Patrick called Nan before they reached Dublin and asked if she would mind stopping at the new O’Faolain building first to see the apartments. Raven was there with Bran. She was dying to show her grandma the baby’s room. Then River and Rowan would meet everyone at Nan’s new apartment. A great place for Nan’s big reveal, Pat encouraged.
She approved the plan. It would all fit, she said, before her three o’clock appointment at The Fitzwilliam to finalize the second baby shower.
Bran and Dad were waiting for him inside the front door of their new Dublin home. The door was an impressive mix of dark, heavy metal, and thick wooden planks— very medieval and a total statement piece. He couldn’t remember which sister had found it while antiquing.
He ushered Nan and Devlen in before him, making all the appropriate introductions. Nan gave big hugs to BranandDad, much to Dad’s consternation. Patrick smirked at his discomfort, and when he noticed, he gave Pat a discreet middle finger.
Bran went to his brother and told him he’d missed him. Patrick knew his brother loved him, but man, the confirmation felt amazing. His father pulled him into a hug. Before letting him go, he quietly said, “I missed you too. Are you okay?” He really regretted the lack of a pocket hanky. His time with Nan had really done a number on his feelings. Swallowing hard, he whispered back, “I’m better.”
If River took him back, he would be a whole lotmorethan better.
Bran told Nan and Devlen he would give them a tour of the floors, ending with the third floor where Raven was waiting. The second floor was Patrick’s. It was everything he didn’t know he even wanted. Whites and creams with subtle touches of blue. The kitchen was extraordinary. The dark blue appliances were pieces of art.
The rest of the floor was just as thoughtfully done. The light wood floors, thick rugs, and off-white leather furniture with cream and soft blue striped pillows invited a person to sit and relax.
He didn’t want to leave.
He wanted to find River, bring her back, and never leave.
There were other areas and rooms to explore, but he would rather wait until River walked him through her design. He had to believe she eventually would. He passed two guestrooms, giving them only a cursory glance before he reached the master. It hadn’t been anywhere near done when he’d left for Nan’s. It was done now.
The same crème and white were here, but the blues were darker, more intimate. More night sky. All Raven. Cobalt glass lamps and simple tan suede bedding topped the massive wooden frame, and the most amazing part was a giant painting of The Irish Wolves pub. It was painted to make the tall brick building look old-fashioned, sepia with hints of slate. Three men dressed in traditional cut suits circa 1920s with newsboy caps stood outside on the stone sidewalk. A seriously cool Peaky Blinders vibe. The men were painted from a side perspective, but clearly of him, Bran, and Dad.
“River commissioned the painting from a local artist in November,” Bran stood leaning against the doorframe.
“It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever fucking seen.” Pat would have continued, but from behind Bran, Nan huffed, “Patrick O’Faolain, watch your language, young man.” Bran was laughing silently, so Nan didn’t discipline him either.
“Sorry, Nan. Let’s go to Dad’s place on the fourth floor.”
“Yeah, Bébhinn. Raven is probably about to come find us if we don’t get a move on,” Bran laughed.
Nan and Patrick were the last to walk out his door. She lightly touched his arm to stop him before reaching the elevator. “A lot of beautiful blues in your apartment. Interesting, that.”
“Very,” Patrick grinned. Patrick liked blue just fine, but nothing close to River’s fervor.
They toured Dad’s penthouse, then went to Bran and Raven’s. No matter the floor level, each apartment was expertly done. Timothy Daniels had delivered. With the O’Faolains as investors and this job on his resume, Daniel’s construction business was about to reach new heights. Pat couldn’t wait to toast his success with him and Saoirse. Also, since Daniels finished on time, he got his father’s half-million-dollar ‘push gift’ bonus. They finally reached Bran and Raven’s third-floor apartment, and Patrick could tell they’d be there a while.
Raven and Nan were busy looking at every pair of socks and mittens Baby O would be wearing, trying out the rocking chair, and crying over how tiny the diapers were. A lot of hormones bouncing around. He was happy that Dad and Bran were getting to know Devlen. Mr. Dunn was a quiet man; mid-seventies would be Pat’s guess. Bébhinn was closer to seventy.
At one point, Raven held up theLittle House on the Prairiecotton hospital nightgown, smiling and telling her Nan how much she loved it. Bran’s eyes were bugging out at the high-necked embroidered collar. There were days Pat wished he was a videographer.
Nan kept glancing at her secret fiancé, smiling but twisting her simple gold engagement band in nervousness. Raven had yet to notice the ring. Pat truly wasn’t nervous. He knew all three sisters would be thrilled.
The Byrne’s touch could be seen on each floor of this building. Patrick chuckled to himself when he saw that Bran and Raven’s kitchen mirrored his own except in color. Raven chose all Viking appliances in a muted green. Their accent colors were green, of course. His dad’s apartment had Rowan written all over it. His appliances were a creamy yellow. The colors for his apartment were all shades of yellow, pale to mustard, and accented by dark cherry wood.
Whether purposeful or not, except for Raven, since it actuallywasher apartment, the girls had placed their stamp on the other two men’s spaces. He loved it.
Once they were finally finished looking at every bit of baby paraphernalia, Raven said she had called her sisters, and they were headed to Nan’s apartment. Flushing at the coming awkward ‘parting of ways,’ Patrick quickly announced he’d see everyone tomorrow so no one else had to inform him he was no longer wanted.
Nan looked at him in near panic. “I thought you were coming with us, Pat.”
“You’ll have to show me another day. I don’t mind,” Pat assured.
“But... but that doesn’t make any sense. Come with us now.”
Obviously, her nerves were getting the best of her, and she was forgetting why he wasn’t welcome to join the family. “Nan,” he tried gently, “River will be there, and she doesn’t want to see me.”
Nan blanched. “Oh, Patrick. I’m sorry. I’m flustered and wasn’t thinking.” She grabbed his hand like she might not let go. Devlen looked like he wanted to comfort her himself, but he was allowing her to do the reveal at her own pace, which Pat admired.
