Page 20 of The Tides of March (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Nineteen

I t was a week before Tony’s mom arrived on Pooles Island. On Captain Winston’s boat, to his surprise.

“When did you two meet?” he asked his mom as he helped her down the ramp, holding a wiggly puppy.

“Sheila came by the house looking for you after the wedding,” his mother reminded Tony.

“That’s right! I remember you!” Tony said as he allowed the puppy to sniff and lick his hand. He saw Winston coming down the ramp with a large tote bin and ran to help. “Mom said a friend was helping deliver my stuff but I had no idea it was you. Thanks!”

“No problem, kiddo. I was too happy to help when I heard you were shacking up with Ronan.”

The pack’s happy barks announced Ronan’s arrival but he sulked onto the dock, ducking bashfully as he offered his hand to Tony’s mother. “Ma’am. It’s a pleasure to welcome ye to Pooles Island. I hope ye enjoy yer visit,” he mumbled, blushing as he avoided her eyes.

“Get over here,” she said, rising on her toes and hugging his middle. “You can call me Celia. Or Mom.”

Ronan blinked at Tony, looking adorably stunned. “You didn’ tell me yer mam was an angel too,” he said, hugging her with awkward gentleness. “Let me get those, Winston,” he ordered and bowed at Celia before hurrying off.

“I think he’s rather dashing,” Celia whispered to Tony, making him laugh.

“I think so too. Is he joining our pack?” he asked, nodding at the puppy.

“Nope. The house was too quiet without you the last time you were away so I called Sheila and said I’d be Rocky’s new mom.”

“Perfect,” Tony said and introduced his mom and Rocky to the rest of their family while Ronan made quick work of the six bins and various boxes his mom had packed. “You did that fast. Is that all my stuff?” he asked, wondering if she was in a hurry to get rid of him.

“Sheila helped and she’s building me shelves. I’m finally getting my reading room.”

“I’m not gonna let that hurt my feelings,” Tony told himself.

“Hush! I’ve been waiting for you to find yourself and your soulmate and you know how many books I have. Think about how nice it’ll be when they’re all arranged by color. It’s going to be my rainbow reading room!” she said dreamily, her hand sweeping in front of her.

“I think it’s great and exactly what you deserve. I think Sheila’s pretty great too,” he said from behind his hand and winked.

“We hit it off,” Celia said with a shrug. “And you know how it is at our age, you either go fast or you grow cold.”

Tony frowned. “You’re fifty-eight. That’s not old at all,” he said and winced in Ronan’s direction. “Anyways! How about a tour of the cottage?” He offered his arm as he changed the subject. “It’s just one room and a loft, but I’m in love with it.”

“It looks so cozy. Can I get a tour of the lighthouse too?”

“No!” Tony and Ronan shouted.

“It’s…” Ronan coughed and shook his head. “Ye don’ wanna see all me tools and old sailin’ gear.”

“It used to be haunted and the staircase could come down at any moment,” Tony added with an apologetic shrug. “He was a really cool ghost, though. Came in clutch when we were in trouble.”

“Oh…” Celia nodded weakly. “Maybe a tour of the peach trees,” she said and Tony, Ronan, and Winston shouted “No!”

Tony shook his head. “The Army used to use the island for training and testing so there could be some…live ammunition or explosives out there.”

His mother’s eyes widened and the grip around his arm tightened. “Oh.”

“The beach is cool and Ronan knows how to get around safely,” Tony said quickly.

Ronan nodded. “I’ve been through there dozens of times with me metal detectors and I’m damn near indestructible.”

There was more truth in that than they wanted to reveal to Winston so Tony laughed it off. “That means you get all the peach preserves and butters and honey you can carry and Ronan promises to send crates of peaches when they’re in season.”

“That’s not so bad, then,” Celia decided.

She loved the inside of the cottage, delighted at all the bookshelves and amazed to learn that Ronan had painted all the watercolors.

“Ye can take whichever ones ye like,” Ronan offered both of their guests, then apologized to Winston for never inviting her in for coffee.

“No worries! You were doing me a favor, taking in all these dogs. It’s a godsend, knowing you’ll take the bigger, older dogs I come across.”

“Isn’t it?” Tony agreed cheekily, trading smiles with his mother.

Unable to tour the lighthouse or the orchard, Tony’s mom and Winston went to work on his bins and boxes. He was unpacked in just a few hours and Tony’s mom heated up one of her lasagnas for an early dinner.

