to you, to tell you she was coming, and then I thought no, for that would be in the way of asking you, an obligation, to take her in, to help her hone her gifts. And it should be a choice.”
Once more Branna thought of Fin. “Do we have one?”
“I believe we do. I chose to give her the amulet, though it grieved me to do it. Once done it can’t be taken back. But it was hers to wear, hers to bear. I knew the first time I held her. I held you and Connor when you were only babes. And knew, as your father knew, and your aunt. And now the three of you are grown, and the time’s here, as it wasn’t with me and your father, your aunt.”
She walked to the window, looked out. “I feel him. He won’t bother with me—Iona frets over that, but he won’t bother with me. I’m nothing to him now. But I’ve power enough to help if help’s needed.”
“We may, when the day comes.”
“But that isn’t today.” Mary Kate turned again, smiled again. “So today I’ll help in the kitchen.” She took a long sip of wine. “Nollaig Shona Duit.”
“We’ll see it is.” Branna tapped her glass to Mary Kate’s. “A very happy Christmas.”
• • •
IT TOOK A LITTLE MAGICK TO EXPAND THE TABLE TO FIT seven people and all the food, but she’d wanted a feast—and no more talk of Cabhan.
“We won’t be eating like this tomorrow at my sister’s,” Meara announced as she sampled Branna’s stuffing. “Between Maureen and my mother, we may be in a runoff for the worst cook in Ireland.”
“So we’ll fill up tonight, eat careful there, and be back here for leftovers.” Connor stabbed a bite of goose.
“It’s my first major holiday with Boyle’s family.” Happiness rolled off Iona as she looked around the table. “I’m taking bread pudding—and I won’t be in the runoff, as Nan walked me through it. We’re going to pick a holiday, Boyle, for us to host. Make a tradition. How’re things going on New Year’s, Fin?”
“They’re coming.”
“I could make bread pudding.”
He smiled, adoring her. “I’m having it catered.”
“Catered?”
He flicked a glance at Branna’s instant shock. “Catered,” he said firmly. “I look at a menu, say, this, and that, and some of these, hand over the money, and it’s done.”
“You’ll enjoy the party more without having to fuss,” Mary Kate said lightly.
“It’s for certain everyone will, as they’d enjoy it less if I’d tried my hand at making the food.”
“God’s truth,” Boyle said, with feeling. “He’s hired Tea and Biscuits for the music.”
“You hired a band?”
This time Fin shrugged at Branna. “People want music, and they’re a good band. If guests want to pick up a fiddle or pipe or break out in song, that’s fine as well.”
“It’ll be good craic,” Connor decreed.
“How many are coming?” Branna wondered.
“I don’t know, precisely. I just set the word out.”
“You could have half the county there!”
“I didn’t set word that far out, but if that’s the case, the caterer will be busy.”
“Patrick and I used to have parties that way,” Mary Kate remembered. “Oh, we couldn’t afford a caterer in those days, but we’d just set the word out with friends and neighbors. It’s friendly. A good céili.”
“Branna’s not happy with the idea altogether,” Connor put in. “She’d rather we didn’t have any sort of party until we’ve done with Cabhan.”
“We won’t bring him to the table tonight,” Branna said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Did I hear Kyra got a ring for Christmas, Connor?”
“You did, and you’ve ears to the ground, as she only got it last night, I’m told. She’s flashing what there is of it everywhere.” Thinking of their office manager, he wagged his fork at Fin. “Be sure you get into the school and make over it like it was the Hope Diamond. She gets her nose out of joint easy.”
“I’ll be sure to do that. My ear to the ground tells me that Riley—you remember Riley, Boyle, as his face ran into your fist some months back.”
“He earned it.”
“He did, and it seems he earned the same again from one Tim Waterly, who owns a horse farm in Sligo. I’ve had some dealings with Tim, and we’ve dealt together well. You’d think him a mild-mannered sort of man, but in this case, Riley’s face ran into Tim’s fist during a lively discussion on if trying to pass off moldy hay was good business practice.”
“He’s a