She scanned the curb for her cousin Maggie and, for the life of her, couldn’t remember what Maggie’s car looked like. Suddenly, loud honking preceded a pickup truck whipping into a spot in front of her. Deirdre looked up and saw Maggie’s smiling face.
Deirdre grabbed her suitcases and her shoulder bag, but before she got to the curb, Maggie was flying at her and wrapping her arms around her. If her hands hadn’t been full, Deirdre would’ve returned the embrace. Maybe.
“I’m so glad you’re back! And just in time for St. Paddy’s Day.” Her cousin chuckled. “You thought you were coming to hang out, but I had ulterior motives in getting you here. You can work at the bar with us. It’s a blast.”
Deirdre clenched her jaw. Working at O’Leary’s Pub was the last thing she wanted to do. Her entire life had been about her own family’s pub, and that was the single most important reason she’d wanted to leave home.
Maggie pulled away, but nudged her shoulder. “Really. It’s fun. And it’s only one day. You’ll make a crap ton of money in tips just for having the accent.” She paused and lowered her voice. “I know you don’t want to be there all the time.”
In fact, Maggie did know. She was the only person Deirdre had confided in. Maggie grabbed a suitcase and shoved it on the backseat of the truck.
“Whose truck is this?”
“Shane’s. My car is having issues, so I dropped him off at work so I could use his truck.”
Deirdre watched Maggie as she spoke about her boyfriend. She was so happy that it was evident in her entire body. Deirdre wondered if she looked the same when she spoke about Rory. She doubted it. Something was off between them, now more than ever.
After they were buckled up, Maggie reached across the seat. “Well? Let me see.”
“What?” Deirdre asked, her stomach plummeting because she knew exactly what Maggie wanted to see.
“Your Christmas present.” She paused. “Shit. He didn’t propose, did he?”
Deirdre shook her head. “On the upside, I’m here.” She forced a smile. “He bought me the plane ticket.”
A flash of Christmas night came to her. Rory had watched her open the present, and she’d swallowed her disappointment when she’d realized it wasn’t an engagement ring.
He’d held her hand. I’ve never seen you as happy as you were in Chicago. Your face lit up my computer screen. Go back and have a good time.
“What is it?” Maggie’s question pulled her from the past.
“I don’t know. I’m thrilled to be here, but things between me and Rory . . . something’s not right.”
Maggie pulled out into traffic, then asked, “Is he cheating on you?”
Deirdre shrugged. She never would’ve considered it, but then Maggie put her thoughts into words.
“I mean, I don’t really know him well, but what guy sends his girlfriend halfway around the world?”
Deirdre bit her lip. “Rory’s not like that. We’ve been friends since we were tots. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“Not to be a bitch, but one way to keep you in the dark is to send you thousands of miles away.”
Deirdre laughed. “Saying you don’t want to be a bitch doesn’t make it so.”
Maggie feigned offense.
“I can’t imagine Rory would be able to have a girl on the side without my family or his knowing. And they certainly wouldn’t keep it from me.”
Maggie had gotten on the highway, and the rush of traffic and the crazy crisscrossing of the pavement mesmerized Deirdre. She loved so much about this city. “It doesn’t really matter why he sent me here. I’m here and I’m going to enjoy myself.”
“More than last time, I hope.”
“What do you mean? I had fun last fall.”
“Girl, you did little more than work and go to church with my mom.” Her hand flew up. “Not that we all don’t appreciate you taking on that task.”
Deirdre laughed again. “I don’t mind. It seems to make Aunt Eileen happy to have someone attend with her.”
While not as devout as her family believed, Deirdre liked the familiarity and rhythm of mass. It gave her peace that she didn’t find at home.
They exited the highway and began winding down residential streets. Deirdre was content to watch the scenery, but as usual, Maggie continued the conversation.
“Okay, since there was no engagement, give me the scoop. Are you still a virgin?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Come on, if Rory had proposed, we both know your panties would’ve dropped as soon as the ring slipped on your finger.”
Deirdre felt her cheeks heat. She didn’t have a sister of her own, and she’d never talk so openly with her brothers. As uncomfortable as the conversation made her, she realized that she’d missed Maggie and her brazen nature.
Plus, she was right. Deirdre had only been saving herself for marriage because it seemed like something Rory wanted.
“What’s that Beyoncé song? He should’ve put a ring on it?” She laughed with her cousin even though she didn’t feel the levity her remark should’ve caused.
Before she knew it, they were in front of the O’Leary house and Deirdre was filled with longing once again. She loved that although the O’Learys ran their own pub, they had a real house. Deirdre’s family lived above their pub, so there was no escaping it. Ever.
They hauled her luggage into the house, and Eileen came from the kitchen to greet them. “I have tea on. I thought you could use some after the trip.”
Deirdre nodded. “Thank you. It sounds lovely.”
“I’ll take your bags upstairs. The room is the same. No one has used it since you left.”
“Let me help.” Deirdre hefted one of her bags. As they headed up the stairs, she asked, “So Aunt Eileen is really all right with you living with Shane?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“I just thought . . . I
