Chapter 18
Carmen listened to the O’Learys bicker and fight for hours. How were they not all exhausted? While they had argued, she warmed up food to feed them and kept the coffee flowing. No one had spoken to her since Maggie’s outburst, but Liam acknowledged her with small touches. He held her hand, put his arm around the back of her chair, squeezed her knee while it was tucked under the table.
The family dynamic amazed her. As much as the fighting could’ve been ugly, she never doubted the underlying love and respect they had for each other. Part of her longed for that kind of relationship, but another part of her was grateful that she hadn’t had to face the decisions they were facing.
As Carmen moved from the kitchen back to the dining room, most of Liam’s siblings offered curious sta
