“Half seven,” Carson answers.

  “Shit.” I jump up. The kids need to get to school, and I need to get ready to meet Aidan. “Boys, go get your bags packed.”

  I rush into the kitchen to make them breakfast, but they stop me.

  “We already did,” Kellen says. “We ate breakfast, too.”

  They did? Sure enough, dirty bowls are in the sink and the box of cereal is still sitting on the counter. Along with the milk. With a sigh, I put both of them back where they belong.

  “You spilled your drink, but we cleaned it.” That’s Carson.

  I turn back. What drink? Fuzzy memories of last night come back of me checking on Aisling, the boys going to bed, and then me sitting on the couch. With a beer. Shit, I can’t believe I fell asleep. Actually, yes, I can. The late nights of staring at the accounting books and trying to come up with a solution clearly caught up with me.

  “Thank you for doing that.”

  Aisling comes to stand in front of me with her lips down-turned. “You didn’t read to me like you promised.”

  I kneel down to her level. Her hair has been brushed, and from the bright pink skirt with white polka-dots and white shirt with purple horizontal stripes, it’s obvious she picked her own outfit.

  “I’m sorry. You were sleeping so sweetly, I didn’t want to wake you up.”

  “But you promised,” she says, her voice plaintive.

  A burst of anger at the unfairness of everything bubbles up inside me, but I bite it back. It’s not Aisling’s fault. She’s just a little girl who lost her Da. You lost him, too. I hush the ugly voice.

  “I’m sorry.” I brush back a curl dipping down onto her forehead. “Next time I’ll read you two stories.”

  Seemingly satisfied, she nods, but I’m not sure she believes me.

  I stand. “Alright, let’s get you off to school.”

  Once I’ve made sure everyone’s bags are actually packed, we head down the stairs, through the darkened pub, and out onto the street. The sound of gulls fills the air, along with the familiar and comfortable scent of the ocean. Aisling holds my hand while the twins bicker with each other several yards ahead.

  Out on the water, fishing boats move away from the shore and toward the silhouette of several islands in the distance. There’s a pang of longing in my chest to be somewhere else. This is my home, and I love it. But I never expected to spend my whole life here.

  “Are you going to come get me after school?”

  I glance down at Aisling. “I have to be at the pub. The boys will walk home with you.” I make a mental note to remind them.

  “Okay.”

  I hate the defeat in her tone, but there’s nothing I can do. Someone has to take care of the business and the only one around to do it is me. Thankfully the school is only a short walk from the pub and after our goodbyes and the three of them disappear inside, I rush back to the flat. I take a quick shower, throw on my clothes, and pull my hair up into a ponytail. A smidge of vanity has me dabbing on some pink lip gloss and a bit of mascara. There’s not much I can do for the dark circles.

  By the time I make it out the door, I have fifteen minutes to reach my destination. Which, in a village as small as Burtonport, is plenty of time. I wave at the few villagers I pass on my way to the small cafe. Aidan’s waiting outside at one of the picnic tables. It’s the perfect weather to be sitting out here, actually. The sky is clear, although it’s a bit gray in the distance, but for the time being, it’s lovely.

  When he spots me, he smiles and stands. I can’t help but appreciate the way his shirt pulls across his chest and upper arms. Or how his waist narrows and how snug his jeans fit. I suppose to some, Aidan might be intimidating with all the tattoos that decorate his upper body, covering the entirety of both arms and the back of each hand and all ten fingers. Especially the one that crawls up the front of his neck and wraps around both sides. But to me, they’re just a part of him.

  “Good morning.” He pulls me in for a giant hug. It’s how he always greets me.

  I squeeze him back, breathing in the woodsy scent that clings to him, and absorb the warmth of his body. “Morning.”

  Aidan draws back and his eyes track down me. I can’t hold back a small shiver. Please, don’t let him notice. “You look nice.”

  I relax. “Thanks, so do you.”

