LITMIR.BIZ

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why didn’t you take them both in the first place?”

      “I was trying to be frugal,” she explained, then grinned. “Then I remembered you’re rich. There’s no reason not to give Nell two cashmere scarves she’ll love. You’ll give her one, I the other.”

      “Is it going to be like this with every person on your list?” he asked.

      “More than likely, which is why you should go. You don’t have the stamina required for truly dedicated Christmas shopping.”

      “But I want to spend the day with you,” he protested. “You’re not here nearly long enough. We need to talk about changing that as soon as possible. With all the decisions that need to be made about the wedding, you should be living here full-time.”

      She swallowed hard at the reminder of just how much her life was about to change. “I promise we’ll talk about all that later,” she said. “Give me one more hour to shop on my own, then I’ll meet you.”

      His expression brightened. “At the jewelry store?”

      “If you like, although if you’re buying the engagement ring, shouldn’t you pick it out on your own, then present it to me with some big flourish?”

      “That’s one way to go,” he agreed. “But the last time I bought you a ring, you said it was too ostentatious and never wore it. Once this one’s on your finger, it’s going to stay there, so you might as well have a say in choosing it. It’s one of those partnership decisions you’re always going on about.”

      Megan chuckled. “Okay, fine. I’ll be at the jewelry store in an hour. What will you be doing?”

      “I think I’ll stop by Ethel’s and get some candy for our grandkids. I’m all out of the kind they like to find tucked in my pockets.”

      “I thought both Abby and Kevin told you to stop feeding their children candy every time you see them.”

      “Grandfather’s prerogative,” he said airily. “And don’t be bugging me about that. I know you keep a stash of candy on hand for them, too. And Ma has her cookie jar filled with their favorites.”

      “Guilty,” she admitted, then pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I do love you, Mick O’Brien.”

      She hurried off to the boutique on the next block, her step surprisingly light. The sky had turned clear blue, as if to match her improved mood. She just prayed that the hope and anticipation she was feeling right now could weather whatever reactions the rest of the family had to their news.

      When the entire O’Brien family assembled for dinner these days, it took several extra leaves in the table and the patience of a saint to be heard over the commotion of the children. Normally Mick loved these family gatherings, especially now that Megan was so often a part of them again.

      For too many years after his wife had left him, he hadn’t been able to sit down in the dining room without feeling her absence as an ache in his heart. That’s why he’d stayed away so much, using the excuse of work to avoid the emptiness he felt in his home.

      He glanced down the length of the table, feeling a sense of satisfaction at seeing Abby and her twins, Carrie and Caitlyn, with Trace beside them, then Jake and Bree, who was expecting their first child. On the other side of the table were Kevin and his son, Davy, along with his new wife, Shanna, and their recently adopted boy, Henry. Connor was next to Kevin, giving grief to the youngest of them all, Jess, who’d finally found her niche in life running The Inn at Eagle Point. Nell, who’d cared for the children in Megan’s absence, sat next to Jess, periodically scolding Connor just as she had so many times when they were children.

      And then at the end, where she’d always belonged, was Megan. She, too, was studying their family with an expression of misty-eyed nostalgia. She lifted her gaze to meet his and smiled. Mick winked at her, then stood and tapped a spoon on his glass of wine until he drew everyone’s attention.

      “Okay, everybody, settle down,” he said. “I have something to say.”

      “Uh-oh, somebody’s in trouble,” Connor taunted, his gaze immediately going to Jess.

      “Not me,” she insisted. “I’ve been an angel lately, right, Dad?”

      “A perfect angel,” Mick concurred. “And nobody’s in trouble. Your mother and I have some news.”

      “You’re getting married!” Abby exclaimed, shoving back her chair and hurrying to throw her arms around him.

      As the oldest, Abby had done her best to fill a mother’s shoes when Megan had left them. She’d also fought hard to bring about this reconciliation, though it had clearly taken far longer than she’d anticipated. Mick staggered back with the exuberance of her hug, then chuckled. “Way to steal my thunder, girl.”

      Bree stared at him, wide-eyed, a mix of hope and dismay on her face. “It’s true? You and Mom are getting married again?”

      “On New Year’s Eve,” he confirmed as Megan lifted her left hand to display the ring he’d placed on it yesterday.

      “That’s why you wanted me to reserve the inn for a private party,” Jess concluded. Like Bree, she seemed disconcerted by the news, but not entirely unhappy about it.

      Abby released him and went to her mother. “Mom, I’m so happy for you. I know how long you’ve wanted this.”

      Bree dutifully made her way to Megan and hugged her, followed with slightly less exuberance by Jess. Kevin stood and shook Mick’s hand.

      “Congratulations, Dad!” he said with lukewarm enthusiasm. With obvious reluctance, he turned toward Megan. “You, too, Mother.”

      In the general commotion, it took a minute for Mick to note that Connor had remained totally silent. Mick caught his younger son’s eye and saw a surprising amount of barely banked anger in his gaze.

      “Connor? You’ve been awfully quiet,” Mick said, giving him a warning look. “Isn’t there something you want to say?”

      Connor stood and cast a sour look at everyone else in the room before turning the brunt of his anger on Mick. “Are you all out of your flipping minds?” he demanded heatedly. “Have you forgotten that Mom ditched us all, Dad included? And now you’re going to welcome her back so she can break all of our hearts again? Well, not me.”

      “Connor O’Brien!” Mick said, his voice booming in warning. “Keep a civil tongue in your head.”

      “Save the lecture, Dad,” Connor retorted. “I’m out of here.”

      As he tore out of the room, Mick turned to Kevin. “Go after him,” he ordered.

      “No,” Megan said, standing. She looked shaken, but determined. “I’ll go.”

      “Mom, maybe that’s not such a good idea,” Abby protested.

      “I’m the one he’s unhappy with,” Megan said. “It’s up to me to fix it.”

      “She’s right,” Nell said, speaking for the first time. “Let her go.”

      Mick wanted to stop Megan, to do whatever was necessary to protect her from more hurtful accusations, but he knew better than to try. “If that boy says one disrespectful word to you, if he—”

      She gave him a chiding look. “I’ll handle it. The rest of you enjoy this wonderful meal Nell fixed for us.” She gave Nell’s shoulder a squeeze before leaving the room.

      Filled with regret, Mick watched her go. Abby returned to her seat beside him and patted his hand.

      “It’s going to be okay, Dad,” she said, setting aside whatever reservations she’d had. “Mom will get through to Connor. She has with the rest of us.”

      Mick wanted to believe Abby was right, but he knew what the others might not understand. Connor’s

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