You mean everything to me. I keep fucking up.Hugh frantically wondered if there was anything he could say that would make a difference. It was unusual for Rowan to leave things unresolved.
I’ll come back to Dublin in a day or two.
She said Dublin, not home.Home?
I’m not sure.
He glanced at his sons, who were both still busy texting. They looked up at the same time, their faces as grim as he felt. “When are Raven and River coming back?”
He texted back.Please.
I’m not chasing you anymore.
“Raven said not until Rowan does.”
“Same,” Patrick confirmed.
“You do realize,” Bran began after taking a drink of water, “that fixing this is simple. It’s always been simple.”
Hugh could only look at his phone screen.I’m not chasing you anymore.
“How is any of this simple?” Hugh appeared unruffled from the outside as he sat sideways on his barstool. Inside, his heart was beginning a painful flatline.I’m not chasing you anymore.
“Make sure she never questions your feelings again,” Bran explained, as if his dad was simple-minded.
“A grand gesture like they do in movies,” Pat grinned, excited at the prospect. “I wrote River letters. Bran spent months growing that bread stuff for Raven.”
“Sourdough starter, moron,” Bran scoffed.
Hugh sat his phone on the scarred wooden bar and picked up his glass, shooting back the rest of the shot. His boys were looking at him expectantly. They believed he could be…this man Rowan needed.
“I have an engagement ring—for Rowan.”
“Well, we didn’t think you were going to propose to Diana Gaines,” Patrick laughed at Hugh’s glare.
“If I didn’t have things to do, I’d enjoy beating the juvenile out of you.”
“Nice. A proposal’s a gesture for sure,” Bran assured him, ignoring his brother as they were all wont to do.
“Fine. I’m going home to pack a bag and get the ring out of the safe.” He frowned at their twin grins. “Donottell your wives.”
“We won’t, but we’re coming with you,” Bran looked at his brother who nodded in agreement.
36
“The texts stopped,” River announced.
They were still snuggled up in the sunroom nook, the rich scents of soil and green not as comforting as usual. They were palming their phones like the bits of flat metal were precious objects. Not Nan. She was cooing at her great-grandson.
She grinned at her granddaughters then, looking quite satisfied and not in the least concerned about the communication interruption.
“The men are planning. Raven and River were purposefully vague on what you were doing here and about how long you planned to stay. Bran and Pat wouldn’t like that. Rowan,” Nan continued, “you told Hugh, in not so many words that you might not live with him. You also told him you weren’t going to chase him again.”
“Nan’s right,” Raven agreed. “None of the O’Faolain men sit on their hands. They’re much more prone to action. Me and Riv are married, so Bran and Patrick have security in that. Hugh doesn’t have that insurance. He’ll come to you,” she predicted.
“I guarantee he’s coming,” River grinned.
Nan patted Daniel’s back and stood, stretching her back and giving Daniel a smacking kiss, making the little boy grin. “Get off your lazy bums, girls, most likely we have two hours before that ornery boyfriend of yours arrives, Rowan. Let’s all go to my house and get started on an early dinner feast.”
