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"I know. Thankfully, Ruairi came home and got them to leave. Jed said that he got rid of Tony. I really didn't want him to clarify what he meant."
Callie reaches for my hand and holds it tight. "Why the hell are you paying for your da's debt, hon?"
"I didn't have a choice. When Ma left, Da told Jed I'd take care of his debt, and Jed doesn't care. He'll take money from whoever he can get it from." I sigh. "But I was paying it. I needed to do so because I wanted Jed away from the girls."
"I don't blame you," Chloe hisses. "That man is vile. I've heard the stories. He really doesn't discriminate on age, does he?"
I shake my head. "Not from what I've heard." I run a shaky hand through my hair, wincing as my hand brushes against the bruise on my temple. "Jed is still lending money to my da, which means whenever I make a dent in it, Da's just bringing it back up."
"Your da's a rotten bastard," Chloe hisses. "God, what a prick."
I smile. "Tell me about it. Thankfully, I haven't seen nor heard from him in a while."
Callie's eyes widen. "Ah, that explains why Evie's changed. She's come out of her shell a lot more. She's not afraid to be around people anymore."
"Yeah, they've all come out of themselves. Ma and Da were continuously fighting. It was awful to be around. Now the kids don't need to worry about it. Neither Ma nor Da are allowed back in the house."
Callie pulls me into her arms. "I'm proud of you, Ailbhe. You've taken on a lot. You've helped those kids so much and you're still only young."
I laugh. "I don't feel young. It's hard to believe that I'm eighteen. I feel forty."
"Wait, you're eighteen?" Kane growls from behind me. "The fuck?"
"Uh-oh," Evie says. "You've got to pay up, Preacher, and none of that fake money you have."
I swear to God, this child gets sassier as each day passes. I turn and see Kane reaching into his wallet and pulling out a twenty euro note. "Kid, this is goin' to pay for today, got it?"
Evie looks at the note, almost as though she's contemplating if it's a good deal to make or not. "Okay. But no shouting at Ailbhe."
Kane holds up his hands. "Promise you, kid, I won't shout at her. But we do need to talk." He reaches for me and pulls me off the chair. I crash against him, but his hands tighten around my hips and he holds me still. "Let's go," he says, his voice rough and low.
"I haven't even eaten," I whine.
"I'll bring it to you," Fiona says as she gets up from her seat, her phone left down on the bar. "Do you want tea too?"
"Yes please. I love you."
She grins at me. "Love you too. Now you two talk and then maybe we can do something today?"
She's been worried about me. They all have. They've not left my side since I came home from the hospital unless they're eating or we're sleeping.
Kane and I go back to my room. "You're eighteen?" he asks.
"I'll be nineteen soon," I assure him. "Why does that matter?"
He stares at me, his gaze searching mine. "I'm twenty-nine, babe."
I lift my shoulders and shrug. "And?" I have no idea what the hell that has to do with anything.
"You don't care?" he questions.
"About what? The ten year age gap?" I ask, and he nods. "No. Look, I'm old enough to make my own decisions, and honest to God, Kane, I knew you were older than me. I didn't knowhowold you were, but honestly, I didn't care. Age is only a number."
The worry leaves his face and his lips curl into a slow smirk. "That's real good, babe, because you're mine, and I ain't letting you go."
"Who said I was yours to hold on to?" I ask, but he's right. I am his. He's all that I want. After our discussion last night, I slept for about an hour, and when I woke up, I cried. I sobbed for the man that has lost so very much. My heart truly hurts for him and how much he's lost. I understand his reasons for wanting a paternity test and for trying to keep his distance. I'm not angry. I'm hurt, but I’m not angry. The way he treated me wasn't right and I think he realizes that.
His chuckle is deep and loud. I love that he's happy. It's almost as though a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. The darkness still lingers in his eyes and I don't think it'll ever fade. He's been through too much for it to disappear. But he's not as wound tight or closed off any longer.
