Page 69 of Poison and Wine
I couldn’t help the flush that coloreded my cheeks. While we might’ve made out, that was as far as we had taken any marital relations. I was grateful Callum was willing to take it slow and wasn’t expecting too much from me. At the same time, I loved when he took charge.
When the last button was done, Callum turned me around. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
As we made our way downstairs, Callum took my hand in his. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Callum’s face lit up at the sight of a very attractive woman in her late fifties coming towards us. I knew it had to be his mother, Orla, from both his reaction and the fact her face was a mirror reflection of Kellan’s.
My heart sank at her disapproving expression. It was quite evident she wasn’t too thrilled to meet me. I guess I couldn’t blame her. My mother wouldn’t have been too thrilled finding out about my wedding after the fact, not to mention the fact it was to an Irishman. I’m sure she’d had her heart set on Callum marrying within the Irish clans and producing pure Irish grandchildren.
With his arms open, Callum stepped forward to hug her. “Mam, I’m so–”
Orla interrupted him by sending a stinging slap across his cheek, causing me to gasp in horror. “What the hell was that for?” Callum bellowed as he rubbed his face.
She pointed her finger at me. “For kidnapping her from a convent.”
As Callum scowled at his mother, I bit down on my lip to keep from laughing. “She wasn’t in a convent. It was a religious order,” Callum argued.
“Like that makes much of a difference when it comes to your immortal soul,”she protested before making the sign of the cross.
I was starting to really like my new mother-in-law. I don’t know why I’d imagined her being meek. So many mafia wives were. I should’ve realized that raising five sons would’ve killed her if she hadn’t been tough.
With a smile, I held out my hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Kavanaugh.”
“It’s lovely meeting you, my dear. Please accept my apologies for my son’s behavior.” She shook her head. “I suppose I should say all my sons since they helped him kidnap you.”
With a laugh, I replied, “It’s okay. In spite of the kidnapping, they’ve really treated me very well and with more care and kindness than I could ever have hoped for.”
Orla’s worried brow faded at my declaration. “I must say after what I’d heard about your abduction, I wouldn’t have expected to see you standing so willingly at Callum’s side. I was afraid I might have to coax you out of the bedroom.”
“While I still have reservations and guilt about leaving the order, I’ve come to embrace that I might have another calling in life as a wife and mother,” I replied. And that's how I truly felt. I wasn’t trying to make things sound better for my mother-in-law.
Callum smiled at his mother. “See, it’s not so bad. You should be happy for us.”
Orla didn’t return his smile. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Only if Caterina’s happy with the situation, then I’ll be happy.”
“Wouldn’t you reconsider moving to Boston?” I asked while throwing Callum a teasing smile.
At Callum’s roll of his eyes, Orla laughed. “As much as I would love to come and help you keep the boys in line, my heart and home belong in Belfast.”
“Well, you always have a home here when you’re ready.” I elbowed Callum playfully. “Doesn’t she?”
He shot me a pointed look before replying, “Aye, of course.”
“The only thing that’ll make me change my mind is when my first grandchild is born.”
As I gasped, Callum spewed out the drink he’d just taken. “We haven’t even been married a week.”
After making the sign of the cross, Orla replied, “That hasn’t stopped me from praying for you to be fruitful.”
“We need time, Mam. Caterina and I just met.”
“I barely knew your father when we were wed, and you were born nine months and three weeks after our wedding,” Orla challenged.
Callum’s expression darkened. “You can rest assured I’ll be a hell of a lot more respectful of my bride than Da was of you.”
While Orla nodded, I gave Callum an appreciative look. “For that I am very grateful.”
“Just looking at the two of you together, I’m sure you will be blessed with many happy years,” Orla pronounced.