through the French doors. A leather chair sat behind a massive mahogany desk with clean modern lines. The presence of toy trucks and even a few scattered dolls, though, told the real story of the man who ruled the O’Brien clan. He had a soft spot for his grandchildren. Perhaps he would, as well, for this unexpected baby who’d be his first great-grandchild.
“Sit,” Mick told Noah, his tone gruff. “And don’t look so worried. My instincts are telling me that you and I might be on the same side.”
“Really?” Noah said, not convinced of it. He suspected Mick was about two critical answers away from wanting to draw and quarter him.
Mick chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, that I’m a meddler, that I’m overly protective when it comes to my family.”
Noah smiled. “Those are the rumors.”
“Definitely true,” Mick confirmed. “But I’m also a pragmatist. This baby’s coming, whether I approve or disapprove. I just want to ensure that the baby’s interests and my granddaughter’s are protected.”
“That’s all I want, too,” Noah told him with complete candor. “I love Caitlyn, sir. I’ve been very clear with her about that and you need to know it, too.”
“Are we agreed, then, that marriage is the answer?” Mick asked, though it was less a question than a statement.
“I want to marry her, no question about it,” Noah confirmed. “I’ve been eager to start a family with her for a long time now. The only thing preventing me from asking was knowing how dedicated she is to this dream of hers to go back to Africa to practice medicine.”
“And I totally admire her for that dedication,” Mick said. “O’Briens understand all about how blessed we’ve been and our obligation to give back.”
“I understand you’ve been dedicated to supervising the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity since you retired from your company,” Noah said. “I imagine that was part of Cait’s inspiration for her own goals.”
“I’d like to think so, but she’s young. She has years to make her own contribution to society. Right now the important thing is this child she’s carrying and what’s best for the baby.”
“I think Cait is mindful of that,” Noah said. “But it’s a delicate balancing act for her between knowing what’s best for our child and what she needs for her own fulfillment. This pregnancy came as a shock to her. I’m not surprised that she’s having a hard time adjusting.”
“It came as a shock to you, too, I imagine,” Mick said. “But you’re not lollygagging about doing what needs to be done. You want to get married.”
“Absolutely,” Noah confirmed. “But if there’s one thing practicing medicine has taught me, it’s to keep an open mind, to be flexible when it’s necessary. Cait’s not learned that lesson yet.”
Mick gave a nod of satisfaction. “So, how do we get her to that point?”
Noah gave him a startled look. “I was hoping you’d have the answer to that. You’ve had a lot more practice dealing with her stubbornness than I have.”
Mick laughed, then shrugged sheepishly. “According to my wife and even my son-in-law—Caitlyn’s stepfather—my ways tend to backfire, at least at first. I thought maybe you’d have more finesse.”
“I think getting Caitlyn down the aisle is going to take more than finesse,” Noah replied candidly. “She’s worried about giving up on something she’s been working toward for a long time now. You probably know a lot about that kind of drive and determination.”
“I certainly do,” Mick said. “Took me a little too long, though, to figure out there’s more to life than a career. I’m a happier man since I discovered that.”
“You could tell Caitlyn about your epiphany,” Noah suggested.
“I’d be happy to, but it took me years to figure out what’s truly important. I lost all that time with my wife because of it. Caitlyn knows that, too. We don’t have that kind of
“Sit,” Mick told Noah, his tone gruff. “And don’t look so worried. My instincts are telling me that you and I might be on the same side.”
“Really?” Noah said, not convinced of it. He suspected Mick was about two critical answers away from wanting to draw and quarter him.
Mick chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, that I’m a meddler, that I’m overly protective when it comes to my family.”
Noah smiled. “Those are the rumors.”
“Definitely true,” Mick confirmed. “But I’m also a pragmatist. This baby’s coming, whether I approve or disapprove. I just want to ensure that the baby’s interests and my granddaughter’s are protected.”
“That’s all I want, too,” Noah told him with complete candor. “I love Caitlyn, sir. I’ve been very clear with her about that and you need to know it, too.”
“Are we agreed, then, that marriage is the answer?” Mick asked, though it was less a question than a statement.
“I want to marry her, no question about it,” Noah confirmed. “I’ve been eager to start a family with her for a long time now. The only thing preventing me from asking was knowing how dedicated she is to this dream of hers to go back to Africa to practice medicine.”
“And I totally admire her for that dedication,” Mick said. “O’Briens understand all about how blessed we’ve been and our obligation to give back.”
“I understand you’ve been dedicated to supervising the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity since you retired from your company,” Noah said. “I imagine that was part of Cait’s inspiration for her own goals.”
“I’d like to think so, but she’s young. She has years to make her own contribution to society. Right now the important thing is this child she’s carrying and what’s best for the baby.”
“I think Cait is mindful of that,” Noah said. “But it’s a delicate balancing act for her between knowing what’s best for our child and what she needs for her own fulfillment. This pregnancy came as a shock to her. I’m not surprised that she’s having a hard time adjusting.”
“It came as a shock to you, too, I imagine,” Mick said. “But you’re not lollygagging about doing what needs to be done. You want to get married.”
“Absolutely,” Noah confirmed. “But if there’s one thing practicing medicine has taught me, it’s to keep an open mind, to be flexible when it’s necessary. Cait’s not learned that lesson yet.”
Mick gave a nod of satisfaction. “So, how do we get her to that point?”
Noah gave him a startled look. “I was hoping you’d have the answer to that. You’ve had a lot more practice dealing with her stubbornness than I have.”
Mick laughed, then shrugged sheepishly. “According to my wife and even my son-in-law—Caitlyn’s stepfather—my ways tend to backfire, at least at first. I thought maybe you’d have more finesse.”
“I think getting Caitlyn down the aisle is going to take more than finesse,” Noah replied candidly. “She’s worried about giving up on something she’s been working toward for a long time now. You probably know a lot about that kind of drive and determination.”
“I certainly do,” Mick said. “Took me a little too long, though, to figure out there’s more to life than a career. I’m a happier man since I discovered that.”
“You could tell Caitlyn about your epiphany,” Noah suggested.
“I’d be happy to, but it took me years to figure out what’s truly important. I lost all that time with my wife because of it. Caitlyn knows that, too. We don’t have that kind of
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