Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“I love you too. Surprisingly, I’m excited about the baby.” I’m smiling so hard my face hurts. As I look around at all the other smiling faces, I know this is going to be all right.
The bride, Carmen, looks like she’s having the time of her life dancing with Joe Black, her father-in-law. Ryan grabs his grandmother and tries to help her out a bit as Ciara walks over to Cass and begins to dance with her. A face-splitting smile comes to my lips.
That girl holds a special place in my heart. I took to Ciara from the first time I crossed paths with the little thing. She’s full of fire and reminds me so much of myself at her age.
She and her cousin have grown on me and are two I consider friends. I’ve gained a lot of those over the last few years, along with family. Don’t get me wrong, there’re still levels to this, but the people in this ballroom have proven they would give their lives to have my back.
If not for Ciara and Dylan, I wouldn’t have been able to pull off my disappearing act. Not with my husband. This isn’t my first trip to Scotland.
I came here after going to Ireland to my in-laws in the beginning. It didn’t take long to realize my mother-in-law was going to sell me out. I only went to Ibiza because I didn’t want to drag everyone into my mess.
Logan didn’t like the idea of them hiding me out while pregnant with Ronan’s baby. Seeing how pissed he was, I took off on my own. I might not have been under his roof, but don’t shit move here without Logan O’Brien knowing and having a say.
I learned that fast. Once I was gone, I wouldn’t tell anyone where I was so that if Ronan asked, they wouldn’t have to lie. I’m grateful to everyone for not trying to stick their noses in my business for as long as they did.
Logan looks over at me as sweat drips down his face while he dances behind his woman on the dance floor. He gives me a smug smile and winks. I shake my head, laugh, and wink back.
“There ya are. It’s good to see ya. It’s even better to see ye together,” Laoise says with a huge smile on her face.
She quickly pulls me into a hug. I squeeze her back as if I hadn’t seen her three months ago. We both rock from side to side.
“Don’t give him too much hell, love. He be missing ya.”
“You don’t have to worry. I’m going home with him after the wedding. We need to see a doctor to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl,” I whisper back.
She releases me and begins to scream. The joy on her face makes my heart ache. She looks between me and Ronan with tears in her eyes.
“Ya will come to spend time with yer oul grand at least twice a year, ya will. I’ll spoil ya rotten and send ya back home,” she coos to my stomach.
I can’t help but laugh as she palms my still flat belly as she talks to it. Her excitement is infectious. Ronan cups my chin as he stands behind me and tilts my head back so he can kiss my lips. I smile up at him as he breaks the kiss.
Laoise clears her throat. Then she looks up at me and narrows her eyes. I bite my lip and wait for what’s going to come out of her mouth next. I know it’s going to be something only Laoise McGowan can get away with.
“Ya better not be lying to me, lass. I’ll batter ya and that melter grinning at ya like a fool.” Her face lights up again. “Ya did it, ya big overgrown brat. Ya knocked her up. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I didn’t damage your wee prick when I used to batter yer wee arse.
“The way ya and Cass used to jump around and run from me strap, I thought I might have peeled ya. Four damn years. Took ya long enough.
“Ach, I knew ya were the one. I knew it. Never seen me boy so happy in his life. They won’t have to carve Failed Mum on me gravestone, they won’t.
“Me boy’s having a babe of his own. They’re going to be a cute little thing too, they will. So it is,” my mother-in-law sings out for everyone to hear.
Dylan
The excitement is starting to die down after Uncle Ronan and Aunt Danny’s announcement. I couldn’t be happier for them.
My heart swells as my gaze lands on Uncle Ronan dancing with his wife. I’m happy to see them together. Uncle Ronan deserves to be happy.
The grand ballroom has been transformed into a majestic backdrop for Ryan’s wedding. This has been a beautiful reception. Ryan outdid himself.