Because of Callum, and to be absolutely sure, we ran a paternity test on Sadie.
Sheismine.
She’s my daughter.
Not that it would matter to me if she weren’t mine biologically, but I don’t want to take any chances. That asshole will never threaten or harass Darcy or Sadie again.
And after a sonogram two weeks ago, it was confirmed… Darcy is indeed pregnant. There’s no doubt that this babyismine, too.
I went to Ireland to find a wife for my best friend and came home with a family of my own. It was a tough conversation to have with Kieran, how I betrayed him. He doesn’t let a lot of people see into his soul. The man he was before he became king. The man I considered my best friend.
But in those moments, he was that guy again, and he forgave me. He hasn’t forgotten the sacrifice I made to protect him the night soon after Norah’s funeral. I saw the guilt in his eyes, how we all thought I lost the ability to father a child while on an op for him. I saved Kieran’s life, and now, in exchange, he offered his happiness that I have a woman I adore, a wee one, and another on the way.
We buy a doll who matches Sadie’s features. Darcy distracts Sadie while opening the package, and I buy an infant doll for when we tell Sadie the double dose of good news: I’m her da, and she has a sibling on the way. Triple, if I also tell her we’ve signed her up for dance lessons in a couple of weeks.
With the baby doll tucked into my jacket, I meet up with Darcy, and we’re brought to a table with real tea and real pastries along with a child’s play set for the doll. The table is set like we’re having English Breakfast tea and biscuits in Buckingham Palace, with a thick jacquard tablecloth which allows me to sneak the baby doll onto the seat next to me. I toss my suit jacket over it just in case.
This is a guided tea with an announcer in front of the room, like we can’t manage to eat and drink ourselves. It’s a good show, and Sadie laughs so hard, her face turns red.
Finally, it’s my moment. I’ve already proposed to Darcy. That was a given. Her ring is tucked into the Prada purse I bought for her last week. Along with a brand-new wardrobe for her growing belly where we had sex in the dressing room. Apparently, the pregnancy hormones have made her ravenous for my cock. I’m so in love with her, I can’t keep my hands off her.
I should probably check to see if this place has a membership plan because I’m guessing we’ll be bringing all our wee ones here to tell them we’re adding to our family. Now that I know I can father children, I doubt we’re stopping at two.
Darcy is signed up for surgical nursing classes. For now, she takes care of Da while we assess what’s best for him. I have no idea how we’ll balance it all when she goes back to school, but families figure stuff out as they go. I have a feeling Ma will insist on looking after Sadie and the new baby. Da will eventually get a full-time nurse to help him with his daily needs.
When it gets quiet in that tearoom, Darcy taps my knee. I squeeze her hand under the table and say, “Sadie, I’ve got something I need to tell you. Come here, sweetheart.”
She slides off the chair and sits on my lap. “Do you need more cookies? I’ll give you some of mine.”
I kiss her forehead. “No. I don’t need more cookies. I know this is hard for you to understand, but your mum and I went to the doctor, and we found out some things.”
“Oh, yeah?” She pushes on her glasses. “Like what? Are you sick?”
Lovesick, yes.
“No. Not at all. Do you know how your pop pop home in Waterford is your mum’s father?” We’re not telling her about the adoption part yet.
“Ma has a daddy, but I don’t.” Her voice turns surprisingly sad.
I look at Darcy, realizing I never asked her what she told Sadie about her father, if anything.
Darcy kisses the top of Sadie’s head. “I said that all families are different. Some have a mum and a daddy, some only a mum. In our case, it was a mum, a pop pop, and a maimeó, plus your silly uncle.”
“Uncle James is silly,” Sadie giggles.
“Sadie, sometimes families grow.” I keep going. “How would you like it ifIwere your daddy?” I brace for the reaction.
She blinks and then stares at her mum.
“Sadie?” Darcy’s voice gets low.
With her adorable face scrunched, Sadie asks, “For how long?”
“Forever,” I say, simply shrugging, because this is for forever.
“Oh, good.” She dives into my arms, whimpering.
I pull Darcy into our hug, and Sadie’s tiny arm clutches her mother.