  We take a seat and a minute later, Fiona comes out. “Morning, Sorcha. Aidan. The usual?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Aidan nods. Every once in a while, I’m tempted to surprise her by ordering something different, but not today. I need today to be like any other visit from him. Where my Da isn’t gone, I don’t have to parent three children, and I don’t have to worry about losing everything.

  CHAPTER 3

  Aidan

  Sorcha’s been trying to hide it since I got here, but something is going on that she won’t tell me. Nothing short of force will make her, either. She’s that stubborn. And I don’t want to spend our last day together fighting. Although, together is being generous. Since I got here the day before yesterday, we’ve had a grand total of eight hours where it’s been just the two of us. I’m not complaining—I did show up unannounced. I just don’t like the fact that she’s working so hard without anyone to help. Tonight, she’s going to have to deal with a disruption to her “system”.

  The pub is mostly empty, with only a couple elderly gentlemen occupying one of the tables, but a few of the fishing boats have already docked. The married men go home, but a large segment of the single ones come into O’Connell’s. In a village this small, their options are limited if they don’t want to cook for themselves. But what crowd is drawn here, is more than enough to keep Sorcha running around.

  Aisling sits at the bar, her dangling legs kicking back and forth, with some paper and markers while she picks at the food in the takeaway container next to her. She doesn’t have the artistic talent of her older sister, but maybe she’ll grow into hers as she gets older and has more practice and instruction.

  “Are you going to help Sorcha?”

  I turn my attention to the twins seated across from me. Carson, the younger by five minutes, has a mouth full of the shepherd’s pie I brought from The Wagon Wheel Cafe. It might be tacky to bring another restaurant’s food into the pub, but I didn’t want to put any extra strain on the cook by ordering for the five of us. Kellen stares at me expectantly, but also with a trace of pleading.

  “Is she in trouble?” Perhaps I’ll get some answers from them.

  The twins share a glance and Kellen turns back to me. “I heard her on the phone the other day talking to someone. She didn’t know I was listening. It was something about borrowing money and the pub.”

  Borrowing money? And what does the pub have to do with anything?

  “Do you remember anything else?”

  Kellen shakes his head. “Nothing other than she was crying afterward.”

  Fuck. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll do what I can to help.”

  The boys and I finish eating before Sorcha sends them upstairs to do their homework.

  “No video games until it’s done or you’ll lose your privileges,” she warns. “Don’t think I’ll forget to check, either.”

  The two trudge into the kitchen with a wave over their shoulder. I clean up our mess and take a seat at the bar next to Aisling. More men enter. Not willing to go another night sitting here while she does all the work, I vacate the stool and come around the opposite side of the bar. She glances over at me from where she’s filling a pint glass from the tap.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m helping. And don’t feed me that bullshit line about a system.” I glare at her. “I’m perfectly capable of delivering plates of food or filling a pint of beer.”

  “You’re not supposed to curse,” Aisling pipes up before Sorcha can argue with me.

  I pull a euro coin out of my pocket and toss it on the bar top. “Penance.”

  She snatches it up and deposits it in her bag hanging from the back of her stool. “You can curse again, if you want.”

  Her sister groans and then shifts her glare back to me again. I stare back, daring her to contradict me. Finally, Sorcha throws up her hands with a sigh. “Fine.”

  The rest of the night goes far smoother than either of us expected after a rough start. More than once we ran into each other and I spilled beer on the floor, but somehow we developed a rhythm that worked for both of us. Finally, the last customer leaves and she locks up. Together, we clean up and I’m back behind the bar washing glasses while Sorcha sits in a stool on the other side.

  “Thank you for your help tonight. I’m sorry if I was cranky earlier.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry. But, if you want to make it up to me, then how about telling me what’s going on.” I’m not above manipulation to get what I want.

  “There’s noth—”

  “How long have we been friends?” I interrupt her.

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “How long?” I press.

  Sorcha sighs. “Five years.”

  “And in those five years, have I ever asked you to do something for me?” I finish the last glass and dry my hands off.

