Chapter25
“I’m so sorry about this,” Carolina said as tears slid down her cheeks. The roar of the chopper engine made it hard to hear her. “I’ve made such a mess of everything.”
“Stop that, love.” Seamus brushed away her tears. “We’ll fix you up, and you’ll be back to bossing us all around in no time.”
“The boys are so upset. This is the last thing they needed right when they seem to be doing much better.”
“They’ll be fine. They’re resilient lads who’ve endured worse than a broken leg. We’ll get them through it.”
“What if they decide they like their young, cool, tattooed daddy better than us?”
Her comment struck at the heart of one of his greatest insecurities since Jace had appeared on the scene. “Aw, love, don’t go there. They know how much we love them, and they love us, too. The four of us and that mangy dog are a family.” He brushed the hair back from her forehead and kissed her there. “Nothing can change that.”
“I keep thinking how your family is coming later this month for the wedding and how much we need to do. The house is a mess and—”
“Stop. We’ll hire someone to clean and cook. We’ll make it happen.” His cousin Shannon was marrying Victoria Stevens in three weeks, and Caro was right. They did have a lot to do before hosting the wedding in their backyard, not to mention the influx of houseguests. But he’d get it done. Somehow. “Don’t worry about anything. I’m right here with you, and I’ll take care of everything.”
She squeezed the hand he’d wrapped around hers. “Remember when I thought I didn’t need a much younger crazy Irishman in my life?”
“Aye, love,” he said with a grimace and a laugh. “I remember all too well the merry chase you led me on.”
“I was so wrong. I need you more than anything.”
No one in his life had ever been able to reduce him to a puddle of unguarded emotion the way his Carolina could. He blinked back tears as he kissed her. “I need you just as much. That’s what I was trying to tell you all those months I chased you around like a pathetic fool.”
“I’m glad every day that I let you catch me.”
“I thank the Lord for that all the time. I love this life, this family, and most of all, I love my sexy wife.”
She rolled her eyes, and he was relieved to see some of her feistiness reemerging after the shock of her injury. “I’m going to be really sexy for the next few months.”
He flashed a grin. “Don’t worry, love. We can work around a little plaster.”
When he openedhis eyes the next morning, he had no idea where he was for a full ten seconds before the events of the previous night came rushing back to remind him that he needed to get his sons up for school.
I’m getting my sons up for school.
Such a simple thing that meant so much to him because it was the first time he’d ever done it. He refused to allow himself to dwell in the place of shame he’d felt over everything he’d missed with them. Rather, he intended to take Cindy’s advice and be the best friend and role model to them now.
She was right. The only control he had was over the present, and he planned to make that count.
He went to wake the boys and stopped short at the sight of them asleep with the early-morning light sneaking in through the closed blinds. Good God, they were so cute and innocent and perfect, everything he and his brother had once been before it all went so bad. If he ever saw them heading in the wrong direction, he’d throw himself in front of that with everything he had.
He went to Jackson first, giving his shoulder a gentle shake. “Hey, buddy, time to wake up.”
The little guy groaned and buried his face in the pillow.
Kyle popped up in the other bed. “Is Carolina okay?”
“I haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m going to text Seamus as soon as I get you guys up and moving.” He tickled the back of Jackson’s neck. “Anyone in there?”
“No.”
“Up and at ’em, boys. Seamus said you can get yourselves dressed. Whoever is dressed and ready first gets a surprise.” He had vivid memories of his own mother making a contest out of everything, knowing how competitive he and Jess were with each other. These boys were the same, and the challenge sparked some movement from Jackson.
Jace left them to get dressed and tried to think of something he could use as a reward for the winner that would also benefit the winner’s brother. An after-school treat of the winner’s choice. That’d do it. He was quite pleased with his performance thus far as he located cereal boxes and put them on the table along with a jug of milk.
Then he dashed off a text to Seamus. The boys are asking about Carolina. Any update?