Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(38)
Megan gave her a knowing look. “Are you any less worried with the distance between you?”
“No, but at least I’m not wasting my breath trying to talk sense into them, only to have it thrown back in my face. I’ve had to bail them both out of trouble a time too many. They need to learn to deal with the consequences of their actions.”
Even as she made the very firm declaration, she couldn’t seem to stop the tears that welled in her eyes at the memory of walking away the last time they’d been jailed for their drunken behavior.
“Kiera, I’m so sorry,” Megan said, clasping her hand. “Is there anything I can do? Would you want them here? I’m sure Mick would find work for them.”
“As much as I’d like to see them have a fresh start, they need to learn their lesson first. And I wouldn’t want my father worrying every minute that they’d only continue their bad behavior here and bring shame on all of us.”
“People do deserve second chances, though,” Megan reminded her. “I got one from my family.”
“Were you spending your days drunk and your evenings in brawls that got you kicked out of every pub you entered?”
Megan winced. “It’s that bad?”
“Worse,” Kiera said. “They’re their father’s sons, no question about it. It’s clear I should have kicked Sean Malone to the curb much sooner.”
“I thought he left when they were very young,” Megan said. “That’s the impression Moira gave us. She said she never really knew her father at all.”
“Because I kept her away from him, but the boys went looking for him and found him to be a jovial drinking pal. Sean’s influence by then was far stronger than my own.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Kiera saw the genuine sympathy in Megan’s eyes and wondered at the friendship being offered by this woman whose life had been so different from her own. “Thank you for listening. It’s not something I’ve wanted to burden my father or Moira with.”
“Well, I’m around whenever you need to talk. And anything you tell me will stay just between us.” She glanced at her watch. “And now I’d better be getting to work. The gallery should have been open fifteen minutes ago.”
When Kiera would have stood, Megan shook her head. “Stay and have another cup of coffee and one of Sally’s chocolate croissants. I know those are your favorite. I’ve seen you looking longingly at my leftovers. Sometimes there’s just no reason for restraint. You’ll feel better with a little chocolate in your system.”
Kiera sat back, taking the suggestion to heart. “I believe I will.”
“I’ll tell Sally on my way out.”
Moments later, with a fresh cup of coffee and a chocolate croissant in front of her, Kiera realized she did feel considerably better than she had. She wasn’t sure if that was because of the chocolate, the friendship Megan had offered or simply unburdening herself for the first time about the sons who’d strayed so far from the men she’d hoped they’d become.
Chapter 9
Even though she hadn’t set foot in the pub all day long, Bryan hadn’t been able to get Kiera out of his head. One minute he was annoyed that she’d once more tried to give him unsolicited advice. The next he felt oddly warmed by the offer of friendship. That she was so willing to make the effort with him, despite his often surly attitude, suggested she was either astonishingly kind or a glutton for punishment. He wanted to believe it was the latter, because genuine kindness was something that had been in short supply in recent years, mostly because he’d done his very best to discourage it.
Kiera, however, clearly wasn’t someone he was going to be able to keep at a distance. It wasn’t just the physical proximity of her cottage. It seemed it was her nature to ignore barriers or to keep pushing at them till they fell.
He recalled Moira, worrying that her mother was returning to the time when she’d been closed off, lonely and bitter, something to which he could totally relate. Just his luck that she’d apparently changed. Just his luck that she’d apparently developed the same stubborn streak that made Luke’s life with Moira so challenging.
Though he hadn’t realized he was doing it intentionally, in an attempt to avoid another disturbing encounter, he stayed at the pub well past closing. When Luke paused to question him on his way out, Bryan insisted he had things to organize in the kitchen, supplies that needed to be checked and an order to prepare. Given the skeptical expression on Luke’s face, Bryan concluded he might have overdone the list of chores.
“Is that so?” Luke asked, glancing around the spotless kitchen in which not a single thing seemed to be out of place. Then his gaze drifted to the well-stocked shelves with only a scattering of empty spots.
“You gave me an order earlier,” he commented, his tone casual, but his eyes dancing with humor.
“And now I’m telling you it might not be complete,” Bryan said irritably. “We had a big crowd tonight. I used a lot of our staples. Now we’re running low.”
“On?”
Bryan scowled at him. “Are you questioning my assessment of what’s needed to run this kitchen?”
Luke grinned at that. “Never,” he said at once. “I’m questioning your skill at fibbing, either to me or yourself. You don’t seem to want to leave here tonight. I’m wondering why. It wouldn’t be because Kiera’s right next door and you’re hoping she’ll be safely tucked in bed and therefore no temptation, is it?”