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Niall didn’t even care, he just said, “No, I’m Father, not Daddy,” and that statement killed me inside. I knew Niall was going to be hard on Aiden, but not even letting your one-year-old son call you Daddy? Well, I thought was despicable.
A year later when Aiden was two, Callie told me she was pregnant. I had no idea how to take that little piece of news. I knew this baby wasn’t mine because we hadn’t even kissed let alone slept together, so it made me painfully aware that she was sleeping with Niall. I don’t know why I was surprised. She was, after all, married to the cretin.
Aiden would have a sibling, and it wouldn’t be mine.
I didn’t handle it well.
I avoided Callie for most of her pregnancy.
I know that was really unforgivable of me, but again, I was hurting. I thought she’d only ever want children with me, but I guess that was impossible seeing as she is so fucking stubborn and wouldn’t divorce the ignorant asshole.
Killian was born, and he was a sweet kid. Much to my amazement, I learned to love him but never with the same emotions as I felt for my own son. Aiden got along with his half-brother really well. They were the best of friends, and in a way, it made me happy he would have a sibling to play with.
Two years later, Brielle was born, and it brought up all those emotions all over again. I didn’t resent Killian and Brielle, I was simply sad that they could’ve been mine and Callie’s, not Niall’s. I felt like I was cheated out of a life where it would have been perfect.
It wasn’t until Aiden was getting close to school age that I offered to be the one to drive Aiden to school and wherever else needed. Niall hired a new chauffeur, and I was assigned Aiden. Callie would look after Killian and Brielle, and I’d pretty much be responsible for Aiden. Which was incredible news.
I knew Niall didn’t like how Aiden would always run to me first, but secretly it made me ecstatic.
The years passed, and Aiden grew into an amazing and wonderfully strong man.
He really was my pride and joy, and I loved him more every second of every day.
I know that’s soppy, but it’s true.
I love my son and his mother, and I guess that brings me back to where I am…
NOW
… standing in old-man Harris’ barn waiting for Callie and the kids to arrive. Aiden knows my plan, but Jeni, Killian, Brielle, Logan, and Daniel have no idea. I’ve decorated the barn with tiny electric-lit lanterns which are hanging from the rafters. The Harris’ barn hasn’t been in use for years, but I brought everything to make it look exactly the same as it did when Callie and I used to come here all those years ago. There’s a haystack, and I even bought some baby chicks to run around on the floor and got the okay from Aiden to keep them at the guesthouse after tonight. I made a coop for them this afternoon while Callie was out with Jeni and Brielle.
I’m so nervous. I can’t believe after all these years, and after everything we’ve been through, that I’m finally asking Callie to marry me.
I straighten my tie and make sure everything is in place and ready to go. I’ve even set up the backyard like the dinner-dance we went to, so after I propose, we can all have dinner and do some dancing.
Just me and my family.
I hear the car pull up, and my heart’s thudding ferociously in my chest. I’m sweating, and I hold my hand out in front of me to see that I’m shaking.
Hold it together, man!
Everyone is talking and laughing outside, but I can’t hear what they’re saying over this persistent ringing in my ears.
The barn door creeps open.
Holy crap!
I freeze to the spot.
“Seriously, Aiden, what are we doing here? And how do you know about this place?” Callie asks. Her voice, as always, is angelic to my ears. I never get tired of hearing her speak.
“Mom, c’mon, just go inside. There’s a surprise for you,” Aiden tells her as the door creeps open a little more.
I pick up the bunch of flowers from the hay bale and wait for Callie to enter. I seriously don’t know if I want to scream with joy or just throw up, my nerves are shot to pieces.
The door opens fully and Callie walks in. She looks up and notices the lanterns first, and she smiles. The baby chickens run under her feet, and she laughs as she looks down at them and picks one up. She walks in a little further, and all the kids step in behind her. Callie’s really a sight to behold. Even though it’s been years since we first met, she’s still as beautiful today as she was then. She laughs at the little chick in her hand and walks in noticing me.
She smiles and bites her lip.
