“Thank you.” Nolie responded to one more congratulatory hug, this time from Siobhan Flanagan. “And thank you for bringing all this food.”
She gestured toward her dining-room table, which had been turned into an impromptu buffet for all the food the Flanagans had brought. The announcement that the foundation board was going to fund her program completely had apparently, to the Flanagans, seemed like a good reason for a party.
“It’s nothing.”
Siobhan grabbed one of her grandchildren as he toddled by, swinging the little boy up in her arms for a hug. Mary Kate had arrived soon after the announcement, with her children and Seth’s little boy, loaded with even more food.
“It seems like something to me. I’ve never had a party here before.”
Once she said the words, she saw how strange that was. She’d let her memories affect her more than she’d realized.
She smiled. Any dark fragments from her aunt’s era were surely wiped clean of the house by the sounds of this celebration.
“Well, you deserve more than a party. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Gabriel.” Siobhan’s eyes glistened with tears.
Nolie watched as Joe Flanagan bent Samuel Henley’s ear about something. “Is Gabe’s father all right with this?”
“You know, I think he is.” Siobhan smiled fondly across the room at her husband. “Maybe his brush with his own mortality opened his eyes just a bit. He’s starting to see that there are other good things in life besides fire fighting.”
“I’m glad. It would hurt Gabe to feel he was letting his father down.”
“Gabe’s a grown man now.” Siobhan patted her arm. “It’s time he looked for approval to someone other than his father.”
She didn’t know what to say. Siobhan was looking at her as if she were that someone, and—
“Is this a private conversation, or can anyone join in?”
The sound of Gabe’s voice set her heart beating faster, and she turned to find him smiling at her.
“You can talk to Nolie,” his mother declared, hoisting the toddler in her arms. “I’m going to find something to feed this child.” She moved off toward the buffet table.
“I can’t believe your family did all this.” She tried to keep her voice normal as she gestured to the overflowing room. “I’d never even thought of having a party, and they put it together in ten minutes flat.”
“If there’s one thing Flanagans know how to do, it’s eat. And interfere.”
She managed to smile as she met his gaze. “I’m happy for this sort of interference.”
“You won’t be so happy when they start telling you how to live your life,” he said darkly, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
“I owe them. And you. Especially you.”
Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them back. There was no reason to cry, and she’d embarrass Gabe if she did.
“You don’t owe me a thing, except maybe a quiet place to talk.” He grasped her arm and steered her to the door. “Let’s get out of here for a minute.”
But when they reached the porch, they found Brendan and Claire sitting on the swing. Nolie blinked. What an unlikely pair that was. Did Claire realize Brendan was a minister?
“See, that’s what happens when you get involved with Flanagans.” Gabe glared at his cousin. “There’s too darned many of them.”
Brendan just smiled. “A couple of the kids are in the training center playing with the dogs, but I think the barn’s unoccupied at the moment.”
“Fine.” Holding her hand firmly, Gabe tugged her behind him as he strode toward the barn.
“Gabe, wait a minute.” She tried without success to pull her hand away. “I can’t walk out on the party.”
“They’ll never even notice we’re missing, and I don’t care if they do.” He slowed as they reached the barn door and looked at her with an intensity that seared. “I have something to say to you. I’ll do it in front of the family if I have to, but I’d rather do it in private.”
Her heart seemed to be beating somewhere up in her throat, and she didn’t trust her voice to say a word. She nodded and let him propel her into the barn.
Gabe’s forward momentum stopped at the first stall, and she caught her breath. They’d kissed here, once. Was he thinking of that?
“What—what did you want to say?”
“First, thank you.” His frown cut off any objection she might make. “Not just about the dog, although he saved me from a serious fall today. Thank you for refusing to do what I asked you to.”
“I didn’t want to refuse. I had to.”
“I know.” He held both of her hands in his, and he looked down at their clasped fingers for a moment, as if trying to decide what to say. “You were right. What if that seizure today had happened when I was on duty, with lives depending on me?” A shudder went through him, so painful she could feel it. “I can’t believe I was willing to risk that.”
“You didn’t realize. It’s hard to accept that the life you want is out of your reach.”
Even as she said the words, Nolie knew that they applied to her, too. There was a life she wanted now, one she hadn’t been able to dream about before. But whether or not she got that life depended on Gabe.
“My days as an active firefighter are gone, at least for now.” His grip tightened. “Maybe, someday, I’ll be well enough to go back, but it won’t be until I’m sure. Until then, I guess I need Max after all.”
Just Max.
“Max is yours. You and he both know that.” She wouldn’t let him see that she was hurting. “What are you going to do now?”
“I talked to the chief again. We both know a desk job isn’t for me, but he offered me a training spot instead. He seems to think I might do a good job of teaching what I know about fire fighting.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” She looked at him anxiously. “At least you’ll still be involved with the department.”
He nodded. “It’s only part-time, though. I was thinking that with the grant and expanding your program, maybe you could use some help around here. What do you think?”
“I—”
She struggled to find an answer. How could she stand to work with him every day if a business relationship was all he wanted?
“Or there’s an alternative plan.” His fingers moved on hers. “If you don’t like the idea of a business partner, maybe you’d settle for a life partner.”
Her gaze leaped to his face, and her heart pounded against her ribs. “A life partner?” She whispered the words.
“You’re already an honorary Flanagan. How about making it the real thing?” He lifted her hands, and she felt the warm touch of his lips against her fingers.
“Nolie, I’ve seen my world turn upside down lately, but I’ve learned some things in the process. Love isn’t about being strong or weak. It’s about caring for each other and depending on each other.”
“Yes.” Her thoughts flitted to Joe and Siobhan.
“I know that I love you.” Gabe’s voice was as solemn as if they stood in church. “For keeps. Will you marry me?”
If the song in her heart got any louder, he’d hear it. Nolie felt the last dark remnants of the past falling away as she raised her face to his.
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
His arms went around her, drawing her close. They stood there, not kissing, just holding each other. She felt the steady beating of his heart against her cheek. From beyond the barn door came the sound of laughter and children’s voices, then the braying of the donkey.
Thank You, Father. Thank You.
Her heart filled with joy. God had given her more than she’d ever dreamed possible. She and Gabe would be together forever, and Nolie’s Ark was going to overflow with their happiness.
* * * * *