“I sure hope we didn’t wake you, Byrne,” David said. I stood up, walked toward Declan’s bed and plopped down onto it. Colin smiled at me, and I kissed his lips.
“Maybe I should’ve slept on the couch,” he whispered, and I frowned. “I shouldn’t have slept in your brother’s bed. I didn’t mean to take his place. I understand it must be tough for you guys.”
I shook my head and hugged him, rubbing his back with both of my hands.
“You’re part of the family now.” David had come closer to us and was standing next to the bed, facing us both. “You’ve filled the void he left, and it’s so much better to see someone sleeping in his bed instead of waking up to it empty. It reminds me that life goes on, in spite of it all.”
His voice cracked and I knew that the last thing he wanted was to be seen crying, especially by another man.
“Okay, time for breakfast now. Aren’t you two starving? Because I am.” I stood up and rubbed my belly, in a dramatic way. David smiled in thanks at my diversion.
“Race you to the kitchen!” David shouted, and shot out of the room before I’d even stood up from the bed. Colin chuckled, and I shook my head, letting out a sigh, though I was smiling.
Chapter 46
Colin
March 16
The new year had started off with a bang for both Kathleen and me. I had applied for a job in Sligo General Hospital a little after Halloween, ever since Kathleen had mentioned she’d love to move to Rosses Point if I wanted it too, and I’d received a phone call in February. I would be starting at the beginning of April, which would leave just enough time for us to move all of our stuff up to Gran’s while we started looking for a house.
I’d briefly stopped in my tracks when they’d given me the news, wondering if this might be rushing things—moving in with Gran and looking for a house of our own, especially since I hadn’t yet asked Kathleen to marry me. Even though she hardly ever slept at her house anymore, she hadn’t actually moved in with me. When I went to work in the morning she’d go back to her house, spend time with her friend, work on her manuscript and come back in time for dinner. We both knew she still had her own place to retreat to in case she wanted to get away from us for a while if we had an argument or something—although we hadn’t had any, so far. However, moving in with Gran and looking for a house where we’d be living were important steps in our relationship, something that once we’d done would be hard to undo. But then again, I couldn’t imagine living with anyone else but her, so I knew this was the right thing to do. I loved her, she loved me. No need to fuss too much about stupid things.
At the beginning of March Kathleen had signed a contract with a Dublin-based publisher. She had been beside herself with joy, and I was proud of her. She’d gone through a self-pitying phase, followed by a depressing phase. One night I’d gone to see her at her house since she hadn’t answered my messages or my calls, only to find her with red, swollen eyes and pages of the manuscript scattered all over her bedroom floor, bed and furniture. She’d lost all self-confidence, and nothing David or I told her had seemed to work. I’d actually been a little mad at Declan for not helping her, for not coming back to comfort her, because I’d understood that the only person she would’ve listened to was him. So when she got the phone call from that publisher, I’d secretly thanked her brother, sure he was behind all this.
Now, as we were in a taxi in New York, headed for Chris and Melissa’s house, I wondered how she would react to the little surprise I had in store for her, and if she’d be half as happy as she’d been when she’d received that phone call.
I’d had this idea of celebrating St. Patrick’s day, and the anniversary of our first kiss, in New York since before Christmas. I’d decided it would be the day when I’d propose to her in the most unexpected and romantic way. When Chris called me to inform me they were organizing the christening of their son, I asked him to make sure it would be on that date, so I’d have an excuse for the trip to New York and Kathleen wouldn’t suspect anything.
When we reached their apartment and Chris opened the door, we were both wrapped in a bear hug before we could say a word. Melissa was in the kitchen, trying to feed baby James something he didn’t seem to like too much and, as we walked in, she stood up and walked toward us, handing her son to me and hugging Kathleen. When Chris told me they’d named their son James, just like my father, my heart melted. He knew how much this would mean to me and I knew nothing I would ever do or say would be enough to thank him for that.
I stood there, awkwardly holding the little bundle with blond curls and blue eyes, and when he gave me a toothless grin and patted my cheeks with his chubby hands, I felt a weird pang in my chest, a strange need I’d never felt before.
I wanted a baby.
For almost thirty years I’d lived my life thinking I’d never get to love someone and I’d never have a family of my own, and I’d been sort of okay with that. But in the last twelve months all my priorities had changed, and I’d found myself wanting to love, wanting to get married, and now wanting to have a baby. Kathleen had changed my vision of life, of love, of the future, and I just couldn’t wait for tomorrow. I’d organized a great surprise for her after the christening, and I’d already informed Chris that we’d have to leave early. He’d been almost more excited than I was when I told him the reason.
Kathleen turned to look at me, and when our eyes met, she gave me a smile full of love. She came toward me, taking James from my arms so I could hug Melissa. The vision of Kathleen holding the baby while he tugged at her hair, making her laugh, caused my heart to do a back flip in my chest. I knew it was no longer a question: I was ready to have a baby, I was ready to start a family of my own. With Kathleen. Just the two of us, and our babies. Nothing else would ever matter.
