Amberlyn

After going back to Declan’s room to clean up and to change—thank God, I had that ugly darn dress—we rush back to my aunt and uncle’s. The table was already set and everyone was seated when we got there. To my surprise, Kane was seated too. He never comes for dinner. Eyeing him as he gives me a look, I give him one back, which results in us both snickering. Declan pulls out my seat for me and I sit down, sending him a grin before he sits down beside me, both of us apologizing for our lateness.

“He stole me away from tea, and we went riding and lost track of time. I’m so sorry,” I say, sending a shy grin to my aunt. I am probably grinning like a fool, and I’m sure the whole room knows I’ve just had sex.

But thankfully, my aunt waves me off and says, “It’s fine, honey. We just sat down. Kane and Michael were discussing something with some kind of compressor. We had no trouble waiting.”

I smile, but when my gaze meets Fiona’s playful one, I turn bright red. I hope that my eyes are conveying the fact that I will kill her if she says anything, but I guess they don’t because she says, “I’m sure that isn’t the only thing you lost.”

Declan looks up and then at me before looking over at Fiona and chuckling as he shakes his head. Kane is holding back his laughter, a sinful smirk on his face while my poor aunt and uncle are in the dark.

Thank God.

Glaring, I reach for my cup and shake my head as my aunt asks, “What did you lose, honey? Did you find it?”

When beer spurts out Kane’s nose and Declan starts to choke, I swear I am going to kill Fiona. Even as she grins at me, her face glowing and looking beautiful, she too is fighting to keep it together, her eyes dancing with laughter. But I know I might have to end my cousin.

“Jesus, Kane, ya all right, lad?” my uncle asks, and Kane coughs in between laughing.

“Yes, sir. Goodness,” Kane sputters as he wipes his face and shakes his head. “You’re evil, ya know,” he mutters at Fiona before kissing her cheek.

“That she is,” I say, and I feel bad since my aunt and uncle have no clue what is going on. Declan is still snickering but trying to hide it as he holds his cup up over his mouth. I am burning with embarrassment, but I can’t say I don’t expect it from her. It’s classic Fiona. She lives to embarrass me.

“I don’t know what is going on, but how’s everything coming for the wedding?” my aunt asks.

I smile as I sit straighter, ignoring the laughter of my cousin, her boyfriend, and mine. “It’s going great. It’s going to be very nice.”

“Still going through with it, then?” my uncle teases, and I nod as Declan grins.

“Yes,” I say as Declan’s fingers lace with mine. “Very much so.”

“Good to hear,” he says, and I believe that he is genuine when he says it. Grinning at him, I lean into Declan and let out a contented sigh as the conversation is brought to a new topic. Whiskey. I always enjoy listening to Declan talk about his business. He is very passionate about it, and it’s easy to tell that he knows everything there is to know about it. I’m very impressed when Kane starts talking, though. Like Declan, he is very savvy in the business and keeps up like a pro. While my aunt, cousin, and I only eat and pipe in when we can, my uncle is up to speed with them, and I think that surprises Declan.

“You’re retired, yes?” Declan asks, his eyes trained on my uncle.

“I am. Been for a couple years,” he answers, a playful grin on his face. “Was glad to go.”

“I didn’t know you were retired,” I say before Declan can go on. “I thought the B&B has always been your job.”

Looking over at me, my uncle shakes his head. “No love, this was my ma and da’s, but I got into the whiskey business with Jameson Whiskey and worked for a very long time. I was finally able to work at home, which was good since my da had long passed and my ma was heading that way.” Taking ahold of my aunt’s hand, he smiles. “Shelia ran this without me for a while, raising Fiona in my absence. Then I decided it was time for me to be home all the time and quit, but we say I retired since I did so many years. Best decision, I think, but I do miss the business.”

“And we love having you home,” my aunt says, and I can see that Fiona agrees. I do too; I couldn’t imagine him not being here all the time.

“Ya know, Mr. Maclaster, I’d love to pick yer brain sometime when you have time,” Declan says, his eyes still trained on my uncle. “My whiskey just went into beta testing.”

“Fair play, congratulations,” he says, nodding his head to Declan. My chest burns with pride as Declan grins sheepishly. “What’s it like?”

Grinning at Declan, I listen as he explains each flavor in his whiskey, the slow burn, and the splendor of it.

“I’ve had it. It’s good,” I add, and Declan grins at me as my uncle nods.

