“You think I’m mad about getting to spend all this lovely time with my grandson?”
My lips curved as I watched Jake chortling away as he played, somehow managing to get the dough in his hair—this kid, I swore, was a walking, talking, breathing cognitive behavioral therapy session for OCD.
Mom would have loved this.
I had no idea where the thought came from, but it winded me. I took a second to reply, to handle the slice of pain and sweet sorrow that hit me.
“No,” I denied with a wobbly smile, “I know you love spending time with him, but I shouldn’t just cut and run. You know I like it when you come and stay with us.”
This visit was definitely impromptu, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
She’d showed up a couple days ago and had told me that I could take things easy for a while.
What expectant mother with a toddler and a busy bakery would say no to that?
“I told you I came because it’s easier to handle your doctor’s appointments when you don’t have babies clinging to your skirts.” Her gaze sharpened as she watched me rub my side again.
I reached for Jake’s sippy cup and snagged some of his OJ. The sugar perked me up as I asked, “Did you and Conor get everything arranged for tomorrow?”
Lena blinked at me, and I saw something peep into her eyes that had me frowning some. “Yes, everything is ready.”
“The news is going to feature the art?”
Lena nodded.
“How did Declan even get that stuff?” I grumbled, but I wasn’t sure why I was shocked.
The O’Donnellys were a law unto themselves.
Why shouldn’t Declan have a Vermeer tucked away that he was donating in exchange for a private ceremony within the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?
“I have no idea, and I didn’t ask,” Lena drawled. “I think both you and Jake look pooped. Why don’t you both settle down for a nap while I go and make sure things are full steam ahead at Declan’s?”
“A nap sounds awesome,” I admitted with a sigh, well aware she’d be going to hang out with Shay who was still having trouble with his bullies and nightmares after his and Aela’s near miss in the fall. “But even if I don’t sleep, you go anyway. I’d hate to hold things up after you and Con have worked so hard to arrange everything.”
“Declan never did like to wait,” she retorted as she got to her feet. “His impatience definitely isn’t a virtue.” At my snort, she smiled then motioned a hand at the kitchen. “Leave this. I’ll sort it out when I get back.”
“Okay,” I said nonchalantly.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Aoife.”
“What?”
“Aoife,” she repeated, making me laugh.
“What?”
“Don’t you dare clean up. Go and get some rest!”
I huffed, but before I could argue, another twinge arrowed down my side. I thought I managed to shield my expression because Lena was like a mother hen right now, and she’d have been all over that if I hadn’t masked my features.
She rounded the table, held out her hands, and said, “Up, up, up.”
I let her help me, cringing as that hurt too, but I was relieved as all hell when she shuffled Jake over to the sink and said, “I’ll clean him up, put him to bed, and then head out. I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Thanks, Lena.” I surprised myself by yawning. “I really appreciate this.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart. Now, go on. Shoo.”
I shot her a shaky smile and half-staggered out of the kitchen, finding my bed with relief. After ten minutes, when I still couldn’t get comfortable, I knew the pathetic reason why—Finn wasn’t here.
“God, you’re such a sap,” I muttered to myself.
The bed was big, but I huddled in the center then grabbed his pillows, shoved them along my back, ruffled the comforter at my front, and eventually managed to find some semblance of comfort.
It worked, anyway, because I didn’t even hear Lena go out, and I only awoke when I heard a soft laugh and Jake’s giggles.
The pain had gone. I wasn’t sure if that was because of the nap or if it was down to the heat at my side which was no longer from the pillows. Finn was there, and God, he felt so good.
I peeped out and saw Jake was sitting in front of me, Finn’s hand was on my belly, the heat filling me with a warmth that I figured soothed the pain, all while he watched Jake with a new toy—a hedgehog that had soft ‘spikes’ he had to fit into the slots on the animal’s back.
Drowsily, I moved onto my side, and was relieved to find there was still no pain, as I smiled at him. “Hey. When did you get back?”
“About an hour ago,” Finn said as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You were sleeping deeply so I didn’t see any harm in letting you rest.”
I’d needed it.
“What time is it?”
“Nine.”
My eyes widened. “Jeez. I slept late.”
“You did. And you missed the family announcement,” Finn teased.
I shifted onto my back and asked, “She said yes?”
He snorted. “As if she wouldn’t.”
“Aela’s independent. You know she moves in her own way.”
“She’s Declan’s. He wouldn’t have let her say no.”
My lips twisted at that BS. “Like you wouldn’t let me say no?”
The sparkle in his eyes always made my heart rate soar. “I’d have let you say ‘no’ once.”
“Then dragged me to bed until I said ‘yes?’”
“Something like that.” He reached up and cupped my chin. “Lena’s back. She said you looked like you were in pain earlier.”
“It’s gone. Just a cramp. Jen and I ate too much,” I admitted.
“No, you ate too much, she probably had a liquid lunch,” he said wryly.
I grinned. “You know how she works.”
“Cristal is her oxygen.” He rolled his eyes. “You going to be okay to travel tomorrow?”
“Oh, sure! I wouldn’t miss their wedding for the world.”
I heard my cell ring and started to sit up until Finn urged me back down. As he clambered off the bed, his head tipped to the side.
“Is that ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever?’”
Sheepishly, I nodded.
Our gazes clashed and held as a knock sounded at our bedroom door.
“Come in,” I called out, my eyes still held by his.
“Aoife? Your phone’s ringing.” Lena sounded amused. “I didn’t realize you were so patriotic.”
I cleared my throat as Finn finally broke away from me, strode over to Lena, snagged my phone, then returned to my side. It had stopped ringing by that time, but a second later, it started up again.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Lena demurred.
Finn stared down at my cell. “He’s dogged, isn’t he?”
“He’s the president,” I retorted. “What else do you expect?” I connected the call. “What do you want?”
Finn’s lips twitched, but my father answered, “I have an update.”
“Finn’s here. You might as well update us both.”