“Get some sleep okay? I’m not going to work tomorrow.”
“Okay! Love ya.” He still wouldn’t look up from the covers.
“Love ya more,” I said softly, moving toward Dona and Wyatt’s room. When I saw her rubbing her nose with one hand and gripping tightly on to that silly elephant, I took a deep breath once again, fixing her blanket.
“Mommy?”
“Wyatt?” I turned back and he was staring at me, smiling even though it looked like he wanted to cry. “Why are you still awake?”
“I was waiting for you.” He patted the side of his bed.
Lying down beside him, I touched the mark on his upper lip. “What happened?”
He didn’t answer, just covered his mouth behind his hand.
“Wyatt?”
“Does Daddy hate me?”
“What?” Of all the things I’d imagined him ever asking me that had never even crossed my mind. “Wyatt, baby, how can you ever think that?”
He shrugged. “I’m not like Ethan. Everybody talks about Ethan. At school, at home, even when we help on Sundays. He’s smart and the teachers want to move him up a grade. He and Daddy go out all the time. Every time something happens, he always does the things Daddy would want him to do. He just knows. All the Irish people say he’s just like Daddy was as a kid. Even Uncle Neal and Uncle Declan say it. I can’t do anything right. I try and try but…I’m no good, Mommy.”
I heard the door squeak and instinctively turned. I saw Liam; he didn’t enter, just opened the door no more than a creak. He stood there frozen, his head down, and I knew he’d heard him.
“Make me better, Mommy,” Wyatt whispered, touching my cheek, not at all noticing his father.
“What?”
“Aunt Cora and Uncle Declan always say you are super strong. I saw you fight Fedel, and you won—”
“And what will you do when you know how to fight, Wyatt?” He frowned, not sure what I meant, so I asked again. “Who do you want to fight against, Wyatt? Your brother?”
“No…I don’t know,” he answered honestly; he was always honest with me.
Brushing the side of his face, I leaned in and kissed his head. “Of course, we will train together, but remember you are perfect to me. You aren’t just Daddy’s son, you are mine, and I’m head over heels in love with you.”
“I know. I love you too, Mommy.” He smiled, poking my upper lip.
“Good. Me, you, and Dona will train, then you will learn who we’re fighting against, okay?”
He nodded.
“Good, now go to bed.”
Getting up out of the bed, I tucked him back in and kissed his forehead before going to our room.
Liam sat on the edge of our bed trying to undo his cuff links, but he was so annoyed he couldn’t do it without tugging at his sleeves.
“I bought you that shirt,” I said, standing in front of him and gripping his hair. “I would prefer if you didn’t destroy it.”
“How could he possibly think that?!” he hollered, looking up to me. His eyebrows were tensed and worst of all, he was hurt. “I love him just as much as I love Ethan. I’ve never once compared them. Ever. I take Ethan out because he’s older, not because I love him more. I look forw
ard to the time when they are old enough to come out together—”
“Liam.” I tugged on his hair once again, forcing him still. “Breathe for me.”
Cracking his jaw to the right, he did what I asked, resting his forehead on my stomach when I loosened my grip.