Moira immediately felt the quick rise of heat to her face and knew Nell had seen it as well, since she promptly chuckled.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked,” Nell said. “I hope you’re hungry. I’ve made chicken and dumplings. It’s Luke’s favorite. I spoke to him earlier. He’ll be over as soon as he can get away from the pub.” She gave Moira an expectant look. “Would you like me to teach you the recipe?”
Moira saw Nell’s strategy. She was trying to guess whether Moira would have a need for knowing Luke’s favorite foods.
“I’m always eager to learn a new recipe. I can try it out on the customers at McDonough’s when I get back home.”
Nell frowned at that. “Or you could try it out on the customers at O’Briens right here in Chesapeake Shores,” she suggested.
Moira immediately shook her head. “This is Luke’s business venture. I’m not a real part of it.”
“That’s not how it seemed to me earlier today. He was taking your advice on the music to heart, and he listened to you when you told him he should serve on different dishes.”
“That suggestion came from you as well,” Moira said. “And we all agreed on the best band.”
Obviously sensing that Moira was vaguely out of sorts, Nell pointed to the table. “Sit.”
“I was thinking of a shower before dinner,” Moira protested.
“And you’ll have time for it. First, I want to understand what’s made you feel as if you’re an outsider. Did you and Luke argue this afternoon? I had the impression when you came in that quite the opposite was the case.”
Filled with reluctance, Moira sat as she’d been told to do. She knew her grandfather would consider it rude to do otherwise, even though she truly didn’t want to have this conversation with Luke’s grandmother.
Nell poured her a cup of tea, then offered Moira cookies. “Conversation goes best with something sweet, I think,” she said.
Moira accepted an oatmeal raisin cookie, then proceeded to reduce it to crumbs on the napkin in front of her. Nell gave her an amused look.
“It works better if you actually eat it,” she commented.
Moira glanced at the pile of crumbs, winced and then tried to force a smile. “Sorry.”
“What did Luke do or say that upset you?”
Moira regarded her with surprise. “You think he’s at fault?”
“My grandson is a wonderful young man. He has many fine qualities. Sensitivity is not always among them. He can be careless with feelings, though it’s always unintentional. He cares for you, Moira. I know he does.”
“I know it as well,” she admitted. “I’m just not sure it’s enough.”
“Enough for what? A future?”
Moira nodded. “He was very clear earlier that he’s already anticipating the end of my visit.”
Nell looked dubious. “Really? Or was he only being realistic about the fact that you came for a monthlong vacation and hold a return ticket home? That’s not quite the same thing, is it?”
Moira thought about the distinction, then nodded slowly. “The latter probably.” She sighed. “I never realized how hard it would be to figure out how to blend two lives when the people come from places that are far apart. Who gets to decide?”
“The decision has to be mutual,” Nell said at once. “Did you have some idea that Luke would move to Dublin?”
“No. I’ve known from the beginning that his heart is here. And, to be honest, I had no real ties there myself, but then, right before I left, this opportunity came along. The part of me that’s never had any real sense of what I might accomplish wants to go back and see how things turn out.”
“That’s fair enough,” Nell said. “You’re talking about your photography, of course. Dillon’s told me about it. I’d love to see some of the pictures you’ve taken. I assume you brought your camera along for this trip.”
Moira nodded, thinking of it packed away in her room. She’d been half-afraid to take it out. What if she took photos here and they were terrible? What if they were proof that those back home had been flukes? She’d be embarrassed in front of people she wanted desperately to impress.
Nell regarded her with understanding, almost as if she’d been inside Moira’s head. “Have you taken any pictures here yet?”
“No.”
“Is there a reason for that?” Nell prodded.
Moira thought about it some more before answering. Had she been afraid that here, among all these successful people, her photos would seem amateurish, that the O’Briens would look on her picture-taking as a hobby and nothing more? The idea was ridiculous, really. The O’Briens might be boisterous and outspoken, but they were never cruel. Just look at how they were encouraging Luke in his new venture!
“I think I didn’t want my confidence shaken,” she admitted eventually. “This idea is still new to me.”
“Do I understand correctly that you want to take pictures of weddings, baby showers and things like that?” Nell asked.
Moira nodded.
“Then you’ll need to get used to people’s reactions, won’t you? Art—and it is art you’ll be doing—is subjective.” She patted Moira’s hand. “Get your camera out of your bag and start taking pictures whenever you’ve the chance. I think you should plan to be the official photographer for the pub’s opening as well.”
Though she loved the idea of capturing that night’s festivities for Luke, Moira wondered if it was wise. Wouldn’t it be yet another reminder that she had a life back home to return to? How were they supposed to figure out a future for themselves, if it seemed as if it had already been decided that they’d live apart?
Nell studied her with an understanding expression. “Do you know what I’ve told my sons and now my grandchildren? If there’s something in
