Patrick

“Sure, you can have more mashed potatoes,” I say to Maeve. My little five-year-old loves to eat and she’s really been enjoying the restaurants here in Ireland. This one serves family-style Irish meals; it’s one of my favorites.

“Do you want gravy, Maeve?” Amelia asks from across the table.

“Yes, please, Auntie,” Maeve says, green eyes full of excitement at the prospect of more food.

Nothing makes me happier than having my entire family together in my favorite country. We rode Harleys around the winding roads of the Irish countryside with my brothers and their wives today. The views were stunning, picture perfect lush green landscapes on our way to the Blarney Stone. Carsen has never been here and it warmed my heart to see her ear-to-ear smile as she took in the views and breathed in the fresh-cut grass scent that I’ve grown to love through my travels here.

It means the world to me that I get to introduce her to my favorite places. She and I have had our ups and downs, but we’ve managed to stay strong through all of it. That’s why today is so important to me.

When I’m with Carsen, it’s as if a fundamental part of me has clicked into place. One that I never realized was missing. I’m a different man now with her in my life. Spending time with her and Maeve, I’m more present. And I’m prioritizing time with my brothers again; we have a once a week happy hour set so we can catch up outside the office. Work takes a back seat now. Not that I’m neglecting my responsibilities, it’s just that I don’t want to miss anything.

“Me, too,” Finley, my three-year-old niece, says to her mom, Lettie. Her short brown hair has the softest curl to it and her features resemble her mother’s.

“Sure, sweetie,” Braeden says to his daughter as he puts a scoop of potatoes on her plate. It’s been fun seeing him turn to mush at his baby girl’s every whim. I know the feeling.

“Today was amazing; thank you so much for bringing me here,” Carsen says to me, giving my leg a squeeze under the table.

Kissing the sweet skin of her cheek, I say, “I’m happy you’re enjoying it.”

The waitress stops at the table, dropping off apple tarts for everyone. Jackson’s eyes get wide and he rubs his stomach. “None of you are going to like these, so feel free to pass them over here.”

There’s a round of laughter at the table, and not a single person passes their tart to him.

My heart starts beating like a jackhammer in my chest. I was only ever going to do this once in my life, yet here I am again. In fact, as our relationship progressed over the years, and it was clear that Carsen and I were going to commit to each other, I was upfront with her that I wasn’t going to get married again. It just didn’t seem necessary, especially since my divorce with Maggie was long and exhausting. The only good thing that came out of it is that Maggie never asked for any type of custody of Maeve, which makes me sad for my daughter, but my life is easier for it. I don’t have to miss a single day of her life and for that I’m grateful.

As time has gone on, I’ve noticed Carsen checking out other women’s engagement rings, and her peers are starting to get married. We’ve gone to two weddings so far this summer. She never asks me about it, but I know she’d love to be married to me and it isn’t fair that she suffer because I’ve been burned. That’s why I’m shaking like a leaf as I pull the box out of my pocket.

Pulling out my chair, I drop down to one knee next to Carsen. She just put a bite of her tart in her mouth and when she notices me, her jaw falls open and she brings her napkin up to her to cover her mouth as she finishes chewing.

“Carsen, I’ve known since the day I met you that you’d change my life. And you have done just that. You’re my best friend. You’ve stood by me through one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through. And not only me, you’ve been everything to Maeve: a caretaker, a fashion consultant, a nurse, a chef, a tutor, and most of all, you’ve been the best mom she could ever want.” There are tears falling down her cheeks now and an adoring smile on her face. “You are the love of my life, so today in the presence of my family, I’d like to ask you if you’d marry me.” I open the box and show her the sparkling two-carat round solitaire I bought for her.

“Patrick, it’s gorgeous. But you said you didn’t want to get married again.” Her hands come to my chest. I’m sure she can feel how fast my heart is pumping.

“I changed my mind. What do you say? You want to do this?”

“But I’m going to start my job at the school in the fall; you think we’re going to have time to plan a wedding?” Her eyebrows are raised and you can actually see her wheels turning.

“Why don’t you guys get married here? At the little church we go to,” my mom suggests. She and Dad have a condo here and spend several months out of the year in Ireland.

Carsen looks from my mother to me, as if for approval. “Could we do that? Would it be too soon?”

“I’d do it now if you said you wanted to.” I know she wants this, but she’s starting to make me nervous.

“Then yes.” She slides the ring onto her finger and springs out of her seat and into my arms, nearly knocking me over. She’s openly crying now.

Maeve comes over to us and grabs Carsen’s shoulder. “Momma, are you okay? Why are you crying?”

“Come here, baby,” Carsen says, pulling Maeve into us so we’re a three person hug. “I’m doing great. Daddy and I are going to get married here in Ireland.”

“That sounds fun. Do I get to buy a new dress?” Maeve asks and everyone laughs. My little girl is a true fashionista and always loves a chance to dress up.

“Of course,” I tell her. Pulling her up onto my lap, we sit back down on my chair. “Any dress you want.”

Carsen takes her seat next to us all the while staring at the ring. “I can’t believe it, Patrick. It’s so beautiful.” She leans in close to my ear and whispers, “I’ll show you just how much I like it later.” And she licks my neck in the way she always does to get me going.

I give her an incredulous smirk. If I didn’t have my daughter on my lap, I’m sure it’d have a different effect, but for now I can only imagine what Carsen will do to me later in the privacy of our room.

“No, not tonight,” Amelia says, jabbing her elbow into Jackson’s ribs. I only hear her because she’s sitting next to me.

“Why not? We said we’d tell everyone tonight,” Jackson tells Amelia. He thinks he’s whispering, but he’s doing a terrible job.

“Shhh. We shouldn’t ruin their moment,” Amelia says.

Turning in their direction because I simply can’t ignore them any longer, I say, “What’s up, guys? Everything okay?”

They look back and forth at each other and then to me. Everyone else seems to be caught up in their own conversations.

Leaning in closer to me, Jax says in a semi-hushed tone, “Amelia is pregnant. We were going to tell everyone tonight, but now that you proposed, Amelia thinks we should wait. She says we shouldn’t steal your thunder.” He reaches out to touch Amelia’s flat stomach, a proud smile on his face.

This is wonderful news. Years ago when the two of them just started dating, Amelia got pregnant with an IUD and ended up miscarrying. It was awful for them. After that, they decided to wait to try again and even after they got married, Jax told me that they thought they’d wait a few years to try. Looks like it happened for them. “No, you guys should tell everyone right now. It’d be a night full of things to celebrate.”

“Really, Patrick? You wouldn’t mind?” Amelia’s pale green eyes scan my face as if she’s trying to evaluate if I’m serious.

“Listen, guys, I couldn’t be happier for you. Do it.”

Jackson clears his throat and says, “Everyone, all the McLoughlins in the room, Amelia and I have news.”

It gets quiet and all eyes are on Jax and Amelia.

“Do you want to tell them or should I?” Jackson asks Amelia, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

“I will,” Amelia says. “We’re happy to add to the excitement tonight and let you all know that I am ten weeks pregnant.”

My mother gets up and comes to stand between my brother and Amelia. She kisses them both on the cheeks. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet my next grandchild.”

“Wonderful news. Cheers to the newly engaged couple and to the next McLoughlin baby.” My father raises his wine and we all join our glasses together in celebration.

Bending toward my future wife, I clink my glass with hers and kiss her lips. Our future is bright and I couldn’t be more content. I get to spend the rest of my life with Carsen; she’s my friend, my family, my everything.