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I reached for Jake’s sippy cup and snagged some of his OJ. The sugar perked me up as I asked, “Did you and Conor get everything arranged for tomorrow?”
Lena blinked at me, and I saw something peep into her eyes that had me frowning some. “Yes, everything is ready.”
“The news is going to feature the art?”
Lena nodded.
“How did Declan even get that stuff?” I grumbled, but I wasn’t sure why I was shocked.
The O’Donnellys were a law unto themselves.
Why shouldn’t Declan have a Vermeer tucked away that he was donating in exchange for a private ceremony within the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?
“I have no idea, and I didn’t ask,” Lena drawled. “I think both you and Jake look pooped. Why don’t you both settle down for a nap while I go and make sure things are full steam ahead at Declan’s?”
“A nap sounds awesome,” I admitted with a sigh, well aware she’d be going to hang out with Shay who was still having trouble with his bulliesandnightmares after his and Aela’s near miss in the fall. “But even if I don’t sleep, you go anyway. I’d hate to hold things up after you and Con have worked so hard to arrange everything.”
“Declan never did like to wait,” she retorted as she got to her feet. “His impatience definitely isn’t a virtue.” At my snort, she smiled then motioned a hand at the kitchen. “Leave this. I’ll sort it out when I get back.”
“Okay,” I said nonchalantly.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Aoife.”
“What?”
“Aoife,” she repeated, making me laugh.
“What?”
“Don’t you dare clean up. Go and get some rest!”
I huffed, but before I could argue, another twinge arrowed down my side. I thought I managed to shield my expression because Lena was like a mother hen right now, and she’d have been all over that if I hadn’t masked my features.
She rounded the table, held out her hands, and said, “Up, up, up.”
I let her help me, cringing as that hurt too, but I was relieved as all hell when she shuffled Jake over to the sink and said, “I’ll clean him up, put him to bed, and then head out. I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Thanks, Lena.” I surprised myself by yawning. “I really appreciate this.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart. Now, go on. Shoo.”
I shot her a shaky smile and half-staggered out of the kitchen, finding my bed with relief. After ten minutes, when I still couldn’t get comfortable, I knew the pathetic reason why—Finn wasn’t here.
“God, you’re such a sap,” I muttered to myself.
The bed was big, but I huddled in the center then grabbed his pillows, shoved them along my back, ruffled the comforter at my front, and eventually managed to find some semblance of comfort.
It worked, anyway, because I didn’t even hear Lena go out, and I only awoke when I heard a soft laugh and Jake’s giggles.
The pain had gone. I wasn’t sure if that was because of the nap or if it was down to the heat at my side which was no longer from the pillows. Finn was there, and God, he felt so good.
I peeped out and saw Jake was sitting in front of me, Finn’s hand was on my belly, the heat filling me with a warmth that I figured soothed the pain, all while he watched Jake with a new toy—a hedgehog that had soft ‘spikes’ he had to fit into the slots on the animal’s back.
Drowsily, I moved onto my side, and was relieved to find there was still no pain, as I smiled at him. “Hey. When did you get back?”
“About an hour ago,” Finn said as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You were sleeping deeply so I didn’t see any harm in letting you rest.”
I’d needed it.
