Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(96)
“I see,” he said slowly.
“You sound as if you have mixed feelings,” she said worriedly, then reminded him, “It was your suggestion.”
“I mentioned it because I thought it might be a good option.”
“But now you’re having second thoughts?”
“That depends on why you’re doing it. If it’s for your education, I’m all for it. If it’s only about being closer to your father, then it does concern me.”
“What if it’s both?” she asked.
“Let me just ask you this. If things don’t work out between you and your father or get awkward or he has little time for you, any of those things, will you still be happy to be in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins?”
“Absolutely,” she said without hesitation. “I’m loving everything about this program here.”
“If that’s the case, then I’m all for the transfer,” he said, though he didn’t sound as enthusiastic as she’d hoped.
“Ash, things are going well between Bryan and me,” she said, hoping to reassure him. “I think we both want this chance to make up for the time we lost.”
“I just don’t want you to be disappointed if things don’t work out the way you envisioned. Your mother left him for a reason.”
“I know, and it probably made perfect sense to her at the time, but a lot of time has passed. He’s not the same person, and I’m an adult now. I think I’ll be able to decide for myself if he’s selfish or too self-involved or whatever it was that drove her away. He’s been pretty open about how he put career over family back then.”
“He could do that again,” Ash cautioned. “It’s one thing for you to show up out of the blue and have this happy reunion that lasts for a day or even a weekend, but what happens if you’re coming around all the time wanting his attention? He’s had years now when he’s been able to devote himself to work without any competing demands. The tendency to be a workaholic could be even stronger now.”
“It won’t be like that. I’m sure of it. Why are you suddenly against this?”
“I’m probably worrying for nothing,” Ash admitted. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“I won’t be. My eyes are wide-open and my expectations aren’t high. I promise.”
“Okay, then. You know you have my full support. Whatever you need from me to make this happen, just ask.”
“I love you, Ash,” she said, hoping again to reassure him. “That’s never, ever going to change.”
“Back at you,” he said softly. “Keep me posted on what’s going on.”
“Absolutely.”
As Deanna hung up, she couldn’t help feeling vaguely deflated. Because she’d always trusted his judgment without question, Ash’s concerns had worked their way into her head. It wasn’t enough to make her change her mind about her decision, but her earlier excitement had dulled a little. What if she did turn out to be little more than a nuisance in her father’s well-ordered life?
She drew in a deep, bracing breath. She’d deal with that when the time came. Right now she was all about seizing second chances.
*
Kiera opened her kitchen door on a dreary, rainy morning expecting to find Bryan on her doorstep, only to find her father standing there, dripping wet.
“Come in,” she said, drawing him inside. “Let me get you a towel to dry off. What on earth are you doing walking in the rain?”
Dillon laughed. “Have you forgotten that a little rain never stops an Irishman? If it did, we’d seldom get any exercise.”
Kiera took his soaked shirt and tossed it into the dryer, then she brought him a towel and an old T-shirt of Bryan’s that she wore when gardening. It had been freshly laundered the day before. Dillon looked at the logo for an organic farm on the front and gave her a questioning look. “Yours?”
“No, Bryan loaned it to me so I wouldn’t ruin my own clothes working in his garden.” She saw the speculative gleam in her father’s eyes and quickly tried to steer the conversation away from Bryan. “Would you like hot tea or coffee? I have both.”
“Coffee, if it’s not too much trouble. Nell would have me floating in tea, if she had her way. She thinks a strong cup of tea can solve the cares of the world. Her coffee, however, lacks a certain punch. I’m afraid I’ve grown accustomed to the espresso at Panini Bistro.”
“I’ll do my best, but I’m not sure mine’s quite that strong,” Kiera told him. As she filled her small espresso pot and set it on the stove to heat, she studied her father. He’d aged well. In fact, it seemed he’d grown stronger since moving to Chesapeake Shores, and his skin had a healthy glow from his daily walks. Still, there was no denying that he was aging. She couldn’t help wondering how much longer she’d have him in her life. And, if she did go back to Ireland, how much of that time would she miss?
When she handed him his cup of coffee and a pitcher of cream, he gave her a worried look. “Are those tears I see in your eyes? What’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking about how much I’ll miss you when I’m back in Dublin.”
He gave her a steady look. “There’s an obvious solution, but you already know that.”