The schedule was light until the middle of March, but already bookings were starting to come in. Cyndi had done a lot of advance advertising and it was starting to pay off. Both Amanda Barrington and Linda Fletcher were booked for later in the spring and Cyndi was looking forward to seeing them both. They'd kept in touch via email and phone calls, but it wasn't the same as seeing them in person.
"The place looks great.” He surveyed the foyer with pride as they reached the front door."
"It does.” Shamus had done much of the work himself. “I'm so glad that things have returned to normal with yours and Burke's working relationship.” That had gone a long way to easing tensions between Shamus and his family.
"Me too."
Cyndi took a deep breath. “Do I look okay?” She normally wasn't this nervous, but this was her first major get together with his family in her home—their home. Shamus had all but moved in as soon as their master suite was finished and was talking about renting out his house.
"You look beautiful.” He kissed her nose as the bell pealed again. He released her and swung the front door wide open. Burke, Dani, Shane, Patrick, and Shannon all stood on the doorstep.
"Welcome.” Cyndi greeted them as they all trooped inside.
She felt Shamus's arm wrap around her and she glanced up at him. The love shining from his eyes made her catch her breath. She felt it expand within her, filling all the empty places that had existed for so very long. The cold and forbidding house was long gone, the past but a distant memory.
Cyndi Marks had finally come home for good.
* * * *