“She isn’t ready to see you. I don’t know if she ever will be,” Raven explained. It was crushing to hear, but he knew Raven wasn’t intentionally trying to be cruel. She was only being honest.
“I have decided to write to River. I thought or hoped that it would be a way to express how I feel. My regrets but also what she means to me.” Neither sister gave Patrick any indication of what they thought of his plan. “Would either of you agree to give the letters to her?”
“She’s going to need a lot longer than a week to stabilize. Her emotions are raw, and though she’s trying to hide it from us, River is wrecked. I won’t give her any of your letters.” Rowan started to object, but Raven shook her head, “Let me explain. I needed the separation after Bran hurt me. I never stopped loving your brother, but I did need to find my own way without Bran’s influence. I didn’t want to see him or talk to him. I didn’t want his apologies or his touch.” Raven looked at Bran and then Rowan. “She needs more time.”
“I don’t disagree with you, Raven,” Rowan said. “I was with you in Switzerland. I was with you when you cried. I was with you when you were quiet. I lived for your smiles, then.
“Bran didn’t immediately recognize how badly he screwed up. He may have hated he’d hurt you so badly, but he felt justified in breaking up with you. Patrick admitted his mistake the moment it happened.” Rowan’s stern gaze met Patrick’s. “You were a total coward for not telling River that night. I don’t forgive you for that or what my sister is going through now.”
“You are correct, and your anger at me is justified.” Patrick was amazed that Rowan had something positive to say about him.
“My point is, though I think that your healing process was exactly what you needed for you, Rave, it may not be what River needs.” Touching Raven’s cheek, she admitted, “I’ll only do this if Raven agrees, but I will give River your letter on one condition.”
“Anything.” Patrick didn’t care what it was.
“You might not be so quick to agree once you hear my proposal. I know you have a meeting with MacGregor, but after that, you’ll pack and go live with Nan, and you won’t come back to Dublin until Baby O arrives.”
Patrick had not seen that one coming. “But that’s weeks!” He was shocked she’d ask that of him.
“Yes. Five weeks. I would think a few weeks is not much to ask after what you did to my sister.”
Noted. “Have you even spoken with Bébinn?”
“This morning,” Rowan replied smugly.
Raven looked shocked. “You didn’t tell me.”
“No, I didn’t. I wasn’t sure how this would go, and you’ll recall, I didn’t even want you to come. Stress isn’t good for you or my nephew.”
Patrick winced at the reminder that his actions hadn’t just affected River and him. “What did Nan say? Did you tell her... umm, how bad I fucked up?” So far, Patrick had avoided thinking of how disappointed River’s grandma would be when she found out. His Gran. Jesus. He prayed she never knew.
“I told her everything. Keeping secrets is pointless with Nan. As Raven knows,” she smiled at her sister then.
“She’s a bloodhound,” Raven smiled back.
“Nan said you could live with her for the five weeks. She needs work done around the house, and her neighbor, Mr. Dunn, would likely hire you to help him with some repairs around his farm.” Rowan glanced at Raven, lifting her brows in thought. “Something is going on with Nan. She sounded weird when she mentioned Mr. Dunn.”
“That’s something else Patrick can do while he’s away. Discover if Nan is keeping a secret from us,” Raven poked her sister.
Rowan sobered. “Listen, Pat. If we weren’t family, I would never speak to you again, and happily after what you did. But we are family, so we all have to try harder. If River loves you still, a few weeks away won’t change that. Make an effort. Write to River. By abiding by her wishes to stay away, you’re letting her know her feelings matter to you.
“Let our grandma care for you. Talk to her. She’s suffered a lot of loss in her life. She didn’t only lose the love of her life like your grandma did, but also her only child. She knows suffering, but she also knows how to heal. Let her help you, and maybe you can help her too.”
Patrick thought about everything the sisters had said. It was a lot to take in. It was drastic, and admittedly, a little daunting. “I’ll leave after the meeting.”
“Are you alright with this, Rave?”
Raven sighed. “I let my past pain shadow my reaction. I agree with the proposal.” She stood and faced Patrick, smoothing her dress over her swollen belly. “You’re willing to work for River, so I’m willing to support you.” Raven stared at him a moment longer before adding, “I believe you didn’twantto hurt River... but Patrick, you can’t imagine what it’s like to see a part of your very soul, my sister, in so much pain.”
Patrick barely swallowed his tears before they fell. He looked at River’s sisters, beyond fortunate to have their support, let alone their help. “Thank you, both, for not giving up on me completely. Truly.”
“We’ve taken up enough of your morning, Pat. Come on, Rave, you know Bran is probably pissed you left the house without telling him,” she laughed.
“Hey, we took a guard, and Bran surely doesn’t expect me to tell him what my plans are every minute of the day.” As Rowan snorted her disbelief, Raven added, “Laugh it up. If Bran is annoyed with me, then I bet there is someone else equally annoyed with you.”
Patrick watched Rowan’s face turn red. Was there something between her and his dad? Pat wouldn’t be mad. It was just weird to consider his dad was almost thirty years older than Rowan. As if it was choreographed, someone pounded on his door.
“Jesus, save me from O’Faolain testosterone,” Raven moaned.
