The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

while I was working.”
    “It’s a private matter, and I could hardly ask Jude to waddle her way down there, could I, in the wet.”
    “At least tell me what this is about, then.”
    “I’m doing it all at once, so you’ll just have to wait five more flaming minutes.” Puffing a bit—Brenna was small, but it wasn’t an easy matter to pull a reluctant woman of any size up that steep hill—Darcy continued down the little walkway between Jude’s wet flowers.
    She didn’t knock, and as the door was never locked, she hauled Brenna inside, where her work boots, unwiped, tracked mud down the hallway to the kitchen.
    They looked so cozy there, Jude and Aidan, sharing breakfast at the old table, and the big dog sprawled hopefully under it. The smell of toast and tea and flowers hung in the air. It gave Darcy a little jolt in the center, made her wonder why she’d never before realized how satisfying such quiet moments could be. How intimate they were.
    “Good morning.” Jude glanced over, and in a credit to friendship, said nothing about the mud. “Do you want some breakfast?”
    “No,” Darcy said just as Brenna moved forward to snag a piece of toast from the rack. “We didn’t come to eat,” she continued, aiming a lowering look at her friend. “I need a word with you, Jude. In private. Go away, Aidan.”
    “I haven’t finished my breakfast.”
    “Finish it at the pub.” Neat and deft, Darcy slapped the remainder of his bacon on toast, scooped the bit of egg left on his plate on top of it, and held it out. “There. Now off with you. This is women’s business here.”
    “A fine thing this is, a fine thing for a man to be shoved from his own table, out of his own house.” He may have grumbled, but he got up and shrugged into his jacket. “Females are rarely worth the trouble they take. Except this one,” he added and leaned down to kiss Jude.
    “Bill and coo later,” Darcy ordered. “Brenna only has a few minutes as it is.”
    “You might as well go.” Resigned now, Brenna got herself a cup, brought it back to the table to enjoy some tea with her toast. “She’s on a tear.”
    “I’m going. I’ll expect you to be on time,” he said to Darcy. He kissed Jude again, lingering over it as much to please himself as to annoy his sister.
    He snapped his fingers at Finn, waiting while the dog happily scrambled out. “Come along with me, lad. They don’t want our kind here.” He strode out, Finn prancing behind him. “Take a lie-down,” Aidan shouted, then the door slammed.
    “You look a little tired,” Brenna commented, pursing her lips as she studied Jude. “Aren’t you sleeping well these nights?”
    “The baby was feeling frisky last night.” Jude ran her hands in slow circles over her belly, thrilled at the impatient ripple under her palms. “Kept me awake. I don’t mind, really. It’s a lovely feeling.”
    “You need to nap when he naps.” Brenna decided to have another piece of toast, and began to load this one with jam. “That’s what I’ve heard, and do the same once he pops out as well. Sleep becomes a precious thing. How are the childbirth classes going?”
    “Oh, they’re fascinating. Wonderful. Terrifying. The last one—”
    “If you don’t mind,” Darcy interrupted, “I’ve something I need to discuss. I’d hope my two closest friends in the world would have some interest.”
    Brenna only rolled her eyes, but Jude tucked her tongue in her cheek, folded her hands on the table. “Of course we’re interested. What is it?”
    “It’s—” She found the words stuck in her throat. Hissing, she grabbed Brenna’s tea and gulped it down over her friend’s annoyed protest. “I’m in love with Trevor.”
    “Christ Jesus!” Brenna snatched her cup back. “You’ve dragged me up here for that?”
    “Brenna.” Jude spoke softly, her eyes on Darcy’s face. “She means it.”
    “The girl’s always making a stage production out of . . .” But Brenna trailed off, getting a good look at Darcy herself. “Oh. Oh, well, then.” With a laugh, she leaped to her feet and gave Darcy a smacking kiss on the mouth. “Congratulations.”
    “I didn’t win a bloody raffle.” Disgusted, she dropped into a chair. “Why did it happen this way?” Dismissing Brenna as useless, she appealed to Jude. “Without me having time to prepare or figure on it. It’s like a punch in the face, and I have to keep my balance here, as I’ll not be knocked on my ass by any