“Do you want theBirds and the BeesCliffsNotes, Pat?”
Ignoring his brother, he leaned back to see tears clumped in River’s lashes. “You’re happy?” he asked.
“Beyond.”
Patrick held River in his arms for another ten minutes before he let her feet drop back to the floor. They received hugs and congratulations, followed by Bran and Dad demanding that Patrick finish breakfast. He created a buffet on the center island, and once everyone had loaded plates and sat down, Raven dropped the second bomb of the morning.
“I texted Dom and asked him who the absolute best wedding planner was that could put together a gorgeous wedding at The Fitzwilliam with only a two-week lead time.”
Patrick choked on a sausage link. After pounding his chest and drinking water, he finally asked, “What’s the rush, babe. Raven took a lot longer to plan everything, like dress stuff and whatever.”
“Because, unlike me, she wants to fit down the aisle, Pat.” Raven was giving him a look like he should have known that.
Bran interrupted, leaning toward his wife, grasping her chin gently so she would look at him. “You were the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Did you not believe me?” he asked quietly.
Raven melted under his tenderness. “I believed you, Bran. I forget sometimes, is all.”
“Ravenwasa stunning bride, but I would prefer not to wait... so late.”
Patrick took River’s hand in both of his. “Whatever day. Whatever time. I’ll be there.” When she smiled, her stunning cat eyes creased, and the bright hazel mesmerized Patrick.
“I want something simple,” River admitted. “Rowan, would you call Jo so we can tell her the news?” Two weeks would fly by, and River would need all the help she could get, and no one was better at event planning than Josephine O’Connor. She flashed a smile at Patrick, who still appeared shell-shocked, but he caught her eye and smiled her favorite mischievous smile.
“Well,” Bran began with a chuckle, “I guess we don’t have to wonder if Lily Byrne passed along her generous fertility gene to her girls.” Everyone laughed — but Hugh, of course.
“Nothing but sparks and drama between O’Faolains and Byrnes, huh, babe?”
“Nothing but,” River agreed, grinning at Patrick.
Jo answered the phone on the fourth ring, sounding a bit breathless. “Hey Jo, I’ve got you on speaker. We’ve got some exciting news to share.” Rowan added, “If this isn’t a good time, we can call you later. Sounds like you’re in the middle of a workout,” she grinned at the table— sans Hugh.
“Oh, no. I was just replying to some emails from Mom. What’s the news?”
River couldn’t help but ask, “Is Thomas working extra hard on those emails too?”
“MacGregor isn’t even here, you bitch,” Jo snarked back. Her high horse was hobbled when they heard her bodyguard in the background grumble, “I most definitely am here, lass.” This was followed by Jo whispering,dickhead.
“Anyway,” Jo stressed, “what’s the news?”
“I’m pregnant, and I need a wedding to happen at The Fitzwilliam in two weeks.” Jo’s gasp and then mini scream at River’s announcement had her and her sisters bouncing in their chairs with glee.
They spoke to Jo for another twenty minutes while the men cleared the table and started the dishes. They were just about to hang up, having made a solid plan, which included Dom. He had texted Raven back while they were on the phone with Jo and said he would begin making inquiries today, and because it was Dom, River felt all her nerves settle.
During the goodbyes, Jo asked, “Hey Row, did you tell your sisters what you did last night— and where you did it?”
The ‘You could hear a pin drop’ idiom, yeah, River was experiencing that absolute silence with five other people after Rowan quickly ended the call with Jo. River and Raven looked at Rowan’s shocked red face with shocked red faces of their own. And oh God, the three O’Faolains present turned in a synchronized WTF, slow-mo move.
Seeing their sister’s horror, River and Raven quickly jumped up, pulling Rowan with them. Raven let off a pearl-clutching gasp— thank God she didn’t try acting as a career path— and pointed to Daniel’s behind, “Girls, help me change Daniel.”
A herd of Byrnes trampled out of the kitchen like a bucking bull was hot on their asses. Raven practically slammed the nursery door behind them before walking over to the mini fridge, grabbing a bottle, and putting it in an equally mini hot water bath to warm.
“A mini fridge? Seriously, Rave?” The extravagance momentarily changed River’s focus.
“Bran.” No explanation needed.
Moving on, River looked at Rowan, who was trying to act chill with her face buried in one of Daniel’s teddy bears. “What the absolute fffff—heck happened last night after we left, Row?”
“I’m for real going to kill Josephine for blurting that out in front of the guys. Christ, what a mess.”
