“Of course, you do. Da wanted that for Ma, as well. That’s why he bought her the house as soon as he could. If you can afford to give her more, why would you stay at the pub?”

“Well, that’s the sticky part. Let’s talk price.”

“I’m not going to sell the land to you, Keegan. For a couple of reasons. First, you couldn’t afford it. Oceanfront property on this island goes for a million an acre, easy. And secondly, you’re my brother. I love you.”

“You won’t sell me the land because you love me?”

“That’s right. I’ll gift two acres to you.”

“No.” I stand, but Kane stands with me and lays his hand on my shoulder.

“Hear me out. I’ll gift it to you, and I’ll never buy you another birthday or Christmas gift again, if that’s the way you want it. I won’t pay for the house to be built, that’s on you.”

“I don’t want you to pay for any of it, Kane. I said before, you don’t pay my way. I don’t give a rat’s ass that you have more money than God himself.”

“What am I going to do with all of it if I can’t bless me family with it, as well?” he counters, his Irish up. “It means nothing if I can’t share it with the people I love. If it’s two measly acres you want, out of the twenty I own—which is more than I need—you can bloody well have them! Because you’ll be nearby with your family, and it’ll bring joy to you and to me at the same time.”

I sit back down and stare out at the ocean. How am I supposed to argue with that?

“I’d like to bring her out here to make sure she likes the property before we make it legal and I hire someone to draw up the plans.”

“Of course,” Kane says.

“Are you going to be a pain in the arse neighbor?”

My brother laughs and drinks the last of his coffee. “Hell yes, I am.”

“The Emerald City is going to enjoy these nice warm temperatures for the next few days, but then this low-pressure system that’s currently sitting up here off the coast of Alaska will head our way, bringing us some cool air and dropping us down into the forties for the weekend. Sorry, folks, I’m just the messenger. Now, I want you to stay safe around the water as we’re calling for high waves with that wind…”

“She’s so damn good,” Maeve says. We’re all gathered at Kane’s house to watch Izzy’s debut on television.