The Red Drifter of the Sea (Pirates of the Isles #3) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,123

Sean so readily left her side after such a short greeting. But it reassured her that he’d been resilient during her absence. She watched Kyle bend over to be eye level with Sean, nodding his head to Sean’s enthusiastic chatter. The ache in her chest released its hold as she had a glimpse into the future, seeing Kyle as a father to their unborn child. Kyle glanced up at Moira and grinned, waving her back to his side.

“Can you not give your aunty a better welcome than that?” Kyle asked Sean. “She’s been so worried about you. I think she’s been lonely without you.”

Moira realized there was truth in Kyle’s statement. She hadn’t thought of Sean as often as she’d imagined when she first left Dunluce, but she had still thought of him frequently, especially as various things triggered memories.

Sean bounced on his toes as he smiled up at Moira, then launched himself against her for another hug. “I’m sorry, Aunty Moira. I just couldn’t believe the Red Drifter is here! But I’m so happy to see you again. I’ve missed you so much. Will you sleep in my chamber tonight?”

Moira glanced at Kyle, who shrugged and nodded. She glanced back down at Sean’s eager face. She and Kyle had discussed what they would do if Sean still suffered night terrors. Neither wanted to sleep apart, and Kyle was concerned for what would happen as her pregnancy advanced. They’d come to a resolution about two things.

“Sean, when we’re with our family, it’s not the Red Drifter. It’s Uncle Kyle. We’re married now. And I won’t be sleeping in your chamber.” When Sean’s face fell, she lifted him again and peppered his face with kisses while she tickled him. “You’ll sleep in our chamber tonight. We can move the trundle where I slept in into my old chamber, where Kyle and I will stay.”

“I thought you were moving into Uncle Dónal’s chamber,” Sean said with bewilderment. Moira inhaled and sighed, knowing this was a confusing time for Sean. Even more so than any other in his brief life.

“That hasn’t been decided yet. I would like to talk to you about several things before I make any choices,” Moira hedged. “Shall we go inside?” Moira made to lower Sean to the ground, but he clung to her neck. She was loathe to let him go, but she knew she couldn’t manage to carry him up the steep path without tripping over her skirts.

“Do you know what a barrel man does?” Kyle intervened. When Sean shook his head, he reached out his arms to the boy. Without hesitation, Sean leaned toward Kyle, who swung him onto his shoulders. “A barrel man is actually a lad who sits in the crow’s nest and has the most important job. He’s the captain’s scout. He can see all the way to the ends of the earth. He must warn the captain of any danger, whether it’s another ship or the weather.”

“Am I your barrel man right now, Uncle Kyle?” Sean asked with all the exuberance of a normal six-year-old boy. The sight of Moira’s grin filled Kyle with such happiness that he tugged her hand and drew her back to his side. He leaned down and kissed her.

“You do that too? Just like Mama and Aidan.”

Moira sighed, knowing that was one more topic to add to the list of things she and Kyle needed to discuss with Sean. It wasn’t anything like Lizzie and Aidan, and she wanted to be sure he understood that he was, and always would be, a priority in their lives.

“Lady Moira,” Beagan greeted. He stood at the top of the path as they approached. Just as they were the fateful night that led Moira to Kyle, the clan councilmen stood behind Beagan. She looked at each man in turn, her eyes narrowing. The two older brothers, Curran and Cormac, looked like they’d aged decades in the time she’d been away. She hadn’t noticed it to such a degree in Wicklow. The men were close to the age her father would have been, but they appeared weathered and worn down. Devlin, Finnian, and Hogan glared at Kyle, holding him responsible for Grady’s death. Devlin and Finnian were Cormac’s sons, and cousins to Hogan and Grady. Kyle bore as apologetic an expression as Moira had ever seen. Loman stood to the side, leaving a space for where his cousin Malone would have once stood.

Moira observed the unease with which the men watched her.