Page 53 of An Irish Hope

Kara rolled her eyes, but her small smile showed she didn’t mind his tease.

“Speaking of, where are you two going to live now?”

Colin glanced at Kara. “Did you want to tell them or shall I?”

“They’re your sisters.”

“Actually, you’re our sister now, too,” Aisling said, elbowing Colin away as she went and gave Kara a squeeze. Rory soon joined in too, group hugging them as the three of them laughed. “Say it. We’re all sisters.”

Kara was an orphan, and until Colin had been alone in the world. She needed reminders she wasn’t alone anymore.

“We’re all sisters. We’re all—”

“Okay, enough, enough!” Kara cried, laughing. “We’re all sisters, okay?”

“So, sister, where are you two going to live? In England or here?”

Colin and Kara looked at each other. “Go on, honey. You tell them,” Colin encouraged.

Kara turned to them. “Well, we were wondering how you might feel if we came here to live.”

“We’d love that! When?”

“Some time in the new year.” Kara’s smile was unsure. “I have to speak to my boss, but we were thinking it would be good to see if we could start the new year over here.”

“That’d be perfect!” Aisling clapped her hands. “I’ll be back at university in a few weeks, and Rory will be getting married in December, so we’ll need someone to be on the front desk.”

“What?” Colin’s glance swerved to Rory. “He’s popped the question? You have a date?”

Rory glanced at Aisling, forcing her to mouth an apology. Oops.

“Well, seeing big mouth over here has decided to spill my beans—”

“I’m so sorry!”

Rory shook her head. “Yes, Aidan proposed, and yes, we were thinking about Christmas, but a lot depends on his work and situation with his grandmother in Australia.”

“I’m sure he’s got a lot to figure out,” Kara said. “I can’t imagine moving that far. Coming here from England feels challenge enough.”

They discussed things a little longer, like where would they would live, and again Aisling felt that sense of being on the outer. Colin and Kara, and Rory and Aidan would be setting up households, forging ahead into their destinies, while she?

She bit back a sigh. The man who’d she’d thought was her destiny might’ve kissed like a dream but had made it plain he didn’t feel the same. Lord? I’m trusting You here. Please help me find some peace, and make a way.

“So, teaching, huh?” Colin said to Aisling later. “I have to admit, that came as a bit of a surprise to me.”

“I think it makes sense. Aisling will be one of those teachers who gets everyone excited about the subject, rather than the type that makes one fall asleep.”

“Thanks, Kara. That’s really nice of you to say that.”

“I mean it. You’re a natural. You have this quality of enthusiasm which makes people get on board, so you’ll do really well.”

Aisling hugged her. “You’re so sweet.”

“Yes I am,” Kara murmured with a straight face.

“Oh, you’ve got a good one here,” Aisling said to Colin. “If you weren’t already married then I’d say I definitely approve.”

“I know.” He winked at Rory. “And Rory has a good one there.”