And she’d still have lost them, because she’d be the cause.
“Don’t move away.” It wasn’t the first time he’d made the request. “We’ve lived in the same city our whole lives, Tasha. We were going to grow old together and chase after the perfect third in the same nursing home.”
Her laughter was damp with unshed tears. “That’s an old dream for two lost souls. You’ll grow old with Owen now. And I have to go.”
He stopped and turned her toward him. “Why? Why do you have to go? You keep saying that. If you’re in trouble, maybe I can help.”
I have to go because of five pregnancy tests and a trip to the doctor’s office. “You can’t. Not right now.”
“You’re going to tell me. Someday soon you’ll tell me everything and we’ll laugh about this when we move you into the lake house next to ours so we can be old gossips together and tease Owen for trying to eat pizza without his false teeth.”
“You don’t know how good that sounds.”
Jeremy opened the door to the hospital room and Tasha bit her cheek hard when she saw Shawn Finn looking as pale as the sheets beneath him. But he smiled when he saw her. “Is that Tasha? With lemon tarts?”
She took another step and faltered. Seamus was sitting in a large recliner.
Seamus, not Stephen.
Owen was standing beside him and Ellen was sitting at Shawn’s bedside, holding his hand.
Tasha sent a look to Jeremy, who shrugged. “You said after visiting hours. What you failed to remember is that rules and regulations mean nothing if you’re a Finn.”
Ellen waved him off. “We’re not visitors. We’re family.”
Tasha took a steadying breath, determined not to cry. She couldn’t turn around and walk out without a word. She’d just do what she came to do. She held out the box to Ellen. “Lemon tarts. There should be enough for everyone.”
Ellen took the tarts and set them on the table beside the bed. She patted Shawn’s hand, stood and circled the bed to take Tasha in her arms without a word.
Oh God, please don’t let me cry. Tasha let the embrace go on as long as she could, then took a small step back, holding herself very still. “Jeremy says he gets to go home in the morning?”
Ellen studied her closely, worry and exhaustion on her face. “Yes. A mild stroke, the doctors told us. He was confused and lost feeling in his left arm for a few hours, but its almost entirely back now, and he’s sharp as a tack.”
“And hungry,” Shawn added from the bed, making everyone laugh. “Woman? I need a tart.”
“Yes dear,” Ellen smiled, moving back toward her husband, but Tasha knew she had questions.
Owen wandered over to them, kissing Jeremy in tender welcome before frowning down at her. “Did you tell her about my cousin eating all our food? That he said she told him to come over, and now he won’t leave?”
“I did.”
“Is she done pouting?”
Tasha glared. “I’m right here, Owen.”
“Are you?” he countered. “It’s been so long I couldn’t remember what you looked like.”
“Children.” Ellen’s voice was a calm, cheerful warning. “The nurse did mention something about a headcount if we make too much noise.”
Jeremy pushed Owen toward Tasha. “Be nice. Look at her. She doesn’t seem to be any happier than Brady’s been. Or your brother.”
“Hell.” Owen pulled her into his arms in a tight bear hug. “Please forgive them for my sake. I don’t know what they did, and I’ll kick any ass you’d like, but we have not been a fun group of people to be around without you.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Let’s not talk about it, okay? Not now. I came to see your father.”
She managed to disentangle herself and walked over to the bed, bending down to kiss Shawn’s wrinkled cheek. His wink made her smile wobble. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“We all are,” Ellen told her. “He even scared his brother into sending flowers.” She nodded at the vase filled with roses by the bed. “Or Stephen did.”
“Stephen?” She tried not to flinch when she said his name.
Jeremy reached around her for the small card and handed it to Tasha. “Look at what it says.”
She took it with trembling fingers, not wanting to be rude or upset the man recovering from a stroke by refusing.
Shawn,
The senator has informed me that we’re having a family dinner when you get out of the hospital. I’m hungry, so hurry up.
Sol
Shawn saw her frown and chuckled. “He isn’t as cuddly as I am. For him, that’s practically a sonnet.”
She smiled reluctantly. This was a good thing. The Finns were a family. All of them. They needed to stick together.
“We’ve scheduled it for next week.” Ellen smiled up at her hopefully. “We were hoping you could come. I’m sure things would go that much smoother if you were in charge of dessert.”