As luncheon neared, Miss Maeve declared it was time to return to a chorus of disappointed whines. Soren led the way from the forest, out onto a more used path that ran between the forest and a cluster of farms southeast of Dannan.
Wildflowers bloomed in the tall grasses on either side of the path, inviting dozens of fat bumblebees that filled the air with a warm buzz. Maeve warned the children not to get too close and then stung, using the opportunity to explain bee stingers and their lifecycle.
Soren kept the pace easy, enjoying listening to the musical way Maeve spoke. Honestly, he’d heard her talk about a lot of things, both school subjects and more eclectic topics on their walks home, and he could safely say by now that whatever she talked about, he was happy to listen.
He didn’t realize at first, but a small grin tugged at his lips. The weather was fine, the air was fragrant, the children were happy, and Maeve herself seemed cheerful, too.
That was, until someone called her name.
“Maeve Brádaigh! Is that you?”
They all looked over to a nearby fence, where a young man in loose clothing and a wide-brim hat stood leaned against a post,a rake propped beside him. Golden hair peeked out from under his hat, and a sheen of sweat gathered on his tanned skin.
Soren’sturukgrowled in warning, and he watched warily as Maeve strode through the tall grass to greet the man.
“Collin Kenny! Hello!”
Neither Soren nor his beast cared for her friendly tone at all. He and the children watched as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss this Collin’s cheek in greeting.
“I didn’t realize you were back—and teaching. I thought for sure you’d be somewhere like Adrigoll or still in Gleanná,” said Collin.
Maeve’s smile turned brittle, and Soren wasn’t proud of the pleasure he felt at the man so quickly losing her good will. This was a touchy subject, Soren well knew.
“It’s always nice to be home,” she said breezily.
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, their smiles still wide, and Soren didn’t like their familiarity. Was this one of the young men Imogen had alluded to, a past dalliance of Maeve’s?
Come to think of it, wasn’t the name Collin Kenny familiar…?
The children were just starting to get restless when a woman appeared over the rise of the nearest hill. As she drew closer, Soren realized he recognized her. It was—
“Neomi Ahearn, hello!” called Maeve, waving to the woman.
Neomi, Imogen’s younger sister, the one who now worked the Ahearn farm with her husband. Collin. Yes, it was all coming back.
Soren had only ever met Neomi, her husband uninterested in getting to know his sister-in-law’s new family. As Imogen’s sister approached, Soren saw his own unease reflected in Neomi’s expression.
Pretty face pinched, Neomi quickly strode to stand beside her husband, wrapping her arms around one of his.
“Imogen said you were back,” Neomi said to Maeve, far lessenthusiastic than Collin had been.
Maeve looked between the pair, her brows rising. “Are you two…?”
“Married? Yes, going on three years now.” Neomi frowned up at Collin. “You didn’t say?”
“I was about to,” he reassured her.
Neomi held onto Collin’s arm tighter, her face strained as she tried to smile politely. Maeve’s own expression had cooled, even though her cheeks burned bright pink.
An awkward silence stretched, one that had even Soren wanting to fidget.Come away, he begged her.Come back.
Looking between Maeve and Collin, Neomi declared, “It’s time for luncheon.”
“Right…” her husband agreed sheepishly.
“We should be getting the children back, too,” said Maeve, already moving away from the fence. “It was good to see you both!”
“Don’t be a stranger!” Collin called after her, to which Maeve merely waved—and Neomi glared.
