Chapter 4 Anne-Marie
ANNE-MARIE
Three months later
My knees tremble as I sit in the doctor's office. Glancing around I see the waiting room filled with happy couples. I'm nineteen, in my second year of studies, I can't believe this is happening. How could we be so reckless?
The automatic doors slide open with a soft hiss, and my heart stutters as I catch sight of the tall, dark, and handsome man walking towards me.
Hayes. Just the sight of him sets my heart racing, and I can't help but feel giddy and nervous all at once.
I never intended to fall for him, but there's something about him that I couldn't resist. Being with him feels so natural and comfortable.
It's like I'm finally living, truly happy for the first time in my life.
He means everything to me, and I can't imagine my world without him.
"You doing okay, Anna?" His voice pulls me out of my thoughts as he takes a seat beside me.
I nod slowly. "Yeah," I say softly. "How did you know I was here?"
He gives me a look that says it was a silly question. "Baby," he says, using the pet name that makes my heart flutter every time. "I have someone watching over you at all times. Now, why didn't you tell me about your doctor's appointment?"
I shrug, feeling a twinge of guilt in my chest. "I was scared," I admit quietly, averting my eyes to the floor. "I didn't know how you'd react."
"About what?" His voice is gentle yet demanding, and I can feel his heated gaze burning into me. "Are you sick?"
My heart pounds against my chest as I take a deep breath before blurting out the words that have been weighing on me since the moment I found out. "No, I'm not sick...I'm pregnant." The words slip out like word vomit and for a moment I wish I could take them back.
There's a long pause between us as silence fills the room. I desperately wish for him to hold me and tell me everything will be okay.
He reaches for me, intertwining his fingers with mine. “Anna,” he says low. “God, baby, why didn’t you tell me?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t want you to be upset or hate me.”
“Baby,” he says thickly. “That could never happen. I love you, Anna, I fucking love you and this baby is a fucking blessing.”
I turn to him, my eyes wide and filled with tears. “You’re—” I swallow back the sob. “You’re happy?”
His grin makes my knees go weak. “So fucking happy.”
I lean against him, blinking the tears away. God, how the hell did I get so lucky?
“When we’re finished here,” he begins. “We’re going to my parents. It’s time for you to meet the family.”
My body tenses up like a coiled spring. He's been talking about introducing me to his parents for weeks now, but the thought of it has always sent shivers down my spine.
I've been avoiding the topic, knowing deep down that I may never be ready for such a big step.
But today, he seems determined to make it happen.
"If you're sure," I manage to say, my heart racing.
“Positive, they’re going to love you.”
I appreciate his confidence, but in all honesty, I'm not so sure. I am nothing like the Gallaghers - they come from wealth and privilege while I come from a poor family with nothing to offer.
I can sense Hayes's eyes on me, waiting for my response. With a deep breath, I look up at him and manage a small smile. "Okay," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
He presses a kiss to the side of my head. “It’s all going to be okay.”
I really hope he’s right.
* * *
We pull up to the grand mansion, my breath catches in my throat and I feel a wave of anxiety wash over me. The Gallagher estate is even more luxurious than I had imagined. I feel like a fish out of water as we step out of the car, my palms sweaty and heart thudding loudly in my chest.
Hayes squeezes my hand gently, offering me a reassuring smile before leading me towards the front door. He doesn’t knock, just opens the door and pulls me through with him.
I'm still reeling from everything that's happened today, the pregnancy and Hayes' reaction to it and now I'm here, meeting his parents. I feel like I could throw up at any moment.
“Ma, da?” he calls out and I breathe deeply, trying my hardest to push through the anxiety and fear that’s threatening to grip me in a chokehold.
A woman with dark hair walks out, a dish cloth in her hands, a bright smile on her face. “Hayes,” she greets with happiness but that soon dies as she glances at me. “Oh, hello.”
“Hi, Mrs. Gallagher, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Her eyes glance over me, a flicker of distaste passes through her eyes and it takes everything in me not to step backward and hide behind Hayes. “Well I know nothing about you,” she replies through clenched teeth. "Hayes, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing a friend?” she questions.
