Always and Forever (4 page)

“This is nice. Thanks for arranging a night out alone.” Brie smiled across the white-clothed table at Pat. He looked so handsome in a navy jacket and a light blue Italian shirt, open
at the collar, which she’d had made for him.

He reached out and grasped her hand. “We need more alone time.”

“I’m all for that. Now that Sinead’s home from college for the summer, the house is crowded again.”

“And the bar is a zoo, of course, thanks to my sister.”

“Hush. It’s good news. You’re making barrels of money.”

“Not my main concern,
a ghrá
,” Pat added.

“I know that.”
She studied his face, relatively unlined for a man in his late forties. “And I admire you for it.”

He lifted his wineglass and sipped. Pat usually drank beer, but he’d acquired a taste for good cabernet from Brie. “I never knew that.”

She picked up their joined hands, kissed his knuckles. His hand bore the scent of some expensive aftershave. “Well, I do.”

“That’s nice.” He sniffed.
“Hmm, that beef smell is sucking me in.”

“Me, too.” She picked up a menu. “I think I’ll splurge on red meat.”

After they’d ordered, he asked, “Irene stayed after bein’ there all day?”

“Yes. She’ll sleep over.”

“Did you make it home early enough to spend time with the kids?”

She bristled. “I did. I could say you didn’t, but…”

“You’re right. I just hate them not to see one
of us.” He rubbed a finger over her wrist, sending little shivers down her spine. “I’ve been lookin’ forward to tonight for a week.” Since the last time they made love.

“I feel the same. Maybe we should take a weekend soon and go away. Just the two of us.”

“I’d like that. Let’s do it.” He watched her a minute, then nodded to the square of wood off to the side. “Wanna dance while we wait
for our food?”

“I’d love to.”

It was good to hold him close and sway to the music.

It was fun to share a meal without having to cut someone’s meat or mop up spilled milk.

She realized then it was a joy to have her husband all to herself and just bask in the pleasure of him.

They had a long-standing rule of no work discussion during dinner. Instead they ate succulent rare beef,
al dente vegetables and a blue-cheese salad. They talked about the family, some things in the news. But on the way home, Pat asked, “How did your job in Long Island go today?”

Brie bit back a smile. “Jonathan Forbes is quite eccentric. The place is like a museum and badly cluttered.” She shook her head. “He never cleaned anything out after his wife died three years ago.”

“That was hard
for Liam, too. The three of us went to help, but he broke down a lot.” Pat shivered. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

Brie reiterated the same about him, then both were quiet, reflective as they drove to Rockaway. Finally she asked, “Did you guys hire help yet?” She was hoping they had. Sophie and even C.J., nearly eight months pregnant, were working at the pub. Aidan
had talked C.J. into taking a leave from her desk job at the Secret Service.

Brie wasn’t pitching in at all, which probably irked Pat.

“Liam found a cook. He’s a college professor who wants part-time work.”

“Did you find a waitress?”

“Yeah, a young woman who’s quite a dynamo. I may need another, but we’re holdin’ off on that.”

“Are they nice?”

“Yeah, the girl’s interesting.”
He told her about Jamie Ralston. “I hope she does good.” He glanced over at her as he drove. “How about your day?”

Brie knew the topic would be a sensitive subject but she didn’t like keeping things from Pat. “InPlace got another job today.”

“Yeah?” She could tell he was holding back his reaction. He hated when she took on additional work. But there was more than his annoyance that would
cause problems with this one.

“Phillip Carson hired us to clean out his mother’s house. She died recently and he inherited the family home.”

Pat drew in a deep breath, then shot Brie the expression that she’d hated for twenty years. “What are you doin’, lass? He’s the one…” Pat bit off the words as if they were too difficult to utter.

“We don’t let personal opinions sway us in our
decision to work for someone.”

Pat shook his head, than raked a hand through his hair. “Fuck it, Brie. Sometimes, you expect too much.”

