Chapter 15 #2
"Thinking of motherhood?" Lifting the baby up, Kiara cradled her, inhaling the baby powder and nuzzling the soft skin. Oscar had taken their son out for a drive along the countryside, declaring that it was time to do some guy bonding.
"If you take him to the pub, we're going to have some serious words." She warned before he left.
"How little you think of me." He had tried to look offended but had not been able to pull it off.
"I think so." A shy smile curved her lips as she thought of Eric. The man had been right there in front of her, and she never really noticed him. Now he was the focal point of her life. She was happy, well and truly happy.
He was big and strong and completely protective of her.
"He asked me to marry him."
Lifting her daughter to her shoulder, Kiara turned to give her friend a one arm embrace. "That's wonderful."
"I haven't said yes yet."
"Why the hell not?"
Moving around the large airy room restlessly, picking up a giant stuffed elephant she had gifted her goddaughter with, she held it against her.
"He wants children."
"Well, of course he does." Rubbing her baby's back, she smiled in satisfaction when she burped. "Back to bed for you, sweetheart." Placing her inside the cot, Kiara rubbed a hand over her belly and smiled when the lashes drifted closed.
"She's such a sweet and uncomplicated child. Quite the opposite of her brother." Pulling the blanket over her, she turned to face her friend. Realizing she had spoken without thinking, Kiara closed her eyes in dismay.
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry." Taking her friend's hand, she led the way from the nursery and wove her way towards the neat as a pin sitting room where the fire was blazing cheerfully inside the hearth. March had stormed in, dumping several inches of snow and leaving the evidence clinging to trees.
"You haven't told him."
Irene had already brought in a tray of refreshment, the hot chocolate and an enticing scent that filled the room. Pouring the liquid into two cups, Kiara handed one to her friend.
"I never thought it would get serious this quickly." Blowing away the steam, Deborah took a tentative sip and then another. "I never thought I would fall in love again. Not after what Ben did to me."
"There are doctors that can do wonders. Why don't you let me call Jane and ask if she could suggest someone?"
"I don't want to get my hopes up." She protested, even though the nugget of hope was already curling inside her.
"Honey, what is life without hope?" Kiara chided. "If you'd asked me two years or so ago if I would be married and a mother of twins, I would have asked if you lost your fricking mind." She laughed softly.
"Now my life is complete. At least try. Explore your options before you close the door and tell Eric. He's a very understanding man and he loves you."
Kiara caught a glimpse of her mother as she hovered just inside the doorway of the nursery.
"I'm just putting Sean down for a nap." She whispered, rubbing her hand over the boy's sparse dark hair. "He's been fighting it for two hours." A gentle smile touched her lips. Pressing a kiss to the pulse beating at his delicate temple, she held him for a minute and just inhaled his scent.
"His father took him to the pub to show him off." Shaking her head, she laid him on his back on the blue cotton pillow with his initials. Sean Derek Padric. He had been named after his two grandfathers.
She had to honor her father and there was no way she could leave Padric out of it.
Siobhan Maeve was fast asleep, one hand curled into a tight fist at the side of her head. Long lashes made shadows on her creamy complexion.
"I never dreamed I could love so much. Or feel so protective." Pulling the sheets over them, she stepped back and just stood there staring at her babies. "I would kill for them." She laughed breathlessly.
"Oscar is pretty certain that no man will ever be good enough for his princess." She stood beside the silent woman and continued. "I feel the same way about Sean."
"Your father would have loved them to pieces."
Kiara glanced at her in surprise and felt the pain of his loss as keen as a sharp sword inside her heart.
"Yes, he would have. Oscar and I took them to his graveside."
This time it was Victoria who portrayed her surprise. "Wasn't that a little inappropriate?"
Kiara's eyes flashed a warning. Stepping out of the room, she half closed the door. Leading the way to the sitting room, she turned to face her mother.
"You never once go to visit his grave. Did you hate him that much?"
