LITMIR.BIZ

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you sure I’m not interrupting?” she asked, sensing she’d stumbled across another cozy, intimate scene that emphasized the emptiness in her life. Funny how she’d gone for years without feeling so adrift and after just a few months of being close to Peter, she felt it with sudden and depressing clarity.

      “You’re family. How could you possibly be interrupting?” Nell said, pouring her a cup of tea without asking and bringing a warm scone to the table.

      The aromas brought back a wave of memories from Ireland that put tears in her eyes.

      “Are you missing home?” Dillon asked.

      “Yes and no,” she said. She gestured at the tea and scone. “These do stir so many memories, but in general I’ve been quite happy here. In fact, I’ve been surprised by how well I’m adapting.” She gave her father a wry look. “Just as you said I would.”

      He laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t choke on those words.”

      “I’m capable of admitting when I’ve been wrong about something,” she said. “In this case, it’s not so much that I was wrong, as that you had better foresight than I did.”

      “And a lovely spin that is,” Dillon said, but he was laughing as he said it.

      Kiera allowed herself a smile, then debated revealing something that had been on her mind for a few days now.

      “There are a few changes I’ve been contemplating,” Kiera told them eventually. “I think I should start looking for my own place. I met with Connor earlier this morning, and he says we should have the last of the details settled for my work visa in another week. If I’m to stay for a few months, if not a little longer, I can’t continue to impose on Luke and Moira. They’re practically newlyweds. They don’t need me underfoot.” She gave them both a stern look. “And don’t think I haven’t realized that I was never needed to care for Kate.”

      “A child always needs a grandmother, if only to spoil them, and to pass along a little wisdom,” Nell corrected.

      “And I can do as much if I have my own place,” Kiera said. “I’ll begin looking as soon as my work status is finalized.”

      “You mentioned other changes,” Nell said. “What are those?”

      “Not a change so much, as a desire to feel more a part of Chesapeake Shores. I’ve spent a little time with your family recently, and they all lead incredibly active, busy lives. I think I’ve spent my life so focused on work that I’ve never had the opportunity to take on other commitments. I’d like to give that a try. If I’m to have that full, well-rounded life everyone seems so intent on my having, I think that’s the next step.”

      Dillon regarded her with delight. “I think it’s wonderful that you’re interested in taking on something new. You’ll find that giving back in some way can be incredibly fulfilling.”

      “I agree,” Nell said, her expression turning thoughtful. “And I might have some ideas along that line.”

      “Of course she does,” Dillon said. “Watch out, Kiera. Nell has her fingers in a lot of community pies, so to speak. Next thing you know, you’ll find you don’t have a minute to yourself anymore.”

      “That would be just fine by me,” Kiera said. “I need more to do and less time to think.”

      “Then I will see to it,” Nell said, looking delighted by the prospect.

      “Thank you both for listening,” Kiera said. “And for the tea and scone. It felt like a moment out of time. It was...” She searched for the right word. “Comforting, that’s it. It felt like home. I think I needed that this morning. Now, though, I need to get to the pub, or Luke and Moira will wonder what on earth has happened to me. Moira will be driving around, thinking I’ve gotten lost. She watches over me and frets as if I haven’t an ounce of sense.”

      “She just wants to make sure you’re happy here,” Dillon said. “It’s what we all want. Now, would you like a ride back to the pub?”

      “Thanks, but I’m fine with the walk. It’s a lovely spring morning. Everyone tells me it will soon be too hot here to enjoy a stroll by the water, though I can’t imagine such a thing.”

      She pressed a kiss to her father’s cheek and then, impulsively, to Nell’s. “I’ll see you soon.”

      “You can count on that,” Nell said.

      “And there’s your only warning to run while you still can or leave yourself to my wife’s mercy,” Dillon said.

      “Stop with your nonsense, Dillon O’Malley,” Nell scolded. “I’ve only Kiera’s best interests at heart. She’ll tell me the minute she feels overwhelmed—won’t you, Kiera?”

      “I’ve always been known to speak my mind. Isn’t that so, Dad?” she said wryly.

      “True enough.”

      Kiera left their cottage feeling warmed by more than the familiar tea and scone. How long had it been since she’d truly felt part of a family? Longer than she could recall. It felt surprisingly good.

      * * *

      “You took a long time to get here,” Moira told Kiera when she walked through the door at the pub.

      “I decided to pay a visit to your grandfather and Nell, so you and Luke could have a bit of time together.”

      Moira gave her an odd look that Kiera couldn’t quite interpret, so she didn’t bother trying. “I need to touch base with Luke and see what he wants me to do today.”

      “Not before you tell me how it went with Connor after the two of you pointedly told me I wasn’t needed.”

      Kiera heard the hurt in her voice. “It was hardly that you weren’t needed. Kate was too restless to keep still while we went over so many boring details.”

      Moira looked surprisingly startled. “That’s all it was?”

      “What else would it be? Did you think we were keeping secrets from you?” Kiera asked. “You heard the most important part, that he’s convinced my status will be resolved within a week or two at the most. As a temporary consultant, I can hardly be taking a job from an American, since being from Ireland is in the job description.”

      “And you’ll be able to stay for how long? Did you discuss permanent residency?”

      Kiera frowned. “That was never under consideration, Moira. We’re looking at a six-month work visa, perhaps a year at the outside. I don’t think we can stretch it further than that.”

      “You have family here,” Moira argued. “You’ll have work. You could apply to become a legal resident. That’s what should have been discussed.”

      “A discussion for another time,” Kiera countered. “I’m not prepared to make such a decision yet.”

      Her daughter looked thoroughly dismayed by her response.

      “Aren’t you happy here?” Moira asked. “I thought you were. I thought you’d been adapting really well, in fact.”

      “Darling, I am happy. This change has definitely been good for me, exactly as you’d hoped. Do we have to take another leap already?”

      Now Moira looked oddly guilty. “I just want you to know that we like having you here with us. I know Granddad wants you to stay on.”

      “Your grandfather knows where I stand on this. We all need to focus on the here and now and not be looking too far down the road just yet.” She studied her daughter’s expression. “Are you thinking for some reason that I’ve been feeling unwanted?”

      “Maybe I was afraid that I’d made you feel uncomfortable somehow,” Moira admitted. “Sometimes I send out mixed signals. Ask Luke. He’s been victimized by my mood swings.”

      Kiera

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