Page 191 of Liberating Lily

“I’m sorry about the way I ran off, and if I worried anybody.” She still wasn’t sure that he would’ve been concerned about her.

“You did worry me,” he said. “You had our entire family worried. Don’t do that again.”

It was a stern admonishment, and she found herself nodding quickly. No way would she ever do anything to disappoint him or Harvey again.

“I’ve already talked to her about it,” Harvey said, wrapping his arm around her. Ronan let go of her hand and gave her a small nod.

Then Crackling let out a snort and Ronan glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow. She braced herself for his questions or ridicule.

“Nice-looking pig.”

She swore that Crackling preened under the praise.

“I know it’s unusual to have a pig on a lead. It’s just that he makes me feel more relaxed.”

“Is he house trained?” Ronan asked.

“Yes, he’s very smart.”

“Then he’s welcome in my house.”

And that was it. She let out a deep breath.

“Come, you need to meet our sisters,” Ronan told her.

Paddy stepped forward first and gave her a quick hug, and Crackling a pat. And then they were in front of a woman she hadn’t met. She had bobbed dark hair and a friendly smile. Her sweatshirt had a polar bear on the front of it.

“Hey there, Lily. I’m Bea. It’s so lovely to meet you.” To her shock, Harvey’s sister engulfed her in a hug. It was warm, and she smelled really good.

Lily felt some of the tension leave her. Bea seemed to be genuine in her happiness to meet Lily.

When she stepped back, she saw Harvey’s other sister, Fiadh. She was standing next to Ronan, looking anxious, her hand around his arm, as though she needed him to help her do this. She wore an apron and had obviously been cooking.

Suddenly, Lily realized that she wasn’t the only worried one in the room, and that maybe she could be the one to settle things rather than wait for Fiadh to do it.

Feeling a wave of confidence that she didn’t know she had, Lily stepped forward and held out her hand to Fiadh. “Hi. We haven’t officially met. I’m Lily.”

“I’m so sorry!” Fiadh cried, tears flooding her eyes. “We didn’t realize you were in the house when we were saying those things, and we had no right to say them anyway. I’m sure you’re nothing like the cold fish that Amanda thought you were. I never would have said anything if I’d known you were there. I certainly didn’t want you to run off. Harvey has been so worried about you.”

“I can imagine the impression that I made back then. I wasn’t going through an easy time. My mother was drugging me with a doctor’s help to make me more pliable, but it also made me very blank and uncaring. I just went along with whatever my mother told me to do, whatever she wanted me to wear, whoever she wanted me to marry. Somehow my life seemed over in my mind. I had nothing else in my life, no friends, no job, no support system. My sister was estranged from me. It wasn’t until Harvey took me away from my mother that we fully realized what was going on. I had to detox off the drugs she’d been giving me, and it wasn’t easy. It left me in a vulnerable state where my mind wasn’t always working properly. I had a lot of self-esteem issues, and I couldn’t understand why Harvey wanted to be with me. Your words just reinforced what I was thinking. It wasn’t your fault. It was all me. And so I ran without thinking about the consequences or how Harvey might feel. I just thought you were right. He would be better off with your friend. She seemed together and confident. She’s beautiful. Everything that Harvey needs.”

“You are everything that I need,” Harvey told her. “Everything that I desire and want. And if anyone doesn’t deserve anyone, it’s me that doesn’t deserve you.” Harvey placed his hand on Lily’s cheek and turned her head so she was staring up at him.

“I know that now,” Lily said with a grin. “I’m a great catch.”

He snorted out a laugh. “You are. You’re amazing. The best catch of all, which is why we’re getting married.”

He turned to look at the rest of his family as they all congratulated them. Harvey had officially asked her to marry him on their trip back here.

Fiadh was still staring at her, looking unsure. “I am sorry, Lily. Do you think you can ever forgive me?”

“Of course I can.”

A look of relief filled Fiadh’s face. But she still looked a bit hesitant. Lily got it. Things couldn’t instantly be fixed, but Lily also understood about making mistakes.

“Fiadh knows she was in the wrong,” Harvey’s grandfather said. “Even if she didn’t know you were there, she shouldn’t be talking about family like that. And you are our family, Lily. We stick together like Gallaghers always do. Congratulations to the two of you. Lily, you’re going to be an amazing addition to our family.”

“Thank you, Mr. Gallagher,” she said in a loud voice. “It’s nice to see you again.”