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Broken, aching, I stare down at her grave. My love for her has never faded, not one ounce. “Thank you, thank you for loving her. She deserved it.”
“As do you. I’m glad to see you married him. He’s a fine man.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I see my strong, handsome mate standing watch over me like he’s always done. “He’s an excellent husband.”
Riordan glances down at my heavily pregnant belly that’s holding my dress out like a tent. “When are you two expecting the little one?”
With a smile that I know is glowing, I reply, “Two months.”
There’s a wistful shadow darkening his eyes, “Aye, such a magical time. I remember your mother like that.”
“Do you have other kids?”
He lifts his head and looks off into the distance, letting his pain work though him. The knob on his throat works for a few seconds. “No. I never loved anyone after your mother was taken from me by that bastard.” His voice has grown rough and tight by the time he finishes.
After breathing heavily for a minute, he says, “We were this close to getting you and her out, but your father killed her before I could do it.”
Splinters of my heart stab through me and spill onto the ground. I don’t hesitate, I wrap my arms around him and hold him so tight, as if I could take the pain away.
We stand like that for a long time. If anyone’s arms feel like home other than Kieran’s, somehow it’s this stranger’s that make me feel that way.
Finally, I work up the nerve to ask, “Would you like to spend some time together... you know, get to know each other?”
Cupping my shoulders, he looks down at me. The lines of his face are now softer. His eyes show the awe he is feeling. “Of course, I would. I’m your father.”
Through my pouring tears, I grab his hand. “Can you come with us now, back to our place? There’s someone I’d like for you to meet.”
In twenty minutes, both of our cars are pulling through our gate.
I’m nervous, thrilled, and shining with a new kind of love in my heart.
Finn is Finn as I expected. He’s always bounding toward the main house when he hears Kieran’s car. He’s now living both places, weekends at the big house, weeknights at Nikki and Marcus’s.
He’s been incredibly adaptable. Probably because Kieran and Finn have a thing going on. Rides around the neighborhood or to get something from the store, or just to sit in the car, listen to music, and talk about boy stuff. Kieran also has driving to practice duty now.
I love it. Every freaking time, my heart grows a little bigger. Soon, it will match my gigantic belly.
This time, Finn dashes through the open patio door into the living room with a skinned knee and a wicked grin on his face. “Dad-K!” He singsongs his new nickname for Kieran.
Beside me, Kieran opens his arms, and Finn grabs him around the waist. He’s getting taller so quickly, but he’s still so small against my husband’s burly size. We’re both so curious to see if Finn will catch up.
Nearly bouncing with excitement, Finn says, “I’ve got to show you this frog out by the pool...”
Gently, Kieran says, “Alright, in a bit. There’s someone we want you to meet.”
I wave my hand, inviting my father forward. “This is Finn, our son. Which also makes him your grandson.”
Riordan scrubs a hand over his short-cropped hair and laughs softly. “I never... How did I not know this?”
“It’s a long story,” I say. “We’ll tell you over dinner sometime.”
Finn’s watching all of us like the little hawk that he is. With an expression far beyond his age, he extends his hand. “Hello, I’m Finn.”
“I’m Riordan Shea. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Finn glances from my father’s face to mine and back. He tilts his head. “He has your eyes.”
Proudly, I hook my arm around my father's arm and say, “Yes.Yes,he does.”
