by Toni Aleo
“Fair play, congratulations,” he says, nodding his head to Declan. My chest burns with pride as Declan grins sheepishly. “What’s it like?”
Grinning at Declan, I listen as he explains each flavor in his whiskey, the slow burn, and the splendor of it.
“I’ve had it. It’s good,” I add, and Declan grins at me as my uncle nods.
“You’ll need to bring me a bottle.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Grand, but yeah, after dinner we’ll break out my favorite bottle and we’ll talk the legs off a donkey, yeah?”
“Grand,” Declan says, and I can tell he’s excited. I’m just glad they’re getting along. I want my uncle and aunt to like Declan since I plan to spend the rest of my life with him.
Glancing over at me, he smiles as he reaches for his mug, taking a pull of his beer as Fiona says, “Great, so we’ll clean while you three drink. Seems fair.”
My uncle grins as he tips his drink to her. “Training ya for wifehood.”
When my aunt’s hand comes hard into his chest, I’m sure he regrets that comment. If he didn’t, he sure does when the next sentence leaves her lips. “Oh yeah? Let me say this, you go and get piss drunk, but by the morning, that kitchen will be clean.”
My uncle’s face turn a bit red, but his grin doesn’t give anything away as he nods. “Yes, love.” Leaning over, he kisses her and then glances at Declan and Kane. “And that, my lads, is how it is being a husband.”
That has everyone laughing as we continue to enjoy our dinner. My aunt’s cooking will be one of the biggest things I’ll miss once I leave. Surely though, I’ll have time to come for dinner when I please. If it comes down to home cooking with my aunt or tea with his mom, I’ll have no problem choosing. If she’ll even have me. I’m not sure how it will go once I tell her I’m moving out. I feel like she knows it will happen, but she is hoping that it will be after the wedding, like Fiona had hoped. I really don’t want to leave, but then again, I do. It’s bittersweet. I’d rather not leave them, but the thought of coming home to Declan every single night and waking up to him every morning sounds almost a magical as Disney World.
Once cake is brought out for dessert, I nibble on my piece as Kane and my uncle go back on the subject of the compressor in the beer chest. Declan’s fingers dance along my wrist, and when I glance back at him, he is grinning at me. Leaning forward, his lips go to my ear as he whispers, “You are so beautiful.”
My mouth pulls at the side as I lean into him, his lips still pressing to my ear. I love him so much.
“When are you going to tell them?” he whispers again and I close my eyes.
“Ugh, get a room,” Fiona groans, and Declan’s laughter tickles my ear as he pulls back. “Or a field,” she notes, sending Kane into a fit of laughter as Declan chokes on the swig he has just taken.
“I’m gonna kill you,” I threaten, and she laughs along with Kane as my aunt and uncle look at us like we have all lost our minds.
“What is going on?” my aunt asks, and I shake my head.
“Nothing,” I answer before Fiona can. “She’s lost it.”
“Oh, I’m not the one losing anything, but you sure have,” she teases some more, and now Declan is laughing and I feel like I’m gonna catch fire with my embarrassment. Leaning into Fiona, Kane almost falls out of his seat as his body shakes with laughter. I glare over at Declan, and his laughter turns to coughing as he reaches for his water, looking away.
Glancing over at Kane and Fiona, I glare as I say, “We are no longer friends.”
Fiona scoffs. “Ah, if only it were that easy. I’m not going nowhere and neither is he,” she says, cocking her head to Kane.
“Whatever,” I mutter, but it’s true what she says.
Glancing at my confused aunt and uncle, I grimace as she says, “You guys are havin’ da craic for sure.”
“They are. I am not,” I say, shaking my head as the laughter stirs up again.
“Well, forget them then. When do you go for your final dress fitting?”
“In a month. We’ll get Fiona’s dress then too. I think I want her to wear a creamy white color.”
My aunt nods and Fiona makes a face. “I thought you said orange?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want orange anymore; I think it’ll clash with my dress.”
“Shouldn’t you wear the cream though?” Declan asks, and I know he isn’t trying to be funny, but of course, Fiona and Kane take it to a whole new level.
“Yeah, she can’t wear white after today,” Fiona mutters, and I kick her swiftly in her knee.
She hollers out as my aunt cries out, “What in the world?”
“She kicked me.”
“She is teasing me!” I holler back.
