“This is what I do in my spare time,” he said.
She moved to a small wooden case, filled with tiny carvings of animals and insects. “What are these?”
“I did those when I was a kid. That’s how I got my start, in bath soap and driftwood.” He reached up to a shelf that hung from the stone wall. “Here. I have something for you.”
He handed her an ornate Celtic cross made from cast iron. The detailing on it was incredible and she gazed at it in awe. “That came from my religious phase,” he said with a wry smile. “I did a whole series of them. This is the only one left.”
“I-I can’t take this,” she said.
“Sure you can,” Danny said. “It will ward off evil spirits and it works as a deterrent to pickpockets and highwaymen.”
“Have you ever shown your work at a gallery?” she asked.
“I have a show every few years in Dublin at a gallery there. But I don’t have much time for my art. I spend most of my days making practical things like gates and andirons. They pay the bills.”
Nan stood in front of a sculpture of a giant soaring bird, its wings reaching out like arms to the sky. “I don’t know a lot about art, but I know this is good. It makes me feel something.”
“There’s one just like it in Dublin. It was a commission from the mayor’s arts council.”
He spent the next half hour showing her all of his pieces, explaining each one and answering all her questions. Nan was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Riley’s brother. He was just like…family.
He seemed genuinely interested in her opinions and appreciated her comments about her favorite pieces. From the start, with Riley, it had been all about the attraction between them, so powerful and intense. But Danny seemed like a good friend, only interested in chatting with her.
When they’d finished the impromptu show, Nan watched as he covered all his sculptures, wondering what it would be like to become a part of this family. She was all alone in the world now, except for her Irish grandfather.
She could only guess at why her mother’s parents never been a part of her life. Maybe they’d never wanted her mother to have an illegitimate child. Or maybe they disapproved of her marrying an older man. Certainly, an unexpected pregnancy would come as a shock to any parent, especially when the father of the baby wanted nothing to do with the mother. But Laura Daley had decided to do what she needed to do to make a life for her daughter.
Maybe she had still loved Tiernan. Maybe she died with his image in her mind. It was a romantic notion that they were finally together. Was that what the inscription had meant? Until they meet again.
Or perhaps his betrayal had ended any feelings she’d ever had. But one thing was certain. She had wanted the baby growing inside her and she’d probably defied her parents in making that choice.
“So, Riley tells me you’ll be leaving us soon,” Danny said as they continued their walk into Ballykirk.
“I go home tomorrow,” Nan said. “I don’t want to leave. I haven’t seen half of what I came here to see. I had all these carefully laid plans and they all fell apart.”
“Plans have a way of doing that now, don’t they,” he said with a wry smile. “Maybe your plans to go home should suffer the same consequences.”
“I have a job I have to get back to,” she said.
“Is it something you love?” he asked.
She opened her mouth to reply, but then realized that her automatic affirmation wasn’t really what she felt. Was she as passionate about her work as Danny was? He mentioned that he had to sculpt, that he had no other choice in the matter. But Nan couldn’t work up such strong feelings for her own career.
Yes, liked what she did, but it wasn’t important work. Not like Riley’s music and Danny’s art. If Nan didn’t do her work, they’d find someone else who would. She was easily replaced.
“Yes,” she lied. “I really do love it.”
“Well, then, it won’t be so difficult to leave Ireland, I’d expect.”
When they reached the pub, Danny opened the front door and they walked inside the quiet interior. Riley was standing behind the bar, scribbling something on a pad of paper. He looked up as they came in, glancing between them both at first, his expression unreadable.
“I met Nan on the road into town,” Danny explained.
“He took me to see his studio,” Nan added, wondering at the chilly look Riley gave Danny. “I guess we lost track of time.”
Riley pointed at the clock. “Yeah, well, you’re late, little brother.”
“Jaysus, Riley, what’s fifteen minutes?”
“Twenty,” Riley said. “And considering I only have today left with Nan, it’s more than I’m willing to give up to you.” He tossed his apron at Danny, then circled the bar and grabbed Nan’s hand. He drew her toward the door. “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Thanks for the tour, Danny,” she called, waving at him as she hurried out the door. “If I don’t see you again, it was nice meeting you.”
When they got outside, Nan pulled her hand from his and stopped, refusing to take another step. “That was rude.”
“He’s my brother. I’m allowed.”
“Why are you such a grump? We just walked into town together. He was nice to me and showed me his work.”
“That usually does the trick with the girls here in town,” Riley said.
She gasped, stunned that he’d think there was something going on between her and his brother. “Wow, you did get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
He cursed softly, then ran his fingers through his hair. “Right. Well, how the hell am I supposed to feel? It’s like time is slipping through my fingers and I can’t do anything to stop it, Nan. You’re going home tomorrow and we may never see each other again and you don’t seem to give a shite.”
Nan stared at him. What was this all about? He’d never spoken to her like that and she could see anger in his eyes. She sighed, then turned and walked up the street toward the cottage.
“Oh, that’s fine now,” Riley shouted. “Just walk away. We can’t even have a disagreement?”
Nan turned to face him, walking backward. “You’re making an arse of yourself,” she shouted. “And I don’t think I like you anymore.”
RILEY CURSED AGAIN, this time out loud. She was absolutely right. He was acting like a horse’s arse, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Just the thought of her getting on a plane and going back to the States was enough to make him crazy with frustration.
No doubt, she’d go back to the cottage and pout for a bit, then he’d come crawling back with an apology for being a stupid prick. And they’d tumble into bed and everything would be set right again. But he didn’t want to waste even that much time staying angry.
He ran after her and caught up in a matter of seconds. “All right. I’m sorry. I can’t help that I want to spend every waking minute with you as well as all the minutes that we’re asleep. And I know you were just being nice to Danny and I shouldn’t fault you for that.”
“He happens to be a very nice guy. Unlike you.”
“I am a nice guy under ordinary circumstances,” he said. “But this isn’t really something I’m accustomed to, so you’ll have to give me a break.”
“Was there an apology in there?” Nan asked. “Because I didn’t hear it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, taking her hand and drawing it to his lips. “Very sorry. Will you forgive me?”
She sent him a sideways glance, then rolled her eyes. “There was nothing to be jealous of,” she said. “You were so nasty to your brother. You should treat him better. And appreciate that you even have a brother. I don’t have any siblings, but if I did, I would love them every day.”
“You’re right,” Riley said. “And I promise to apologize to Danny when I see him the next time. Now, would you like me to beg for your forgiveness or can I just kiss you now and forget any of this happened.”
“You can kiss me later,” she said. “I want to make myself some lunch and then start packing.”
They walked together out of town, both of them silent, Riley waiting for her to smile at him. “So, what did you and Danny talk about?”
