“The glass is meant to arrive with Mr. Johnson’s son next week. I’ll be making your door before then. After that, there won’t be much left before it’s ready for you to move in.”
Nervousness filled the lad’s posture, though he didn’t say anything.
“To move in whenever youwantto,” Patrick clarified. “It’s not going anywhere.”
Finbarr’s relief was palpable. Why was he so hesitant to strike out on his own? Patrick had seen the lad’s confidence and competence on display time and again at Archers’. He’d watched Finbarr navigate the path from the road to this house more than once. He’d seen him make his way all over town assisted only by his cane. He’d wager Cecily had taught Finbarr to cook, clean, and look after himself.
Why, then, did he not want to claim his life and his future?
“I’ll likely stay where I am for now.” Finbarr’s casual tone fell a bit short of the mark. “But you could live here for a time. Then you could work on whatever needed doing whenever you could get to it. No need to rush.”
An excuse. Finbarr likely suspected that Patrick could tell, but, being up to his eyes in uncertainty himself, he wasn’t going to push the boy.
“I just might take you up on that. Living in our parents’ house isn’t an ideal arrangement. Makes a body feel like a child.”
Finbarr nodded in immediate agreement.
“I will, though, have to find a way to buy food,” Patrick said dryly. “Not having a paying job makes eating a bit trickier.”
“Once Eliza’s inn gets moving, you’ll be paid for that work.”
“Do you know if Joseph’s heard anything more on that score?”
“I heard him telling Eliza that the stage company didn’t like the location.”
That was surprising. “’Tis the perfect spot for an inn.”
“Apparently not for an overnight stop on the route.”
That was a setback. “What’d Eliza have to say about that?”
“Do you think I’m an unabashed eavesdropper?” Finbarr asked.
“I’m paying you handsomely to be.”
Finbarr’s smile tipped unevenly. “You’re paying me?”
“Did I not mention that?”
Finbarr laughed. Da looked in their direction, a look of happy relief on his face.
“So, what’d she say, lad?” Patrick pressed.
“She said maybe the inn could be moved farther south to make it a first-day stop. Joseph sent another telegram.”
A logical solution, but Patrick couldn’t help thinking of Eliza’s joy over the original location. She was likely disappointed.
“Does Joseph think the stage company will accept the new proposal?”
“He didn’t say, but I heard Maura say she’s not certain Eliza would stay in Hope Springs if the inn doesn’t get built.” Finbarr shared the comment without seeming to realize the blow it dealt Patrick. “She doesn’t like working as a housekeeper, even though she’s willing. But how long can she keep doing that before her unhappiness becomes too much? Maura’s fretting over it a lot.”
Now Patrick would be fretting over it too, which made him every sort of a fool. He had nothing to offer a woman. And if she left, he’d miss her.
“Life is a difficult thing, Finbarr,” he said.
“Cecily says the added difficulty comes with added joy. I’m counting on that being true.”
The idea offered a tentative bit of hope, something he needed desperately just then. “So am I.”
