The Summer Garden. Sherryl Woods

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      5

      Luke was late. He’d gotten totally absorbed in completing the painting of the wall that would be behind the bar, twice changing his mind about the color. The foreman Uncle Mick had put on the job had finally lost patience with it and told him to work it out in his head, then do it himself or leave it till morning. He could hardly blame the man. He suspected that Mick himself would have said far worse.

       In the end, he’d raced home, showered and changed and was now walking up the driveway at Gram’s over an hour after most of the others had arrived. In fact, several of his cousins who had small children were already leaving.

       “Someone’s in trouble!” Connor called out in a singsong taunt as he and Luke crossed paths.

       “Stop it!” Heather told her husband. “Don’t be spoiling the surprise.”

       “Heather’s right,” Shanna said just as Kevin looked as if he was going to add his own comment. “Quiet, both of you!”

       Luke looked from one man to the other. Weren’t cousins, especially guys, supposed to stick together? “What am I missing?” he asked them.

       “The party,” Shanna said firmly, scowling first at Kevin, then at Connor, apparently to ensure their silence. “But you already know that, so you’d better hurry.”

       Connor grinned at the direct order, but Kevin merely shrugged as if he had zero control over his wife.

       “Sorry, man,” he muttered as he passed Luke.

       As Luke got closer to the house, he heard noise coming from the backyard, so rather than going inside, he walked around the side of the house.

       “There you are!” Mick boomed in a way that was far more welcoming than usual. “It’s about time.”

       Luke frowned. “Why is everyone making such a fuss because I’m a little late?” he asked just as the crowd seemed to magically part, leaving him with a clear view of his grandmother, Dillon and, at Dillon’s side, Moira. Luke’s heart seemed to come to a complete stop in his chest as she met his gaze, her expression a familiar mix of defiance and fear. He knew that look all too well. She was scared to death about his reaction, but trying hard to pretend otherwise.

       Luke crossed the lawn, unable to take his eyes off her. “You,” he said softly. “You’re here!”

       “So I am,” she said, her gaze searching his face. “Are you pleased?”

       “Stunned, as a matter of fact.” Her eyes clouded at his words, so he quickly added, “In a good way, Moira. In a very good way.”

       In fact, it was just about the best surprise he could ever recall…and that flat-out terrified him.

       Her lips slowly curved into a smile at his words. “Well, I suppose that’s a warmer welcome than I gave you on the night we met in Dublin.”

       Luke laughed. “There was no welcome,” he reminded her. “You’d have been pleased if I’d turned right around and left for the hotel. In fact, you did your best to see that not only I, but all of us, did just that.”

       “My manners and my disposition have improved since then,” she told him. “Though I have a few things to say to you about yours.”

       Luke winced. “I know I’ve been neglecting you.”

       “And me,” Dillon said, interceding. “It’s good to see you again, Luke.”

       Luke shook the older man’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here, sir. Gram’s been looking forward to the visit ever since we got back.” He turned to his grandmother. “And you,” he chided. “I assume you knew about the surprise.”

       “Of course I did. Dillon and I worked it all out and kept it to ourselves. I must admit I could hardly wait to see your reaction.” She smiled at him. “It told me quite a lot.”

       “Gram,” he warned, only to have her wave him off.

       “Moira, why don’t you go with Luke to fill a plate? I’m sure he’s starving.” She gave him a chiding look. “Though there’s little guarantee that there will be much left to choose from at this hour.”

       “I’m sorry I was late,” he apologized.

       “And even sorrier now that you know who awaited you, I imagine,” she teased. “Go on now and enjoy yourself.”

       Food was the last thing on his mind, but he took the time to choose a few things from the buffet, poured himself СКАЧАТЬ