Page 34 of Nick: His to Claim

“Everything?” Maggie asked, her face blushing fiercely.

Molly laughed.

Maggie imagined that if a twinkling star could laugh, it would sound like Molly.

“Well, not everything. I do have my standards you know,” she informed her, taking Maggie’s hand in hers. “Some things are just off-limits,” she giggled, as she saw what Maggie was thinking. “Exactly!”

Maggie bolted upright, her face beet red as Molly patted her hand and released it.

“I know that Nick is Jason’s father. I’ve always known, although never having seen Nick in person, it was a little cloudy. I never told anyone, not even Patrick. It’s not my secret to share.”

Maggie nodded. “Thank you for that. What else?”

“I know that you have been in danger. I minded my own because I could see that between Rory and Nick you were being looked after. I can’t always tell how serious it is. Sometimes Ijust sense a little fear or pain but not always the source and I wouldn’t want to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong.

“Once, a few years ago, I felt Colleen was in some sort of trouble. I flew up the stairs into her old bedroom and found Noah… Well, let’s just say that I couldn’t give her any assistance even if I’d wanted too. Not without answering to Patrick for it. I quietly shut the door and promised myself I would be a little more careful in the future before I jumped in blindly.”

“Patrick?” Maggie scoffed. “He’s as gentle as a teddy bear, not like Rory or Nick.”

Now Molly blushed crimson. “You’d be surprised.”

“Oh,” Maggie’s throat suddenly felt dry. Geesh, if even Patrick—sweet and funny Patrick—did stuff like that, then it must be an epidemic. Someone should alert the press. Maybe there was an antidote.

The sound of Maeve ringing the dinner bell on the back porch carried clearly to the lovely women, and Maggie rose, pulling Molly up with her.

“Anything else I should know, Molly? Like the winning numbers in tonight’s lottery?” Maggie asked, giggling as she looped her arm through Molly’s.

“Just one more thing, dear heart. Nick loves you so very much. I’ve felt it for a while, but today when I took his hand it was like a flash of lightening—very powerful.”

“Oh, he’s powerful all right,” Maggie mused, rubbing a hand over her backside.

Molly laughed and disengaged her arm from Maggie’s. Skipping backward, she distanced herself from her.

“There is just one tiny thing more,” she drawled, mischief glowing in her eyes. “If you do decide to marry Nick, just leave ‘obey’ in the ceremony. It will be much less entertaining but… ” Spinning, Molly ran lightly through the foyer and down the hall laughing merrily all the way.

Maggie gave chase but never got close to catching her before Molly entered the kitchen and hurled herself into Patrick’s arms.

Dinner was quickly put on the table. Every available hand was either put to use carrying or slapped by Maeve for sampling before grace. When all eighteen were seated, Sean led them in thanking the Lord for his bounty and blessings. Immediately dishes started making their way around the table.

Country ham, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, cabbage salad, and hot flakey rolls were all passed amid chattering children and indulgent adults.

Sean was at the head of the table with Maeve at the other end. To Sean’s left were Michael, Ryan, Molly, Patrick, Noah, Colleen, Lilly and Rose. To Maeve’s left were Caitie, Devlin, Todd, Jason, Nick, Maggie, Bridget and Rory. It was definitely a full house, and the teasing stopped for a while as everyone enjoyed the delicious food.

“My Ma always told me the sign of a good cook was silence at the table, but this is ridiculous,” Maeve stated smiling.

The family sitting on Maggie’s side of the table faced the others and the full mirror behind them. Maggie couldn’t help notice the similarities in Nick’s and Jason’s mannerisms, although she tried not to stare. They held their forks the same way, cut their meat the same way, even picked up their napkins and wiped their mouths at exactly the same time. The black hair, the startling blue eyes, the same stubborn chin. Dear God, she thought, how did no one else see it? I should have never seated them together. Fascinated, she could not pull her eyes away from that damn mirror.

Maggie had no idea how much time had actually gone by before she realized she was not alone. Next to her she could see the shock on Bridget’s face reflected in the mirror. She heard Rory’s sigh as he bent his head. Across from her she saw the pityin Molly’s eyes, the curiosity in Noah’s, and the dropped jaws of Colleen and Patrick.

Her mother had her napkin to her mouth, as if she was afraid of what was going to come out of it as she also watched Nick and Jason. Her Da reached for his beer and chugged it down, unable to believe he’d been so blind.

The silence was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Nick reached under the table and took Maggie’s cold trembling hand in his as he met her eyes in the mirror.

Only the littlest children were oblivious, and Jason continued to eat with a teenager’s appetite until he too noticed the silence. Looking up, he grinned as he realized everyone was staring at him.

“What? Do I have corn on my face or something?” he joked, wiping his face with his napkin and looking into the mirror to make sure he was presentable. And then he saw it. In a heartbeat he saw it. The resemblance was unmistakable, and he stared, unable to wrench his eyes away.

The only saving grace, as far as he was concerned, was when he finally pulled his eyes away and saw shock on the faces of his family. At least he hadn’t been the only one kept in the dark.