Page 90 of Hearts on the Mend

I try so hard to mask the hope I feel when Nolan neither denies nor confirms his plans, just says, “I’ll think about it.”

It’s not just me waiting for him to decide if he’ll stay. It seems like everyone else is rooting for it as well.

Jack clears his throat, breaking up the hushed quiet. “Dinner’s great, Ethan. When are you opening up that restaurant of yours? Around the same time you finally marry Sloane?”

Sloane pivots away so Ruby can’t see, then flips off Jack, and the adults at the table chuckle.

“We’re getting married soon enough,” Sloane announces. “We’ve almost settled on a date, actually.”

Kathleen claps her hands together. “Any ideas on a venue?”

“I have a few ideas,” Ethan says noncommittally.

“You do?” asks Sloane.

“Maybe.” He takes another bite of corned beef, chewing slowly as if to stall for time.

“What about the restaurant? Any more ideas on the location? I sent over a few listings last week that could work…”

“He wants the barn,” Sloane cuts in.

“Barn? Like my barn?” I ask, surprised.

“Well, I know you want to sell the house, Cassie, but Ethan wants to convert that barn. He says it’s the perfect place for a small farm-to-table restaurant, something open just a few days a week during the busy season here.”

“The barn?” Nolan grumbles. “How is she supposed to sell the house if you want the barn, Ethan?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you guys could buy the whole property,” I offer.

Sloane shakes her head. “I have my heart set on the house just next door. My dad’s old house. Spent summers there growing up.”

Ethan is suspiciously quiet.

Jack sets his glass down. “Has anyone heard from Brooks?”

Annie goes still beside Ruby.

“I have,” Ethan says. “He’s fine, about as fine as you can be when you’re selling out stadiums everywhere.”

“Poor kid,” Kathleen says. “Worked so hard for so long, finally got his break, and went straight on tour. Must be exhausted.”

“He seems happy enough.” Ethan glances at Annie when he says it. She’s preoccupied, moving around her stack of cabbage and carrots on her plate. “Are you going to tell them, or do I have to?”

“It’s not important.”

Ethan leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “Brooks offered Annie a job on tour this summer.”

“Anyone want a roll?” Bridget calls from the kitchen.

“No,” everyone says.

“I do!” Ruby’s hand shoots up. She’s eaten about eight rolls, no corned beef, and maybe three bites of potato.

We stay through dessert, through the card games that melted into playful bickering, through Ruby falling asleep on the couch, her mouth green from too many shamrock cookies.

Nolan carries her to the truck and wraps her in a blanket after she’s strapped in. I stand by the Murphys’ front door, dragging in another steadying breath of sea air.