“I—”

His phone, plugged into the car, rang. “I gotta take that. Sweeney and Bridget are holdin’ down the fort.” He pushed the on button.

They both heard, “Pat, it’s Aidan.”

“Hey, what’s—oh my God, is C.J. in labor?”

“Nope. Her water broke
at six, we rushed to the hospital because the pains were coming close together and she had the baby at eight. It happened so fast, I didn’t have time to panic.”

“Aidan, big congratulations,” Brie said. “And lucky you, C.J.”

“Would you come to the hospital, Pat? I can’t get in touch with the rest of the family, and we need you to celebrate with.”

“We’ll be right there.” When he disconnected,
Pat said, “Let’s put our differences on hold, love. We got a baby to see.”

“I agree. How sweet.”

Pat swerved the car to the side of the road, did a U-turn and headed to Memorial Hospital. Brie was thrilled for Aidan and C.J. and secretly glad to end the discussion between her and Pat. Though she knew the issue was far from settled.

Aidan sat in the lounger by C.J.’s
bedside, smiling down at the little bundle nestled in his arms. They hadn’t asked to know the sex of the baby before the birth, and he’d been pleasantly surprised to see a girl make her debut. Red faced, smelling of powder, she breathed deeply in his arms. As he brushed his knuckle down her soft cheek, he said, “Hey, sweetheart. Open your eyes. Please.”

“She needs sleep.”

Aidan looked
over at C.J. Maybe it was because she was in such good shape or the labor had been so short, but she seemed remarkably alert and strong for having just given birth. “So do you.”

“Are you kidding? I could scale mountains.”

“No mountains for you, love.”

A knock came from the entryway. “We’re here. Is it okay for us to come in?” Pat called out.

“Yeah, get in here.” Aidan couldn’t
wait for them to see the baby.

They walked into the room, all dressed up.

Aidan said, “Uh-oh, did we interrupt something?”

“No, our romantic dinner was over by the time you called.”

Brie grasped his brother’s arm. “Patrick—”

But Pat had already started toward Aidan. “Look at her.” He squatted down so he could see the child up close. Gently, he touched her hand, and she latched
on to a finger. “Lord, you forget, you know?” When he looked up at Aidan, he said, “What’s wrong? We used the antiseptic soap from the dispenser before we came in.”

“It’s not that. I just…” Tears welled in his eyes, but he didn’t even care.

Patrick leaned over the baby, cupped Aidan’s neck and kissed him on the head—hard. “I know, buddy. I know.”

Aidan heard Brie sniffle.

And C.J.
said, “Come on, you guys. Buck up. This is cause for celebration.”

Brie went to C.J.’s bed and hugged her. “How are you?”

“Unbelievably good. God, Brie, it happened fast.”

“You’re lucky.”

“I wasn’t prepared. She was four weeks early, but she weighed seven pounds.”

“Maybe you weren’t early. You could have conceived sooner than you thought.”

Pat stood. “Yeah, you two love
birds, especially.”

They heard noise at the doorway. Then, “Aidan, my boy?”

His ma walked into the room. His pa stood behind her. “Oh my. Oh Aidan, C.J.” Mama crossed to the baby. “Paddy, look at this one.”

“She looks like all the others looked, Mary my girl.”

His mother’s smile was as big as Texas. A spry seventy two, with white hair and blue eyes which now glistened with love,
she was a beautiful woman. “No, she doesn’t. Her hair is light, and she’s thinner than the last few.”

“Would you like to hold her, Mama?”

“Can I? Hospitals these days have so many rules.”

“There’s a spare gown over there. Just put it on.”

When she straightened, she glanced at the bed. “I didn’t say hi to C.J.” She went to his wife, kissed her, held her close. Pa followed suit.

Aidan stood while his mother robed up in light blue, then sat in the chair and took the baby from him. His pa leaned over them, smiling hugely, despite his earlier remarks. “Hello,
leanbh
.
Go mbeannaí Dia duit beag amháin agus a choimeád sábháilte agat
.” Pat understood Irish better than most of them. So he translated his pa’s words. “May God bless you little one and keep you safe.”

