“I know she isn’t,” Maeve replied sadly.
“Is your da?” he asked, taking her by the shoulders.
“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about whether he’s happy or not. He’s just da, goin’ to work, comin’ home for dinner and readin’ the paper.”
“Do they talk, do they laugh, do they play?”
“No.”
“Is that the life you want? Do you want to be married to a man who doesn’t care? A man who takes more pleasure from a good meal and some readin’ material than he does from spendin’ time with his wife?
“Do you want to be a woman who does whatever she wants, whenever she wants with no thought to who she’s hurtin’? Is a little deference and obedience too high a price for a happy home?”
“You’re confusin’ me,” she cried, running a hand through her hair. “Does your da…you know?”
Sean laughed. “Does he spank my ma? Aye, when the need arises.”
“She’s not a very nice woman,” Maeve said with feeling.
“She has her moments,” he agreed, “but when she steps over the line, he takes her in hand and quickly sets things to rights. It’s his duty. Lord knows if he set her loose, she’d be a terror, a demandin’, overbearin’ mess, so bossy she’d have the ladies of the Altar Guild draggin’ her before Father Fitzgerald for some kind of divine intervention.”
Maeve smiled.
Sean felt his heart lighten and cupped her cheek.
“This afternoon was horrible,” she scowled.
“Not for me,” he chuckled.
Pulling away, she started walking again and elbowed him in the side when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“So right now, this minute, we’re even?” she asked. “I have a fresh start and as long as I’m good…”
He watched her closely. She almost choked on the words and it amused him. Taking her hand, he swung it up and kissed it. He refused to let go.
“Aye,” he said. “You’re perfect, adorable and the sweetest little thing I’ve ever seen. Do you still want to move the weddin’ up?”
“Aye.”
“You do realize that by doin’ so, the ones who think so little of you will be convinced we’re doin’ it because we’ve jumped the gun.”
“Shit!”
Sean pulled her to a stop and shook his head.
“Damn?” she asked, chewing her lower lip.
Again his head shook in the negative, a scowl beginning between his eyes.
“How about crap?” she asked, trying to stare him down.
His scowl deepened.
“What, I’m not allowed to express myself?” she demanded. “Just what the hell can I say?”
“Not that, I don’t like that kind of language comin’ from your mouth.”
“Then you’re not goin’ to like this any better. I’m not goin’ back to school,” she said quickly.
