Pop Pop stepped next to her. “Love never dies,” he whispered, aware of which photo had captured her attention. “The people may go away, but as long as they’re in our hearts, they live.”
He placed his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder, taking his words to heart and trying to let them comfort her.
Try as she may, she worried every time one of her visits ended and she returned to California. While Pop Pop was generally healthy, it was easier for her to see that he was slowing down than it was for the others, simply because they saw him every day and the changes were gradual. Fiona was often away for months at a time. That made his aging more apparent to her.
Fiona couldn’t—wouldn’t—consider a life without her Pop Pop. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t careful to make sure she always saw him before she left to tell him she loved him.
They stood like that for a few minutes, then something caught her eye. She lifted her head from his shoulder. “Hey, where’s my picture?”
Pop Pop chuckled. “Just noticed, did you? I was wondering when you’d spot it was missing.”
He walked back to the small table Riley had set up in his room and retrieved a frame. “I just finished putting it back together when you got here. Didn’t have a chance to hang it up again.”
He handed it to her. “Maybe you’d like to do the honors.”
She laughed when she saw the new picture. It was her, Teddy, Owen and Asher standing next to the bar the day after they’d filmed the finale. Owen and Asher were both sitting on stools. Fiona stood between Asher’s outstretched legs, his arms wrapped around her waist as she leaned against him. They, and Owen, were all laughing. Teddy, meanwhile, was bent over in front of Owen, Incredible-Hulk style, flexing nonexistent muscles and wearing a look of pure powerful aggression.
“Oh my God. This is my new picture?”
Pop Pop nodded, then gestured toward the empty nail. “Yep. Want to look at it and know you’re safe and sound on that other coast with your other family.”
“I have a lot of family, don’t I?”
“You are truly blessed, my dear.”
She put the picture on the wall, straightening the frame, and then they both stood back to admire it.
“He’ll treat you good, Fiona. He’s honest, thoughtful, and he loves you. You picked a fine young man.”
Fiona smiled as the two of them looked at Asher. Her grandfather’s approval meant the world to her. “He reminds me of you. Funny and loving and kind.”
Pop Pop turned quickly, and she thought she saw him bat a tear away. He walked over to the antique record player he’d insisted on bringing from the apartment above the pub, even as Riley insisted it was better suited for the dump.
“I can’t believe that thing still works,” she said, following him.
“I have another surprise for you,” he said as he turned the player on, lifted the arm and placed it on the album. “Found this in my pile of old albums.”
Fiona’s eyes widened as strains of “Waltzing Mathilda” began to play. It had been her favorite as a child. “I haven’t heard this in years.”
She fought back a few of her own tears when Pop Pop turned and gave her a slight bow. “Fancy a turn on the floor with an ancient beast?”
Fiona was in his arms in a second, and the two of them laughed as he held her hand high enough that she could twist and twist. “I wish I had my Belle dress,” she teased.
They danced to the song two more times before she left.
“I love you, Pop Pop. See you soon?”
“I’ll be here awaiting your return, my fair Fiona.”
Dear Reader
I promised after the heartbreak of March Wind that I would write something a little more lighthearted. I hope I delivered with April Fools. Like you, I needed to laugh after the tears spent on Padraig and Mia.
Saying that, I suspect there were some of you who were anticipating this to be a happily ever after for three people because y’all know how I love my ménage stories. To you, I simply wanted to say…APRIL FOOLS!
Enjoy April Fools?
Please consider leaving a review.
Other books in the Wild Irish series
Come Monday
Ruby Tuesday
Waiting for Wednesday
Sweet Thursday
Friday I’m in Love
Saturday Night Special
Any Given Sunday
Wild Irish Christmas
And read more about the next generation in Wilder Irish
January Girl
February Stars
March Wind
About the Author
Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Too many years later, her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and she has nearly eighty published works.
Virginia native and high school librarian by day, Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller of contemporary erotic romance novels.
Join her newsletter so you don't miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content.
Find Mari Carr on the web at
www.maricarr.com
mari@maricarr.com
Other books by Mari Carr
Compass
Northern Exposure
Southern Comfort
Eastern Ambitions
Western Ties
Winter’s Thaw
Hope Springs
Summer Fling
Falling Softly
Into the Fire
Heaven on Earth
Still Waters
Second Chances:
Fix You
Dare You
Just You
Near You
Reach You
Always You
Sparks in Texas:
Sparks Fly
Waiting for You
Something Sparked
Off Limits
No Other Way
Whiskey Eyes
Trinity Masters:
Elemental Pleasure
Primal Passion
Scorching Desire
Hidden Devotion
Elegant Seduction
Secret Scandal
Delicate Ties
Beloved Sacrifice
Masterful Truth
Masters’ Admiralty
Treachery’s Devotion
Big Easy:
Blank Canvas
Crash Point
Full Position
Rough Draft
Triple Beat
Winner Takes All
Going Too Fast
Boys of Fall:
Free Agent
Red Zone
Wild Card
Clandestine:
Bound by the Past
Covert Affairs
Scoring
Mad about Meg
Cocktales
Party Naked
Screwdriver
Bachelor’s Bait
Screaming O
Cowboy Heat
Spitfire
Rekindled
Inflamed
Farpoint Creek
Outback Princess
Outback Cowboy
Outback Master
Outback Lovers
June Girls:
No Recourse
No Regrets
Just Because:
Because of You
Because You Love Me
Because It’s True
Love Lessons
Slam Dunk
Happy Hour
Madison Girls
Kiss Me Kate
Three Reasons Why
Scoundrels
Black Jack
White Knight
Red Queen
What Women Want
Sugar and Spice
Everything Nice
What Women Want
Individual Titles:
Power Play
Rough Cut
Seducing the Boss
Tequila Truth
Erotic Research
One Daring Night
Assume the Positions
Do Over
Bundles
Cowboy Heat
What Women Want
Wild Irish Boxed Set
Trinity Masters Boxed Set: Volumes 1-4