She blushed sweetly when she told them she’d love for them to see the kitchen table Devlen had built her. “He knew how much I loved my old table here and wanted me to have one that he made with his own hands for all our new memories.”
“Oh my,” Rowan sniffed.
Raven smiled and kissed Nan on the cheek before lifting her son from her arms.
River dabbed her eyes. “You scored with that one, Nan.”
“Why do we need to make so much food?” Raven asked as they made their way from the sunroom.
“You didn’t seriously think Hugh would come alone? How absurd. Those three are as thick as you three.”
Her sisters all grinned, anticipating seeing their men. Rowan tried to grin back. Her family was so sure Hugh would be overjoyed with a baby. She wasn’t so sure. Ah well, it was too late to turn back now. The plan to draw Hugh to Boyle had already begun.
“Why doesBran always get to sit in front? It’s bullshit,” Patrick moaned from the back.
“The same reason it’s always been, dumbass. I’m older.”
“You’re such a dick.”
“I don’t care what you call me. I’m in the front seat,” Bran crowed.
“River told me that Raven said your bedroom game’s gone downhill, bro. Have you considered vitamins?”
“The hell she said that!”
Before Bran could jump in the backseat and start a fight with his brother, Hugh warned them, “If I have to tell you boys to shut the fuck up one more time, I’ll pull this car over and leave your asses on the side of the road.” Hugh sighed when they both laughed. Did God truly never give someone more than they could bear? He’d pondered that over the years. Many, many times.
“Lighten up, Dad. You’re just nervous,” Bran offered yet more unsolicited opinions.
“She won’t say no. Remember the rules,” Patrick reminded. “Happy. Humble. Hugs. Happy. Humble. Hugs,” he repeated.
Dickhead.
“Right,” Bran chimed in. Again. “No growls, grimaces, or glares.”
His boys must have decided today was the day for alliteration.
The truth was, he was too nervous to even yell at them again. His hands were white-knuckling the wheel. He’d be pulling into Bébhinn’s in five minutes. Rowan didn’t know he was coming. He didn’t know if she would speak to him or be pissed that he came.
He’d taken the ring out of its fancy box and stuffed it down his front pants pocket.
He was going to do this. He was going to ask Rowan to marry him. In front of their family.
He was most comfortable with his sons and the Byrnes. This should not be a problem. It wouldnotbe a problem.
His first instinct was to ask Rowan to speak with him privately, but he knew this wasn’t the time to hide his feelings. Everyone knew he loved Rowan. She was the only one who had doubts, and he was about to fix that, which was why he was currently sweating and having hot flashes like a menopausal woman.
Bran and Pat were still insulting each other when they pulled over the wooden bridge leading to the Byrne plot. As the trees thinned and the quaint Irish two-story surrounded by an explosion of flowers came into view, the vehicle became silent. He almost wished the boys had continued their inane chatter. Putting the car in park, he tried to breathe through the panic.
A hand came down hard on his shoulder. “Dad, Bran and I agree that Raven and River would have told us to keep you away if that’s what Rowan had really wanted. They didn’t. She wanted you to come here. There’s no other explanation,” Patrick encouraged.
“Our sister loves you, Dad,” Bran thumped him in the arm, smirking as he hopped out of the car so Hugh wouldn’t retaliate.
Sister.Jesus. Hugh got out of the car with a sigh. He wasn’t ready, but if he waited any longer, he’d lose his nerve.
The house was empty. Used mugs in the sink and one of Daniel’s blankets were the only thing to show they’d been there.
“I bet they’re at Devlen and Nan’s house,” Pat offered.