  Her entire body sags and she rests her forearms on the bar top. “No.”

  I mimic her pose and wait until she meets my eyes. “I’m asking now.”

  The silence lengthens between us until finally Sorcha nods. “The pub isn’t doing well. Da was behind on payments when he died. By a lot. Except he told me he was able to get a loan. Yet, there’s no record of it. I’ve been getting phone calls from vendors that haven’t been paid in several months. If I can’t pay them, they’re going to freeze our account and I won’t be able to order inventory.”

  She takes in a deep breath and blows it out. “I called the bank to try and get a loan, but they denied me. If I can’t pay the bills, I’m going to lose not only the pub, but our home.”

  “Christ.” I run a hand down my face. Didn’t you suspect something like this? I did, but having it confirmed makes it real. “What can I do to help?”

  I would never let Sorcha lose the pub or her home, even if I have to send her a large, anonymous financial gift. She reaches across the width of the bar and clasps my hand. “Thank you for offering, but there really isn’t anything you can do. I’ll figure things out.”

  “You don’t have to do this all alone.”

  She huffs. “I’m not taking your money, Aidan.”

  I bristle in offense. “Why not?”

  “What happens when that runs out? Because it will. Then I’ll be right back where I am now.” Sorcha throws up her hands. “I’ll just have to figure something else out. Reduce the menu, maybe. Limit what’s on it so I don’t need to order supplies for something we’re not going to make. I can also not supply a larger range of liquors or beers. I’ll work more hours.”

  “Jesus, you’re already working twelve hour days.”

  “Then I’ll work fifteen,” she snaps back, finally losing her defeated expression, and sits upright. “I’m done talking about this. I’m not taking your money. End of discussion.”

  There’s no point arguing anymore. Not with the mulish tilt to her chin. All it will do is drive a wedge between us. I’ll let it go for the moment, but this isn’t over. I’ll figure out something. Maybe pay a visit to the bank and persuade them to reconsider giving Sorcha the loan.

  “You’re a pain in my ass. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah, well, you’re a pain in mine, so we’re even.” She glares at me then taps her phone screen. “I better get upstairs and make sure the boys did their homework. Plus, I promised Aisling I’d read to her. You’ll say bye before you leave in the morning?”

  “Of course.” I round the bar as Sorcha jumps down off the stool. I wrap my arms around her and she hugs me back. “Don’t be stubborn. If you can’t figure things out, call me. Swear?”

  She nods against my chest. “I swear.”

  Tastes like a lie. Would she take my money if she knew who I really was and that I can afford to buy out the loan on the pub? Knowing her, probably not. When I get back to Dublin, I’ll make some phone calls. Sorcha draws back, rises up on her toes, and kisses my cheek. “Thank you for being my friend.”

  I kiss her forehead and hug her a little bit tighter. “Don’t forget you swore.”

  She nods.

  “I’ll stop by in the morning and say my goodbyes to everyone.”

  We walk to the door and she opens it for me. I make my way down the footpath and glance over my shoulder. Sorcha still stands in the doorway, her face in the shadows. She waves and I return the gesture. Then she steps inside, and, a minute later, the whole pub goes dark. Faint light shines from the windows of the second floor. I blow out a breath and head for the bed and breakfast, already regretting having to leave tomorrow. But I can only be gone so long before Da or Cian starts asking questions. Plus, there is some unresolved family drama that needs to be faced.

  CHAPTER 4

  Sorcha

  “Kellen. Carson. Can one of you go let Aidan in, please? He’s at the door. And make sure you lock it behind you,” I call out from the bathroom where I’m trying to finish getting ready.

  Footsteps pound, vibrating the floor, and then there’s more pounding as one of the boys runs down the stairs. I turn out the light and head into the living area. Aisling is finally finishing her breakfast. I kiss the crown of her head. “Go get your shoes on and grab your school bag.”