Chapter 47
Kathleen
March 17
I woke up on my second St. Patrick’s Day in New York, but this time everything was different. I could walk, I wasn’t gloomy anymore, I’d just signed a contract for my book, and I was sleeping in a very comfortable king-sized bed with the man of my dreams. Only a year ago I was fighting not to fall for him and now I was wrapped in his arms, my head on his chest moving with its rise and fall.
I loved this handsome, romantic, sexy, happy-go-lucky man who’d pulled me up from the pit I’d fallen into after Declan died and who’d been able to show me that true love could overcome obstacles and work miracles.
When I’d seen him holding Chris and Melissa’s son last night, something had stirred inside of me, a strange longing I’d never felt before, and I’d found myself wishing it was our baby he was holding.
I wanted a baby. I wanted a baby with him. A Colin mini-me, with blue eyes and brown curls, and his gorgeous smile and dimples. I wanted a house with a garden and windows overlooking the sea. I wanted to wait for Colin to come home at night and prepare him a nice dinner. I wanted to fall asleep on the couch while watching a movie. I wanted to wake up every single day of my life seeing his beautiful face and mussed curls first thing.
After spending a little time snuggled in bed, we got up and got dressed for James’ christening. I was excited to be a godmother, and a bit nervous too. Colin took my hand when a tear rolled down my cheek during the ceremony and when I looked up, his eyes were glistening, too. Two hours in the party at Chris and Melissa’s, Colin took my hand and pulled me up from the couch, saying we had to go. I frowned, and he shrugged without saying another word. I barely had time to say goodbye and give James a quick peck before Colin literally dragged me out of their house and into a taxi that was waiting outside. He used his tie to blindfold me and didn’t remove it until the taxi stopped and he’d helped me step out.
When my eyes adjusted, I gasped and smiled broadly at the sight of the Empire State Building. The exact same place where he’d first kissed me, at the exact same time of day. This was the most romantic thing he could do to celebrate our anniversary. My eyes filled with tears.
; He took my hand and we walked inside where he retrieved the tickets he had, once again, very wisely booked, and we rode up to the deck in silence. I was too overwhelmed to find words and he kept fidgeting with the button of his shirt, looking a little nervous, although I couldn’t quite tell why.
As we reached the last floor and got out onto the top deck, my heart thudded loudly in my chest, and I walked around in amazement, taking it all in. It was a thousand times better than it had been from the wheelchair, and I went from one spot to the other, pointing out at things, waving as an airplane soared above us and giggling all the time, while Colin followed me in silence with a proud smile on his face.
When I eventually calmed down, I turned toward him and took his face in my hands, kissing him slowly and savoring this moment. This was something I’d never in a million years be able to forget.
“This is so romantic, Colin. Thank you so much for planning all this.” My voice cracked with the myriad of emotions running through my body. “It’s the best anniversary gift you could give me.”
He smiled and brushed my cheek with his thumb. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the tingling that still cursed through my body at his touch.
“Actually, I haven’t given you the real gift yet,” he whispered in my ear, and as I opened my eyes he was only inches from my mouth. He kissed the tip of my nose and took my hands in his, lacing his fingers with mine.
“This has been the best year of my life,” he said with a serious tone, and I nodded. It had been for me too. “Before I met you, my life was empty, useless. After you came into my life, the sun came out again and everything changed. I changed. I found myself again, my real self, the one that had hidden somewhere after my parents died. Because of you, my life has meaning again. You’ve mended my heart, my soul, you’ve given me hope and I’d never be able to thank you quite enough for what you’ve done, for how you’ve changed my life. I could never be able to go back to a life without you.”
I squeezed his hands as tears prickled my eyes. I knew it wouldn’t be long before they started running down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, hoping it would be enough to keep them at bay. When I thought I’d managed, I opened them again and gave a start: he was down on one knee in front of me.
“I don’t want to ever live without you. Ever again. My life means nothing without you, so please, make me the happiest man on earth and say you will marry me, Kathleen O’Hagan.”
My heart jumped up into my throat and my legs started to shake. Was this really happening or was I dreaming it? It felt like a fairy tale, but he was real, he was right there in front of me, holding my hand and looking at me with a worried frown as if he thought I’d say no. I smiled and swallowed the lump in my throat, knowing I needed to put him out of his misery but unable to find the voice to say yes. So I simply nodded, as a single tear drifted down my cheek and my face cracked into a smile. He stood up and took my face in his hands, narrowing his eyes.
“Was that a yes?” he asked, and I nodded again, my smile even broader now.
