She slipped her hand into Frank’s and glanced at her grandchildren, laughing at their parents and having a ball. Maureen’s lips pressed tight, as her lashes grew damp. Soon enough they’d all be grown and discovering who they were.
“They grow up so fast, Frank,” she whispered, drawing his attention to the wee ones.
“Aye.” He smiled, releasing a satisfied breath. “We did good, Maureen. We did good.”
Blinking away her tears she nodded. “Aye.” The song ended and every guest shot to their feet and cheered. Wedging her fingers between her lips, she whistled and cheered. This was her clan.
Epilogue
Alexis Luka Devereux McCullough was born on June twenty-sixth at four thirty-two—one full week after schedule. The mob of Irish maniacs arrived at the hospital, overwhelming the staff just before dawn. Many came in their pajamas and most had severe hangovers. But it was a day to remember as another redheaded lass was added to their clan.
Maureen fell in love on the spot, as she had with all her other babies. Luke, Tristan, and Alec fawned over the sweet girl, speaking softly as they straightened her little blanket and turned the strawberry curl at the top of her hair just so.
Sheilagh was relieved, though the hard part was far from over. Her daughter’s eyes were blue at the moment, but soon they’d be green like the other O’Leahey women and she would be tough like every other one before her. Her daughter’s beauty enchanted her fathers and Sheilagh pitied the boys that would someday come knocking.
It seemed, sometimes, memories could knock the breath out of a person, which often happened as Sheilagh thought back over her life. She may not have done everything right, but there was not a thing she didn’t put her whole heart into doing.
As the room quieted and she held her daughter, mesmerized by her perfect little fingers and tiny little nose, she smiled. “I want you to know that there isn’t a thing you can do to make me stop loving you. If you’re ever sad or feeling alone, I want you to come to me, because I’m your mum, and if anything, mums are the toughest people in the world.” She kissed her head and whispered, “You’re daddy’s a big softy—all of them.”
She shut her eyes, basking in the contentment she’d longed to find and finally owned. How true it was, about mothers. If not for hers, she’d never have had the faith she needed to do all the wonderful things she’d done.
“Are you sleeping, dear?” Maureen whispered as she stepped into the room. “I brought you some ginger tea.”
Lifting her lashes, she smiled. “No, Mum. I was just sittin’ here thinking.”
“You look so happy, love.” She placed the tea on the bedside table and kissed Alexis’s soft hair.
“I am happy, Mum. Happier than I ever thought I could be.”
Maureen sat and sighed, a peaceful smile curving her lips. “Me too, love. Me too.”
*The End*
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A Note from the Author
Dear Readers,
There are countless people I want to thank. The McCullough Mountain series has brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined. It doesn’t seem fair to say goodbye to a family that—over the years—became our own. Luckily, they breed like rabbits, and who knows? Maybe in ten years we’ll all come together again to watch Tallulah and the other grands find their happy endings.
I want to thank my husband and my family. After many rejection letters, I was prepared to give up my dream to become a published author. Then my little cousins, Skylar and Hannah (Just like Kate’s girls), helped me come up with an Irish cast of characters that changed everything.
When we first wrote the name Colin in the sand as we sat by the lake, my family swimming out to the dock in the distance, I had no idea he and the other McCulloughs would become so real. Perhaps there was something sacred in the water that day, because it was there that the McCullough clan was born.
My family, the calm, the crazies, and the critics, all contributed to the quirks of the McCullough clan. I’d especially like to thank the amazing moms in my life. My mother and my aunts have all helped me make Maureen McCullough into one of the greatest characters I’ve ever written. My grandmothers, Mary (Leahy, originally O’Leahy) and Marry Mazzocchi, were a great inspiration for the older generations of strong women in this series. And my closest girlfriends have shown up in glimpses of all Maureen’s daughters, many of their children’s names fitting for the youngest McCulloughs.
I’d also like to thank my readers. There simply aren’t big enough words in my vocabulary to accurately describe my gratitude to all of you. Carla D., Lisa C., Nikki T., Patricia D., Lori L., Kim S., Michelle D., Jess A., Trudy K., Gayle D., Robyn M., Tamara H., all the incredible women at #LovingYOUeveryday—the list goes on and on. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
And then there are others, readers that probably don’t realize how much their thoughts on my characters have played a role in the rhythm of these stories. I loved reading everything you have to say, be it good or bad. You treated my characters like real people and showed me how deeply they touched you. To those that occupy The World of Romance…Rants & Raves… Thank you! You’ve given me priceless, honest feedback and shared my work with so many.
JLC, try to forgive Luke (LOL). Robin, thank you for loving Shane so much, even though he isn’t a McCullough. Maggie&Teddy your support and hope for these characters have pushed me to a new standard. There are so many I want to name…Ms. D., Astraycat, Carmen L., SAB, Dawn C… And to all the others on similar thread and my fans on Facebook and Twitter, thank you. Writing for readers as passionate as you is truly an honor.
Thank you to the amazing bloggers out there that give authors like myself a name. You are priceless and I’m honored to be a part of all your hard work.
And finally, I want to thank Sandy Sullivan and my incredible editor, Elise Hepner. Sandy, you heard my voice in the first romance I wrote and gave my characters a home. Over the years, your trust in my ability has allowed me to flourish and write the way my heart wants. Thank you for that. And thank you for assigning me an editor that has become a friend. Elise, we’ve been through hell and back, but we did it. Thank you for taking my voice and teaching me how to sing.
Like I said, there are countless people to thank. I wish I could list them all. To all of my readers, my greatest thanks go to you. Without your emotions bringing the McCulloughs to life, it would all be just words on paper. And I think we’d all agree, they are so much more.
Salute.
~Lydia
About the Author
Award winning author, Lydia Michaels, writes all forms of hot romance. She presses the bounds of love and takes readers on an emotional journey of the heart, mind, and soul with every story she pens. Her books are intellectual, erotic, haunting, and always centered on love. Lydia Michaels loves to hear from readers!
www.facebook.com/LydiaMichaels
@Lydia_Michaels
[email protected] Other Titles by Lydia Michaels
The New Castle Series
First Comes Love {Book 1}
If I Fall {Book 2}
Something Borrowed {Book 3}
Remember Me {Book 4}
Why We Go
Breaking Perfect
Simple Man
The Surrender Trilogy
Falling In
Breaking Out
Coming Home
McCullough Mountain
Sacred Waters
Skin
Chaste
Faking It
Forsaking Truth
As Tears Go By
Hold Me Fast
The Order of Vampyres
Called to Order {Book 1}
Calling for a Miracle {Book 2}
Destiny Calls {Book 3}
Call Her Mine {Book 4}
Lydia Michaels, Hold Me Fast (McCullough Mountain Book 7) br />
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