The moment Shannon felt the weight, she knew. “Oh, it’s great.” Once the paper was pulled aside, she held the globe up to the light.

“You made it, for the most part, so you should have it.”

Shannon turned it so that the swirls of deep blue inside changed shape and tone. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Maggie turned back to the canvas. She could see the outline of the man, the horse. “How long will it take you to finish? It’s a nasty question, and I only ask as I’d love to give it to Mrs. Brennan, Murphy’s mother, when she comes up for the ceili.”

“If it starts to click, it’ll only take a day or two.” Shannon set the globe aside and took up her pencil again. “When’s the ceili, and what is it?”

“It’s Saturday next, and a ceili’s a kind of party—with music and dancing and food.” She glanced over as Brianna stepped out of the kitchen door. “I’m telling this poor, ignorant Yank what a ceili is. Where’s my whirlwind?”

“Off to the village with Grayson. I’m told it’s man’s business.” Brianna stopped, then beamed at the canvas on the table. “Oh, I’m so flattered. What lovely work you do, Shannon.” She peeked at the new canvas, wary. Experience with Maggie had taught her artists had moods that flared like lightning. “It’s Murphy, isn’t it?”

“It will be,” Shannon murmured, narrowing her eyes as she sketched. “I didn’t realize you were having a party, Brie.”

“A party? Oh, the ceili. No, Murphy’s having it. We were surprised at first, since his family had just come a few weeks ago for Kayla’s baptism. But the lot of them are coming again, so they can meet you.”

Shannon dropped her pencil. Slowly she bent to retrieve it. “Excuse me?”

“They’re anxious to get to know you,” Brianna continued, too engrossed in the canvas to notice that Maggie was rolling her eyes and making faces. “It’s lovely Murphy’s mother and her husband can make the trip from Cork so soon again.”

Shannon turned. “Why would they want to meet me?”

“Because . . .” The warning registered, just a beat too late. Fumbling, Brianna began to brush at her apron. “Well, it’s just that . . . Maggie?”

“Don’t look at me. You’ve already put your foot in it.”

“It’s a simple question, Brianna.” Shannon waited until Brianna lifted her gaze again. “Why would Murphy’s mother and his family come back here to meet me?”

“Well, when he told them he was courting you, they—”

“He what?” She threw the pencil down to cap the explosion. “Is he crazy or just brain dead? How many times do I have to tell him I’m not interested before he gets it through that thick skull?”

“Several times more, I’d wager,” Maggie said with a grin. “There’s a pool in the village that’s leaning toward a June wedding.”

“Maggie!” Brianna said under her breath.

“Wedding?” Shannon made a sound between a groan and a curse. “That tops it. He’s calling out his mother to inspect me, he’s got people betting—”