Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I didn’t mind closing down for the night for them. Seeing them all together has brought back so many memories. I’ll admit, I’m a little in my feelings to know Ciara doesn’t remember me. It feels like so much of our lives have been stolen from us all because of one evil man.
“Can I help with anything?” Ciara asks nervously.
I look up from the glasses I’m gathering to pour a round for everyone. Kate was helping, but she had to go to the bathroom. Connie has Shauna in her lap as she sits with Dylan, Jamie, and Ciarán.
“I’ve got it, but if ya want to hang around and talk while I fill, yer welcome to,” I say with a smile.
She gives me a relieved smile. I get the feeling she wants to bond, but she’s not sure if I want the same. She’s my little cousin. She might not remember me, but I remember her and blood or not, I’m here for her.
As we fall into a light banter, I pour drinks. I’m also keeping an eye on Cole. He and Logan still have a ton of tension between them.
I hate to see him hurt like this. He did what he thought was right. I get that his moves created a ripple effect, and we probably shouldn’t be together, but Cole has changed my life so much.
My time with Uri and Val gave me something. I have friends and I’ve learned to trust again. None of that would have happened if Cole hadn’t come for me. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
“I’ll take those to the table,” Ciara says once I have one of the trays full.
“Thanks.”
Logan comes over and takes a seat at the bar. I look him in the eyes and purse my lips. He’s forgiven the rest of the family, but he’s still giving Cole a hard time. I don’t think that’s fair.
“You need to forgive him or tell him the truth,” I bite out in a whisper.
“To tell him the truth, I have to forgive him. I still haven’t gotten there,” he grumbles.
“He’s your brother. He loves ya, and clearly, he loves yer daughter. I understand telling him everything is going to hurt him and make him a madman at the same time, but if ya keep this up, yer only driving a wedge between ye. Tell him the truth, Logan.”
“The truth? No one around here knows the truth, only the parts of it they can handle. If ya give a child a toy they can’t hold up, they collapse under the weight of it. I’m protecting him more than ya know.”
“Are ya saying I still don’t have the whole truth?”
He grabs a mug and winks at me. “Aye.”
With that, he turns and walks away. Frustrated, I return to my task of filling beer mugs. Now I’m angry because he’s withholding information from me.
I don’t realize I’m slamming things around until Cole comes over with a concerned look on his face. My face heats with embarrassment. He crowds my space and cups my cheek.
“Are ya all right?”
“I’m fine,” I say softly and bury my face in his chest.
He wraps me in his embrace, and I melt into him. Just as I relax, my phone rings. I pull away and look up at Cole with my brows furrowed.
I’m not expecting any calls. Val and Uri are helping Sam out with his kids. Val and I spoke earlier and she said we’d talk in the morning.
Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I see it’s a call from Scotland. My breath catches in my throat. I shake my head, not wanting to answer this call.
I already know what’s coming. It’s like a stone settles in the pit of my belly. I suddenly can’t breathe.
Tears are running down my cheeks, and I haven’t even answered the call. I feel so sick. Cole pries the phone from my hand and answers for me.
“Hello.” His deep voice rambles.
It should comfort me, but I can’t find any comfort in the sound right now. I cover my mouth as my stomach turns. It feels like I’m in a box with no air.
“Aye, Ken, it’s Cole. She’s standing right here with me. What about ye?”
I look up into his face as sadness covers it and he closes his eyes, nodding as if Uncle Ken can see him. Grabbing me by the back of the head, he pulls me into him.
I can’t help the sob that rips from my throat. Gran is gone. I’ve lost my great-grandmother.
“No,” I cry into Cole’s belly as I double over in pain, clinging to the back of his shirt.
It is one thing to know this day was coming and another for it to be here. I will miss her dearly. We just spoke this morning.
I thought she sounded great. She joked a bit and made me promise to come to Scotland to bring her flowers, which I thought was odd at the time. Now I get that she was saying goodbye.