Page 52 of Isla by Any Other Name

“I know you are and I’m grateful,” Isla said, waving her goodbye to them.

Closing the door behind them, she leaned against it, tears filling her eyes. How she missed Mitch. The hole in her heart would never heal. She would repeat the word fine for the rest of her life, even as she ached. Isla rubbed her hand over her belly and sighed.

“We’ll be fine, baby,” she said to her wiggling son within her. “With you in my life, I can survive anything. I’ll protect you always.”

Isla went to work at the clinic the next day. She worked until lunch, but she’d felt funny since she’d woken up that morning. She was sure that was to be expected. Her body was getting ready to deliver a baby. So feeling weird was probably nothing to be concerned about.

She’d just finished stocking the cabinet in one of the exam rooms when a sharp cramp had her doubling over. Water ran down her legs and puddled around her feet.

Kech entered the room. He guided her to a chair. “Well, it looks like we’re having a baby today. How are you feeling?”

Isla stared at the puddle in fear. “Kech, I’m not due for another two weeks. I’m scared.”

“You’re fine,” Kech said easily. “This boy just wants out, that’s all. He’ll be fine, he’s already a good size. There’s nothing to concern yourself about. Let’s get you comfortable—we could be in for a long ride. We usually are with first babies. I’ll go get Leslie. You’re not alone here, Siobhan. I’m here for you as well. After all, he is my nephew.”

His smile reassured her. She and her baby were in good hands, the best. And she wasn’t alone anymore.

Thirteen hours later, Jesse Mitchell O’Grady came screaming into the world. The name Jesse meant “gift”—that’s exactly what he was. She gazed down at her miracle.

Tears fell as Isla felt the loss of Mitch more acutely than she had ever felt it before. Alone in the room with her precious boy, she voiced aloud her love for him. “Mitch, he’s beautiful. I think he looks like you. I promise I’ll love him enough for both of us and I’ll protect him with my life. I wish you were here to hold him and love him. I will never stop loving you.”

As she held her baby, she thought, This is the person I’d die to live for.

Isla’s parents were at the cottage as Kech helped her out of the car. He grabbed the car seat and her overnight bag. She couldn’t have asked for a better friend. He’d been there every step of the way.

“Abigail said she’s bringing dinner over this evening,” Kech said as he put the baby seat on the porch step. She could see the way he blushed just saying his girlfriend’s name.

“She didn’t have to do that,” Isla smiled.

“She wanted to. She said it would give her an excuse to see Jesse.”

“She’s probably so busy with the start of school next week. She’s a sweetheart.”

“That she is. She’s special,” Kech smiled, giving her his arm to lean on.

“Is she now? Is she the one, Kech?” Isla asked with a knowing look.

“I think she is. It’s a little too soon for me to hope that it is. But every time I see her, I think that she’s everything I could ever hope for.”

“Don’t wait too long, Kech,” she giggled.

“You’ve been in my mother’s company too often these past few days!” said Kech.

Isla shook her head. “I just want you to be happy. You mean so much to me and if you think she’s special, I say go for it. What do you have to lose?”

“My heart?” he said quietly as they stood by the door. Isla thought about how she’d given her heart, and how it had been broken. And how she didn’t regret any of it, because it brought her here—to the doorstep of her own cottage with her beautiful son.

“She isn’t Sunrise, Kech. Don’t do that to yourself. If she didn’t want to be here, she wouldn’t. Take the chance. True love only happens once in a lifetime if you’re lucky. Don’t let it slip through your fingers.”

Kech nodded his head. He’d heard her. “Well, let’s get this little boy home, shall we?”

And they opened the door to the newest chapter of Isla’s life.

Chapter twenty-seven

Mitch sat watching the same house he’d been watching for the last two days. It had been three months since he’d left the FBI and joined Black Knight Security. After Isla left, he needed a change. Curt had offered him a place in his security firm and he had accepted the offer.

Life without Isla was unbearable. Mitch had hoped with the move to Virginia, things would get better. But they hadn’t. If anything, it was worse. There were too many good memories. Too many dreams and hopes that would never be fulfilled. He needed to accept his new life and, unfortunately, Isla wasn’t in it.