As much as Kirley didn’t really want to like Oliver, he couldn’t help but at least approve of the way that he was handling the situation. He took note of the writer but decided that not doing anything about it was probably the best option. It had served him well in the past to not get fidgety and act as though they wouldn’t have any need to take note of him. If all else failed, Kirley supposed they could always confund the poor chap, though that would probably draw attention like little else could unless they got out in time.
For a few moments, the eldest McCormack considered Oliver’s position. There was something to be said in that he wanted to prove himself, and that he wasn’t jumping the gun, so to speak, just because Meghan was pregnant. The fact that Oliver was asking permission of him in itself was something that many blokes wouldn’t consider doing, simply because Kirley was her brother not the father, but he’d always thought they needed his approval. Whether he knew it or not, Oliver was gaining substantial points on Kirley’s good side.
“As long as things continue to go well, and it’s what Meghan wants, then I suppose this is me giving my tentative approval,” Kirley replied, trying not to give too much of what he was thinking away. There was a shadow of a smile on his lips for a moment, but unless one was paying attention they wouldn’t have noticed, and they might have thought it just a figment of their imagination if they had seen it at all. Kirley took another sip of his coffee, and regarded Oliver for a moment, “If this had to happen in Meghan’s life.... I’m at least glad that you’re a decent bloke. I thank, and respect, you for that.”
It was perhaps the highest compliment that he’d ever given anyone involved with Meghan. As long as he was going to have to put up with him in the future, Kirley figured he might as well start trying to like him now. It would be slow going, but with time and civility, he might learn to think someone was at least half-way worthy of his sister.