Читать книгу The Christmas Bouquet - Sherryl Woods, Sherryl Woods - Страница 9

4

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.

It just remained to be seen if she and Noah could reach the sort of compromise Nell was talking about, one they could both live with. The first step, she thought, was releasing that tight grip she had on the plan she’d formulated for her future.

* * *

Mick O’Brien’s office was lined with bookshelves and littered with architectural blueprints. There was a sweeping view of the bay through the French doors. A leather chair sat behind a massive mahogany desk with clean modern lines. The presence of toy trucks and even a few scattered dolls, though, told the real story of the man who ruled the O’Brien clan. He had a soft spot for his grandchildren. Perhaps he would, as well, for this unexpected baby who’d be his first great-grandchild.

“Sit,” Mick told Noah, his tone gruff. “And don’t look so worried. My instincts are telling me that you and I might be on the same side.”

“Really?” Noah said, not convinced of it. He suspected Mick was about two critical answers away from wanting to draw and quarter him.

Mick chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, that I’m a meddler, that I’m overly protective when it comes to my family.”

Noah smiled. “Those are the rumors.”

“Definitely true,” Mick confirmed. “But I’m also a pragmatist. This baby’s coming, whether I approve or disapprove. I just want to ensure that the baby’s interests and my granddaughter’s are protected.”

“That’s all I want, too,” Noah told him with complete candor. “I love Caitlyn, sir. I’ve been very clear with her about that and you need to know it, too.”

“Are we agreed, then, that marriage is the answer?” Mick asked, though it was less a question than a statement.

“I want to marry her, no question about it,” Noah confirmed. “I’ve been eager to start a family with her for a long time now. The only thing preventing me from asking was knowing how dedicated she is to this dream of hers to go back to Africa to practice medicine.”

“And I totally admire her for that dedication,” Mick said. “O’Briens understand all about how blessed we’ve been and our obligation to give back.”

“I understand you’ve been dedicated to supervising the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity since you retired from your company,” Noah said. “I imagine that was part of Cait’s inspiration for her own goals.”

“I’d like to think so, but she’s young. She has years to make her own contribution to society. Right now the important thing is this child she’s carrying and what’s best for the baby.”

“I think Cait is mindful of that,” Noah said. “But it’s a delicate balancing act for her between knowing what’s best for our child and what she needs for her own fulfillment. This pregnancy came as a shock to her. I’m not surprised that she’s having a hard time adjusting.”

“It came as a shock to you, too, I imagine,” Mick said. “But you’re not lollygagging about doing what needs to be done. You want to get married.”

“Absolutely,” Noah confirmed. “But if there’s one thing practicing medicine has taught me, it’s to keep an open mind, to be flexible when it’s necessary. Cait’s not learned that lesson yet.”

Mick gave a nod of satisfaction. “So, how do we get her to that point?”

Noah gave him a startled look. “I was hoping you’d have the answer to that. You’ve had a lot more practice dealing with her stubbornness than I have.”

Mick laughed, then shrugged sheepishly. “According to my wife and even my son-in-law—Caitlyn’s stepfather—my ways tend to backfire, at least at first. I thought maybe you’d have more finesse.”

“I think getting Caitlyn down the aisle is going to take more than finesse,” Noah replied candidly. “She’s worried about giving up on something she’s been working toward for a long time now. You probably know a lot about that kind of drive and determination.”

“I certainly do,” Mick said. “Took me a little too long, though, to figure out there’s more to life than a career. I’m a happier man since I discovered that.”

“You could tell Caitlyn about your epiphany,” Noah suggested.

“I’d be happy to, but it took me years to figure out what’s truly important. I lost all that time with my wife because of it. Caitlyn knows that, too. We don’t have that kind of time to waste. There’s a bit of urgency to this situation.”

Noah could hardly argue with that. “But she respects you, sir. She doesn’t want to disappoint you.”

Mick shook his head. “At the moment, anything I say is considered suspect. She knows what I’m expecting, an engagement and then a wedding. She won’t think I’m taking her needs into account.”

Noah actually found himself commiserating with this man who’d apparently always thought he possessed all the answers when it came to his family. For a man who’d had his own life planned out for some time, Noah had been feeling a bit at a loss himself now that he had to take Cait’s dreams into account. Balancing her goals with his own required some of that finesse Mick was talking about.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Cait’s happy,” he told Mick. “Even if that doesn’t include me.”

Mick regarded him with shock. “You’d give up without a fight?”

Noah shook his head. “Not without a fight, no.”

Mick nodded happily. “Okay, then, let’s talk this through and come up with a plan,” he said eagerly. “I spoke to our priest yesterday and he’s ready to cooperate.”

Noah smiled. “You don’t leave much to chance, do you?”

“Not if I can help it,” Mick confirmed.

“She’s not going to be happy thinking we’re in cahoots,” Noah reminded him.

“Play this right and she never has to figure that out,” Mick replied confidently.

Noah wanted to believe that was possible, but he knew better. Cait, of all people, had her grandfather’s deviousness pegged. As Mick began to toss out ideas, some more outrageous than others, Noah started to realize the depths of it himself.

* * *

Caitlyn was trying to focus on Nell’s instructions, but she was too distracted by the thought of Noah being interrogated by her grandfather. They’d been alone too long. Just when she was about to burst into her grandfather’s office to rescue Noah, Jenny walked into the kitchen, a grin on her face.

“You!” she exclaimed, giving Jenny a mock scowl.

Jenny Collins Green, whose mother was married to Caitlyn’s great-uncle Thomas O’Brien, laughed. “My mom called about your news. I understand you’re blaming this situation on my bridal bouquet, so naturally I had to fly home from Nashville to defend myself. Caleb’s in the recording studio night and day with his new album or he’d be here, too. He’s thinking there might be a hit song in this predicament you blame on the two of us.”

“Of course he does,” Caitlyn said, then asked plaintively, “You couldn’t have tossed that bouquet in Carrie’s direction?”

“She didn’t need my help,” Jenny replied, pausing to give Nell a warm hug before turning back to Caitlyn. “Your sister will fall in love all on her own. She’s had lots of practice at looking for the right man.” She shrugged. “Besides, everybody knows I was never a tomboy. I had very little control over where that bouquet went.” She looked around the kitchen. “Where is this man who managed to slip past your defenses?”

“In Grandpa Mick’s office being grilled,” Caitlyn said with a shudder. “Do I need to be worried for his safety?”

“You don’t have a ring on your finger yet, so no,” Jenny said. “Mick’s not about to kill the groom-to-be before he has the two of you married.”

Caitlyn laughed, relaxing at last. “I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. Grandpa Mick has a single goal right now and it trumps any desire he might have to make Noah pay for his role in this.”

Jenny regarded Nell fondly. “Mind if I steal your helper? I think a walk in the fresh air before dinner will be good for her. She seems a little tense.”