“Another family affair.”

“It is, yes. Rogan and Maggie worked with the architect on the design of the house, scrutinized every paint chip. There were some lively arguments there,” he remembered, taking Shannon’s hand as Gray pulled up nearby. “It’s a labor of love for all of them.”

Shannon scanned the cars already parked in the lot. “It appears it’s working very well.”

“The president of Ireland’s been here.” There was wonder in his voice as well as pride. “Twice, and bought one of Maggie’s pieces, others as well. It’s no small thing to take a dream and make it into a reality that stands strong.”

“No.” She understood what was beneath his words and was grateful when Brianna and the rest joined them.

“You’ll keep your hands in your pockets, Liam Sweeney,” Maggie warned. “Or I’ll handcuff you.” Not trusting the threat, she hoisted him up. “What do you think then, Shannon?”

“I think it’s beautiful, and every bit as impressive as Dublin and New York.”

“Here’s a home,” she said simply and carried Liam toward the entrance.

Shannon smelled the flowers, the roses, the drifting fragrance of peonies, the scent of the trimmed lawn that was thick as velvet. When she stepped inside, she saw that it was, indeed, a home, furnished with care, and with the welcoming grace of elegance.

There were paintings on the wall of the main hall, clever pencil portraits that celebrated the faces and moods of the people of Ireland. In the front parlor were dreamy watercolors that suited the curved settee and quiet tones of the room. There were sculptures, Maggie’s incomparable glass, as well as a bust of a young woman carved in alabaster, and canny little elves depicted in glossy wood. A hand-hooked rug in bleeding blues graced the floor, and a thick throw was draped over the back of the sofa.

There were flowers, fresh that morning, in vases of brilliant glass and fired pottery.

It gave her a jolt to see her own painting on the wall. Stunned, she walked closer, staring at her watercolor of Brianna.

“I’m so proud to have it here,” Brianna said from beside her. “Maggie told me that Rogan had displayed three, but she didn’t tell me this was one of them.”

“Three?” There was something spreading in Shannon’s chest, making her heart beat too fast for comfort.

Maggie stepped up, struggling with a wriggling Liam. “At first he was only going to use the one, The Dance, but he decided to put up the other two for a few days only. He wants to tease the clientele a bit. Give them a glimpse or two of what’s to come in your fall showing, and start a buzz. He’s had an offer on The Dance already.”

“An offer?” Now whatever was stretching inside of Shannon was creeping into her throat. “Someone wants to buy it?”

“I think he said two thousand pounds. Or maybe it was three.” She shrugged as Shannon stared at her. “Of course he wants twice that.”