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“After meeting you last week, I knew that I had to at least reach out to you to see if I could talk you into a show in Galway. Of course, the pieces would have to be exclusive, and I would take fifteen percent of every sale.”
I chuckle. “Ten percent, and not a penny more, Trevor. But what’s the timing on this?”
“I’m aiming for a Christmas show,” he says. “I know it’s not much time, but again, I needed to ask. You’re one of the most prominent artists, and certainly the most highly acclaimed glass artist to come out of Ireland.”
And having a showing in Galway, less than a hundred miles from where my family’s from, would be a dream come true.
But I have responsibilities here, a new exhibit opening in my museum, my family, and if all goes as planned, a wedding to prepare for.
“I think I have to pass on that timing,” I inform Trevor. “I appreciate the offer, and it’s a tempting one to be sure, but Christmas isn’t doable for me.”
“Think it over,” Trevor suggests. “And let me know if you change your mind. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He hangs up, and I simply shake my head and walk inside. The evening crowd in O’Callaghan’s Pub isn’t as full tonight as it usually is. I wave at a group of older men in the corner, who’ve been coming into the pub for many years, and then sit at the bar.
“And look what the cat dragged in,” Keegan says, wiping off the counter with a white towel. “What can we get for you, brother of mine?”
“Stew, and a pint.”
“You like my stew,” Maggie says with a smile as she loads up a tray with drinks to be delivered. She glances at me and then frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“What? Oh, nothing.” I shrug a shoulder, but Maggie’s like a pit bull and won’t let it go.
“Your face says something’s wrong. Is Stasia okay?”
“She’s fine.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to talk about it,” Shawn suggests, taking the stool next to me.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” I scowl and then smile at Maeve, who delivers my stew. “It’s a regular family affair in here tonight.”
“What’s wrong?” Maeve asks, making me scowl, but Maggie points at our sister in victory.
“See! Something’s wrong.”
“I just had a call with the offer of an exclusive gallery showing in Galway, but I passed on it.”
My siblings are all quiet for a long moment, and then Shawn reaches over and smacks me on the back of the head.
“Hey!”
“Clearly, you have a screw loose,” Shawn says.
“Why would you pass that up?” Maeve asks.
“Because they need brand new pieces by Christmas, and that’s only two months away. I’m about to open an all new exhibit in the museum, and I have other responsibilities here.”
“But you’ve always wanted an exhibit in Ireland,” Keegan reminds me.
“And I can have one later. I’ve just not pursued it in the past.”
“If you’re hesitant about being gone at Christmas, maybe we can all go for it,” Maggie suggests, but I’m already shaking my head. “And why not, I’d like to know?”
“Because I have other plans.” I set my spoon down and look at each of them. This is what I came in here for today, after all. “I’m going to ask Anastasia to marry me.”
“Really?” Maggie screeches, jumps on her toes, and wraps her arms around my neck to hug me. “Oh, this makes me so happy. I really like her.”
“Me, too.” My tone is dry as I smile at Keegan, who’s already pouring celebratory shots of the Irish.
“You have to ask her father,” Shawn reminds me. “You have to be thoughtful about this.”
“Are you sure you’re twenty-seven?” I ask him. Shawn’s always sounded wiser than his years. It’s probably why he’s already so successful in his screenwriting career. “You sound like a grandfather.”
“If Da hears that you asked her without talking to her father first, he’ll come all the way over here to have words with you himself, and you know it.”
“Aye,” I say. “I already planned to talk to her family. But I wanted to talk to my own first.”
“You know we like Anastasia,” Maeve says before sniffing her glass of whiskey.
“No matter how much you all like her, it changes the dynamics between us. And I need to make sure that you not only like her but that you love her enough to welcome her into our family, wholly and without reservation. Because once I marry her, it’s for the rest of my life.”
“Well, I should be writing that down and putting it in a movie,” Shawn says quietly.
“We want you to be happy, Kane,” Keegan says. “You’ve always been the one to look out for the rest of us. It’s high time you did something because it’ll make you happy.”
“I do plenty that makes me happy.”
