like, Carrie?”
“You’ve got a four o’clock with Mr. O’Malley and that’s all.”
Thank God for small favors, until the bills started coming in the mail, anyway. “I’m going to walk over and check on Mrs. Roarke, get some fresh air. Call if you need me.”
“Will do.”
* * * *
The screen creaked in welcome as it had so many times before. Ryan Corrigan stepped into his mother’s kitchen. She turned around at the sink where she’d been drying dishes. A little more gray streaked the blond waist-length braid of her hair. Fine lines appeared at the corners of the green eyes which she’d passed to her son. A smile bloomed across her face.
He crossed the space between them and wrapped his arms around his mom, just holding tight. There was nothing like home, and he craved it. Home. Whatever came next, he could deal with it.
“Mama.” One word from his lips told the anguish of every moment since he’d left and the relief he felt now that the time away had come to an end.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too, Ma. You look good.”
She’d visited him many times while he’d lived overseas, but Ryan knew it wasn’t the same as having your child home. He wished he could have the same opportunity. His child. What would he have been like? Or maybe it would have been a girl. Someone to treasure and protect. Kate had seen to it he would never get the chance to know.
No longer the towheaded boy he’d been, no longer a bubbling child who exuded caring and love, now a brawny six-three, he had a darker, honey blond hair color. Ryan quietly took note of any changes that had been made in his absence.
The house, at least from outside, had appeared to be in good repair. Either Jack or Skye’s doing, he was sure. He’d have to head over and see them before long, but right now all he wanted was the quiet of his mother’s company and a cup of her tea.
“Well, sit down and I’ll fix you a cup of tea. I made sugar cookies this morning. You can catch me up on the goings-on.”
“The last trial ended about two weeks ago.”
“The butler, the one Liv coshed over the head with a candlestick?”
Ryan grinned, remembering Liv’s great escape from Gueraldi’s fortress. Lord, they’d been terrified she’d be found dead, but she’d surprised them all by tricking the guard, knocking him out and escaping into the hands of an FBI agent.
“That’s the one. Well, he was found not guilty . Missing evidence. Didn’t take him long to walk out of the courtroom and go after the agent who took him down, Gabriel Spiller, and Jack’s former sister-in-law Leannan O’Neil.”
“Jack never said anything to us.”
“Probably didn’t know. Anyway, turns out she had the missing diamonds and didn’t know it. She found Agent Spiller and they went into hiding. Smythe found them and ended up dead.”
“Oh my.” Molly passed him a cup of hot tea and set a plate of cookies on the table between them.
“They’re getting married next month.” He smiled.
“A whirlwind romance. Sometimes it’s like that. And you? Any unfinished business in the States?”
“I’m clear. Forgotten as far as they are concerned. I sold the house, banked the money and gave my farewells.”
“I’m just glad all that mess is over with. So, do you plan to stay for a time?”
“Yes. If you don’t mind having me here until I get my own place.”
Her gentle but strong hand covered his.
“This is your home, Ryan Michael. No matter what you do, you will always be welcome here, as are all my children. Understand?”
“I’ve done so many terrible things.”
“As we all have and you’re probably not finished with your share. Nevertheless, I will always love my sweet boy. There is something you should know.” She was twisting her hands together.
“Sure, Ma.”
“I don’t want you to find out by chance and be unprepared. Mary Katherine has moved back home. She’s started her practice here, and I didn’t want you to bump
“You’ve got a four o’clock with Mr. O’Malley and that’s all.”
Thank God for small favors, until the bills started coming in the mail, anyway. “I’m going to walk over and check on Mrs. Roarke, get some fresh air. Call if you need me.”
“Will do.”
* * * *
The screen creaked in welcome as it had so many times before. Ryan Corrigan stepped into his mother’s kitchen. She turned around at the sink where she’d been drying dishes. A little more gray streaked the blond waist-length braid of her hair. Fine lines appeared at the corners of the green eyes which she’d passed to her son. A smile bloomed across her face.
He crossed the space between them and wrapped his arms around his mom, just holding tight. There was nothing like home, and he craved it. Home. Whatever came next, he could deal with it.
“Mama.” One word from his lips told the anguish of every moment since he’d left and the relief he felt now that the time away had come to an end.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too, Ma. You look good.”
She’d visited him many times while he’d lived overseas, but Ryan knew it wasn’t the same as having your child home. He wished he could have the same opportunity. His child. What would he have been like? Or maybe it would have been a girl. Someone to treasure and protect. Kate had seen to it he would never get the chance to know.
No longer the towheaded boy he’d been, no longer a bubbling child who exuded caring and love, now a brawny six-three, he had a darker, honey blond hair color. Ryan quietly took note of any changes that had been made in his absence.
The house, at least from outside, had appeared to be in good repair. Either Jack or Skye’s doing, he was sure. He’d have to head over and see them before long, but right now all he wanted was the quiet of his mother’s company and a cup of her tea.
“Well, sit down and I’ll fix you a cup of tea. I made sugar cookies this morning. You can catch me up on the goings-on.”
“The last trial ended about two weeks ago.”
“The butler, the one Liv coshed over the head with a candlestick?”
Ryan grinned, remembering Liv’s great escape from Gueraldi’s fortress. Lord, they’d been terrified she’d be found dead, but she’d surprised them all by tricking the guard, knocking him out and escaping into the hands of an FBI agent.
“That’s the one. Well, he was found not guilty . Missing evidence. Didn’t take him long to walk out of the courtroom and go after the agent who took him down, Gabriel Spiller, and Jack’s former sister-in-law Leannan O’Neil.”
“Jack never said anything to us.”
“Probably didn’t know. Anyway, turns out she had the missing diamonds and didn’t know it. She found Agent Spiller and they went into hiding. Smythe found them and ended up dead.”
“Oh my.” Molly passed him a cup of hot tea and set a plate of cookies on the table between them.
“They’re getting married next month.” He smiled.
“A whirlwind romance. Sometimes it’s like that. And you? Any unfinished business in the States?”
“I’m clear. Forgotten as far as they are concerned. I sold the house, banked the money and gave my farewells.”
“I’m just glad all that mess is over with. So, do you plan to stay for a time?”
“Yes. If you don’t mind having me here until I get my own place.”
Her gentle but strong hand covered his.
“This is your home, Ryan Michael. No matter what you do, you will always be welcome here, as are all my children. Understand?”
“I’ve done so many terrible things.”
“As we all have and you’re probably not finished with your share. Nevertheless, I will always love my sweet boy. There is something you should know.” She was twisting her hands together.
“Sure, Ma.”
“I don’t want you to find out by chance and be unprepared. Mary Katherine has moved back home. She’s started her practice here, and I didn’t want you to bump
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