“Since when is money more important than people, Shane?” Kieran asked angrily. “Shit. It’s not like we need the money. If she’s that hard up, give her something else at a reduced rate or something.”
Shane shot him a scathing look. “Don’t you think I tried? You know better, Kieran. I offered at least three other places in town. She refused. It was the cottage or nothing. She wouldn’t have even qualified for that if I hadn’t personally co-signed the mortgage application.”
That was unexpected. “Why would you do that?”
Shane averted his eyes. “I don’t know. Just a feeling.”
Kieran felt a little better knowing that his brother didn’t feel right about this either, but there was definitely something else at play here. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he felt it. He looked at Maggie, saw the colors swirling hypnotically in her green eyes. Then turned his gaze to Shane, and knew that he, too, felt it.
“You want her in Pine Ridge,” he guessed, knowing even as he spoke the words that they were true. He felt like a moron. Of course Shane wouldn’t allow something like this to happen unless there was a damn good reason for it. “Why?”
Shane exchanged a glance with Maggie, then shrugged. “I don’t know. But when her offer came in, I couldn’t put it down, no matter how much I wanted to.”
Kieran knew better than to push. He trusted Shane’s instincts implicitly. Like Kieran, he had a huge knight complex.
“Alright,” he nodded slowly. “I don’t like it, but if you say there’s something there...”
“There is,” Shane confirmed, but offered no more.
“We’ll keep a close eye on this one, though, yeah?”
Shane smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. Maybe we can head up there tomorrow, work a little magic before she arrives?”
Kieran nodded and agreed, feeling considerably better. He already had a mental list of things started as he began to plan a trip to the local home improvement store.
Maggie smiled enigmatically, plucking another Reese’s from the table. “It will all work out. Like I said, Kieran, you just have to have faith.”
Kieran reached over and patted Shane’s back as his brother was suddenly thrown into a violent coughing fit. Shane pinned accusatory blue eyes on Maggie. She met his gaze head on, her own green eyes swirling madly and a completely unapologetic grin on her face.
“I think I’d like to go, too,” Maggie announced brightly, but Kieran was already shaking his head.
“No way, Mags. Mick’ll have my ass if I get you anywhere near that place in your current condition.” She looked so crestfallen that he quickly added, “But maybe once we get it cleaned up a bit and a little less hazardous...”
*
“No electricity, Mom,” Matt reported, methodically flipping switches in each of the rooms as they made their first pass through the cottage. A brief flashlight inspection of the fuse box showed that everything – while dusty and covered in cobwebs - looked fine, and that the electricity probably just hadn’t been turned on yet.
“Guess we arrived a little earlier than expected,” she mused. “I can call tomorrow. In the meantime, looks like our first night will be candlelight and a cold dinner. You up for that?”
“Heck, yeah.” He grinned so wide her heart swelled. Her son had the ability to do that to her.
“But first I think we need to do the important stuff.” His expression became guarded, no doubt thinking she was going to make him work. “I think we need to establish which bedroom is yours and which one is mine.”
They took their time touring the small cottage. It didn’t take long. The downstairs consisted of two large rooms – kitchen and a living space – as well as a full bathroom. The upstairs had two bedrooms, both with breathtaking views of the mountains and another full bath shared between them.
All the while, Faith was mentally designing the redecoration. The only exception was Matt’s room. He had complete autonomy over his own space – within reason, of course.
Tomorrow she would begin sketching the images already forming in her head and compiling a list. They’d prioritize together and squeeze what they could out of their budget. Both had agreed before the move that the first order of business would be to purchase beds, or at the very least, mattresses.
Since they were both very hungry, they decided to postpone unloading and cleaning for a later time. Instead, they chose to spread out a blanket on the back patio and eat the sandwiches they’d picked up in town – oddly called ‘hoagies’ around Pine Ridge – outside under the ever-darkening dusk. The air was cooler than they were used to, but still quite pleasant. Cleaner. Less humid. It was quiet here. Their property was outlined in trees, affording them privacy.
“This is great, Mom,” Matt said, wolfing down his sandwich with the hunger of a growing boy. Faith gave him half of hers and popped open Cokes for both of them.
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
“We’re going to be okay.”
“Yeah,” she said, warmth blooming within her as a welcome peace settled around them. “We are.”
Chapter Three