  She jumps up from the table and runs to her room, nearly crashing into Carson, who strolls in from the hallway with his bag slung over his shoulder. Two sets of footsteps plod up the stairs and seconds later Kellen appears in the open doorway. Right behind him is Aidan, who shouldn’t look this good at just past seven in the morning. Another form-fitting shirt accentuates his broad chest, and the color of it only makes his blue eyes that much brighter. The sun shining in through the window hits his auburn hair, making it glow like fire. My belly flutters as though there’s a swarm of bees inside it. Stupid bees need to settle the fuck down.

  “Morning.” Did that sound normal? I hope it sounded normal.

  Aidan cocks his head slightly and his forehead crinkles, but then his face clears. “Good morning.”

  I glance at Kellen. “Get your things for school, please, and make sure Aisling has hers. We need to be going.”

  He dashes down the hallway.

  “Let me clean this up quick.” I wash Aisling’s bowl and wipe down the table. By the time I’m finished, Kellen and she appear. “Everyone ready?”

  Heads bob, and the five of us trek downstairs and out the front door. With Aidan leaving today, it shouldn’t be this pretty out. Aisling grabs Aidan’s hand and then mine, so she’s walking between us.

  “I’m sad you have to leave,” she tells him, glancing up.

  You and me, both.

  Aidan winks. “I’ll be back again, before you know it.”

  “Are you going to come for my birthday?”

  “Hmmm, I don’t know. When is it again?”

  Aisling giggles, because he knows perfectly well when it is. Every year since she turned three, he’s sent her a present. Same with the twins since they turned eight.

  “It’s September seventh,” she draws out all three words with a sassy head shake punctuating each one.

  “That’s right. How could I forget?” Aidan swings her arm gently. “I’m not sure, but I’ll see what I can do.”

  She’ll see him before her birthday, since mine is before hers. Except, we may be out of a home by then. While Aisling chatters to him, I try to quell the panic that is creeping in. Didn’t I just tell Aidan the other night there’s no sense in worrying about things that may or may not happen? I need to take my own words to heart.

  Finally, we reach the school. He squats down to give Aisling a hug and he shakes both Kellen and Carson’s hands since they’ve decided they’re too old for hugs. The three of them say goodbye and hurry into the building. Then it’s my turn. I hold on to Aidan a few seconds longer than I normally would. Or maybe he’s the one not letting go.

  “Don’t forget you swore,” he whispers in my ear.

  I manage to nod. Far too soon, I step back. Tears burn my eyes and my nose is getting stuffy. “You better get going if you want to beat all the traffic.”

  He huffs out an amused breath. There is no traffic until he gets closer to Dublin. “I’ll text you later tonight.”

  I raise my hand in farewell as Aidan turns toward the bed and breakfast and his car.

  The walk back to the pub is depressing, because I’m alone. I’m on the verge of bursting into tears, but that will only make things worse. I’m glad he left, even if I’m going to miss him terribly, because I don’t want him to see me like this. It will only make him that more determined to try and help.

  I’d been so tempted to accept his offer last night, but turning it down was the only thing I could do. Like I’d said, what happens when whatever he loans me dries up? I’ll be in the same sinking boat. The small amount he’d be able give me would only be a bandaid over a gaping wound. A drop in the bucket. I love him for it, but it also wouldn’t make enough of a difference. He might as well save his money.

  Which still leaves me with trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do. Don’t think about it right now.

  The heavy weight of unwanted familial burdens nearly crushes me as I force myself out of our second floor flat and down the stairs. Another day filled with the guilt of bitter resentment awaits me when I reach the bottom. Even if I wanted to get away from the one place I never pictured myself stuck in, I can’t. Da saw to that.

  I step into our family’s pub and the familiar yeast smell surrounds me. It’s a scent I’ve been around since I was Aisling’s age, maybe a couple years younger. I sat at this same bar, on the same stool, with my feet dangling while Da stood behind the counter pouring beer and shooting the shit. The villagers loved him. Visitors, too. Da never met a stranger.