Swept into the Rich Man's World(28)

She gave a small satisfied smile. 'And I bet the world hasn't come crashing down, has it?'

He gave an eye-roll. 'It's actually a relief to not be bogged down in  day-to-day operations. I now have more time to focus on a strategic  level.'

He paused for a minute, uncertain of where to take the conversation.  There was so much more he should say, but he couldn't find the right  words.

'How about you? What are your plans?'

For a split second she winced, but then she sat up in her seat, her  voice unwavering as she spoke. 'I've had a lot of orders since Paris,  and more than ever I'm determined to make Little Fire the most exciting  bespoke textile design business in the world. And I'm looking forward to  getting to know the people of Mooncoyne, I want to become part of the  community. Get involved. I want to establish roots, to belong.'

Fresh admiration for her determination to succeed washed over him. But  then a kick of reality came when it dawned on him that he didn't feature  in any of her plans. Which was only to be expected. And yet it twisted  in his gut that they would soon go their separate ways.

It was what he wanted. What they had to do. Wasn't it?





CHAPTER TWELVE

HISHELICOPTER LANDED on the hospital's helipad and within minutes they were rushing through the front doors of the hospital.

The receptionist at the front desk blushed furiously when she looked up  to see Patrick, and garbled out directions to the delivery ward. As she  left Aideen gave her an understanding smile. He had that effect on all  women. Herself included.

He didn't wait for the lifts but instead took the steps up to the third  floor two at a time. Aideen followed his frantic pace, glad she was fit  from cycling around Mooncoyne.

Again there was a flutter of activity when he stopped at the nurses'  desk. Then they were directed to a number of chairs dotted along the  corridor outside the delivery rooms, while one of the nurses went into  the delivery suite to enquire if Orla was able to see him.

She could feel Patrick's nervousness radiating off him. 'It's going to be okay.'

He looked at her for a long while and then nodded, the tension in his face easing a little.

The door of the delivery suite opened and the nurse came back out, beaming. 'They're ready for you,' she said.

Patrick looked at Aideen in amazement. 'Does that mean that...that the baby has been born already?'

Memories of holding her own niece for the first time, the tremendous  wave of love that had speared her heart, caused a lump of happiness to  form in Aideen's throat. 'Yes. You better get in there.'

'Will you come in with me?'

'No. This is your time with Orla and her baby.'

He hesitated for a moment. 'What if I say the wrong thing?'

'You won't. Just be yourself... And remember Orla is a mum now, well  capable of looking after herself. She doesn't need you to make decisions  for her-she just needs your support.' She paused and eyed him with  amusement. 'And advice... But only if she asks for it.'

'Will you wait here for me? I'd like to introduce you to Orla.'

'I'll wait.'

He stood and moved to the door, but then turned and said, 'Thank you. For everything.'

She returned his smile, but after the door had swung closed after him it slowly faded.

From the delivery suite she could hear the murmur of voices. Earnest,  but with no hint of argument. Maybe they would be okay. She willed them  to be kind and patient with one another. To realise that they needed  each other. She hoped they could forget the past and realise what a  wonderful future they had before them.                       
       
           



       

Patrick would be a great uncle. He had so much generosity and integrity  burning inside him. Along with strength and pride. He would be an  incredible role model for Orla's baby.

The murmurs had given way to light laughter. Patrick now had a newly expanded family to fill his life.

It was time for her to move on.

She left a brief note for him on her chair, and then walked back down  the stairs and out of the hospital. She would get a cab to the train  station. In Cork, she would get a bus to Mooncoyne.

As she queued at the taxi rank she tried to ignore the excited families  going in and out of the hospital. But when a young couple emerged, the  dad proudly holding his newborn child, she had to turn away, tears  filming her eyes. She could go and stay with her own family, here in  Dublin, but knew that if she saw her mum she would instantly burst into  tears.

She would go home and lose herself in her work.

The taxi rank was busy and the line shuffled along slowly. With growing  impatience she willed the taxis to come. She needed to get home. She  needed to be in Mooncoyne. She needed the silence and beauty of West  Cork in order to heal her broken heart.

At last it was her turn. The taxi drew to a halt, but just as she stepped forward to open the rear door a hand clasped her arm.

Patrick.

* * *

She had been crying. He tried to draw in a deep breath, but his heart  was pounding too loudly, his stomach flipping so frantically there  simply wasn't enough room for his lungs to expand. He'd panicked when he  had realised she had gone, and her note hadn't helped. She had said she  wished him well, but would prefer it if he didn't contact her again.

This was going to be the most important conversation of his life.

What if he messed up?

What if he failed to convince her?

For a moment he hesitated, fearful of blowing this.

He had to pull himself together.

'Will you come for a walk with me?'

She looked back at the taxi and for a moment he thought she was going  say no. But then her shoulders dropped and the wariness of her gaze  lessened.

'Is this a good idea?'

He gave her a crooked smile and shrugged. 'I'm hoping it's the best idea I ever had.'

She stared at him in confusion, but then a faint hint of amusement shone in her eyes. 'Okay.'

He took her to a nearby park, where sunlight glimmered through the trees  and cast dark dancing shadows on the grey tarmacadam paths.

He didn't know where to start, so he just blurted out everything that  had been building in his chest, in his mind, in his heart, for the past  week.

'I've missed you.'

She looked at him with surprise and hurt.

God, this was harder than he'd thought. He wanted her to understand but  he couldn't find the words. He was usually articulate, forceful. But all  of that was now lost to him.

Should he just take her into his arms and kiss her? Physically show her what he was trying to say?

That wasn't the answer.

He needed to start making things right.

'I'm sorry for what happened in Paris.'

Her head whipped round. In a rush, she said, 'No, I should apologise. I  said things that were too intense.' Pointing to the cute blush on her  cheeks she added, 'As you can see, I'm pretty embarrassed about it all. I  didn't mean to put you under any pressure. I guess I misread all the  signs.'

He shook his head. 'No, you weren't to blame. Everything happened so  quickly. The intensity of it all got to me. After focusing on nothing  but work for so long I felt overwhelmed.'

Her mouth twisted ruefully. 'I guess what I said would have had most guys heading for the hills.'

A heavy sadness sat in his chest and his throat tightened with emotion.  'Not if they'd experienced what we had together. It was special... But I  had believed for so long that I wasn't cut out to be in a relationship I  couldn't see beyond that.'

She looked at him, bewildered. 'I don't know why you keep saying that  you aren't suited to be in a relationship. Forget me, for one moment,  and what we had. All I can see before me is a thoughtful, strong,  honourable man who is deserving of love.' She shook her head in  exasperation. 'You deserve to be loved, Patrick. I just hope in the  future you can learn to let people into your life.'                       
       
           



       

He inhaled a steadying breath. He needed to let his heart speak and  ignore the vulnerability and fear of exposing himself. The fear that she  would say no.

'You asked me in Paris why I couldn't be in a relationship and I didn't  answer you truthfully. It was a step I just couldn't take. Even now it  feels like I'm about to yank out my heart and give it to you...which  makes me feel pretty exposed.'

She looked at him, confused.

He took a deep breath.

'When Orla moved in with me I was frightened of losing her, like I'd  lost my mum and dad. So I tried to protect her as best I could. But now,  because of you, I understand that I took the wrong approach. I  shouldn't have been so controlling, so protective. I should have  included her in the decisions that had to be taken in the new life we  were both suddenly facing.'

He inhaled a deep breath against the way his insides were tumbling.

'You were right about Orla. I have to let her decide what support she  wants from me. I'll admit it will be hard to change, after years of  trying to take charge, but I know I can no longer foist what I think she  needs on her.'