I would have defended you to Ivor. I would have pushed Declan to you sooner, because any daughter of Ciara’s is bound to be a beautiful and strong soul, and I’m not wrong about that. That’s why I worried. I had already done her wrong once, and I couldn’t let ya go into this marriage without the warning. As much as I know it hurt you both, I had to tell you. You will be a fine wife for my boy, and I hope that one day we can have a relationship too. I do think very highly of you and do worry for ya, like I knew your ma would. I’m sorry if I hurt you, scared you, or ever upset you. I wish nothing but the best for you.

Let me know if you need anything.

I hope you love the cottage. It was my ma’s. I grew up there. I made sure to hang the picture of your ma and da in your living room for ya. I thought you’d appreciate that.

With lots of love,

Noreen

Wiping away the tear that ran down my face, I look across the room at the picture she hung for me. It’s a beautiful picture, one of them at their wedding under the big tree by the lake. Soon, I’ll have a matching picture just like that. Wiping another tear free of my face, I hit reply and write a quick message.

Mrs. O’Callaghan,

Thank you for all you are doing for our wedding. I can’t wait for the day to finally be here so I can join your family. Thank you also for my picture of my parents. It made me happy to see that when Declan brought me home last night. I also want to thank you for sharing this side of you with me. I look forward to getting to know you and soon loving you. Maybe we can have some tea tomorrow afternoon when I get off work? I can guarantee you, though, I won’t be wearing a tea dress.

Love,

Amberlyn.

I hit send and then check some more emails before my email dings with another one. Seeing that it’s from Mrs. O’Callaghan, I hit open and smile at her response.

I wouldn’t expect you any other way. See ya tomorrow around three. I look forward to it.

Love, Noreen

With a grin on my face, I shut my computer and lean back in my chair. I feel good about this. I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable with Mrs. O’Callaghan soon, but maybe one day I will. Like Fiona said, not everyone gets along with their mother-in-law, but I need Declan to fix it with his mom. He loves her, and while it was rough there, we made it through.

Standing up, I go to the kitchen to start dinner. I’m gonna make my Aunt Shelia’s shepherd’s pie, one of Declan’s favorites. He wasn’t joking when he said he had the fridge stocked. We’ll eat the food in there for at least two weeks, and it makes me giddy to know I’ll be cooking him meals. My husband in less than two weeks!

With a grin on my face for the unexpectedly great day, I dance around the kitchen, mixing and cooking as I wait for Declan to come home. He usually gets home around five, and today he isn’t a minute late. Just as I’m taking the pie out of the oven, I see his car coming up the hill. Placing it on the stove, I grin as I wipe my hands on the apron my mom used to use when she cooked before going to the door to greet him.

As soon as he gets out of the car, he sends me a grin. “Is this the way I’ll be greeted every day?”

I giggle as he gathers me in his arms, kissing me deeply. He smells like death, but I’ve missed him and I really don’t care. Pressing my lips to his chin, I grin up at him as I say, “Maybe.”

“Then getting through the day is gonna be even harder than it already is,” he says, kissing me again. “I missed ya.”

“I missed you. Come on, dinner is ready.”

“Grand, let me get a shower. I worked in the malting room for a bit with Kane. I stink.”

I smile as he squeezes my shoulders, walking past me. “Just a bit.”

“Wee bit, yeah?” he says with a grin before disappearing into the bedroom. My heart explodes in my chest as I start to cut the pie, plating him some before putting it on the table and getting us both something to drink. Sitting down, I cross my legs just as he comes out of the bedroom in only a pair of shorts. Looking at me, he moves his hand up and down his body. “Can I come to dinner this way?”

I laugh as I nod. “In our home, you can.”

“Smart woman talking me into this, ya know?” he says, coming around to kiss the top of my head before dropping into the seat beside me. “Mm, looks damn good, love. C’mere, one more kiss.”

I come willingly, and he kisses me hard on the lips before we part to dig in. Cutting into my pie, I let out a contented sigh as I take a bite, looking around the house, loving our little home. “We could stay here forever, you know,” I say, and he looks at me with a brow up.

“Ya love it, do ya?”

I nod. “I do. It’s so adorable.”

“For now. But soon it will be cramped, and it’s a bit drafty in here in the winter from what my ma says,” he adds, pointing his fork at me.

“Yeah, I didn’t know it was her old home.”

“Yeah, when my grandma found my other grandma with the baby, they gave her this house and didn’t take rent from her. My grandma loved my ma’s ma. Good worker, they didn’t want to lose her.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Yeah,” he says with a nod.

“Have you talked to her?”

He nods. “She came to the office today.”

I wait, and when he doesn’t go on, I say, “And?”

Swallowing the bite he just took, he shrugs. “I forgave her.”

“Good.”

“In some twisted way, it’s sweet that she tried to warn ya for your ma’s sake, but it still makes me mad that she didn’t think higher of me. That she just assumed I’d be my da.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“But it is what it is. We are done with it,” he says, squeezing my hand. “What I am not done with is this. It really is good.”

I give him a pleased smile. “Thank you.”

Digging in, he cleans his plate before getting more. Looking over at me, he points his fork at me, and asks, “How did ya know this was my ma’s old home?”

“She wrote me an email.”

“Did she?” he asks, surprised. “What did she say?”

“She apologized and talked a bit about my mom.”

“Hm. Ya okay?”

I nod earnestly. “More than okay.”

“Grand,” he says, cupping my knee under the table before digging in.