“Yes,” I whispered. His lips were on mine a second later as my hands went up around his back and I pulled him closer to me. I didn’t care that we were surrounded by other people, I didn’t care that most of them had been watching us. I giggled when a group of tourists erupted in a big cheer.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he shouted, after he pulled back, “this awesome woman has just agreed to marry me!” I blushed as more cheers, shouts and whistles exploded around us. Colin wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head. When all the sensation his announcement had caused subsided, he looked down at me and fumbled for something inside his jacket, handing me a small velvet case. I stared at it, then at him and when I opened it, I gasped at the sight of a beautiful white gold Claddagh ring, the Irish symbol of love, loyalty and friendship, with an emerald embedded in the heart the two hands were holding. My vision blurred again, and I blinked, staring up at him. His eyes were glistening and he blinked a couple of times to fight back the tears.
“It was my mother’s; my father gave it to her before she went back to America, the summer they met.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I can buy you another one, if you don’t like it or you think it’s too old-fashioned—”
“It’s perfect, Colin. I’ll never take it off,” I whispered. He smiled, taking the case from my hand and placing the ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit, and once again I thought we were simply meant to be. The lump in my throat came back, and I flung my arms around his neck, letting him lift me off the ground.
It was then, as I was wondering if Declan would be happy about this, that a familiar warmth engulfed me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a rainbow in the New York sky, although it hadn’t been raining, and I remembered my brother’s words: “Look for me in a rainbow, in the wind, in a blue sky. You’ll see me there, smiling at you from Heaven.”
Declan was there, hugging me in his own angelic way and giving us his blessing.
So many things had changed in a year. Only a year ago tragedy had struck my family, my heart had been crushed, and my future had seemed uncertain. But things had slowly worked themselves out, day after day, and I was sure they were going to look up. I hadn’t moved to New York like I’d planned over a year ago, but I was living exactly the life I wanted and with a man who seemed to have walked straight out of my dreams. Now I was healthy, happy, and in love and it was my brother I had to thank. My beloved brother who’d been taken away from us too soon, but who’d stuck around and helped me through it all, while at the same time helping Colin get over his own grief. In the darkest period of my life, when I’d lost all hope and faith, a loving angel came into my life and his warm hug healed my heart.
* * *
Afterword
Thank you for reading this book! I hope you enjoyed Kathleen and Colin’s story. If you did, please take a moment to leave a review to help other readers discover it. Read on for an excerpt from book two, Finding Our Hearts, David and Claire’s story.
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Finding Our Hearts (Irish Hearts, #2)
Soul mates always find each other...
For twenty-four years, Claire Neeson has been invisible to the opposite sex. And the one time one she was spared a second glance, she ended up bruised and heartbroken. Now she hopes starting over in another city might help her heal, and she doesn’t plan on falling in love anytime soon.
That’s when she meets him.
David O’Hagan is haunted by nightmares. After losing his older brother in a car accident more than a year ago, he has been trying to go back to his old life, hiding his grief behind a mask nobody can see through. He thinks he’s getting by just fine.
That’s when he meets her.
When their worlds collide, something sparks between them, but one minute is all they have before they go their separate ways. They never expected to meet again after that serendipitous encounter, but fate has other plans. And when all hope seems lost, an angelic presence comes into their lives to open their eyes as well as their hearts.
Sometimes true love can heal the deepest scars. If you believe.
Finding Our Hearts - Chapter 1
Claire
I was always the invisible one. In spite of my natural ginger hair, which should have stood out like a beacon in the night, nobody ever looked twice at me—especially men.
Maybe it also had to do with the fact that I’d always been an introverted, nerdy kind of girl, who’d rather spend her afternoons at the public library getting lost in an Agatha Christie book than at the mall checking out guys, or dressing up hoping to be the next Rose of Tralee in the famous Irish beauty pageant.
Whatever the reason, I was always the one who went unnoticed, and today was no exception.
As I dragged my huge rolling suitcase, a tr
olley and my full-to-near-explosion-point duffel bag down the platform of Galway railway station, I felt no more visible than I’d ever been. I dodged people, as I tried not to topple over and break something or hurt someone else, which would have been a poor start to my new life. After the events of the past few months, I’d relished my invisibility to the rest of the world, and I’d shied away from all human contact, needing to be left alone with my thoughts and my grief; right now, though, I wouldn’t have minded someone to notice me and lend a hand. The bigger suitcase kept bumping in turns against my hip and the trolley, causing the duffel bag on top of it to lose its balance and forcing me to stop every few steps to grab it before it fell off. Not a single man who passed me by even bothered asking if I needed help, although it was clear I was struggling to juggle two suitcases and a heavy bag on my own.
And they say chivalry isn’t dead. Ha.
But that was the story of my life. The one time a guy had shown interest in me—a hot rugby player buying me a drink in a pub and flirting with me all night had been quite spectacular, if not a once-in-a-lifetime event for me—I’d ended up with a bruised cheek and a split lip, courtesy of said hot player. Lucky me. So from that moment on, even though I’d been only twenty-two at the time, I’d sworn off men, especially the hot, bulky ones, and I’d stuck my nose back into my beloved paperbacks, dreaming one day I’d find a job that would involve books, as I’d always dreamed since I was a child.
Healing Our Hearts Page 24