"We get to go on Sunday," Ashley told her husband. "We've got the harpies on Saturday. I'm going to ask your mom and Frankie to stay over."
"I thought we were going to have the rest of the weekend to ourselves," he complained. "Besides, Frankie won't be coming. It's parents' weekend up at St. Peter's, and she never misses one. And this is her last, as my nephew graduates in June."
"Can't I ask your mom?" Ashley said. "I like her, Ryan. I have only the barest memory of my own mother, because she died when I was fourteen. Oh, I've got a picture of her, but very few memories. And I missed having a mother. Your mother is cool. Look how she went to Ray to find a wife for you. And look how nice she's been to me, even if I wasn't quite the daughter-in-law she was expecting. Besides, do you want her having to ride home with the harpies and their husbands?"
"You're too softhearted, woman," he said, pulling her into his arms and giving her a kiss. "All right. Ask Ma if she'd like to stay. And call Frankie. She's been worried you'd be upset she couldn't come, but she didn't want to disappoint her kid."
The next day Ashley called her sister-in-law Frankie. "It's okay," she said to her. "I'll just deal with the harpies myself. I was going to ask you and your mom to stay over just to piss them off."
Frankie laughed. "Ma told me you called her this morning. She thinks you're sweet asking her to stay, and of course she's going to do it, because she had such a good time last time. I'm sorry to leave you with the harpies-well, not really, if you get my meaning-but my kid comes first, Ash. You'll understand when you have your own."
"So you'll come for Christmas with him and your mother, okay?" Ashley asked.
"Yes, we'll come," Frankie replied. She paused, then finally said, "You sound different. Really happy. I guess everything's all right with you and my brother."
"If that's your clever way of asking what's going on, I don't mind telling you. It seems that against all odds we have fallen in love," Ashley told her sister-in-law. "We're even talking babies, although I'm not quite ready to give up my birth control pills. I need to get these two new shops open and running smoothly."
"Oh, my God!" Frankie gasped. "I am so glad, Ash! For you and for my brother. He really is a good guy, and I want him to be happy. Does Ma know?"
"We're going to let her figure it out for herself." Ashley chuckled.
"Ashley, don't stop loving Ryan after you've met the harpies. Please!" Frankie said. "They'll start off semicharm-ing, but the mood will degenerate as the day goes on. It's the way they are. They've got the sibling-rivalry thing down pat, I'm afraid."
"I have to admit that I'll be glad to get it over and done with," Ashley admitted.
"I've got to go," Frankie said. "I've got a client coming in any minute. Good luck on Saturday, sweetie."
On Saturday morning they arose, ate a leisurely breakfast together, and then dressed to receive their guests. Ashley was wearing light wool slacks in a red-yellow-and-black Royal Stewart plaid, along with an off-white cotton cable-knit sweater with a round neckline. She had comfortable black leather boots on her feet. Ryan was wearing pale gray slacks and a taupe-colored Italian knit sweater in silk and cotton. He had expensive leather loafers on his feet. They were the picture of wealthy country casual.
At a little after eleven Ashley's cell rang. "This is Ashley," she said, picking up.
"It's Bill, Mrs. Mulcahy. We're five minutes out," a voice said.
"Thank you, Bill. After you drop my guests off, Byrnes will show you around to the kitchens, where you can get lunch and later dinner before you return to town."
"Thanks, ma'am." The phone clicked off.
"Who was that?" Ryan asked.
"The driver," Ashley told him. "We are now about four minutes from touchdown, darling. Gird your loins."
"I'd rather still be up in bed grinding them against yours," he said. "You are too delicious today, baby. And I'm going to be thinking all day about tonight after we wave them off. And don't look at me that way, Ash, all soft and melty-eyed. You want to really start a brouhaha, you'll let me greet the five harpies with a hard-on for my beautiful wife." He sighed dramatically, making a shaking motion with his hand. "Mamma mia!"
Ashley laughed. "You can't be that horny after last night," she said.
"I can't get enough of you," he replied.
"Stifle, big man!" she warned him. "Uh-oh. I hear the limo coming up the drive. Let's head to the door, and remember, smiles, everyone."
Now it was his turn to laugh. "Fantasy Island my foot," he said.
She flashed him a grin.
They stood on the portico of the house, arms about each other as the extra-large black limousine drew up before them in the drive. Bill, the chauffeur, was out of the vehicle immediately to open the door. First out was Angelina Mulcahy. Both Ryan and Ashley greeted her warmly, Ashley giving her a big hug.
"Be brave, cara ,” Lina murmured softly as one by one Ryan's older sisters were carefully handed out of the car. Their husbands had gotten out on the far side, and now stood bunched together, not quite certain what to do.
"Welcome to Kimbrough Hall, everyone," Ashley said, smiling. "I'm so glad the weather is perfect for you."
"It's a long ride from the city. I am Bride," a tall, dark-haired woman said. She smiled, but Ashley noticed that the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"But I hope it was at least comfortable for you," Ashley answered.
"Oh, yes, very nice, but certainly expensive. We could have driven our own cars. I'm Elisabetta." She was smaller than Bride, and her hair was quite red.
"Kathleen," said a third woman, holding out her hand to Ashley. She was platinum blond, and her handshake was feeble and limp.
"Magdalena," said the fourth woman. She was plump, and looked the most like her mother. Her gray hair made her look older than the others, although she was younger.
"I'm Deirdre," the last of the sisters said. Like Bride her hair was dark.
None of the sisters made any move to kiss Ashley.
"Good morning, ladies," Ryan said cheerfully. "Nice to see you all together."
"Yeah," one of the men said with a grin. "If you wanted to take them out, this would sure as hell be the time and place, Ryan."
"It's a good thought, Kevin, but I know how much you guys would miss them," Ryan joked with his brothers-in-law as, laughing, the men came forward, and Ryan introduced them to Ashley. On the whole the men seemed friendlier than Ryan's sisters.
"Come into the house," Ashley invited them, then settled them in the living room. She turned to her butler. "Byrnes, if anyone would like coffee, will you please bring it?"
"At once, Mrs. Mulcahy," Byrnes replied with a slight bow.
"You have servants?" Bride asked as she settled herself in a large wing chair that allowed her a full view of the room and everyone in it.
"They came with the house," Ashley joked, and the men laughed. "Yes, I have servants. They helped raise me after my parents died. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes the house runs like clockwork. I couldn't do without them."
"My daughters are striving to remain polite, Ashley, but they are dying to learn how you and Ryan met," Lina said. "I hope you'll tell them everything, cara."
Ashley threw her mother-in-law a look of thanks. There were going to be no secrets now, and she was glad. "We were introduced by our attorneys in my lawyer's offices several months ago. Because Ryan and I were faced with a similar problem, we decided to make a marriage of convenience. Actually, it was Lina and Frankie who spoke first with Ray Pietro d'Angelo, and asked him to find Ryan a wife. Ray mentioned this rather odd request to his cousin, Joe Pietro d'Angelo, who is my lawyer."