inch, though.”
She hadn’t. She’d given Derek a fair hearing, which was what judges were supposed to do even when the evidence seemed damning.
“Derek is lying,” Julie said, and for once, Derek’s baloney hadn’t left her feeling sad, stupid, and bewildered. “He probably had one oblique conversation with Davidson over a drink at the clubhouse, mentioned something about it to his father in passing, and then got the bright idea that he could dazzle me blind with the possibilities. He’d be amazing, if he were for real, but if Davidson hasn’t announced his retirement, then there’s no reason to rush home.”
Julie had figured that out in the instant she’d peered at Niall over the basket of pretzels. Simply by looking at her, Niall had inspired her to stop, think, and consider. To use her head, and treat Derek like the lying, manipulative opposing counsel he was.
“Hendershot’s amazing, all right,” Niall said as the violin and concertina whirled along in a minor key. “You’re more amazing. He held your heart’s desire in the palm of his hand, to hear him tell it.”
Derek held smoke, nothing more. He’d never offered Julie anything more substantial than smoke. Julie had given his version of marriage five years of her life, enough time to learn the difference between self-interested charm and love.
A pity. Not a tragedy, a simple, live-and-learn pity. The music, the laughter, the old ladies dancing with each other, the babies… they helped put things in perspective.
A good beer didn’t hurt either.
“You helped, Niall,” Julie said, brushing a finger down a whisper-soft baby cheek. “Without saying a word, you reminded me that I have options and allies. It’s not me against the world, which is what Derek has always wanted me to think—that I have him or nobody. An abuser’s message, a gang leader’s message, really, and a lie. Thank you, Niall Cromarty. Thank you very much.”
Niall switched Henry to the other shoulder. “You’re welcome. Did me good to see that, though Declan might want to wreck my golf course, he’s simply protective—of the fish, the scenery, his sister’s memory. I think if he could find a way to compromise with me, he would.”
“Allies and options again,” Julie said, as the music wound to close. “Powerful notions.”
“I didn’t want you to leave with Hendershot,” Niall said quietly, as Henry stirred and yawned. “I probably ought not to say that, but I’m glad you stayed.”
A generous man, to give Julie those words. “Whatever buttons Derek was trying to push, they don’t work the way they used to. I love that. I’m so glad to be here, Niall. I meant what I said—I needed this vacation more than I knew.”
Niall smiled at her, a pleased, I’m-proud-of-you smile that warmed Julie as no ring on her finger, or black robe around her shoulders, ever would.
She needed to stop and think about that, too.
“Tomorrow we hit golf balls,” Niall said. “Long, hard drives that go straight to the green.”
“Can we hit a few of those long, hard drives tonight?” Julie asked, leaning in to kiss Niall’s cheek. The kiss was beginning to get ideas when Julie heard boots stomping up to the table.
“Is that any kind of example to set for the lad?” Declan asked, lifting Henry from Niall’s shoulder. “Carrying on in public like a pair of minks.”
“A kiss on the cheek does not make me a mink,” Julie said, bussing Declan’s cheek—and inspiring a redhead’s glorious blush.
“Americans,” Niall said, taking a sip of beer. “A friendly bunch. Did Morag dance you under the table, MacPherson?”
Declan took a seat, the baby cradled in his arms. “That she did. Me and half the pipe band. Woman is on a tear about something.”
“Her divorce is final,” Niall said. “Jeannie’s too.”
“I’d heard about Jeannie. Their husbands are fools. This is a good baby. He must take after the distant MacPherson ancestors whom he shares
She hadn’t. She’d given Derek a fair hearing, which was what judges were supposed to do even when the evidence seemed damning.
“Derek is lying,” Julie said, and for once, Derek’s baloney hadn’t left her feeling sad, stupid, and bewildered. “He probably had one oblique conversation with Davidson over a drink at the clubhouse, mentioned something about it to his father in passing, and then got the bright idea that he could dazzle me blind with the possibilities. He’d be amazing, if he were for real, but if Davidson hasn’t announced his retirement, then there’s no reason to rush home.”
Julie had figured that out in the instant she’d peered at Niall over the basket of pretzels. Simply by looking at her, Niall had inspired her to stop, think, and consider. To use her head, and treat Derek like the lying, manipulative opposing counsel he was.
“Hendershot’s amazing, all right,” Niall said as the violin and concertina whirled along in a minor key. “You’re more amazing. He held your heart’s desire in the palm of his hand, to hear him tell it.”
Derek held smoke, nothing more. He’d never offered Julie anything more substantial than smoke. Julie had given his version of marriage five years of her life, enough time to learn the difference between self-interested charm and love.
A pity. Not a tragedy, a simple, live-and-learn pity. The music, the laughter, the old ladies dancing with each other, the babies… they helped put things in perspective.
A good beer didn’t hurt either.
“You helped, Niall,” Julie said, brushing a finger down a whisper-soft baby cheek. “Without saying a word, you reminded me that I have options and allies. It’s not me against the world, which is what Derek has always wanted me to think—that I have him or nobody. An abuser’s message, a gang leader’s message, really, and a lie. Thank you, Niall Cromarty. Thank you very much.”
Niall switched Henry to the other shoulder. “You’re welcome. Did me good to see that, though Declan might want to wreck my golf course, he’s simply protective—of the fish, the scenery, his sister’s memory. I think if he could find a way to compromise with me, he would.”
“Allies and options again,” Julie said, as the music wound to close. “Powerful notions.”
“I didn’t want you to leave with Hendershot,” Niall said quietly, as Henry stirred and yawned. “I probably ought not to say that, but I’m glad you stayed.”
A generous man, to give Julie those words. “Whatever buttons Derek was trying to push, they don’t work the way they used to. I love that. I’m so glad to be here, Niall. I meant what I said—I needed this vacation more than I knew.”
Niall smiled at her, a pleased, I’m-proud-of-you smile that warmed Julie as no ring on her finger, or black robe around her shoulders, ever would.
She needed to stop and think about that, too.
“Tomorrow we hit golf balls,” Niall said. “Long, hard drives that go straight to the green.”
“Can we hit a few of those long, hard drives tonight?” Julie asked, leaning in to kiss Niall’s cheek. The kiss was beginning to get ideas when Julie heard boots stomping up to the table.
“Is that any kind of example to set for the lad?” Declan asked, lifting Henry from Niall’s shoulder. “Carrying on in public like a pair of minks.”
“A kiss on the cheek does not make me a mink,” Julie said, bussing Declan’s cheek—and inspiring a redhead’s glorious blush.
“Americans,” Niall said, taking a sip of beer. “A friendly bunch. Did Morag dance you under the table, MacPherson?”
Declan took a seat, the baby cradled in his arms. “That she did. Me and half the pipe band. Woman is on a tear about something.”
“Her divorce is final,” Niall said. “Jeannie’s too.”
“I’d heard about Jeannie. Their husbands are fools. This is a good baby. He must take after the distant MacPherson ancestors whom he shares
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