“You’ll need to bring me a bottle.”

“I’ll do that tomorrow.”

“Grand, but yeah, after dinner we’ll break out my favorite bottle and we’ll talk the legs off a donkey, yeah?”

“Grand,” Declan says, and I can tell he’s excited. I’m just glad they’re getting along. I want my uncle and aunt to like Declan since I plan to spend the rest of my life with him.

Glancing over at me, he smiles as he reaches for his mug, taking a pull of his beer as Fiona says, “Great, so we’ll clean while you three drink. Seems fair.”

My uncle grins as he tips his drink to her. “Training ya for wifehood.”

When my aunt’s hand comes hard into his chest, I’m sure he regrets that comment. If he didn’t, he sure does when the next sentence leaves her lips. “Oh yeah? Let me say this, you go and get piss drunk, but by the morning, that kitchen will be clean.”

My uncle’s face turn a bit red, but his grin doesn’t give anything away as he nods. “Yes, love.” Leaning over, he kisses her and then glances at Declan and Kane. “And that, my lads, is how it is being a husband.”

That has everyone laughing as we continue to enjoy our dinner. My aunt’s cooking will be one of the biggest things I’ll miss once I leave. Surely though, I’ll have time to come for dinner when I please. If it comes down to home cooking with my aunt or tea with his mom, I’ll have no problem choosing. If she’ll even have me. I’m not sure how it will go once I tell her I’m moving out. I feel like she knows it will happen, but she is hoping that it will be after the wedding, like Fiona had hoped. I really don’t want to leave, but then again, I do. It’s bittersweet. I’d rather not leave them, but the thought of coming home to Declan every single night and waking up to him every morning sounds almost a magical as Disney World.

Once cake is brought out for dessert, I nibble on my piece as Kane and my uncle go back on the subject of the compressor in the beer chest. Declan’s fingers dance along my wrist, and when I glance back at him, he is grinning at me. Leaning forward, his lips go to my ear as he whispers, “You are so beautiful.”

My mouth pulls at the side as I lean into him, his lips still pressing to my ear. I love him so much.

“When are you going to tell them?” he whispers again and I close my eyes.

“Ugh, get a room,” Fiona groans, and Declan’s laughter tickles my ear as he pulls back. “Or a field,” she notes, sending Kane into a fit of laughter as Declan chokes on the swig he has just taken.

“I’m gonna kill you,” I threaten, and she laughs along with Kane as my aunt and uncle look at us like we have all lost our minds.

“What is going on?” my aunt asks, and I shake my head.

“Nothing,” I answer before Fiona can. “She’s lost it.”

“Oh, I’m not the one losing anything, but you sure have,” she teases some more, and now Declan is laughing and I feel like I’m gonna catch fire with my embarrassment. Leaning into Fiona, Kane almost falls out of his seat as his body shakes with laughter. I glare over at Declan, and his laughter turns to coughing as he reaches for his water, looking away.

Glancing over at Kane and Fiona, I glare as I say, “We are no longer friends.”

Fiona scoffs. “Ah, if only it were that easy. I’m not going nowhere and neither is he,” she says, cocking her head to Kane.

“Whatever,” I mutter, but it’s true what she says.

Glancing at my confused aunt and uncle, I grimace as she says, “You guys are havin’  craic for sure.”

“They are. I am not,” I say, shaking my head as the laughter stirs up again.

“Well, forget them then. When do you go for your final dress fitting?”

“In a month. We’ll get Fiona’s dress then too. I think I want her to wear a creamy white color.”

My aunt nods and Fiona makes a face. “I thought you said orange?”

I shake my head. “I don’t want orange anymore; I think it’ll clash with my dress.”

“Shouldn’t you wear the cream though?” Declan asks, and I know he isn’t trying to be funny, but of course, Fiona and Kane take it to a whole new level.

“Yeah, she can’t wear white after today,” Fiona mutters, and I kick her swiftly in her knee.

She hollers out as my aunt cries out, “What in the world?”

“She kicked me.”

“She is teasing me!” I holler back.

“How old are you two?” my uncle asks, and you would never believe we are in our twenties by the way we stick our tongues out at each other. “My goodness, bunch of wee lasses in the room, yeah, Shelia?”

“For sure, wouldn’t believe one is getting married soon.”

I glare over at Fiona and she glares back. “I think you broke my knee.”

