The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

already seen so much and been so many places. You know what it is to yearn for that. It’s in our blood.”
    “So’s the pub, and high season’s starting.” He added more jam to his bread. Finn, knowing the routine, shifted so Aidan could sneak him a bite in turn. “I can’t have Jude filling in for you now when she’s only weeks till term.”
    “I wouldn’t think of it. If I see her carrying a tray I’ll knock you upside the head with it.”
    Because he knew the sentiment, and the threat, were completely sincere, Aidan sighed. “Darcy, I count on you to keep the service running smooth.”
    “I know, and that’s what I do, day in and day out. I’ve worked with Sinead, though there were times I wanted to bash the girl’s brains on the bar. She’s improved considerable over the last couple weeks.”
    “She has.” But Aidan continued to brood over his breakfast.
    “I was going to ask Betsy Clooney if she’d do me the favor of covering for me, for the two days. She’s worked the pub before, and she knows the routine.”
    “Christ, Darcy, Betsy’s got herself a brood of kids now. She hasn’t worked the pub for ten years.”
    “It hasn’t changed overmuch, and I’ll wager Betsy’d enjoy it. She’s reliable, Adian, as you know.”
    “She is, but—”
    “And there’s another thing I wanted to put to you. Young Alice Mae could use a summer job.”
    “Alice Mae?” Aidan stopped brooding to goggle. “She’s barely fifteen.”
    “And all three of us were working before that, without harm. Brenna mentioned her baby sister wanted to earn some spending money. I’d like to give her a chance. She’s a bright girl, and being an O’Toole she’ll work hard. I’d start her on the one shift, the midday. Today, so I can have her trained before I leave for London.”
    “Christ, she was in nappies yesterday.”
    “Getting old, aren’t you?” She rose just long enough to kiss his cheek. “I want to go, Aidan, and I’ll see the service is handled smooth while I’m gone.”
    “Was a time only Gallaghers worked Gallagher’s. But for Brenna now and again, but that was practically the same thing.”
    “We can’t stay with that.” And because she understood some of the sentiment, even a twinge of the regret, she rose again and standing behind him, wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’ve already made the changes. I guess we started when Ma and Dad moved to Boston. We’ll be bigger now, but we’ll still be Gallagher’s.”
    “Aye, and it’s what I want for us. Still, there are moments I remember and wonder if I’ve done right.”
    “You’re the worrier, and bless you for it. Of course you’ve done right. Well and right, Aidan, by Gallagher’s and all of us. I’m proud of you.”
    He lifted a hand, patted hers, sliding a bit of bacon to Finn with the other. “Now you’re trying to get ’round me that way.”
    “I would if I’d thought of it.” She gave him a last squeeze. “I need to go. I need to see.”
    He knew how it was, precisely. The deep, churning need to go and to see. He’d taken five years to work it out of his system. She was asking for two days.
    But . . .
    “I’m going to say it out plain. I don’t care for the notion of you going off with Magee.”
    Darcy rounded her eyes, pursed her lips. When Jude came in at that moment, she decided it was perfect timing and turned to her sister-in-law. “Did you hear that?”
    “No, I’m sorry. What?”
    “Aidan’s taken a sudden and avid interest in my sex life.”
    “I’ve not. Damn it.” He wasn’t easily fuddled, but she’d managed it. “I didn’t say anything about sex.” He hissed out a breath when Darcy only stared at him. “I implied it,” he said with some dignity.
    “Oh, implied, is it?”
    “I think I’ll go back upstairs,” Jude began.
    “No, you don’t.” Darcy waved her to a chair. Finn immediately bellied over, prepared for the next covert treat. “Sit down, for this should be interesting. Your husband here, my darling brother, is implying that he disapproves of my having sex with Magee.”
    “Christ Jesus.” Aidan put his head in his hands. “I’ll go upstairs.”
    “That you won’t. Would you like some tea, Jude, darling?” Without waiting for an answer, Darcy got a cup and poured out. “First we should establish whether your husband, my brother, objects to me having sex altogether or just in this particular case.” She sat again, and her smile was sugar-sweet. “And