Chapter 19 Liam
Chapter nineteen
Liam
Ah shite. I think I’ve broken her again. What the hell is wrong with me? How do I keep breaking this incredible woman?
One second we were looking at each other like we were all those months ago, seconds away from ripping each other’s clothes off and now she’s choking out small sobs. I’m pretty sure she’s trying to smother them with her hand, acting like she’s not crying and I’m at a loss for what to do.
‘Are you alright, princess?’ I cautiously ask, scared I might cause even more harm.
‘It’s just so sad.’ She wails, startling me.
I’ve definitely broken her.
Ruaridh’s going to kill me once he finds out.
This is the first time she has actively sought me out since moving into the stadium and I’ve spent most of that time distracting myself from barging through her bedroom door, picking her up and moving her and the baby she is growing in with me.
So how the fuck have I managed to upset her — upset doesn't even sound like an accurate enough account of how devastated her sobs sound — in the matter of five minutes?
‘Hey, hey. Don’t cry, baby.’ Turning her to try and get a look at her tear-filled emerald green eyes, ‘They’re happy as larry.’
Isla sniffles, looking back at the cooing pigeons, some of whom are building their nests.
‘See, they’re little fighters.’
That doesn’t do much to settle her down, somehow it gives her a new wave of sadness, her sobs getting stuck in her throat as she tries to speak.
‘They are just … so… cute,’ Isla sobs, tears streaming down her face. ‘They don’t deserve not to be loved.’
‘Princess,’ I gather her into my arms. ‘They are incredibly loved.’
Her tears soak into my shirt, but I don’t mind, I just want to hold her, checking she is alright. Soothing the back of her hair as her crying eases.
‘You promise?’
‘I promise, baby.’
She buries her face further into my chest.
‘I can show you if you like?’
Isla peeks up at me from beneath her waterlogged lashes. God she’s so beautiful, her green watery eyes are like the reflection of a freshly bloomed forest.
‘Show me?’ She asks curiously.
I gently guide her in front of me, her back nestling perfectly in my chest as we slowly approach the flock.
There are only a few of the birds here now, some of them having wandered off, taking whatever supplies I had left for them to their respective nesting spots.
They’ve come so far since we moved into the stadium, and the pride I feel seeing them thrive every day is immense.
‘Why don’t you sit just there,’ I point at the blanketed area. ‘And I’ll introduce you to Hilda.’
Isla perches on the blanket, not the least bit phased by the mess around her. We try to keep the place clean, but they are animals after all.
‘Hilda?’
Reaching over, I offer my palm for her to climb onto. ‘C’mon girl, there you go.’
Hilda instantly hops onto my pointer finger, not needing a second longer. Her wings flap, giving the perfect shot of her blue chest and grey wings.
‘She can be quite boisterous but when you take the time to show her you’re not a threat, she is very affectionate.’
I scratch her head gently and she nestles into me in return.
Isla sits watching Hilda as she makes herself comfortable in the palm of my hand.
‘Why’d you call her Hilda?’
‘Did you ever learn much about the Vikings?’
I was waiting to see if she recognised the name. It’s hit-or-miss whether people were anywhere near as interested in them as I was as a kid.
Isla hesitantly shakes her head.
‘I remember a story about a woman called Hilda. She was fierce and brilliant in battle, nothing scared her.’ I smile down at the affectionate girl perched on my finger. ‘Exactly like this sassy lady right here.’
Isla watches us and I can practically see her mind working overtime. Lacing my hand gently around hers, I guide her over, silently encouraging her to get closer. She complies, her fingers gently hovering over Hilda’s head.
‘She has quite the personality, which seems to have scared off a lot of potential partners for the lass.’
Isla gasps, pulling her hand back to her heart as her watery eyes take in the resting pigeon in my hand.
‘That’s awful.’ Her voice takes on that waterlogged sound to it again, and my chest constricts.
A tear falls and I quickly pull her into my side to comfort her.
‘Hey, there's no need to be sad.’ I whisper, ‘Trust me, princess. She didn’t want any of them anyway. She deserves the right partner, one to match her energy. Don’t you think?’
Isla sniffles, wiping her cheek. ‘I guess.’
Hilda nudges my palm as if she’s agreeing and Isla giggles softly at the movement. But her slight change in mood doesn’t appease me. This is the second time she has gotten upset since being here.
‘What's troubling you, princess?’ I tuck a strand of black hair from her eyes.
‘I… I don’t know.’ Her watery smile doesn’t meet her soft eyes. ‘I guess I’m feeling all…’ She shrugs. ‘Thank you for all of the stuff. I should have come to talk sooner.’
‘Well baby, I’m always here for a shoulder to cry on when you need it. And anything else you need me to be okay?’
She nods, resting her head against my chest as I hold her.
Isla never needs to thank me. I am doing the bare minimum in this situation.
She is the one I should be thanking but I’m not quite sure how she’d take a big speech about how grateful I am that she is growing my child so I decide on silently being there for her instead.
And as she finally finds the courage to stroke a sleeping Hilda, I hear her whisper, ‘Okay.’