“I remember the moment I realized I was falling in love with you, Ava.” At the sincerity of his deep voice, I lift my eyes to his. Waves crash into the dock beneath us, and my heart slams against my chest. “I was desperately missing a piece of me.Shite, I knew I was missing a wholefeckinghunk. Half insane . . . I’m gonna marry you one day, little bird.”
I remove my hands from beneath his, no longer touching the pulse of life we created. Wrenching my fingers together, I cork a half-smile. “Hmmm, you had me captivated by every single word, then you lost me.”
“Bullshite.I’ll never let you go.On our flight to Boston, I told you as much.”
“Maybe I’ll marry you someday . . . Let’s get back to your clan.” I start past him.
Kieran encircles me with his arms, pushing back. Using the side wood railing, he boxes me in. “The thought of marriage scares you?”
Pulling in a heavy inhale, I crush my breasts against his chest. “I’m less afraid of a poltergeist. Nevertheless, I’m so consumed by you to the point that there’s a spark in my soul I thought I lost years ago. You make me brave, Kier.”
Capturing my mouth, Kieran pours all his emotion into the kiss. I’d have to be plum crazy not to count my blessings. Out of oxygen, I break our kiss. Our bodies press against each other, as much as my swollen stomach will allow, and our foreheads touch. I think of Arika. I will always love her. She will always be in my heart. Would she be okay with me opening my heart more? As the thought passes through my mind, a flower drifts, landing in the small space between us, coming to rest on my belly. Our little girl does somersaults. The day at the Botanical Garden at the Huntington jumps to the forefront of my mind. “Mommy. Flowwweeerrrr.”
Kieran and I stare at the flower. He looks confused, but I know it’s a sign. Heart full, I blurt, “I’d officially like to meet . . . baby Camryn and Leith Junior.”
A few beats pass, then a steady smile forms on Kieran’s face. “The bairns?”
The other day, I gave him a tour of my hometown, and I could hardly glance in aweans’direction.
“That’s what I said, Kieran.” Although adding a defiant chord to my tone, I feel the glow Willow mentioned earlier. I clasp the last beam of rapture I felt was unattainable before.Thank you, Arika. I love you.
“First things first.” Kieran takes me in his arms, and I gasp as he launches us over the end of the dock. The warm water bubbles and softly churns around us.
As we resurface, Nan shouts, “She’s pregnant, you numpty bampot!”
Half of Clan Mackenzie jumps into the water, wearing their clothes, shoes included. A silly grin slides onto my lips. Elation swells through my entire spirit.
Pressing his mouth to mine, Kieran says, “Remember that time—”
I cuddle close to him, enjoying the pull of the sea. “Oh, shut up. You could’ve killed us in Ireland,pendejo. Be glad that I can’t wait to have your baby, Kier.”