“You deserved it,” I spit back before looking over at my aunt. “She might not be in my wedding,” I decide, but instead of scoffing at me, Fiona laughs. I try to hold in my own grin, but it doesn’t last long, and soon I am shaking my head as laughter sputters from me. As I meet Fiona’s playful gaze, she reaches over and takes my hand in hers, squeezing it tightly as she smiles. She drives me crazy, but she is mine, and I wouldn’t have anyone but her stand beside me at my wedding.

“Declan, who will stand up with you?” my aunt asks, bringing our attention to her.

“Kane, of course,” he says nodding his head toward Kane as he reaches for another piece of cake.

“Aw, how sweet,” she says and we all smile.

It kinda is, I guess. As long as those two stay together.

“When will you be moving out, Amberlyn? Before or after the wedding?” my uncle asks, and I whip my head to look back at him. I fully expected to be the one to bring the subject up, not the other way around.

Clearing my throat, I feel Declan’s hand on my knee as I smile. “I was actually gonna tell you guys tonight that I’m moving out after the engagement party.”

Silence falls around me and I suck in a deep breath, holding it as I wait for the yelling, the telling me I’m crazy. But unlike I expected, they both just nod and my aunt actually smiles.

“We hate to see ya go, but it’s a part of life,” she says, and my uncle smiles as he cups Declan’s shoulder.

“To the estate, I assume?”

Declan nods. “For the time being. Amberlyn doesn’t really want to live there, but she’ll try it for me.”

I blush as all eyes fall on me. “Yeah, I want us to have our own place, but his whole family has lived nowhere but there, so I figured I’d try.”

“Grand, you should. You may love it,” my aunt says.

I want to disagree, but I smile instead. I don’t want them to worry about me. No matter what, Declan will make sure I am happy. He’s proven that over and over again.

“Well, you’re next, Fiona, love,” my uncle says with a grin.

Fiona looks up, surprised, before glancing at me, probably suspecting I’ve said something but I haven’t. “What, Da?”

“You’re next to move out and get married,” he says and then he grins. “Make sure you ask for her hand, Kane.”

“Oh, uh,” Kane stutters and Fiona shakes her head.

“We aren’t ready for marriage yet, Da,” she says before elbowing Kane.

He clears his throat and says, “But when we are, I will, sir, for sure.”

“Good. Declan forgot,” he teases, looking over at Declan.

My sweet fiancé’s face reddens as he nods. “I did, but I made up for it.”

“He did,” my aunt says as she looks back over at Kane. “But don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” Kane promises. “And I know she wants to wait to tell ya, but she’s gonna move in with me after their wedding.”

My eyes go wide at Kane’s announcement as Fiona’s mouth drops. Quickly I look over at my aunt and uncle, and they are both just staring at Kane.

“Oh shite,” Declan mutters and I elbow him. I’m not sure if we should take cover or not. My uncle’s face is turning a bit red and my aunt’s eyes are filling with tears, I think. Oh goodness. Poor Fiona.

“Is that right?” my uncle asks finally, glancing at his daughter.

Fiona doesn’t say anything right away, she only holds his gaze as her fingers lace together. “Yeah.”

“Why after the wedding?” my aunt asks. “Do you want to go now?”

She clears her throat as she shrugs. “I do, but I don’t want both of us to leave ya.”

It is easy to say that this day has been full of surprises because my aunt doesn’t start to cry or even yell, she laughs, and soon my uncle joins in with her.

“We aren’t senile! If ya want to go, go, my love,” my uncle says, shaking his head. “We will be fine.”

“Really?” Fiona and I ask at the same time.

“Yes,” my aunt says with a grin. “We’ve raised ya right, Fiona, and we’ve done well with ya, Amberlyn. Yous two are ready for the world. So go and know, no matter what, this will always be yous’ home.”

Leaning into Declan, I look over at where Fiona is staring at her parents before glancing over at me.

“That was a little too easy,” she decides and I nod.

“I know,” I say before glancing back at them and then meeting her gaze once more. “Maybe they are senile?”

Soon the room is full of our laughter, and I can’t believe this is my life now. It used to be only my mom and dad and me, and while it was always loud and fun in my home, I never felt like I do at this particular moment. I’m looking around at the faces of my family. My aunt, my uncle, and cousin. Kane who has wiggled his way into my heart and then my love—my Declan. I’m complete. It’s weird, but it also makes me feel like I am doing everything my mother wanted me to do. She wanted me to live and I’m doing that.