“I’m glad you think so because I need you to run home and pack her a bag. I’m surprising her.”

“I can do that. When are you picking her up?”

“As soon as I go check on Ma. Is she upstairs?”

“Oh, no. She and Da went to see Shawn and Lexi today.” Maeve smiles.

“Then it looks like I’ll be seeing the whole family this morning. How is she feeling?”

“Ma’s fine.” Maeve takes a bite of her muffin. “She just had a day that her upper back and shoulder were bothering her. But she’s fine now.”

“It’s glad I am to hear it, but I’ll go see for myself.”

“I’d better get home, then,” Maggie says. “I think Izzy went to Target to do some shopping. So, if I’m quick, I’ll beat her, and she won’t know what hit her.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry for almost messing it all up for you. That’s not what I meant to do.”

“I know. Just don’t do it again.” I grab two muffins on my way out to the truck. I need to hurry over to check on my parents and ask if Da will take care of the pub for me while I’m gone.

I know he’ll jump at the chance, but I still need to ask.

After spending the morning talking with my family and checking on my ma, I’m ready to get out of town for a little vacation.

Words I wouldn’t have thought I’d say in the past, but here we are.

When I pull up in front of Maggie’s house, Izzy is just stepping out of her sexy little convertible.

“Hey.” She grins as I approach and then tips her plump lips up to mine for a kiss.

I happily oblige.

“And hello to you.”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you until I went into work later.” She reaches into the backseat and retrieves several white and red bags. “I just spent two hours at Target. You walk in there thinking you need just a handful of things, and the next thing you know, you’re crawling down every aisle and tossing things into the basket that you didn’t even know you needed. It’s true what they say. You don’t tell Target what you need. Target tells you.”

“All of this sounds ridiculous to me.” But she’s beautiful today, with her hair pulled back in a low knot on the back of her head, tendrils falling around her sweet face.

She laughs and lets me take some of the bags, then kisses my biceps. “I know. You’re a man. You don’t understand the Target vortex. What are you up to?”

“I’m here to surprise you.”

“That’s sweet.”

“No, I’m here to really surprise you.”