Her mother's mouth tightened. Clasping her hands in front of her, she stared into the hypnotic flames dancing in the hearth. It was humbling to realize that she had been wrong all her life and how much she had missed out on.
She had looked on with envy the way her daughter was with her in-laws. Maeve hugged her frequently and they got along very well. It was comfortable between them.
Now she found herself in the middle of a struggle. She loved for the first time. Her first sight of those beautiful babies had cracked the wall she put over her heart. She would do anything to be close to them.
"You think I'm a monster." She remarked quietly. "I see no reason to visit the dead. How will they know and appreciate the effort?"
Anger simmered inside her and had Kiara wheeling towards the hearth. Her husband had given her carte blanche to make changes, and she had made cosmetic ones. A still life here and there, a piece of sculpture she had picked up in Kinsale.
Indian rugs on the teak wood floors. And of course, the nursery which had been her masterpiece. Eventually, she would be moving her daughter out and into her own room, but for now, they were keeping the twins together.
"I will be making it a regular habit to go and visit his grave and taking my babies with me. As they're growing, they will hear what a great man their grandfather was. How sweet, kind, and generous. If you have a problem with that, then I really don't care."
Her mother's shoulders stiffened. "I did not come here to argue."
"Then why did you come?"
"To see my grandbabies. I know you hate me."
"Hate you!" Kiara's tapered brows rose sharply. "There were times growing up when I wanted to. Do you have any idea what damage you did? How many times I wanted to just run away and lose myself? Countless."
"I did everything to try to get you to just love me, but you were so wrapped up in your bitterness and anger, you didn't see me." She blew out a breath and with it her own anger.
"But it doesn't matter as much. Ever since I met Oscar, and then his family, I finally know what it is to love and be loved in return." Her smile came. "I told myself that I would never allow myself to fall for a man or have children, but he changed all of it." She shook her head.
"I would never keep your grandchildren away from you, Mama. You're free to be with them whenever you want. I can see that for the first time in your life, you really love someone. I'm happy it's not too late for you."
She looked up as her husband walked into the room and went straight into his arms.
"Everything all right?" His winter green eyes went to Victoria as he gave her a hard glance before shifting to his wife.
With a pang, she noticed the change in expression, the softened features, the incredible tenderness and the protective demeanor. She had had that once, with Derek. He had loved her and she had pushed him away, constantly.
"You did not have to rush to her rescue." Her voice lacked the sting it usually had and sounded cracked and weary. "She's my daughter."
"One you've hurt constantly. So, yes, I will always come to her rescue."
"Baby, it's fine." Kiara placed a hand on his chest, a beatific smile on her exquisite face. "I was just telling my mother that you changed my life for the better. And that we have no objections to her seeing the babies."
Oscar skimmed a finger over her bottom lip and all the love he had for her just poured out. "None whatsoever." He looked over at his mother in law, his expression cool. "You're family."
"Thank you. I think I'll just go and watch them sleep for a little bit."
"Go right ahead. I need some time with this husband of mine."
They watched as she walked slowly from the room, closing the door behind her.
Taking her hand, Oscar led her into their bedroom.
"I take it she's spending the night?"
"It's nasty out, so yes. You don't mind?"
"Not if you don't." Tugging her down onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed both her cheeks. "You're smiling." He eased back to study her face and felt the familiar jolt at how beautiful she was.
"I'm happy." Skimming her fingers through his thick unruly hair, she trailed them down his cheek. "And I feel sorry for her. I saw the look of regret on her face, but dammit to hell and back, it's too late."
"Daddy loved her and she would have been happy, but she didn't allow herself to be." Leaning forward, she brushed her lips over his, closing her eyes at the sharp intake of breath from him.
"I meant what I said." His voice had thickened. They had decided that the twins were enough and made the necessary arrangements to see to it that it remained that way for now.
"I will protect you with my life. You and my two children are my entire world, and nothing will change that."
"Aren't I the most fortunate woman in the world?" She wondered huskily. "Make love to me, darling. Right here, right now."
It was just what he wanted to hear.
The end…