Winnie Griggs - A Baby Between Them

“Thank you.” She accepted the cup and took a quick sip. “’Twas kind of you to bring it to me.”

He took a drink from his own cup. “If you don’t mind my asking, what are you doing over here by yourself? As a sister of the bride I would think you’d want to be in the thick of things.”

Nora waved toward the cradle that held her infant ward. “I’ll rejoin them shortly. I just put Grace down for her nap.”

She still found it hard to believe that no one had come forward to claim the newborn foundling who’d been abandoned during their voyage. Perhaps, for some reason, the child’s family members couldn’t reveal themselves. But whatever the case, Nora was guiltily glad they hadn’t. The idea of giving Grace up now was too painful to consider.

As usual, the sheriff avoided more than a quick look Grace’s way and merely nodded, then changed the subject. “I understand you made most of the cakes for this little gathering.”

“It was my gift to Bridget and Will.”

His smile broadened and his heather-blue eyes regarded her in that teasing way he had. Didn’t he realize there should be a certain formality between an employer and his hired help?

“And a mighty tasty gift it was,” he said, saluting her with his cup. “That was as fine a use of the Huntley-Black chocolate as I can remember. Most everyone is saying how good the desserts are and I saw several guests sneak back around for seconds.”

Bridget’s new husband owned and operated the Huntley-Black Chocolate Mill, a business that employed a large number of the town’s citizens. It had given Nora a great deal of satisfaction to devise a recipe using Will’s product for this reception. “I enjoy cooking and baking. I’m just pleased others take pleasure in the results of my efforts.”

“And I’m pleased I get to enjoy them on a regular basis.”

Her cheeks warmed at the more personal compliment. “Thank you. As I said, I enjoy cooking.”

He finished his punch and she expected him to drift away, but instead he nodded toward the other side of the room. “They make a fine picture, don’t they?”

Bridget had stooped down to say something to Will’s three-year-old twins—her new stepchildren—and the youngsters were giggling. Will stood next to his bride, looking on with a besotted smile.

Nora nodded. “They do indeed. They are all blessed to have found each other.”

“Do your Maeve and Flynn plan to stay here for a while?”

She followed his glance toward her other sister and brother-in-law. “No, I’m sorry to say. They’ll be returning to Boston as soon as they see Bridget and Will off. Flynn has some patients to look in on tomorrow.”

“Well, they can’t get their new home built soon enough. The folks in these parts are really looking forward to having their own doctor right here in Faith Glen.” Cam turned back to her. “And I’m sure you’ll be glad to have your other sister close by.”

“It will be good to have the three of us close together again.” Maeve and Flynn were having a home built here in Faith Glen but it wasn’t finished yet so they were currently living in Flynn’s family home in Boston.

Nora cast a quick glance back over her shoulder to make certain Grace was all right. She smiled at the sweet picture the babe made as she slept.

“Speaking of your sisters,” Sheriff Long said, “it looks as if they’re headed this way.”

Nora turned back around and sure enough, Bridget and Maeve were crossing the room toward her, arms linked and skirts swishing as they walked.

“Ladies.” The sheriff gave a short bow as Nora’s sisters halted in front of them. He smiled at Bridget. “I’ve already told Will more than once what a mighty lucky fellow he is.”

Bridget smiled in return. “Thank you, but I feel like I’m the one who’s been blessed.”

Cam widened his gaze to include all three of them. “I must say, all of the Murphy sisters are looking especially fetching today.”

Did his gaze linger on her just a heartbeat longer than her sisters? Nora pushed that ridiculous thought away. While she was honest enough to know she wasn’t plain, she also knew she couldn’t hold a candle to her sisters. Maeve was petite with beautiful curly red hair and the exquisite features of a porcelain doll. And Bridget was delicate, soft and dreamy-eyed with untamable hair that always gave her an ethereal look. Nora knew herself to be tall and rather thin, with hair that was plain brown and features that were pleasant enough but nothing out of the ordinary.

The sheriff held his hand out toward her and it took her a moment to realize he was offering to take her now-empty cup. Feeling her cheeks warm, she thrust the cup at him with a bit more force than necessary.

He raised a brow, but accepted the cup graciously enough. “I’ll take care of putting this away for you and let you ladies talk.”

“Must be nice having him pick up after you for a change.”

Nora frowned at Maeve’s words. “The sheriff is a good man and a fair employer.”

Maeve raised her hand, palm out. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I just meant that after cleaning up after him all week I would imagine it would be a pleasant change to have him return the favor.”

Nora merely nodded, then turned to her other sister. “Will you and your new husband be off soon then?”

Bridget’s cheeks pinkened becomingly as she reached for her sisters’ hands. “Yes. But before we leave for Boston, I wanted to thank both of you again for all you did to help make my wedding day so special.”

Maeve, who’d supplied the beautiful gown Bridget wore, gave their sister a hug. “It was my pleasure. But, to be sure, your smile is the most beautiful thing you’re wearing today.”

Nora nodded her agreement before hugging her, as well. “And your joy is sweeter than my baking.” She stepped back, taking both of Bridget’s hands in hers. “I only wish Mother and Da could’ve been here to see you today.”

Romantically minded Bridget gave her a watery smile. “I do, too. Though I felt very close to them all through the ceremony.”

Maeve patted her arm. “They would have been very proud of you.”

Nora was certain of that, as well. She hoped their parents would also be proud of her. She’d done her best to hold their household together after their dear mother passed on ten years ago. But with Maeve and Bridget married now, the caretaker part of her life was over, at least as far as her sisters were concerned. She’d always thought she’d feel freer when this day came, not consumed by this sense of loneliness.

Of course she wasn’t completely alone. While her sisters had new husbands and lives apart from hers now, the Good Lord had provided her with companionship of a different sort. Nora glanced back toward the cradle and smiled. Her sisters had husbands but she had this sweet, sweet babe.

“I see Grace is taking a nap.”

At Maeve’s comment, Nora refocused on her sisters. They had linked arms again and were facing her with identical determined looks on their faces. What were they up to? “Yes. Poor wee babe is worn out from being around so many people today. I should be getting her home soon.”

Home. Such a small word for such a wonderful, wonderful thing. For the first time in her life, she finally had a place to call her own that no landlord could remove her from.

Bridget cleared her throat. “We have something to say to you before Will and I leave for Boston. And we want you to hear us out before you say anything.”

Nora’s curiosity—as well as her concern—climbed. Something told her she wasn’t going to be pleased with what they had to say.

“You’ve done a lot for us over the years,” Bridget continued. “So now it’s our turn to take care of you.”