Aiden decided to humor the old man instead of the knee-jerk reaction of denying him. He nodded and watched as his father reached into his jacket for a small spiral notepad and worn down pencil. Liam scribbled down something and ripped out the page. He folded the small scrap of paper and slid it across the table like a business transaction. Aiden picked it up and stuffed it in his pocket before pushing away from the table. Liam rose with him, unsure of what to do with his hands. After more shifty glances around the room, his gaze finally settled on Aiden.

“Well, I guess this is it,” he said.

Aiden held out his hand, a peace offering. “Yes, it is.”

His father heard the resolute tone in Aiden’s voice and it made his brow furrow slightly. He awkwardly took his hand and gave it a single shake. “Right then. You, uh...take care of yerself.”

Aiden released his father’s strong hand, a grip made for tying ropes and hauling traps, not for hugs or pats on the back. “I’ll keep doing that, Liam.” He backed away from the old man, feeling a combination of lightness and sadness. With time, he hoped those two feelings could evolve into relief and salvation. Aiden left the dining room and then the guesthouse without looking over his shoulder.

The search for Liam was complete.

It was time to return to Tully Cross.

Chapter Thirty

“Here’s the problem with publishing, Danny,” Antonia said watching the bartender pour another whiskey. She sat on the edge of her barstool, propped on her elbows. “If I take this job, I’ll just be back where I was. No, that’s not exactly true. I’ll have way more work to do.”

Danny passed her glass back to her and whipped his towel back to his shoulder. She’d been talking his ear off for the last hour while he tended to other patrons. Antonia knew she should have been talking to Aiden. But when she started her day, his car was already gone. After yesterday’s terrible events, she figured he probably needed to be alone. Antonia didn’t want to pester him with her recent reverse of fortune. It was difficult to compete with an existential meltdown, nor did she want to. He needed space and time to think about things. As did she. “How much do you like eating, lass?”

Antonia sipped on her second whiskey and soda before answering. “I love it.”

“And you say you’ve got no job now?”

“Correct.”

“Gotcha.”

“I wish I could just stay in Tully Cross and work the bar with you,” Antonia said with a pout.

Danny scoffed. “You got any experience?”

“I was a bartender in college.”

“Were ye now?” he asked, raising a blond brow. “Can you pull a decent pint, love?”

Antonia sat up straight and shot him a defiant glare. “Of course I can.”

He raised his hands in defense. “Only asking.”

“And I can make a killer dirty martini,” she added.