“If the children want to stay with us,” she managed in a wobbly voice, “we would love to have them.”
At her emotional declaration, Seamus glanced up at Jenny, searching her face.
She pressed a hand to his cheek and peered down at him tenderly, even as tears slipped down her cheeks. “You’ve become like a son to me, Seamus. And Moya is like a daughter. If you’ve a notion to stay, Gavin and I have already decidedthat if we couldn’t find your da, we wanted to make you our children and adopt you.”
“You want to make us yours?” Seamus pulled away from her, his expression already losing the wariness and filling with excitement.
“Would you like that?” Jenny asked, caressing his hair.
“Yes!” Moya piped up from Gavin’s arms, the tears still streaking her cheeks but her eyes now bright. “Will you adopt me and Seamus today?”
All eyes turned to Mr. Leary, still standing in the door of the pub watching the exchange. He seemed to be taking everything in, weighing the situation, and attempting to make the right decision.
Bellamy liked him for his caution. The fellow didn’t want to abandon the children to just anyone. He wanted to make sure they would be happy and well taken care of. It showed that he’d cared about Mr. O’Reilly and fulfilling his promise to his friend.
Zaira stood and slipped her arm around Bellamy, leaning into him just the way he loved. He stooped and kissed the top of her head. He didn’t care that he’d already done so a dozen times or that Mr. Leary was watching. After all, this was still his wedding day, and she was still his bride.
“Mr. Leary,” Zaira said with a smile, “you can rest assured that here in the McKenna house, there is enough love for everyone. More than enough.”
Mr. Leary offered her a tired smile in return. “I can see that.”
“Then you’ll let Moya and Seamus stay?” she asked.
He looked from Moya to Seamus and back. Both childrenhad such hopeful expressions that he could do nothing but nod. “Of course.”
Moya released a happy cry, and Seamus gave a shout of jubilation. Gavin, with Moya still clinging to him, strode to Jenny and gathered all of them together into his arms so that in the next instant they were hugging and crying together with happiness.
Bellamy could only look down at his wife, his love for her swelling so strongly that it nearly brought tears to his own eyes.
“Bellamy McKenna,” she teased softly, “are you about to cry?”
He blinked. “Not even a wee bit.”
“’Tis okay if you are.”
“And if I am, what will you be doing about it?”
“What I’ll be doing for the rest of your life.” She lifted her lips and kissed him sweetly. “I’ll be loving you, Bellamy McKenna. That’s what I’ll be doing about it.”
“And I’ll be loving you too.” He drew her into his arms and raised a grateful prayer heavenward. Oh aye, there might not be such a thing as a perfect match. But he’d come very close to it.
