“I’m Marybeth Weaver, Kieran.” She put out her hand. “And this is my husband, Buck.”
“Happy to meet you both.” After he’d returned the handshake of the other two members of Desiree’s inner circle, he understood why all three were a major part of her life. Not a plonker in the bunch.
“That was quite a performance.” Marybeth flipped her long gray braid over her shoulder. “You looked gobsmacked, Sara.”
“Because I was. I had no idea he could sing, let alone sound like a star. We were just joking around. I expected some goofy version ofDanny Boy.”
“That’s the only Irish song I know,” Buck said. “It’s nice, but sad. This one’s nice and nobody’s dying.”
“Sad songs and drinking songs.” Kieran chuckled. “We love ’em.”
“Do you know any drinking songs?” Marybeth gave him an assessing glance.
“I might.”
“Do you knowWhiskey in the Jar?”
“I do. There’s a drinking song and a sad song rolled into one.”
“How aboutThe Rocky Road to Dublin?”
Buck turned to her. “Where’re you coming up with these?”
“Don’t forget I took that trip to Ireland the summer before we met.”
“You said you went to look at castles.”
“You can’t look at castles at night.”
“Which leaves singing and drinking in the pub, evidently.”
She gave her husband a smile. Then she patted Kieran’s arm. “We’ll get together later and come up with a list. But now we need to head back into the house. We’ve had more discussion about the meeting between you and your brother and we need your input.”
“All right.” He glanced at Sara as they followed Andy and the Weavers up the steps. “Just so you know, I’d like you to be there.”
“Are you sure? Seems like it should be just the two of you.”
“It’ll likely come to that after we get through the first awkward parts, but he’s on his home turf, surrounded by his relations whether they’re physically there or not. Granny’s thousands of kilometers away and I?—”
“Say no more. I’ll be there.”
“Thanks.” He and Sara joined the procession to the living room, the same route he’d taken earlier, but oh, how his world had changed since he’d walked into the house the first time.
For one thing, Desiree urged everyone to sit down. Chairs had been added, including a striking purple wingback. He motioned Sara to a dining chair and he took the one that was next to it. The upholstered seats should go to the older adults.
Lani grabbed another of the dining chairs and Buck claimed the fourth, insisting he preferred it. The chair also put him close to Marybeth, who sat with Vanessa and Harry on the couch. Desiree claimed the purple wingback and Andy took the other easy chair after unsuccessfully trying to trade with Buck.
Desiree glanced around and finally let her gaze rest on him and Sara. “As you two probably guessed, I called Andy at the newspaper the second you two were out the door. Then I texted Marybeth and Buck.”
Kieran looked at Andy. “You came from town? How long have you been here?”
“Close to thirty minutes. I might’ve ignored the speed limit.”
“I knew he’d drive like a bat out of hell, but I decided it was daylight so he wasn’t in too much danger of killing himself. And I wanted his advice, along with Marybeth and Buck’s on how to approach Lucky.”
“Instead of meeting him in town after the shop closes?”
“Not necessarily. But I think it might be kinder if I call now and tell him about you on the phone rather than have you show up in person when he’s had no chance to prepare.”
