Page 25 of Rory: His to Discipline

“Behave, Maggie,” Nick warned. “Can’t you go anyplace without trying to stir up trouble?”

“Me?” Maggie exclaimed. “I never find trouble, it finds me, and I can razz my brothers if I want to anyway. It’s in the constitution.”

“I’ll play,” Patrick replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling. “What part of the constitution would that be in, squirt?”

“The pursuit of happiness,” Maggie replied smugly. “It makes me happy. So, did you misplace Tess again, or did she run like hell?”

Rory growled and gave Maggie the eye, sipping his beer as he checked his watch.

Wiping the bar, Patrick winked at his wife as she busied herself, straightening up a few nearby tables. It wasn’t like Molly to ignore the family when they came into the pub, but she had been busy all afternoon so he let it be.

“Did you find Tess?” Patrick asked, curious to find out what was really going on here.

Rory nodded.

“Well, where was she?”

Rory squinted at Maggie, while Nick scowled and Molly hurried behind the bar.

“So, Rebecca and Mason had their baby today?” Molly interjected cheerfully. “You must be thrilled, Nick. Patrick, would you come and give me a hand in the kitchen?”

“Just a second sweetie, so where is Tess?”

“She was at our house, wasn’t she Nick?” Maggie lied. Looking at Molly and frowning at the almost imperceptible shake of her head, Maggie continued. She was in too deep now to stop. “Yeah, she called my cell phone and asked if she could hang out there for a few days and I said sure.”

“Jesus, Nick,” Rory groaned. “What did you do to her? She’s worse than she was.”

“I thought you promised me that if we came down here you were going to stay out of this?” Nick asked, staring sternly into his wife’s eyes.

“Stay out of what?” Patrick asked. “I’m confused. Would somebody mind telling me what the hell is going on? Molly, didn’t you tell me Tess wasn’t at Nick and Maggie’s?” he asked, giving Molly a warning look. “Did you lie to me?”

“No, Tess didn’t stay at Maggie’s,” Molly answered quietly, picking up the bar rag and wiping up nonexistent spots.

Patrick scowled at Maggie before taking his wife’s arm and turning her to face him. “So, Maggie is lying?”

“Well, yes,” Molly replied lowering her eyes.

“Gee thanks, Molly,” Maggie spat. “I was only trying to help.”

“You should have stayed out of it, Maggie. I had everything under control,” Molly insisted, hands on hips, glaring at her sister in law.

“But you didn’t know Rory knew .…”

“Enough!” Patrick shouted. “I want an explanation, and I want it right now or I swear I’ll turn you both over my knee.”

“You can’t do that,” Maggie shouted. “I’m married now and not answerable to either of you two!” she stated looking from one brother to the other. “Isn’t that right, Nick?” she insisted.

“Don’t bet on it, cupcake,” Rory answered, calmly picking up his beer and taking a sip. Maggie’s jaw dropped as she looked at Nick expectantly.

“Damn it, Maggie, for once quit digging yourself in deeper,” he told her firmly.

Turning to his brother, Patrick pointedly ignored both his wife and sister. “So, I take it you found Tess?” he asked.

“Yeah, I found her,” Rory answered.

“Where?”

Rory didn’t speak. He merely pointed over his head and waited for it to sink in.