The Christmas Bouquet

“Getting there,” she said, a little breathless from their kiss.

“Does everyone inside know what’s going on?”

“I’ve only told Mom, Gram, Trace, Grandpa Mick and Grandma Megan, but I think we can assume the word has spread. I was getting an awful lot of speculative looks just now.”

“What about Carrie? Is she around?”

“Nope, she’s at some fashion thing in Milan or Paris.” She shrugged. “Someplace in Europe. I’ll tell her next time she calls.”

He grinned. “Are you sure you two are identical twins?” he asked, checking out her loose-fitting linen slacks and oversize sweater in a shade of purple never intended to be worn with her coloring. He thought she looked amazing, but he imagined her fashion-conscious sister would have been appalled.

“I know what you mean,” she said, glancing down with a rueful expression. “I’m a mess.”

“Not even close,” he objected. “Just oblivious to the designer racks, thank goodness. I think you look perfect.”

“And that’s why I love you,” she said, linking her arm through his. “Are you ready to do this?”

“Are you?”

“I think so,” she said. As they neared the house, she leaned close and whispered, “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll protect you.”

Noah smiled at that, then stopped her when she would have opened the door. “Cait, have you made any decisions?”

She shook her head. “I told you I wouldn’t, not until we’d talked. Did you think I’d go back on my word?”

“No, it’s just that you seem more at peace than you did the other day.”

She paused, her expression thoughtful. “I think I am,” she admitted, sounding surprised. “It must be the Chesapeake-Shores effect.”

Whatever it was, if it had put a sparkle back into her eyes, Noah counted that as a blessing.

4 (#ulink_925ee5cc-2b4e-535e-adf5-3078559bc560)

Caitlyn watched carefully as her family chatted with Noah. He seemed to be holding his own with all of them, even Grandpa Mick and Trace. The tension in Trace’s jaw had finally eased. He’d even nodded approvingly when her mom appeared at his side. Abby had looked ready to intervene if things got out of hand, but Trace’s glance evidently reassured her.

Still, Caitlyn held her breath as her grandfather pulled Noah aside. When she stepped in their direction, Noah gave a subtle shake of his head and Grandpa Mick regarded her with a forbidding expression.

“Let them talk,” Nell advised. “You come and give me a hand in the kitchen. I’ll give you a few more tips on the finishing touches for the Irish stew. And I’ve made Irish soda bread to go along with it. You can take notes on that.”

“I doubt I’m up to baking bread,” Caitlyn protested.

“It’s a great stress reducer,” Nell promised. “It’ll come in handy whenever you’ve worries on your mind.”

“In that case, bring it on,” she said. “I’ve plenty of challenges ahead, it seems.”

As she turned to go into the kitchen with Nell, she cast a last worried glance in Noah’s direction, then dutifully followed her great-grandmother. She still couldn’t seem to concentrate on Nell’s words, though.

“Child, my first impression of Noah is that he’s a fine young man with a quick wit and a good head on his shoulders. I think he’s capable of putting Mick’s fears to rest,” Nell said at last. “All your grandfather wants is to know that you’re loved.”

“Love doesn’t always solve all the problems, though,” Caitlyn said, thinking of how many things needed to be resolved to make this situation right. Some of the obstacles seemed insurmountable.

“Of course it does, at least if it’s the real thing,” Nell said impatiently.

“Then why do people say that love isn’t always enough?”

“Because they don’t understand that the problems don’t just vanish when you love someone. Love takes work and compromise and understanding and respect. Do you and Noah have those things?”

“I’m willing to work at the relationship and I respect Noah more than anyone I know outside of this family,” Caitlyn said. “I think I understand his hopes and dreams.”

“And he understands yours?”

“He says he does.”

Nell smiled. “Then it’s the compromising that’s the sticking point?”

“For me,” Caitlyn admitted. “I’m half-O’Brien, after all. We’re stubborn and sure of ourselves and we want what we want.”

“I can’t deny any of that,” Nell agreed. “But look around at this family, Caitlyn. Is there a single one of us who hasn’t compromised on the important things at one time or another? Your own mother is here, rather than in New York where she’d envisioned her future. Even your grandfather—and we both know how stubborn he can be—has given up control of his company and stopped most of his traveling, so he can spend more time with your grandmother the way she always hoped he would. Dillon gave up his life in Ireland to live here with me, when I told him I couldn’t be separated from my family.” She met Caitlyn’s gaze. “I could go on and on. Do I need to?”

“No,” Caitlyn said. “But Mom and Grandpa Mick both got to live their dreams at least for a little while before they compromised. And you and Dillon visit Ireland every year.”

“And you feel as if your dream will be lost forever if you don’t grab on to it right now?” Nell asked, smiling.

“Something like that,” Caitlyn conceded, realizing that was part of her O’Brien need for immediate gratification.

“And those places you’ve dreamed of going, will they disappear?” Nell asked.

“Of course not. But I made a promise to be back soon,” Caitlyn said, clinging to her plan. “I don’t like the idea of breaking that promise. Promises are meant to be kept, especially one as important as this. You taught me that.”

Nell smiled. “Don’t throw my old lessons back in my face,” she scolded. “A delay doesn’t mean you’ll never keep your word.”

“I’m not sure that people who are counting on me for so much will be able to see it the same way,” she argued.

Once more Nell regarded her with a touch of exasperation. “This need you’ve seen in these places? Will that be wiped out anytime soon?”

“I’d like to think so, but realistically, no.”

“Then you and Noah could start this life together, perhaps, and then follow your dream a few years from now. You could even do it together, am I right? You’d be twice the help to people who need it.”

“But once we have children, we can’t just run off to save the world at the drop of a hat,” Caitlyn said.

Nell smiled at that argument, clearly dismissing it. “Haven’t you noticed the size of this family?” she asked. “I imagine there’s someone who could care for your children for a month or two if you wanted to volunteer in another country. Isn’t that what we do for one another?”

“It’s what you did for Grandpa Mick when Grandma Megan left,” Caitlyn replied, beginning to see what she meant. “You stepped in to help raise Mom, Kevin, Bree, Jess and Connor.”

“And your Grandma Megan helped out with Little Mick while Connor and Heather were working things out. We all did our part with Davey, too, while Kevin was getting over Georgia’s death and before he met Shanna.” She gave Caitlyn a penetrating look. “See what I mean?”

“Actually, I do,” Caitlyn said.