AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We all watch as Penny tears into her gift, unwrapping it to reveal yet another Barbie doll for her impressive collection. It’s Barbie the veterinarian, complete with a white lab coat and a dog as a patient.
“An animal doctor!” Penny says. She rushes forward to hug me. “Thank you, Uncle Connor. How did you know I love Barbies?”
I grin. “Just a wild guess.”Who doesn’t know about Penny’s obsession with Barbies?
As Penny clutches her new gift to her chest, Kennedy gives me a look and mouths, “Showoff.”
Will steps forward to give Kennedy a welcoming hug. “I hope you both had good flights.”
“It was a surprising flight, I can tell you that,” Kennedy says, arching an eyebrow at Will.
I’m sure she’s alluding to the fact that we were both booked on the same plane coming here.
Will grins, but he’s saved from answering when Hamish appears beside us.
“Shall I bring in their luggage, sir?” Hamish asks.
Will nods. “Thanks. If you don’t mind, would you take their things around to the guesthouse?”
The guesthouse?That comes as a bit of a surprise. Usually when I visit, I stay in the main house with the family.
“We’rebothstaying in the guesthouse?” Kennedy asks, unable to mask the horror in her tone.
I try not to take her reaction as a slight. Personally, I’m thrilled. If I’m going to have any chance of reconnecting with Kennedy, we’ll need some alone time, and the cozy little cottage designed for two is the perfect setting for that.
Chapter 5
Connor Murphy
Will nods as he takes his daughter’s hand. “With the amount of noise this one makes in the morning—” he eyes Penny “—and the baby waking at all hours, Skye and I thought you two would be more comfortable in the guesthouse. It’s far quieter and more private.” He smiles. “Don’t worry. It has two bedrooms.”
“Two bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen, and one living room,” Penny recites, sounding more like an estate agent than a four-year-old. “And a big TV. It’s as big as ours.”
I glance at Kennedy out of the corner of my eye, and my heart sinks when I see the panic in her expression. Obviously, she wasn’t anticipating us staying in such close proximity. Of course, neither was I, but I’m certainly not complaining.
“I’d be happy to stay in the big house,” she says, sounding just short of desperate. “I can help Skye while I’m here.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Will says. “Between me and Skye’s mum, Brenda, who lives just ten minutes away, we’ve got everything covered.” He winks at us. “I’m not completely useless, you know. You should see me change a nappy. I’m diabolically good at it. Just ask my wife.” He nods toward the front door. “Now, come inside and meet the newest member of the Carmichael family. Mother and baby are resting on the settee in the lounge.”
Penny runs ahead, up the steps and through the front doors, and Kennedy follows her, plodding along like a convict heading to her execution.
When I hesitate, Will motions to the door. “Well, are you going to grace us with your company?”
“I’m just taking it all in, you know. It’s a lot.”
Will’s smile falters. “I know it must be hard on you, seeing Kennedy again.”
“That’s an understatement. So, you and the missus set us up, didn’t you? How clever.”
Will shrugs. “It was Skye’s doing. She thought getting the two of you together again would be a good idea.”
I frown. “I doubt Kennedy would agree with that statement.”
Will claps his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “You never know, Connor. Miracles do happen.”
Will Carmichael is as tall as I am, and as commanding as ever. Although his face is a little more lined than it was when we first met, overall time has been kind to him. There’s no sign of any premature gray in his dark auburn hair and trim beard. He’s dressed smart, yet casual, in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow and a pair of blue jeans. He’s even wearing cowboy boots. “Country life looks good on you,” I tell him.
He grins. “I can’t say I’m not enjoying it.” He pulls me close and gives me a bear hug. “It’s good to see you again, mate.”
