“What kind of father am I where I can’t even walk you down the aisle?”
I shrugged. “It’s only going to be a small affair.”
“You’re Catholic,” he countered. “Catholics don’t do small. Is the groom Catholic, too?”
There was a hoarseness to his tone that told me my words were hitting home—his daughter was going to get married, and he couldn’t have anything to do with it. To be honest, I was touched. I hadn’t been sure what his reaction would be, and it warmed me that he was disappointed he couldn’t be there.
“He’s more devout than I am,” I told him honestly. “But we’re getting married too quickly for it to be too big of a deal.”
He frowned. “Are you pregnant?”
I snorted. “Nope.”
“Then what’s the rush?”
“The time’s right.” I shrugged. “I want to be with him, Dad. I moved in with him this week, and–”
“You moved in with him?” Unsure why that was what had him shouting, I watched as he ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t even know his name, Aoife.”
“Finn, Dad. His name’s Finn.” As far as I was aware, a quick Google of his name would reap only legitimate results.
Until he’d announced his affiliation, I hadn’t heard of Finn O’Grady for years. Not since Fiona had died.
Considering the neighborhood’s size, it was a wonder the news hadn’t spread, but then, if the Five Points didn’t want someone to know something, they would be ruthless in keeping it quiet. . . .
I just wondered what the hell had happened to make Finn disappear, and what would prompt Aidan to help him cover it up.
Still, that was a worry for another time.
“Finn. God, he’s Irish, too?”
“That surprises you with my circle?” I grinned at him. “Everyone’s Irish in my neighborhood.”
He grunted. “True. What does he do?”
“Flips properties.”
“There’s money to be had in that. Does he expect you to quit your work?”
I cleared my throat. “No, but you remember I told you about that company that was looking to knock down my building? They came in with a better deal for me a few weeks ago. I accepted.”
I hadn’t told him any of this the last time we met. My head had been in the clouds and I hadn’t wanted to focus on what Finn had done to me—professionally and personally—which meant this was the first time he was hearing any of this.
“You did?” His eyes widened. “Christ, is it only three weeks since we last met?”
“Yep. Things are happening quickly, I guess. I sold up and am going to put in an offer on another building a few streets away. It’s bigger, and I’m not going to do the teashop side of things. Just focus on baking.”
He nodded. “That makes sense. You never liked that part of the business anyway. Your heart was in the kitchen.”
I smiled, touched that he knew that. “Yeah. So, it was a wrench to sign it away, but I knew it was a good move.”
“When are you opening the bakery? Do you need any extra capital?”
There was the Dad in him. Always generous.
I shook my head. “Thanks, Dad, but no. You’ve done enough for me. The investment in the tea room means I can start the bakery up without needing a loan.”
Though he frowned, he just grumbled, “Good. I don’t want you to be in debt, and . . .” He swallowed. “I can’t be there, and I hate it, but I want to pay for the wedding.”
I sighed. “That isn’t necessary. Like I said, it’s only going to be a small affair.”
“A meal, then? Afterward. The wedding brunch?”
Because I could see how much it meant to him, I leaned forward and grabbed his hand. “Okay, Dad. Thank you. That means a lot.”
He squeezed my fingers. “I wish I could do more.”
“Honestly, it’s fine.”
“Stop saying that,” he grumbled. “It makes me think you don’t want me there.”
Snorting at his sulky tone, I told him, “If you stick your bottom lip out, don’t think I’ll cave in if you pout.”
That had him grinning. “My temper never works on you, does it? I can have all my staff flustered and flared with a single bark, but not you.”
I shrugged. “You never shout at me, nor have you given me a reason to get flustered.”
“That’s not the truth,” he stated, and I knew we were both thinking back to that time when we’d first met. When he’d grated out his terms in the back of his limo, and had expected me to comply.