Tom stood from his spot in the back corner. He toddled forward, his pint tight in his grasp. “We don’t want her to go.”
My quick inhale almost choked me. Had I hallucinated his response?
People all around the room nodded. Smiles broke out.
Tammy and her friends joined Tom. Tammy wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then stuffed it into her pocket. “Tom’s right. We want you to stay. We want to love Clara just like we did you. You were Shayla’s daughter, and we loved you for no other reason. We offer that same love to Clara.”
The elders of Clover Hill stepped forward, creating a line across the pub. The men removed their hats and held them over their hearts. The women clasped hands and met Bree’s gaze.
“We were wrong.” Tom’s voice wobbled.
Tammy nodded. “We treated you poorly, and we’re sorry for that. You were right to call us out, and I’m sorry that it took us so long to overcome our prejudices against you and your love story.” Tammy walked toward us. Ronan stepped aside, and Declan helped me down from the chair. Tammy wasted no time wrapping me up in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, dear. I was wrong. I couldn’t see the truth. I see it now, and knowing you are not tearing these men apart but are making them happy, warms my heart. I’m sorry for judging you so harshly without understanding the full picture.”
I almost told her it was okay. I stopped at the last second, but I did return her embrace, holding her frail body and breathing in the familiar powder and lime scent that reminded me of Nana Maeve. “Thank you.”
“I knew as soon as you left that I’d been wrong.” Tammy patted my back three times before straightening. “They were inconsolable.” She tipped her head toward Ronan, then Finn and Declan where they stood behind me. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too.” I hugged her one more time.
Laughter peeled out from across the room, several men and women raising their glasses toward the ceiling. “Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Bree.” They cheered when my men surrounded me with hugs and warm arms across my back and waist. This was it. Everything I could have ever dreamed of was right here, in the place where I’d never thought to come back to.
What if I’d turned down the pub? I pushed the question aside. It didn’t matter. I had accepted it. I’d fallen in love, and we’d faced the criticism of the entire town and won our place.
It never should have been under contest, but knowing we’d stood our ground made my chest swell with pride. That was the fighting Sullivan spirit Mom passed down to me. I’d let it go for too long, and now that I had it back, everything would be okay.
Clara’s eyes opened. Her mouth puckered in a smacking yawn that caused everyone nearby to make an ‘aww’ sound.
That was my baby girl. Winning hearts before she could say a word.
Ronan kissed my forehead, then Clara’s. “Welcome home.”
“Drinks all around.” Tom slammed his pint onto the bar. “Ring the bell, Declan, and let’s get this party started.”
Everyone whooped. Clara fidgeted until Ronan patted her bottom and bounced her in his arms. They slipped into the crowd, and I rejoined Declan behind the bar. We fell into our old rhythms easily, except he stopped trying to sneak looks and touches. He leaned in and kissed my cheek when he walked past to fill a pint at the taps.
I patted his back when I needed to cross behind him, stopping to relish the feel of his muscles flexing. We hadn’t gotten enoughof each other yesterday or this morning. We’d be exhausted after the party, but I planned on enjoying my night too.
Hours passed in a blur. I stopped to feed Clara when necessary, and she made her way around the pub, being held by so many people I was sure she’d grow tired of being passed around.
Not my daughter. She seemed to love every minute of it.
Declan nudged my shoulder as Ronan closed the patio down for the night. “I’m going to do last call. Why don’t you and Clara go on upstairs. We’ll close and come up.”
“Like last year.” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively. “And we don’t need a snowstorm as an excuse.”
“No more excuses.” He kissed me full on the lips, then patted my ass.
“Guess I’d better go find our daughter.” I turned, hands on my hips, and scanned the room.
Finn sat in the corner by the fireplace, his feet propped up on a stool and Clara sound asleep in his arms. He twirled a strand of green garland with tiny shamrocks dangling from the middle when I approached. “Any chance you’d let me dress you up in this?”
“No way.” I shook my head. “It itches too bad.” I bent and kissed him. “But I do have something special for tonight.”
His eyes gleamed, and he sat up, being careful not to jostle Clara. “Oh?”
“Oh is right.” My heart threatened to burst at the way he held Clara close to his chest. All three of them treated her like something precious, like they could not believe she was theirsand would do anything for her. Like a father. They fell in love with her as easily as I did. If I’d had any reservations left, they would have disappeared with that knowledge. I took Clara from Finn with a wink. “Declan says you three will close up. I’ll put Clara to bed.”
Ronan had bought a crib and put it together this morning so Clara would have a safe place to sleep. I blew them all a kiss on my way up the stairs, not caring that a few of the last patrons saw me. There was no shame in showing the men I loved them. Nana Maeve taught me to believe in luck. Good and bad. I’d thought Clover Hill brought me nothing but bad luck. But it had given me the love of three great men. It had given me a daughter I loved with every fiber of my being. “You’re my lucky charm, baby girl.” I kissed her forehead and put her to bed. “We have a bright future planned for you.”
