With no difficulty, he hoisted her up without disturbing the sleeping Alexander, and together they returned in a slow stroll to the cottage.
Shamus, Teresa’s husband, was hugging his wife as she tried to set food on the table shaded under the branches of a large pine. A gentle breeze stirred the edges of the pale blue linen cloth that covered the table, which was set with pewter dishes, tankards, and goblets.
Sara smiled, the scene a perfect one, and one she wished for herself, though she intended to enjoy what she had this day and worry about tomorrow when it came. She did not want to waste a moment with Cullen and his son, and if she continued her worries, she would waste too much precious time. She would enjoy here and now, and feast on the memories later.
Teresa waved for Sara to follow her, and Shamus released her. The two women then disappeared into the cottage to put Alexander in his cradle.
Teresa’s husband held out his hand. “I’m Shamus.”
” And I am Cullen,” Cullen replied.
By the time the women emerged from the cottage a short time later, the two men who had but just introduced themselves were laughing over tankards of ale.
“You’ve met the only man my sister will ever love,” Sara told Cullen, and got a huge bear hug from her brother-in-law. She loved Shamus like a brother. He was a good man, and though shy of her height by three or four inches, stood tall and proud and was heavy with brawn and intelligence. He also was a good-looking man, with dark hair and eyes and strong, compelling features. But most of all she loved him for treating her sister like a princess. He would do anything for her, even raise his wife’s sister’s baby as his own.
Shamus grabbed his wife from behind, slipping his arms around her waist and hugging her. “Right you are. I’m the love of her life.”
“And what of me?” Teresa teased.
“You…” Shamus nuzzled her neck. “…are my world.”
“You two obviously are a perfect match,” Cullen said, and saluted them with his tankard.
Sara joined in raising a goblet she had filled with wine. “To the perfect pair.”
“And a delayed thank-you to two generous people with much appreciation,” Cullen said.
“Not necessary,” Shamus said, and with his arms around his wife, rubbed his hands together. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
They feasted on the hardy fare while relaxed conversation ensued, and when Alexander was heard crying over an hour later, Sara and Teresa went to tend him.
“Why don’t you change his diaper?” Teresa said, placing Alexander on the thick towel she had spread out on her bed.
Sara eagerly tackled the chore.
“I won’t ask you to tell me the whole story, unless you want to,” Teresa said. “What I do want to know, though, is what troubles you. Something isn’t right. What is it?”
“You were always perceptive.”
“Only when it came to you.”
Sara had wanted to confide in her sister, but feared the truth could harm her. Yet she badly needed to un-burden her worries.
Teresa placed a gentle hand on her sister’s back. “Tell me, Sara. We always shared our secrets because we trusted.”
“But our secrets could never hurt either of us.”
Teresa smiled. “Now you’ve sparked my curiosity, so you must tell me.”
Sara didn’t need any further urging, and with a deep breath told Teresa everything from the beginning, from saving Alexander up to the present and Cullen’s inevitable departure without her. She finished with, “Please, don’t share this with Shamus. It is safer he doesn’t know.”
Teresa was silent for a moment, and Sara worried that perhaps she should have kept the truth to herself, but she felt such a relief sharing it, and she was confident that her sister would not say a word to anyone.
She didn’t, however, expect Teresa to respond as she did.
“You have no choice. You must go to America with Cullen and his son.”
Chapter 24
Cullen stared at his sleeping son in the cradle. He had come into the cottage to kiss him good-bye. He and Sara needed to be on their way, having stayed longer than they planned since he hadn’t wanted to leave his son.
He was a beautiful babe, and every now and then when he smiled, Cullen saw Alaina in him. Otherwise there was no denying that Alexander was his son. If it hadn’t been for Sara’s courage, he would have lost him. There would have been nothing to show that Alaina and he had loved, but there he was, Alexander, a legacy of their love. In him, Alaina would always live, their love would always live.
He leaned over and kissed the boy’s cheek lightly, not wanting to wake him, though Teresa had said he would sleep after having run himself ragged, not to mention tiring out his father and Shamus, who had chased playfully after him.