They sat quietly for a long while, listening to Rosie’s and Sadie’s sweet shouts, to the splash of the river against the dock and to Shane’s sawing and hammering. Eventually car tires crunched the gravel drive and they turned to see Beckett’s old Audi pull in and park. He climbed out tentatively, realizing as he glanced toward the yard that the family was watching him. He waved shyly but didn’t come forward.

Colleen stood shakily, exhaustion weighing her down, her heart beneath a slab of grief. She went to him and hugged him. “Thanks for coming by.” She kissed him lightly. “You’ve been so kind.”

“You act like I’m here to say good-bye, which I’m not.” He smiled and then he shook his head. “Wait, it’s you. You’re the one saying good-bye?”

“I am but just for a little while. I’m going to stay and help Hallie and Shane for a couple days, get things settled, but then I’ve decided I’m going to Ireland. To the O’Shea pub.” Colleen held her casted arm level in her opposite hand, relieving the swelling in her fingers.

“It’s my fault.” He grinned with the joke. “I showed you that photo of that pub and now you have to go see it.”

Her laugh was light. “Yes, your fault.”

He gazed at her for a few moments. “You don’t have to do this.” He brushed the hair from her forehead. “You don’t have to run. You know that, don’t you? Please don’t leave, Colleen.”

“I just told Hallie—I’m not running away. I’m really not. This is different.”

“If you’re leaving the grief and loss, try to see that there is also love here. Can’t you see that there can be both?” He touched her cheek and she leaned into his palm.

“What are you saying?” She kissed his palm and lifted her gaze to his as she took his hand in hers.

“That I am quite possibly falling in love with you? Yes. I have no idea what will happen with us, but please don’t leave when it’s just starting.”

“I’m not leaving for good, Beckett, or at least I don’t think I am. I’m going to see what I can find there. I can’t start the book or this journey with myself unless I go. Does that make sense?”

“And you believe Ireland will help you forget and move on? You believe Ireland will fix things?”