should she call Rafe Kendrick? Lover? Acquaintance? 'A friend.'
Keely scooped the icing into a pastry bag and carefully begin to add stitching to the top of the left loafer. 'Was there anything else?'
'Do I always have to ask you? Couldn't you volunteer to keep me informed about your trips to Boston? I was expecting you for dinner last night. I thought we had plans.'
'I'm sorry. I decided to go at the last minute. I had a free day.'
'Did you talk to your father?' Fiona's tone was indifferent, but Keely sensed that she was curious.
'Yes, and I met three of my brothers. Conor, Liam and Sean.' Keely shook her head. 'Actually, I didn't meet them, but I spoke to them.'
Her mother fell silent and when Keely looked up again, she saw tears swimming in Fiona's eyes. She silently scolded herself for acting so childishly. Her mother had lived without news of her six sons for twenty-five years and now her daughter was hoarding information like some petulant brat. 'They're very handsome,' Keely offered, her voice softening.
Fiona smiled tremulously. 'Really? Are-are they good men? I mean, are they polite? I always tried to teach them manners. Their father was so rough and unschooled but I wanted my boys to be more than just hooligans.'
'They're very nice,' Keely said. 'Conor is a policeman. I had a flat tire and he helped me change it. He was kind and considerate. Sean and Liam were tending bar at the pub. Sean is tall and handsome, but he's very quiet. But Liam is friendly and kind of a flirt.'
'Are they married? Do they have children?' She paused. 'Do-do I have grandchildren?'
'I don't know,' Keely replied, meeting her mother's watery gaze. 'I didn't see any of them wearing a wedding band, but that doesn't always mean anything.' She turned back to her cake and smoothed a section of icing near the heel of the right shoe, then studied it critically. 'You haven't asked me about Seamus.'
'I'm not sure I want to know,' Fiona said.
'I can understand how you fell for him.' Keely laughed softly. 'When he smiles, his whole face lights up. His hair has gone white and his face is a bit weathered, but he's still very handsome.'
'I think you're doing the right thing.'
Keely froze. 'Do you?'
'You should know your father and brothers.'
'I'm glad you feel that way, because I've made a decision. I think I'm going to go to Boston. Not for a weekend, but maybe for a month or two. I want to get to know them all first before I tell them. That way, they'll get to like me before they know who I really am.'
Her mother gasped. 'But you can't leave the business for such a long time. We have jobs and clients.'
'I'll still do the designs. I'll just put together more explicit instructions for decorating. Both Janelle and Kim are willing to put in some extra time-I've already asked them. And they're both anxious to prove themselves. They'll have some nice photos to put in their portfolios when they start their own cake-decorating businesses. I've also offered them both a raise and authorized hiring another kitchen assistant if they need one.'
'Can we afford that?'
'I can afford it,' Keely said. 'The business is doing well. And you'll be here to watch over things. Besides, I'm not going to leave for another month or so.' She paused. 'You could always come to Boston with me.'
Fiona shook her head. 'No. That wouldn't be possible.'
Keely set the pastry bag down. 'Ma, you're going to have to see your sons sometime. After they find out about me, they're probably going to want to see you.'
'They didn't want to see me before, why would they change their minds now? Not one of my sons has ever tried to find me. They probably all hate me.'
'You don't know that. You have no idea how they feel. And maybe they have tried to find you. Or maybe Seamus discouraged them. But I think you need to make the effort. After all, you're the one who left them.'
'What if they refuse to speak to me? I'm not sure I could bear that.'
'What do you have to lose?'
Fiona thought about that for a moment, then nodded. 'All these years, I've tried so hard to believe that they were all right. It would be nice to know for sure.'
Keely circled the worktable and stood in front of her mother. She grabbed Fiona's hands and gave them a squeeze. 'I know this is difficult for you, but I also know that everything will be all right. Going to Ireland was a good thing.'
Fiona nodded, then pulled Keely into her embrace. 'You're a sweet girl, Keely McClain.' She pulled back and took Keely's face between her hands. 'Keely Quinn. You've always been a sweet girl-a little bit headstrong and reckless at times-but when your father and brothers meet you, they'll recognize what a treasure you are and they'll learn to love you as much as I do.' Fiona kissed her cheek, then hurried out of the kitchen.
'Sure, I'm a good girl,' Keely said. She sighed softly, then shook her head. In truth, she had no idea who she was anymore. She wanted to believe she had control over her behavior, but her encounter with Rafe had proved that wrong. He could simply look at her and she got all crazy for him, wild fantasies racing through her mind.
She stared down at the cake. Was the cake really an apology, or just another invitation to sin? After all, didn't she hope that he'd get the cake, pick up the phone and call her? Keely couldn't deny that she'd like to repeat her night with Rafe Kendrick. But now was not the time to fall into some crazy love affair. It would only distract her and she had more important things to do.
She picked up the cake board and carried it over to the trash bin, then tossed it inside. It was a bad idea and a bad design. She had enough emotional upheaval to look forward to in the next months without throwing herself into the path of a devilishly handsome but ultimately dangerous man.
Maybe when she finally figured out who she was, she might allow herself to fall in love. But not until then.
CHAPTER FIVE
'RUM AND COKE, two drafts and a-a-' Keely looked down at her notepad. 'A pina colada?'
Seamus chuckled and wagged his finger at her. 'We don't make fruity drinks here,' he said. 'They're just givin' you the business because you're new, lass. Who wanted the pina colada?'
Keely turned and pointed to a burly, bearded man sitting in a booth, wearing a motorcycle jacket and red bandanna. 'I think his name is Art.'
