Kat slipped her arm through her father’s and started slowly toward the house.
The limo driver was struggling with the luggage as Amanda brushed past Kat and Sean. Zach and Caer followed, and Zach saw Tom, the caretaker, come out to welcome his employer home. The two men embraced warmly; Sean had always earned not only loyalty but genuine affection from everyone who worked for him.
After welcoming Sean home, Tom came forward to help with the bags, but Zach noticed him staring curiously at Caer.
Zach nudged her and smiled. “You’ll like Tom. He’s originally from Ireland.”
“Glad to see you got the boss home, well and fine,” Tom said, still staring curiously at Caer.
Zach quickly made the necessary introductions.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Tom said, and he clearly meant it.
“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Tom,” Caer said.
A few moments later they were in the hall, surrounded by noise and confusion. Clara, Tom’s wife, the housekeeper and cook, was going on about how glad she was that Mr. O’Riley had come home, Bridey was hugging Sean as warmly as Kat had hugged him earlier and exclaiming over the fact that he was alive and well. Cal, the junior partner, and Marni, his wife, were there, as well, welcoming the O’Rileys home and congratulating Sean on his narrow escape. Bridey was particularly happy to see Zach, her eyes widening with pleasure when she broke away from Sean and realized he was there. After a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, she said how glad she was, more than he would ever know, to see him.
“All will be well now that you’re here,” she assured him.
He suddenly felt the massive weight of responsibility, but he told himself that it was no different from the responsibility he’d laid on himself to get to the bottom of Eddie’s disappearance.
Then Bridey noticed Caer, and her hand fluttered to her throat as she just stared.
Caer stepped forward, offering her own hand. “How do you do? I’m Caer Cavannaugh. I’m Mr. O’Riley’s nurse.”
Bridey was still staring. Then, as if operating purely on instinct, she accepted the handshake. “I know who you are,” she said.
Was he the only one who found Bridey’s tone to be strange? Bridey was actually staring at Caer as if she were a ghost.
“Has there been any sign of Eddie?” Sean asked Cal anxiously. “Have you talked to the cops?”
“Nothing,” Cal said. “And yes.”
“Maybe Eddie’s off on a secret adventure,” Marni offered. “Sean, you have to worry about yourself right now.”
“And…Zach is here to look into things now,” Cal said. He was lanky, with a wiry strength and a pleasant face. He was handsome in a washed-out way, or maybe it was just that Marni had the look of a playful kitten. Her hair was a sable brown, long and lustrous, and her eyes were a deep matching brown. She was pretty, and so delicately built that she appeared smaller than her actual five-ten.
Kat spoke up with concern in her voice. “Dad, you need to go right to bed. That was a long flight.”
“Kat O’Riley, I’ve sense and a mind of my own,” Sean told his daughter, laughing.
“And I can take care of getting my husband up to bed,” Amanda said.
“Up? Oh, no,” Kat said firmly. “Clara and I set up a room down here for Dad until he’s feeling better.” She turned to Caer. “We’ve got you in a room on the first floor, too. It’s right by my father’s room, so you’ll be close if he needs you.”
“I would prefer to take the room down here,” Amanda said.
“Sweetheart, you keep our room warm and lived-in. I’ll be back up there before long,” Sean said. “I promise.”
“Sean,” Amanda began.
But Sean interrupted her firmly. “Amanda, I am feeling a bit tired. And I’m not sleeping well. I toss and turn at night, and you need your sleep. It will just be for a little while.”
Marni breezed through the awkward moment, striding over to Caer and introducing herself and Cal.
Marni was saying the right words, and she was smiling, but Zach could see that her eyes, as she scanned the newest member of the household, were not so welcoming.
Cal, on the other hand, had genuine appreciation written all over his features as he stepped forward. “Welcome to the States. We’d heard Sean was bringing a nurse, but we never expected anyone quite so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Caer said.
“I need to know what’s being done about Eddie,” Sean said firmly.
“Detective Morrissey will be over in the morning to fill you in, Dad,” Kat said. “Now please, go to bed and try not to worry.”
Sean started to speak, but Caer stepped in. “Your daughter’s right, Mr. O’Riley. You should lie down for a bit. And you have pills to take.”
“Sean, do what she says. The business can’t afford for you to be laid up for long,” Cal said.
“Cal!” Marni chastised. “Stop worrying the man. Sean will be just fine.”
“Of course he will,” Bridey said. “Zach is here.” Then she turned to stare at Caer again.