Page 48 of The Past

Kathleen smiled, linking her arm with Rory’s.“Well, good on ye, love.Follow yer heart.”

Rory exhaled heavily, his features softening in a way I hadn’t seen before.“Aye.The right path is to always follow yer heart.But listen to me, Fiona.”He leveled her with a steady gaze, his voice quieter, meant just for her.“If things get bad—if Seamus pushes too hard or makes ye feel like ye don’t have a place—ye do.With us.Kathleen and I will always have a home for ye.”

Fiona’s breath hitched, and her grip on my hand tightened.“Uncle Rory…”

“No arguments,” he said firmly.“I should have told ye that long before, but I’m tellin’ ye now.Ye’re not alone in this.”

Kathleen nodded, reaching over to touch Fiona’s arm.“Ye always have a choice, love.And ye always have us.”

For a long moment, Fiona didn’t speak, her eyes glistening in the glow of the festival lanterns, and my heart squeezed something fierce for the love I was seeing in this family.It touched me deeply because Fiona didn’t have that from her own father.

She let out a small, shaky breath.“Thank ye.”

Kathleen clapped her hands, breaking the heavy moment with a grin.“Well, I think ye both need a pint after all that.Come, we’ll get ye home after.”

We followed them toward one of the festival’s small beer tents, and for the next hour, I let myself pretend this was real—that I was just some Irish lad taking his girl on a night out.We listened to music, watched dancers, and Fiona even talked me into once again trying a jig.I felt foolish but seeing her flushed smile, I’d trip over my feet any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

In the end, I realized… it was the best night of my damn life.

♦

The ride backto Glenhaven was quiet, the festival lights fading behind us as we rumbled down the road in Rory’s old Land Rover.Fiona leaned her head on my shoulder, an exhausted but serene smile on her face.Our fingers were intertwined lightly and I looked down at them.I’d never thought there could be such a thrill in just the sweet, simple touch of a woman’s fingers against mine.

When we reached the estate, Rory drove straight to the manor house to drop off Fiona.We had no clue if Brian called Seamus to complain about Fi’s abandoning him at the festival, and tension filled the vehicle as he brought it to a stop.

I turned to Fiona, tightening my grip on her hand.“I’ll walk you up.”

“No,” Rory said, twisting in his seat to look back at us.“It will only make it worse on her if Seamus is waiting up.I’ll go with her.”

That made sense, but I didn’t like it.Fiona was mine to protect no matter what anyone said.

She turned to me, her thumb rubbing over my knuckle.“It’ll be fine.I’ll talk to him and make him understand,” she whispered.

I didn’t like it at all.“I’ll be waiting to hear how it goes.Will you come to the track first thing?”

“Aye.”She hesitated—like she wanted to say something more—but instead, she pressed a quick, soft kiss to my cheek before slipping out of the car.Rory followed, and Kathleen and I watched them walk up to the front door, the silence so tensely sharp, I was afraid the first noise to be made might shred my eardrums.

Fiona opened the door, walked in, and Rory followed.I didn’t know what that meant.Was Seamus waiting?

“I should go up there,” I said, my fingers closing over the handle.

“Don’t,” Kathleen murmured, and my hand fell away.She glanced back at me.“I appreciate how much ye care for our darling lass, and I know ye want this to be yer fight, but now isn’t the time.”

“I don’t like it,” I muttered.

She smiled at me.“I know but trust me… there will come a time.I’m sure of it.”

Was there a battle ahead?Was I going to have to lay everything on the line for Fiona, a girl I met just over a week ago?I was afraid it was foolish and silly, but my dad didn’t seem to think so.Rory and Kathleen didn’t either.

And Fiona… she made a bold choice tonight, facing her deepest fears of letting down her family.

Yeah… I’d be ready to fight when the time came.

It seemed like forever, but Rory came back out and his step seemed light.When he slid into the driver’s side, I asked, “Is she okay?”

“Aye.All was quiet.”

I exhaled a sigh of relief, leaning my head back against the seat as Rory pulled away.

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