CHAPTER THREE
“You look a little…green.”
“I feel like there’s an Irish joke in there somewhere.” Kieran mutters the words, following them with a weak smile. “I’m nervous. How ridiculous is it to be nervous to see your own parents?”
From what he’s told me about them, I’d say it’s a perfectly natural reaction. I don’t actually say that to him, though. Or tell him I’m nervous myself.
Kieran asked me to choose the restaurant since he doesn’t know Bellevue’s eating establishments well yet. I decided on Luigi’s Fine Italian Dining, a favorite among my group of friends because we all know the owner and can guarantee excellent food and service. When I made the reservation, I asked for a table that would allow for privacy, and that’s where Kieran and I are currently sitting.
We agreed to meet half an hour before the time Kieran told his parents so we’d have a chance to go over any last-minute details. The restaurant’s owner, Don, has just brought us coffee while we wait, although I’m not sure caffeine is what Kieran needs right now. A fine layer of sweat has dampened the edges of his hairline, and he’s bouncing his legs so fast under the table I have to pick up my coffee so it doesn’t slosh all over the place.
“Hey.” My firm voice catches his attention, and his darting eyes settle on me. I hold his gaze for a few seconds without saying anything until some of the tension eases out of his face. I reach across the table and lay my hand over his where it rests between us. “It’s going to be okay. Just remember, ultimately their opinion doesn’t matter as long as you feel like you’re doing what’s right for you. You don’t need their approval, and theirdisapprovalsays more aboutthemthan it does about you anyway.”
His eyebrows inch up as I speak, and his head tilts slightly to the side. He studies me as if he’s seeing me for the first time. It makes me feel exposed in a way I never have before, and I can’t decide whether I like the feeling or if it makes me want to squirm. Maybe both. His lips lift in the barest of smiles, and he shakes his head. “I think you missed your calling as a motivational speaker,” he says softly.
I cringe. “Too much?”
He shakes his head again, quicker this time. “Not at all. I needed that pep talk more than I knew. Cheers, Sunshine.” He turns his hand under mine so our palms meet. The combination of his touch and the nickname make my stomach swoop. I don’t have time to react because someone says Kieran’s name and his hand slips from mine as his head jerks in the direction of the voice.
“Teagan?What the hell are you doing here?” Despite the seemingly harsh question, Kieran’s face is overtaken by a bright smile as he scrambles from the booth and throws his arms around a pretty auburn-haired woman. I remain seated for a moment, watching as a man joins them, followed by an older couple.
“Surprise, little brother!” The woman releases Kieran from the hug, keeping hold of him at arm’s length. She brushes his hair off his forehead and makes a tutting sound. “Someone needs a haircut.”
Kieran rolls his eyes. “Good to see you too, Teag.” He steps out of her hold to do a handshake-hug combo with the man I’m guessing is his brother. I miss what they say to each other because my attention has shifted to Kieran’s parents. His mom, a thin woman with faded copper hair, stands at her husband’s side, despite the look of longing on her face as she watches Kieran. Her eyes dart between her three children before landing briefly on me.
My own eyes move to the man at her side. He’s nearly a foot taller than his wife and at least twice as broad. His posture is ramrod straight as he watches the scene before him. With his commanding presence and mostly-silver hair, he’d be handsome if it weren’t for the hard lines and severe set of his mouth.
“We passed an Irish pub on our way here and I was surprised you hadn’t chosen it for our gathering,” Teagan says. “This place seems a bit fancy for you.”
“You can go to an Irish pub any day of the year,” Kieran says. “Butmaybeif I’d known you werecoming…”
“We wanted to surprise you,” Kieran’s brother says. “See firsthand what’s so great about this place and what’s keeping you away from Ireland.” His eyes drift to me as he says this. His knowing, borderline-smug expression has my hackles rising.
“I’m Kieran’s friend, Meredith.” I stand and go straight for the brother since he’s still watching me, and offer him my hand to shake.
“Oh, right, of course, sorry.” Any other time, Kieran’s flustered flurry of words would make me laugh, but I haven’t missed the fact he’s been studiously avoiding looking at his parents. “Meredith Cormier, meet my family. This is my sister, Teagan, and my brother, Sean. And these…” He finally looks at his parents, his gaze turning affectionate as he takes in his mother, then hardening noticeably as his eyes pass over his father. “…are my parents, Maeve and Eamon O’Malley.”
We all exchange handshakes and pleasantries. From the corner of my eye, I see Kieran give his dad a stiff handshake before giving his mom a quick squeeze and whispering something in her ear that makes a smile flit over her face. Don approaches and hovers nearby, so I catch his attention and ask if it would be possible to get a bigger table to fit our extended party.
“Nonsense, we’ll all fit in this booth,” Sean says, practically shoving his sister in first before getting in next to her. “It’ll be cozy.” He gives Kieran a stare I can only call challenging as he pats the space at the end of the booth.
“Right. Cozy.” He glances at me, and I give him an encouraging smile. I already have a feeling this is going to be a disaster, but I can’t let him know I think that. I’m sure he’s thinking it himself anyway. “Mum, Dad.” He motions for them to get in first on the opposite site. His mother makes a sound of distress as she sits daintily and sort of hops her butt over to the far side rather than sliding. Kieran’s dad takes up at least half the bench seat, making me glad I’m at the end and not squished against the wall like Mrs. O’Malley. I’m also relieved to be across from Kieran, who’s watching me now with a look of trepidation.
Don rushes forward once we’re all settled, handing out menus and taking our drink orders before hurrying away. He’s normally friendly and gregarious, but I think even he can sense the tension surrounding our table.
“So, Meredith, are you a student too?” Teagan asks, her assessing gaze sweeping over me.
“No, I’m a manager at the city’s amusement park.” Knowing the next question will be how we met, I move smoothly into the story Kieran and I concocted. “I have friends at the college who I visit regularly, and I kept running into Kieran. One day we decided to hang out on purpose and we’ve been friends ever since.”
“Amusement park?” The question comes from directly beside me and is laced with mockery. I shift so I can meet Mr. O’Malley’s eyes; they’re the same color as Kieran’s, but where the younger O’Malley’s eyes hold the warmth of a summer day, his dad’s hold all the warmth of an iceberg.
“Yes.” I’m sure he’s used to making people cower, but I’ve dealt with scarier things than Eamon O’Malley. I infuse my voice with a hint of challenge as I explain, “Isayamusement park, but really it’s a self-contained village minus the living quarters. We have restaurants and cafés, boutiques, a bookstore, plus everything you’d expect from a traditional amusement park: rides, games, that sort of thing. I’m responsible for dozens of employees and helping to ensure the entire operation runs smoothly.”
For the briefest of moments, I swear a hint of respect flashes across his stony features. It’s gone so fast I’m sure I imagined it, especially when instead of acknowledging me, he turns to Kieran and says, “You could learn a thing or two about work ethic from your friend.”
Kieran doesn’t even flinch. I have to resist the urge to reach across the table and high five him…and then smack Mr. O’Malley with the same hand. Kieran gives his dad a level look before sliding his eyes to me. “That’s just one of the many things I could stand to learn from Meredith.”
I’m not exactly sure of the meaning behind his words, but Iamsure I’m blushing. I can feel Kieran’s siblings’ eyes on us, but mine remain locked with his. I don’t know which of us reaches out first, but our hands meet across the table and he gives mine a squeeze.
