“Ah can’t believe this is real. Ah never thought ah’d feel so happy.” She would always have fear and pain from the past, but Baile chased away most of those feelings.
“Ah never thought ah’d feel this way again.” He traced his finger down her jawline and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Ah haven’t been with anyone else since my wife died. Ah tried, but there wasn’t anyone that caught my eye.”
Inside she found herself torn between disbelief and shock. “Ye haven’t had sex since yer wife died? It’s been five years, Baile.”
“Aye, but ah never wanted to wrong any woman. Ah wasn’t interested in anyone else. Not till ye came along.”
Baile laid on his back and pulled Mazey against him. She rested her head on his chest and they covered themselves with another blanket from the nearby bag. They both fell asleep for a few hours while they cuddled close together.
Chapter 11
She wasn’t nervous until she saw Malmuira. Baile sat next to her on the little bench in the garden. She wondered how Baile would react if Malmuira wasn’t enthusiastic about their match, or if she disapproved outright. Mazey respected and cared for Malmuira, and until this moment, didn’t realize how much she valued her approval. Malmuira’s hand rested in her husband’s as they approached leisurely. Garia took Siusan to the kitchens to help with supper, and Gilla watched her boy sleep in his cradle. It was the perfect opportunity to talk to Malmuira.
Mazey hugged her dear friend. “Malmuira, it’s so good to see ye.”
Malmuira pulled back with a smile, but Mazey could see a hint of confusion on her face. “It’s good to see ye too. What are ye doing out here with Faither?”
Baile stood as well clapping his hand against Oidche’s shoulder in a welcoming gesture. “Oidche, ah hope ye’re taking good care of my daughter.”
Mazey shifted her feet uncomfortably and played with the hem of her sleeve while she looked at the ground. She tried her best to come up with a way to say anything.Hello, good friend. I love your father.That wouldn’t work.
Baile saved her the trouble. “Malmuira, Mazey and ah have some good news we would like to share with ye.”
Malmuira looked back and forth between the two, a light slowly dawned in her eyes.
Baile cleared his throat and spoke in a confident voice. “Over the past year now, ah have grown close to Mazey. We fell in love, truth be told. Ah plan to marry her and ah ask ye attend the wedding as our guest of honor. It would mean the world.”
Malmuira’s eyes grew large as saucers and her mouth hung open, as did Oidche’s. She quickly recovered and threw her arms around Mazey and Baile’s neck. “Oh Faither, ah’m so happy for ye. Ah’ve been hoping ye would find the right woman and Mazey is just the sweetest. Ah’m so happy.” She pulled back away from them with tears in her eyes. She wiped at them with the corner of her sleeve and held out her hand to Mazey. “Ah know ye’ll be a wonderful maither to Siusan. And ah can’t wait to meet yer son. He will be my brother then?” She laughed at the thought and everyone else joined in the lightheartedness she exuded.
“Aye, ah guess that would be it.” Baile’s smile was sweet and genuine.
“Ah didn’t get to hear his name? What is it?” Oidche asked curiously.
Mazey looked at Baile and smiled sweetly. “His name is Desmond. After yer great grandfaither.”
Baile beamed with pride and kissed Mazey sweetly on the cheek. This elicited a fresh wave of tears from Malmuira who hugged Mazey again.
“Actually, we would share some news with ye,” Oidche said after the women calmed down.
Malmuira nodded, putting her hand to her belly. She looked at both her father and Mazey. “Ah’m with child.” She sounded so excited and happy that Mazey was almost overwhelmed by the wave of joy that washed over her.
“My sweet daughter,” Baile choked out. He wrapped Malmuira in a hug and then grabbed Oidche to hug him.
Mazey and Malmuira wandered off together to chat.
“So when did ye and my faither court?” Malmuira asked curiously.
Mazey didn’t know how to answer. “Ah guess we never officially courted. He asked me to marry him right after Desmond was born.” A realization hit Mazey. She promised Siusan she would tell her as soon as she figured out her son’s name. “Mal, we have to go see Siusan. Ah have something important to tell her.”
Mazey grabbed her hand, and they dashed towards the kitchens in search of the little girl. They found her at a low counter, covered from head to toe in flour. She pounded a small piece of dough with a rolling pin. She looked up just in time to see Malmuira and her eyes went wide.
“Mal!” she shouted with excitement. She dropped the dough she was working on and sprinted to see her sister. Her chubby hands, flour and all, wrapped around Malmuira and she kissed her cheek.
“Siusan, ah missed ye. Ah’ve got some good news to share with ye too, but first, Mazey needed to tell ye something.”
Mazey put her arms out and Siusan jumped over into them. “Ah wanted ye to know ah thought of a name for my son.” She paused for dramatic effect and waited until Siusan could hardly contain herself. “His name is Desmond.”
Siusan squealed. “Ah love it!”
