Page 13 of Sam's Forever
“We’ll fix this, come hell or high water,” Uncle Johnny says decisively, as if by saying it, he’ll make sure it’s done. And I’m sure they’ll all do their best. I just hope it’s enough because I can’t imagine the hurt Uncle Andy must feel having been ostracised and forgotten for so long.
But I know the men in my family, and while they may have got it wrong with their brother, if they said they’d fix it, they would because family meant everything to an O’Shea.
CHAPTER 8
TEA WITH THE O’SHEA FAMILY
SAM
It’s the week of our wedding, and our guests are starting to arrive today. The hotel looks gorgeous. The amount of work that has gone into it to get it ready for today blows my mind. I’d only been involved in a small part.
Bren had asked me if I’d build the bar in the one reception room and if the one in the billiard room could be saved. It had taken me a month of long days, but I’d done both. Bren had a vision, and she’d made it come to life. My sisters always amazed me, but this time they’d both blown me away. I should have known that Bren would drag Ellie into this project, and you could see both their touches. Where Bren was all about practicalities, Ellie was more whimsical, and I know the stands of flowers, draping ferns, and comfortable seating areas with a homely feel were all Ellie. Bren would have had a say, but we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we played to each. Ben would be where Bren would have gone to find staff, as he knew everyone in the village and helped those who needed it the most.
Right this minute, Bren and I are sitting in the reception area watching as Ally nervously paces around, biting on her thumbnail as she eyes the front door.
Bren and I exchange a concerned glance; finally, I have to say something, “Baby, everything will be fine. Come sit with me.”
Ally turns wide, wild eyes on me and blows out a breath, shaking her hands as she gulps in a breath before exhaling, “What if it’s not? What if Granda takes a turn? What if they don’t speak to each other? Oh, this was such a bad idea.”
“Beautiful, come here,” I order, holding my hand out to her. Ally walks over and takes it. I guide her to my lap and tuck her in close. She immediately buries her head in the crook of my neck and takes a deep breath, relaxing like I knew she would.
“Hey,” I say, tilting her chin up so that I can get a look at her gorgeous face. “You’ve done what you can. From now on, it’s up to them. They’re the ones who fucked up, not you. They’re adults, baby. When Andy and his family arrive, we’ll make them comfortable and then let your dad know he’s arrived. Bren has tea set up for four o’clock, and we’ll all be there to smooth the way. If it kicks off, I’ve got Alec and the boys on standby, plus Reaper, Draco, and Onyx. We’ll get them out. Although honestly, putting them all in the ring and making them duke it out sounds like a plan.” I smirk at her when she glares at me.
“I don’t want my dad with a black eye in our wedding photos, thank you very much,” she informs me with a little huff, and I chuckle. She’s too fucking cute.
Jeanie swans in through the front door and spots us. Walking over, she throws herself down on the couch next to us. Taking one look at her sister, she frowns and gets right to the point, “Stop freaking out, Ally. For fuck’s sake, this is all on the parentals and their history. What will be will be.”
Ally, Bren, and I share a look and start to laugh. Jeanie had literally just told Ally what I had but in a much shorter version.
“What?” Jeanie asks, looking confused.
“I literally just told her that.” I grin at my sister-in-law-to-be.
Jeanie nods, “That’s because you’re not a moron.”
That’s how Andy and his wife find us, laughing and smiling, until we notice a large, forbidding shadow looming over us.
Tapping Ally’s leg, she immediately shifts next to Jeanie. I stand so that I’m eye to eye with the man who I can tell, with one glance, is dangerous. He looks too much like Tommy O’Shea to be anyone other than Andy.
“Andy,” I greet, holding my hand out in welcome. His gaze drops to it, and he slowly reaches out, gripping my hand. “You must be Sam,” he rumbles.
“I am,” I reply and hold out my hand for Ally, who takes it and stands next to me with Jeanie on her other side. Bren stands on my other side. “This is Ally, and Jeanie is on her other side. And this is my sister Bren,” I tell him, wrapping an arm around Bren. “It’s her hotel.”
His gaze softens when he looks at the girls, and I realise he’s no different from the other O’Shea men when it comes to women. They’re a soft touch.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” His eyes glide over Jeanie, Ally, and Bren before they stop on Ally, and he briefly smiles. “Thank you for inviting me to your wedding.”
Yep, a definite soft touch when it comes to women. This fact is further cemented when a sweet voice calls out, “Daddy, look what the lady gave me,” before a blonde, curly-haired ball of sunshine barrels into the back of his legs.
It’s a different man who looks down at his daughter as his entire body loses its tenseness as he picks her up. “What you got there, baby?” he asks in a soft voice as he looks at the bear his daughter holds up for inspection. “The lady at the desk gave him to me.Look, he’s even got my name on him, and the lady gave me sweets,” the last bit is said with awe.
Andy chuckles and kisses her head, “He’s a very pretty bear, but you check with your mammy first before eating the sweets?”
She nods vigorously, then turns shy and tucks her head into Andy’s neck when she realises we’re all standing watching her.
He turns towards us, “Mikayla, these are my nieces and the man she’s marrying. That lady over there owns the hotel, and I think she’s the one who made sure you got a bear, so what do you say?”
Mikayla looks at Bren and says sweetly, “Fank you for my bear.”