I swallow back the tears. I knew this would happen, I don’t know why I allowed Hayes to make me feel as though it wouldn’t.
"Ma," Hayes says, the word filled with anger. "Where's da?"
"In his office with Hayden, why don't you go and get him while I bring—" she pauses, her gaze flicking to me. "What's your name?"
"Anne-Marie," I supply.
She purses her lips. "At least you're Irish,” she mutters. “I'll bring Anne-Marie into the dinning room to meet your sister."
I turn to Hayes and see that he's got a dark expression on his face. "Ma," he says, his chest heaving. She waves him off and starts to move toward the room she not long exited. "Baby," he says softly as he pulls me into his embrace. "It'll be okay."
I pull in a deep breath. No matter what, I'm stuck with this family. I'm having Hayes' baby, that means I'm stuck with Cruella-De-Ville as my baby's grandma. "I'm good," I promise him as I straighten my shoulders.
I've dealt with a whole lot worse than Edwina Gallagher.
Hell, I doubt she's got a fucking patch on my own ma.
I'll never, not ever let someone make me feel as though I'm not good enough, to make me feel as though I don't belong in this world.
I've lived through it enough, I won't let it happen again.
Walking into the dinning room, I spot an older woman sitting on a chair, her gaze firmly on me, just like Edwina, her nose turned up as she watches me. I scan the room and see Hayes' younger sister, Jade seated at the table, just like her mam, she's watching me, thankfully not with disdain.
"Hey," she greets, sounding uninterested.
"Hi," I reply warmly. As much as they don't want me here or don't like me, I have manners and I'll use them. Despite my mam being a bitch, she instilled manners in me.
"Sit Anne-Marie," Edwina practically barks at me. "Would you like something to eat?"
I shake my head as I take a seat at the table. "No thank you, Mrs. Gallagher."
"Tea?" she offers.
"If it's not too much trouble, tea would be grand. Thank you."
She humphs and storms away. Thankfully, Hayes enters with his dad and brother on his heels. They, unlike the women in the family, give me a warmer greeting.
I stay quiet letting the family interact, I just pray things get easier. I don’t think I could deal with this shit for the next eighteen years.
***.
“I’m so sorry,” Hayes says as he starts the engine. We're finally out of that hellhole and I'm able to breathe once again. "They're assholes, baby."
"It's okay," I say, my head pounding. I forgot how much it takes out of you having to deal with people who don't like you. "I'm used to it."
His brows practically hit his hairline. "Your family,” he guesses and I nod. “Tell me about them," he says, his voice soft but there's no denying the command.
"My dad was amazing, he did everything he could for us, my mam was another story. She loved Darragh and it showed. I was the scapegoat, anything that went wrong was my fault. I couldn't do anything right, the way I dressed, the way I looked, my weight, it was never good enough for her."
"Who's Darragh?" Hayes asks, his gaze intense as he glances at me.
"My brother," I whisper. "He was my best friend."
"What happened to him?" he questions softly.
"Mam was a bitch, Hayes and it only got worse when dad passed away.
Darragh's best friend got mixed up with the wrong crowd.
A gang that was into a lot of illegal shit.
His best friend killed someone and for some reason, Darragh was the one that got arrested.
We were poor, we couldn't afford an attorney.
His defense was crap, he was sentenced to life without parole.
" I shake my head, willing the tears not to fall.
"He died in prison, was shanked by the rival gang.
He didn't belong to any gang, he just had a really shitty friend. "
"How old were you when he died?"
"Sixteen," I whisper. "Mam only got worse. So the moment I could, I got the hell out of there and moved here."
He reaches for my hand and presses a kiss to it. "I won't let them treat you like that again," he promises me. "No one hurts you."
I close my eyes and pray that things will work out eventually. Hayes is my world and we're having a baby. No matter what happens, as long as we have one another, I think we'll be okay.