The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

it, come and join the celebration. I can promise you won’t buy another drink in Gallagher’s in your lifetime.”
    To Trevor’s numb shock, Shawn took him by the shoulders and kissed him with great enthusiasm. “God bless you. Let’s be off, Brenna.”
    Trevor stood alone in the kitchen and laughed.
    “It’s a happy night,” Darcy said as she stepped in.
    “Shawn kissed me, right on the mouth.”
    “Well, then, I can’t be outdone by my own brother.” She leaped, sent him staggering back, and kissed him hard and long. “There, now, that should do it.”
    But the humor faded out of her eyes as they went soft, as she laid her hand on his cheek. “You’re a hero. No, don’t shake your head at me. We might’ve fumbled through that without you, but I don’t like thinking of it.”
    “You kept your head.”
    “I wanted to run screaming.”
    “Me, too.”
    She blinked at that, hopped down. “Is that the truth? You looked so competent, so calm. Laying down orders, then taking charge like you delivered babies as a hobby every Saturday.”
    “I was terrified.”
    “Then you’re even more of a hero.”
    “It wasn’t heroics, it was stark terror.” And now he could admit it. “It was nothing like my sister. All I had to do with her was be there, hold her hand, listen to her curse my brother-in-law, maybe breathe with her. And there’s doctors and monitors and . . . stuff,” he said, running down. “This was . . . Jesus. This was primitive. It was fantastic.”
    He finished off the rest of his whiskey. “Nothing was the way it should’ve been. The storm, the power, Jude sprinting through labor like that. Nothing was the way it should’ve been, yet it was all exactly right. Like it was meant.”
    “All of us together this way, in this house.” She touched a hand to his arm. “Yes, it was exactly right. I feel I was part of a miracle tonight. The baby, our Ailish, she looked healthy, didn’t she?”
    “She looked perfect. Don’t worry.”
    “You’re right, of course. Bellowing like that on the way out, and already nursing. What could be better? And Jude’s just glowing. So, let’s have ourselves a toast to our perfect little miracle.”
    He eyed the whiskey bottle. “I’ve already had two, with Brenna and Shawn.”
    “And your point would be?” she asked as she got another glass and poured.
    “Nothing. Don’t know what I was thinking. To our miracle, then. The newest Gallagher.”
    “Slainte.” She brought the glass to her lips, tipped her head back, and swallowed in a way that made him feel obliged to do the same. “I’m going to make the new mother some tea, then tidy up. Will you be at the pub?”
    “I’ll wait for you here.”
    “That would be lovely.” She turned to put the kettle on, spied the pot staying warm under a cozy. “Shawn’s beat me to this as well as to kisses. Sit down and take a load off,” she suggested as she arranged cups on a tray. “Miracles aside, delivering babies is an exhausting business.”
    “You’re telling me.”
    He started to sit when she went out, then felt guilty. He should go up, make sure, see if anything else was needed. Besides, he couldn’t sit. He was too full of that brilliant wash of energy.
    Then he heard the front door open, and Darcy’s voice cheerfully greeting Mollie O’Toole.
    Thank you, Jesus, Trevor thought fervently, and for the first time in his life was thrilled to pass the reins of control into the hands of another. He’d wandered around the kitchen, glanced out the dark window, and was just thinking about making coffee, if he could find it, when Aidan came in, all but dancing.
    “There’s the man of the hour.”
    This time Trevor was braced, but still didn’t manage to evade the hearty kiss. “That’s three for three,” he muttered. “I’m getting used to it. How’s Jude?”
    “She’s glowing. Sitting up in bed, pretty as you please, and drinking tea while Darcy cuddles the baby.”
    “Darcy?”
    “Kicked me out of the room,” Aidan said as he got yet another glass. “Said I was to come down here and drink like a new father so she could start her auntie’s privilege and spoil the baby.”
    “Auntie?” Try as he might, he couldn’t visualize Darcy as auntie.
    “Mollie O’Toole’s fussing around, and says she’s staying the night. They’ve already got Ailish dressed up in a little sleeping gown with lace on it. She looks . . .”
    He trailed off, just leaned forward and laid his palms