Her pulse pounded in her ears. Cam had been talking about her?Saying what?she wondered. Did she even want to know?
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said to Eiley. “I hope I’m not making a complete pain of myself or intruding on some brother-sister bonding.”
Eiley shook her head. “Not at all, although I’m not the best company. Fraser can corroborate that.”
“Fraser cannot,” he protested. “Besides, Harper is the worst company ever.”
“Oi!” Harper kicked him under the table as his face broke into a wide grin.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Eiley ducked her head shyly as she sipped her drink. “I have to say, I’m surprised Fraser is letting you stay. He’s like me: keeps to himself. Prefers his own space, too. His eye starts twitching whenever I bring my kids to mess up his house.”
“I can believe that.” Harper giggled, resting her chin on her palm. “How many kids do you have?”
Eiley brightened at the question. “Three. Two boys and a girl. My eldest, Brook, is about to turn six; Sky is three, and wee Saffron is just seven months.”
“Fraser is lucky to have so many niblings. I’m an only child. I used to ask Father Christmas for a bigger family when I was young,” she confessed.
“I do love those gobshites,” Fraser agreed, fondness softening his tone. “They’re a lot of work, though.”
“Tell me about it.” Eiley’s curiosity fell suddenly on Harper’s pile of books, and she straightened in her chair. “Oh, look.Peter Pan! I’ve been reading lots of classic retellings to the preschool kids recently. They loved this one.”
“Are you a teacher?” Harper asked eagerly. For a while, she’d wanted to become one herself, but the idea of going back to school, the place where so many of her insecurities stemmed, hadn’t been all that pleasant.
Eiley shook her head. “Unfortunately not. I just volunteer at Sky’s playgroup at St. Margaret’s. They need all the help they can get. The bairns love spending time with new people, so if you ever fancy reading to them, feel free to drop in.”
“It can be mayhem, though,” Fraser added. “Be warned.”
Harper was quite tempted to find out for herself, despite the slow shake of his head.
“I’m just going to nip to the loo,” Eiley said, sliding out of her chair then disappearing behind a door beside the crowded bar.
The air changed immediately, returning to that usual stifling atmosphere that plagued the two of them. Fraser’s blue eyes glittered as he edged closer so she could better hear him.She felt her stomach fizzing, as if she’d just gulped several mouthfuls of his coke. “Just so you know, my sister is the most introverted introvert out there. You should feel extremely special to be invited into her life.”
Harper was taken aback by his sincerity – especially when his attention drifted towards the bathroom door. She hadn’t missed the way he’d gone quiet through their conversation, silently observing as though he hadn’t wanted to interrupt. “I do feel very welcomed.”
“Good.” He brushed the beer mat across his knuckles, a faint frown appearing between his brows. “She’s having a tough time.”
“Is she a single mum?” Harper enquired gently, then added: “If it’s okay to ask, of course.”
“Aye. She moved back into our mum’s house when Saffron was born in early spring, but her relationship with Finlay was rocky for a long time.”
A strained sigh racked through him, and she had the urge to reach out, take his hand, tell him that Eiley was okay – she had to be, because she had someone like him looking out for her. Though Harper hadn’t known him long, she knew that much. He’d seen him interact with his sisters. Saw the way he cared for them, the way he put them first. It wasn’t like any sibling relationship she’d seen before. Her own mum hadn’t talked to her brother in ten years, since a falling out when Nanna was moved into a care home. Kenzie’s siblings had been more typical, taunting one another, unable to ever be earnest enough to show that love lay behind their insults.
What Fraser had, the way he acted… It was lovely.
After a moment’s pause, Harper couldn’t help herself. She laid her hand over his. Her palms tingled as though his skin was made of tiny needles, and the sensation shot up her arm until it was difficult not to lose her breath. “I’m sure she’ll be all right. She has you and Cam, and from what I’ve seen, that’s a wonderful thing. You’re a good brother.”
“Thank you.” He chewed on his bottom lip, some of that darkness dissipating as he leaned closer. “That means more than you know.”
“I might not be a single mum, but I know a bit about being left in the lurch. If she ever wants to talk, I’m here as well.”
“I’m sure she’d appreciate that.” He paused. “Who left you in the lurch?”
She shrugged. “My ex-girlfriend. I don’t really want to talk about it now.”
“Hmm. That’s why I tend to steer clear of relationships.”
Harper said nothing, and he hastily changed the subject. “Well, maybe you should take her up on that offer to read to the kids. It could help you with your writing. Cam’s daughter, Isla, is very creative already.”
