Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers) Read Online Free PDF Page B

just that.”
    She gasped and moved away again. It took a moment for Anna to find her voice. “Look, I’m not going to stand here and argue with you. All I’m saying is you need to calm down. This is your brother’s wedding. Zoe’s stressed out enough, and she and Aidan don’t need you starting a fight.”
    “Oh, I’m not the one who’s going to start the fight. I can guarantee when Darcy gets here, she’ll—”
    “She won’t do anything,” Anna said bluntly.
    Quinn could only stare.
    “Who do you think encouraged him to start dating? Who do you think orchestrated their first date? Who do you think is the most excited about maybe having more women in her life?”
    “But…no,” he said adamantly. “Darcy wouldn’t do that. She and my mom…”
    Anna’s shoulders sagged, her expression growing sad. “Quinn, Darcy doesn’t remember your mom,” she said softly. “I know we all like to think differently, but the reality is she was a baby when Lillian died. She has no memory of her and it’s hard for her to pretend otherwise. It’s hard for her to have a connection to someone she doesn’t remember.” She paused. “It doesn’t mean she doesn’t love your mom—she does. But it’s not the same as the connection you and your brothers had to your mother.”
    It had been a long time since Quinn had felt overwhelmed with memories of his mother, but right now that was exactly how he felt. He swallowed hard and walked toward the water, not wanting Anna—or anyone—to see him like this.
    Sometimes it was easy just to pretend everything was okay, that there wasn’t this massive void in his life. And other times—like now—it was hard to ignore. With the scent and sound of the surf all around him, it was as if he were a kid again, on vacation with his family. It had always been their thing—they’d go to Myrtle Beach and spend the week just playing in the sand and the water.
    Anna came to stand beside him, and suddenly he was back in the present. His mother wasn’t here; they weren’t on vacation. And the reality hit him like a punch in the gut.
    “I wish Darcy remembered her,” he said quietly. “I know Mom loved us all, but she was just over the moon when she had Darcy—finally had a little girl.” He took a steadying breath. “I wish Darcy remembered some of Mom’s joy.”
    “So does she,” Anna replied before she turned and faced him. “It’s not easy for her, Quinn, but you have to know that just because she encourages your father to date, it doesn’t lessen her feelings for Lillian.”
    “I know.”
    “And you need to realize that just because he is dating, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t still love your mom. Or that he’s forgotten her.”
    Quinn swallowed hard, his eyes still focused on the waves crashing over the sand. He felt Anna’s hand slip into his and he grasped it hard. It was reassuring, soft, comforting. Everything he needed in that moment. They stood like that for several silent minutes before Anna simply leaned in and hugged him.
    “You going to be okay?” she asked.
    “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” The anger from earlier was gone and in its place was quiet acceptance. It wasn’t unusual for him to hug Anna, but it was normally in a playful manner. This quiet, intimate embrace was new. Different.
    And yet not in a bad way.
    “Come on. We should get back up to the house. The rehearsal for the ceremony is in a couple of hours, and then we have the dinner with everyone.”
    He sighed and released her reluctantly. “I guess I’m going to be relegated to sleeping on the couch now, aren’t I?”
    Anna chuckled. “I’m sure you can share a room with Bobby.”
    His laughter matched hers. “Thanks, but I think I’ll take my chances with the couch. Your brother would probably smother me in my sleep.”
    “He’s not quite that bad.”
    Quinn knew a token defense when he heard one. “You have to say that. He’s your brother.”
    “It’s only for a