I took a step toward the doorway. Thankfully, Cooper followed.
“Okay, but it doesn’t matter what you say, Mom. I know he’s the same guy.”
I stood waiting for him in the doorway, but he stopped right as he walked past Eoghanan. Spinning on his heels, Cooper faced him and pointed an accusing finger in Eoghanan’s direction before he spoke once more.
“I don’t know why you’re not agreeing with me, sir. I know who I saw and it was you.” He emphasized the last word and thrust his finger forward for drama. “If you lie and say you weren’t at the park and at the airport, I won’t believe you.” Switching his attitude as quickly as one could flip a switch, he spun once more to face Jerry and Morna. “Thanks for the eggs. They were so yummy. See you guys later.”
With that, he spun a final time, marching past me, down the hall, and out the front door of the inn.
“That’s some lad ye have there, Grace.” Jerry chuckled as he spoke.
“Yes, quite.” I glanced down at my watch, drained in every imaginable way as I took off down the hallway after him. It was only eleven a.m.
Chapter 6
Apparently immune to any symptoms of jetlag, Cooper’s energy didn’t drag until we finally turned into the inn late that evening, after hours of driving and walking around the Scottish countryside surrounding the oddly placed inn.
Thankfully, I awoke the next morning much more adjusted to the time difference and determined not to be as loose-lipped or grumpy as I’d been the day before.
My resolve lasted for most of the morning but by noon, with too little work completed, I found myself wishing for a daycare that could take Coop off my hands, if only for a few hours. He would’ve hated every minute of it, but unless he wanted me fired, I thought it a form of torture he could handle for an afternoon—not that there was any daycare to subject him to anyway.
“Coop, if you jump up in front of my camera lens while I’m taking a photo one more time, I am going to unleash the tickle monster.”
“Okay…okay. I’ll stop.” He collapsed onto the lawn in front of me, busying himself by picking at blades of grass. While most children would’ve antagonized further at the threat of a good tickle, Cooper hated it, and I knew the threat would stop him.
As if in answer to my silent prayer, Cooper jumped up in exclamation at our two approaching visitors, Jerry and Eoghanan. “Look Mom! Look!”
Placing my camera back in its bag, I waved them over, happy to see anyone who would provide Cooper a moment of distraction.
“We come with strict instructions to see the two of ye properly fed.” Eoghanan lifted the basket he held in his hands, sitting it on the ground as he neared us.
“Oh thank goodness, I’m starving.” Cooper ran toward them, squeezing in between them and grabbing each man’s hand as he bounced excitedly between them.
I shook my head as I moved to greet them, “Starving? I’m sure glad I packed those gummy bears before we left. You’ve just eaten a pound of them.”
Once Jerry and Eoghanan stopped walking, Cooper released their hands and stepped toward me. “I would’ve eaten two pounds if you’d let me.”
“I have no doubt. That’s why I stopped you.” Though thin now, I’d been a chunky kid. I didn’t wish Cooper to repeat history.
“What is a ‘gummy bear’?” Eoghanan’s face twisted with confusion.
I could only hope they called them by a different name in Scotland. Surely, he didn’t truly not know what a gummy bear was.
“What? You’ve never had one? Well, I’ll give you one right now.” Cooper started to tug on the bag hanging from my shoulder. I relented, reaching inside for the bag of gummies. Once he had them in hand, he extended them to Eoghanan. “You have to try this.”
After examining it closely, Eoghanan obliged and popped the gummy in his mouth. Watching him struggle with the texture, I couldn’t help but believe he’d never experienced such a food before.
Swallowing the snack with effort, Eoghanan looked down at Cooper to give him his thoughts. “That is…well, that’s quite an interesting food, lad.”
Cooper nodded, taking his words as confirmation of their deliciousness. “Yeah, I know. They’re amazing.”
“Thank ye for allowing me one.” Eoghanan looked away from Cooper and up at me. “Could I speak with ye alone a moment, Grace?”
His question surprised me, but I nodded and nudged Cooper toward Jerry. “Coop, help Jerry lay out the blanket and get the food ready, okay?”
“Got it.” He smiled over his shoulder as Eoghanan walked off in the other direction.
As we walked, I rolled the top of the bag of gummies closed and started to place them back in my bag before nudging Eoghanan slightly with my elbow, waving the bag in his direction. “Would you like another?” I laughed quietly, knowing his answer even before he spoke.
“Thank ye, but no. I dinna much care for it.”