Mama
stared down at the child, saying nothing.

Aidan sneaked around Pat and Brie and took C.J.’s hand. “Go ahead, you can tell her.”

“Mama O’Neil, don’t you want to know her name?”

“I… Why yes, I do, dear.”

Aidan said proudly, “It’s Mary Kate. We’re going to call her Katie.”

Mama looked up at him and gasped. “You two. Are you sure?”

“Won’t your mama Donuta be upset, C.J.?” Pa
asked.

“She already has a little one named after her. So, no, she won’t.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Mary Kate whispered, staring down at her namesake.

Who, just then, opened her eyes.

Aidan wanted to fall to his knees and thank God for this gift of a new baby joining their family.

It was midnight before they got home, and Brie still took the time to remove
her makeup, rub scented lotion on her skin and brush her hair. From his place on the bed, Pat leaned back into the pillows and watched her. He remembered when that hair was down to her waist. Then, everything she did pleased him, and sometimes, he felt that way again.

But not tonight.

She caught his eye in the mirror. “What are you doing?”

“Just watchin’ you.”

“I can tell from
your expression that you’re pissed about what I told you earlier.”

“I am. You and that counselor we saw were always after me to express myself, so I’m doin’ it. You gotta take the good with the bad.”

“Hell, Pat, can’t you see? You never express the good you’re feeling.”

He hesitated. Was that true? Had the counselor told them that? Those times were a blur, probably because he’d hated
talking to strangers about his relationship with Brie. That didn’t matter now, though. He should show how he loved his life, his family and the blessings God had brought him.

“I guess I do concentrate on the bad. I’ll try to do better.” He smiled, genuinely. “I adored seein’ that baby tonight, seein’ Aidan so blown away. And I like having Sinead home for the summer, even if he disrupts everything.”

Her knowing expression, reflected in the glass, warmed him. She rose and came toward him. She wore a crimson slip of a thing with the skinniest straps he’d ever seen. Sometimes, just the sight of her made him hard. She sat down on the bed. “Thank you for that. We have a lot to be grateful for. I’ll remember to say it out loud, too.”

“Should I go ahead with the rest, or do you just wanna
make love and tackle this later?”

She didn’t stiffen this time. She gripped his hand, though. “This was a business decision, honey.”

“One you could have passed up and spared us this.”

Biting her lip, she didn’t say anything. He hated the conflicted expression on her face, hated causing it. But this? No way. Still, he’d try to be reasonable.

“Why, Brie, why did you take this job
with him after our history with the guy?

She glanced away and he paused until she looked back. Tears came to her eyes. She was remembering that awful time. His eyes moistened, too. Then she cupped his face. “You’re right. I was only thinking about increasing our profit. I’ll assign the job to Annie, but I have to go assess the house myself, like I always do.”

“Thank you, love.” He pulled
her over him, kissed her hard and, as usual, she melted into him. For tonight, at least, the latest trouble between them was over.

Once Patrick turned off the light, and they were in darkness, the real world faded away.

“You are so beautiful.” Leaning over her, he brushed Brie’s hair back. “You take my breath away.”

She smiled, thinking to herself how much she loved
him. How much she wanted him to be happy. She held her husband’s blue gaze. They disagreed, fought over aspects of their lives, their pasts, but when they came together like this, nothing else mattered. She ran her hand down his cheek, then to his arms, masculine with their light dusting of hair. “I feel the same way about you. Last week, when you were working in the garden, I caught sight of you
out the kitchen window. You had your shirt off, and I almost came out and jumped your bones.” She nuzzled now into that hard chest, soaking up the spicy male scent that was her husband.

He laughed. It was deep and sexy and was one of the things that had attracted her to him the first time she’d seen him behind the bar at Bailey’s.

“What are you thinkin’? You zoned out.”