Putting on his hat, Kieran looked down at the grave. “She did give us life.”
“So true.” Lucky’s gaze dropped. “And a good hair color. I’m glad I got hers, especially now that I know the scumbag she ran off with was blond.”
“My gobshite father was blond, too. She had a type.”
“I liked hearing she was a reader, though.” His voice softened. “Granny seemed proud of that.”
“She is.” Leaning down, he shifted the pots so they were lined up better. “Mum was a fine student.”
“I thought my love of books was all my mom, but maybe some was her doing.” Crouching, he plucked a small weed and tossed it aside. Then he gently laid his palm on the grassy mound.
Kieran’s breath hitched. Seeing Lucky do that got to him. His brother had never felt her arms around him, but he had. A warm hug, the scent of her perfume… the memory hovered… and was gone.
When Lucky straightened, he blinked away a sheen of moisture. “Thank God she sent that last postcard.” He swallowed. “What you did, using your life savings to come over here….” His chest heaved. “I won’t ever be able to thank you enough.”
Kieran looked right back, memorizing Lucky’s face. Emotions crowded his chest and clogged his throat. “I think you just did, bro.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Sara had captured it all. She’d decided to leave her Stetson at home today but she loved that Kieran had made sure to wear his. No one would doubt those two guys were related.
She had their laughing fit on video and stills of all the other precious moments. The emotions they couldn’t find when they’d first arrived at this gravesite had finally spilled out of them, the sorrow, the laughter, the love.
No telling how they’d react to her paparazzi behavior. They’d had no idea the cameras were rolling. She’d keep the extra pictures and video to herself for now. If they didn’t want them, she did.
She’d grabbed those images without hesitation, desperate to save something of Kieran. Losing him completely at the end of the week was unthinkable. No point in denying it. She loved him.
When they moved away from the headstone and walked toward her, she quickly scrolled to the three shots most likely to work for the project. They approved her choices. Then Lucky gave her his number and she transferred the pictures to his phone.
Their exit from the graveyard was much faster and more cheerful than their entrance. They paused in the parking lot while Lucky sent the images to Molly along with an explanation.
The trip to L’Amour and More took all of three minutes. Sara offered to be the official photographer inside the bookshop, too. She had a ready excuse — Kieran was free to interact with Lucky and Oksana while they proudly showed off their beloved shop.
Whenever a candid shot turned out especially well, she texted it to his phone. He’d have plenty of images to choose from the next time he sent Granny pictures.
When Oksana suggested getting some shots of Sara with Kieran, she nixed the idea. Better not to have any evidence that his granny might see. She’d have questions and they had no answers.
After Kieran had explored the bookshop and chosen two hardback copies of Desiree’s first book to take home, he was ready to tackle the drive to the ranch. They walked the short distance to Hannigan’s, where his small white sedan sat right where he’d left it.
He glanced at the entrance to Hannigan’s. “Should I see if Justine’s there and tell her the news?”
“Do you want to?”
“I do, but not now.” He pulled the keys out of his pocket. “I’d rather get this drive over with.”
“Let’s do it.”
“Then in you go.” He opened the driver’s side door.
She glanced at him in confusion. Was he hoping she’d take the wheel? “Sorry, but I can’t. It would be against your rental agreement for me to drive.”
“I wasn’t asking you—” He looked inside the car. “Oh.”
“Ah. You thought that was the passenger side.”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “I did, yeah. Let’s try this again. Come with me.” Leaving the door open, he walked around theback of the car and opened the front passenger door with a flourish. “In you go.”
“Thanks.” She slid onto the warm seat. The interior had been spritzed with something to make it smell better. She didn’t agree with the choice.
