“I’m in love with Amelia.”
She strokes the side of her mug with her thumb, her expression unreadable. “She is in love with you too.”
I smile. My chest swells to the size of a football field with this admission.
“She’s pregnant,” we both say at the same time.
“You knew?” I ask. “How? Did Amelia tell you?”
“She didn’t need to. All the signs were there.”
“How do you feel about it?” It must be difficult for her to finally watch her son-in-law moving on, even after all these years.
“I think the question is, how doyoufeel about it?”
“I’m happy, Orla. When Niamh died, I never thought… I never wanted to be happy again. It felt wrong that I should experience any kind of joy when she wouldn’t get to see her sons grow up.”
The lump in my throat is still there when I think about Niamh, but it’s finally getting easier. Thanks to having Amelia in my life.
“It isn’t wrong, Declan. It’s life. If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you.”
“You don’t think I’m crazy, falling for someone thirty years younger than me?”
“Of course you’re crazy. But love always is.”
Deep breath. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“You have my blessing, Declan. Not that you need it.” She pauses. “While you were away, Amelia asked for my help to find her father.”
My hackles are instantly up. I know where she’s going with this.
“You know who he is, don’t you?” she asks.
“Yes, and I can’t let her find out what kind of man she’s related to.”
“The pregnancy might just encourage her to reach out to him, Declan, and the less he knows about her connection to the Byrnes the safer she’ll be.”
Orla stands up, and I realize what’s missing from the kitchen. There’s no aroma of baking bread.
“I think I’ll take Amelia into the village today,” she says. “Introduce her to people. You have a wedding to plan.”
13
AMELIA
“Can I open my eyes?”
Declan has a surprise for me. Since I told him that I’m pregnant, he has been cooking breakfast for me every day, waking me up with a coffee and a kiss in the mornings, and placing his hand over my abdomen at every available opportunity. He rubs my back when I’m feeling nauseous. He hugs me in bed when I’m so tired that I can’t keep my eyes open. He refuses to let me lift anything heavier than a pan filled with vegetables.
We no longer have to hide our feelings from Orla either, and although I still feel a little awkward when she’s around, that’s my concern and not hers.
“Almost ready.” Declan guides me another couple of steps with my eyes closed.
We’re in the stables. The smell of fresh hay and Sheriff will always ease the tension in my shoulders, and I find myself smiling even though I’ve no idea what I’m going to find when I open my eyes.
“Okay, open.” Declan releases my arms and stands aside so that he can watch my reaction.
I’m facing the stall next to Sheriff’s. A white horse is peering back at me with almond-shaped golden-brown eyes. Her mane has been tied with pink and blue ribbons, and her coat is immaculate. Smaller than Sheriff, she nudges my cheek with her nose when I reach out to stroke her.
