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He hooks his hands low down my back, his blazing eyes falling to my lips. I know exactly where this is going.
‘But I have three weeks of absence to make up for—not to mention seven years—and I plan to start immediately.’
He lowers his head, and his lips are almost on mine when I press my index finger against them. ‘You’re insatiable.’
‘Sue me,’ he murmurs against my finger, and I laugh, shaking my head at him even as I know the time has come.
I curve one hand around to cup his cheek and raise the other to do the same. I gaze up into his eyes, holding him just where I want him.
‘I do love you Cain.’ I brush my lips against his. ‘I’ve always loved you.’
And then I kiss him with everything I have. No more holding back, no more fear. No secrets, no lies. Just us and our love for one another and our dear sweet Rose.
EPILOGUE
Five years later
THERE’S ONLY ONE THING you need to know about me.
I love my family.
Even when they’re driving me to absolute distraction.
‘Liam Robert O’Connor—if you don’t put those wellies back on this instant...’
I’m using my ‘boardroom voice’, as Lexi calls it, but it’s having zero effect, and I look to her imploringly as our three-year-old monkey swings his footwear around like two propellers and heads for the biggest puddle on the trail.
‘Please can you sort him out?’
Lexi merely laughs as she squeezes Bella, who’s on her hip, and presses a kiss to our daughter’s rosy cheek. ‘Mummy needs to go and take care of your brother before Daddy has a tantrum.’
Bella giggles and Lexi bends to put her down, straightening out her bright red jacket as she does so, her auburn curls escaping its hood and blowing in the wind.
‘At least you have the sense to keep your wellies on, Bella.’ I take hold of her chubby little hand and smile down at her. ‘It’s a mud pit out here.’
‘Their favourite kind,’ Lexi murmurs, placing a kiss on my cheek before heading off after Liam.
I watch her go, feeling the warmth, the love inside me, swell. It’s not raining now. The clouds have cleared, the sky is blue and the seagulls are circling. It’s picture-postcard-perfect—even with my rogue little man front and centre.
How anyone copes with twins is beyond me. Even with three adults to their two I feel outnumbered. Not that I’d change it—not in the slightest.
I smile as I watch Lexi tackle Liam, watch Mum trying to help, but she has Ed pulling her in circles.
And in the distance I see the waves crashing around the Bailey Lighthouse and feel the presence of Dad, Liam and Rose.
This is our Sunday routine now—a walk around Howth Head with all of us together. Sometimes we talk about them, sometimes we don’t, but they’re there in our thoughts and that’s enough.
I feel a tug on my hand and Bella pulls out of my grasp. I lower my gaze just in time to see her drop promptly to her bottom, her hands going to the muddy heel of one welly...
‘Bella Rose, don’t even think about it...’
* * *
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