Born in Shame
Page 75

“That sounds just like him. Do you think he’d like it? One someone else made?”
Maggie lifted her brow. “You could give him wind in a paper bag and he’d treasure it.”
But Shannon had already made her decision and was marching into the shop.
Delighted, Shannon watched the clerk take the dulcimer out of the window, then listened as he gave her a skillful demonstration of the music it could make.
“I can see him playing it, can’t you?” Shannon asked Maggie. “With that half smile on his face.”
“I can.” Maggie waited until the happy clerk went in the back to find the right box for transport. “So you’re in love with him.”
Stalling, Shannon reached in her purse for her wallet. “A woman can buy a gift for a man without being in love with him.”
“Not with that look in her eyes she can’t. What are you going to do about it?”
“There’s nothing I can do.” Shannon caught herself, frowned, and selected her credit card. “I’m thinking it over.”
“He’s not a man to take love casually, or temporarily.”
The words, and the knowledge that they were fact, frightened her. “Don’t push me on this, Maggie.” Rather than the snap she’d hoped for, there was a plea in Shannon’s voice. “It’s complicated, and I’m doing the best I know how to do.”
Her eyes lifted in surprise when Maggie laid a hand on her cheek. “It’s hard, isn’t it, to fall where you’ve never been, and never really thought you’d be?”
“Yes. It’s terribly hard.”
Maggie let her hand slide down and rest on Shannon’s shoulder. “Well,” she said in a lighter tone, “He’s going to trip over his tongue when you hand him this. Where’s the bloody clerk? Rogan’ll skin me if I don’t have you there at three on the damn dot.”
“Yeah, you look like you’re terrified of him.”
“Sometimes I let him think I am. It’s a kiss on the ego, so to speak.”
Shannon toyed with a display of harmonicas on the counter. “You haven’t asked me if I’m going to sign.”
“It’s been pointed out that it’s business not concerning me.”
Shannon gave a smile and her credit card to the clerk when he returned. “Is that a kiss on my ego, Margaret Mary?”
“Be grateful it’s not a boot to your ass.”
“I’m signing,” Shannon blurted out. “I don’t know if I decided just this instant or the moment he asked, but I’m doing it.” Swallowing hard, she pressed a shaky hand to her stomach. “Now I’m queasy.”
“I had a similar reaction under the same circumstances. You’ve just put your wheel in someone else’s hands.” Sympathetic, she slipped an arm around Shannon’s waist. “He’ll do right by you.”
“I know. I’m not sure if I’ll do right by him.” She watched the clerk box up the dulcimer. “It’s a problem I seem to be having just lately with men I’ve come to care about.”
“I tell you how we’re handling this one, Shannon. We’re going to Rogan’s fine, upstanding office and getting the business part over and done quick. That’s the worst part of it, I can tell you.”
“Okay.” She took the pen the clerk offered, mechanically signed her name to the credit slip.
“Then we’re going back home and cracking open a bottle of Sweeney’s best champagne.”
“You can’t drink. You’re pregnant.”
“You’re doing the drinking. A whole bottle of French bubbly just for you. ’Cause, darling, I’m of the opinion that you’re going to get drunk for the second time in your life.”
Shannon blew out a breath that fluttered her bangs. “You could be right.”
Maggie couldn’t have been more right. A few hours later, Shannon found that all the doubts and worries and questions simply fizzed away with a bottle of Dom Perignon.
Maggie was the overindulger’s friend, listening as Shannon rambled, making sympathetic noises as she complained, and laughing at the poorest of jokes.
When Rogan arrived home, Shannon was sitting dreamy-eyed in the parlor contemplating the last glass that could be squeezed from the bottle.
“What have you done to her, Margaret Mary?”
“She’s well fuddled.” Satisfied, Maggie lifted her mouth for his kiss.
He lifted a brow at the empty bottle. “Small wonder.”
“She needed to relax,” Maggie said airily. “And to celebrate, though you’d never be able to tell her so. You’re feeling fine, aren’t you, Shannon?”
“Fine and dandy.” She smiled brilliantly. “Hello, Rogan, when did you get here? They warned me about you, y’know,” she went on before he could answer.
“Did they?”
“They certainly did. Rogan Sweeney’s slick as spit.” She tipped the glass back again, swallowed hastily. “And you are.”
“Take it as a compliment, darling,” Maggie advised. “That’s how it’s meant.”
“Oh, it is,” Shannon agreed. “There’s not one shark in New York who could outswim you. And you’re so pretty, too.” She hoisted herself up, chuckling when her head revolved. When he would have taken her arm to steady her, she simply leaned in and gave him a loud, smacking kiss. “I’ve got such cute brothers, don’t I, Maggie? Just as cute as buttons.”
“Darling men.” Maggie’s grin was wide and wicked. “Both of them. Would you like a little nap now, Shannon?”
“Nope.” Beaming, Shannon snatched up her glass. “Look, there’s more. I’ll just take it with me while I make a call. I need to make a call. A private call, if you don’t mind.”
“And who are you after calling?” Maggie asked.
“I’m after calling Mr. Murphy Muldoon, in County Clare, Ireland.”
“I’ll just come along,” Maggie suggested, “and dial the number for you.”
“I’m perfectly capable. I have his number right in my trusty little electronic organizer. I never go anywhere without it.” With the glass dangling dangerously from her hand, she looked around the room. “Where’d it go? No up and coming professional can survive without their organizer.”