“Ye’ll bring more the next time ye come?” Ronan said as he helped himself to his fourth serving and winning his mother’s heart forever.

“Don’t you worry, sweetheart,” she said, patting his cheek. “I’ll freeze a few for you.”

“By a few, she means eight,” Tony said, sealing the deal for Ronan too, he suspected.

“Ye really are an angel.” Ronan told Celia and nodded at Winston. “Don’ let this one get away from ye.”

Winston hummed in agreement. “I’ve already introduced her to my mother and we’re renting an RV this summer.”

“Brilliant!” Tony was genuinely happy for his mother and Winston. He might be a little…sad to know that his old room was being renovated so quickly, but he had worried about leaving his mother alone. Now, she’d have a new puppy, a girlfriend, vacations, and her dream reading room to occupy her time.

“I’m really happy for you too, baby,” Celia said as she helped Tony wash the dishes. “I can tell that Ronan takes good care of you and this place feels like you already.”

He looked around and considered the subtle changes. His books, pictures, and nerdy knick knacks were scattered around the cottage and Ronan was building a built-in armoire for Tony upstairs. Ronan had insisted on hanging all of Tony’s diplomas, clearing an entire wall in the loft.

“It really does. I felt like I belonged from the first moment I woke up but it feels real now. I resigned from the university,” he added gently but she shrugged it off.

“This is where you’re meant to be. So what does an oracle do these days?” she whispered while Ronan and Winston took the dogs out.

“I’m not really sure,” Tony admitted. “Right now, I’m focusing all my energy on finding whoever it is that’s responsible for all the victims Nox and Nelson have been investigating. We’re pretty certain it’s the same person who sent that zombie shite after me and Ronan,” he said, using Ronan’s nickname for the undead changeling Hugh Dùbhghlas had created.

“You know, you’re much safer here with the ghost and the minefield,” Celia said, waving dismissively.

“Ronan won’t let anything happen to me,” Tony agreed.

“When is the wedding?”

“Ma!”

“You said it would be soon.”

He nodded. “Yeah, but I just moved in. It’s been a week.”

“You quit your job,” she countered with a pointed look.

“That wasn’t all about Ronan. I’m not really cut out to be a professor and they wouldn’t let me be Nox’s TA again.”

“I will miss you,” Celia said, sighing sadly as she curled her arm around Tony’s.

Tony shushed and kissed her hair. “You and Sheila can visit whenever you want. Or give us a call and Ronan will come and get you. We’ve already discussed adding a tiny bungalow right next door. Ronan doesn’t think anyone will say anything if it looks like a large shed.”

“Like one of those tiny houses on the HG channel?” she asked.

“Exactly!” Tony said. “Ronan knows how close we are and he wants you to feel at home on Pooles Island too.”

Celia gasped and fanned her eyes as they watered. “He really is the loveliest man. I don’t know why you said he’d be cranky.”

“He’s been on his best behavior for you and I think he’s secretly wished he had a real mom.”

“That poor baby!”

Tony grinned, already looking forward to seeing how she’d decorate and had a feeling she’d have Ronan wrapped around her little finger by the end of her next visit. His big man was very partial to sweets and Tony’s mother was an even better baker than his cousin Marie.

“I don’t think he gets a lot of chocolate out here.”

“Say no more. You should have a chocolate wedding cake,” Celia suggested, making Tony throw up his hands.

“I’ll talk to Merlin and Nox about it and let you know.”

“Early May would be nice. Just something simple on the beach. We could get away with a tent on the lawn for the reception since it wouldn’t be too hot.”

“Ma! You’re gonna scare Ronan.”

He took the news rather well when Tony broke it to him. Of course, Tony had waited until after his mother and Winston left and dazzled Ronan with a filthy blowjob first.

“I’d marry ye tomorrow,” he said as they kissed by the fire. “I know how much it means to ye and I’m honored.”

“May it is!” Tony pushed Ronan back onto the floor and showered his face in kisses.

“On one condition.” Ronan’s hand pushed into the back of Tony’s jeans.

“What’s that?”

“We move this to the bed. I wanna be comfortable while ye sit on me face.”

Tony sighed dreamily down at him. “You say the most romantic things.”

“I can’ help it, lad. I’ve been under yer spell since the moment I first laid eyes on ye.”