“How old are you two?” my uncle asks, and you would never believe we are in our twenties by the way we stick our tongues out at each other. “My goodness, bunch of wee lasses in the room, yeah, Shelia?”
“For sure, wouldn’t believe one is getting married soon.”
I glare over at Fiona and she glares back. “I think you broke my knee.”
“You deserved it,” I spit back before looking over at my aunt. “She might not be in my wedding,” I decide, but instead of scoffing at me, Fiona laughs. I try to hold in my own grin, but it doesn’t last long, and soon I am shaking my head as laughter sputters from me. As I meet Fiona’s playful gaze, she reaches over and takes my hand in hers, squeezing it tightly as she smiles. She drives me crazy, but she is mine, and I wouldn’t have anyone but her stand beside me at my wedding.
“Declan, who will stand up with you?” my aunt asks, bringing our attention to her.
“Kane, of course,” he says nodding his head toward Kane as he reaches for another piece of cake.
“Aw, how sweet,” she says and we all smile.
It kinda is, I guess. As long as those two stay together.
“When will you be moving out, Amberlyn? Before or after the wedding?” my uncle asks, and I whip my head to look back at him. I fully expected to be the one to bring the subject up, not the other way around.
Clearing my throat, I feel Declan’s hand on my knee as I smile. “I was actually gonna tell you guys tonight that I’m moving out after the engagement party.”
Silence falls around me and I suck in a deep breath, holding it as I wait for the yelling, the telling me I’m crazy. But unlike I expected, they both just nod and my aunt actually smiles.
“We hate to see ya go, but it’s a part of life,” she says, and my uncle smiles as he cups Declan’s shoulder.
“To the estate, I assume?”
Declan nods. “For the time being. Amberlyn doesn’t really want to live there, but she’ll try it for me.”
I blush as all eyes fall on me. “Yeah, I want us to have our own place, but his whole family has lived nowhere but there, so I figured I’d try.”
“Grand, you should. You may love it,” my aunt says.
I want to disagree, but I smile instead. I don’t want them to worry about me. No matter what, Declan will make sure I am happy. He’s proven that over and over again.
“Well, you’re next, Fiona, love,” my uncle says with a grin.
Fiona looks up, surprised, before glancing at me, probably suspecting I’ve said something but I haven’t. “What, Da?”
“You’re next to move out and get married,” he says and then he grins. “Make sure you ask for her hand, Kane.”
“Oh, uh,” Kane stutters and Fiona shakes her head.
“We aren’t ready for marriage yet, Da,” she says before elbowing Kane.
He clears his throat and says, “But when we are, I will, sir, for sure.”
“Good. Declan forgot,” he teases, looking over at Declan.
My sweet fiancé’s face reddens as he nods. “I did, but I made up for it.”
“He did,” my aunt says as she looks back over at Kane. “But don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” Kane promises
. “And I know she wants to wait to tell ya, but she’s gonna move in with me after their wedding.”
My eyes go wide at Kane’s announcement as Fiona’s mouth drops. Quickly I look over at my aunt and uncle, and they are both just staring at Kane.
“Oh shite,” Declan mutters and I elbow him. I’m not sure if we should take cover or not. My uncle’s face is turning a bit red and my aunt’s eyes are filling with tears, I think. Oh goodness. Poor Fiona.
“Is that right?” my uncle asks finally, glancing at his daughter.
Fiona doesn’t say anything right away, she only holds his gaze as her fingers lace together. “Yeah.”
“Why after the wedding?” my aunt asks. “Do you want to go now?”
She clears her throat as she shrugs. “I do, but I don’t want both of us to leave ya.”
It is easy to say that this day has been full of surprises because my aunt doesn’t start to cry or even yell, she laughs, and soon my uncle joins in with her.
“We aren’t senile! If ya want to go, go, my love,” my uncle says, shaking his head. “We will be fine.”
“Really?” Fiona and I ask at the same time.
“Yes,” my aunt says with a grin. “We’ve raised ya right, Fiona, and we’ve done well with ya, Amberlyn. Yous two are ready for the world. So go and know, no matter what, this will always be yous’ home.”
Leaning into Declan, I look over at where Fiona is staring at her parents before glancing over at me.
“That was a little too easy,” she decides and I nod.
“I know,” I say before glancing back at them and then meeting her gaze once more. “Maybe they are senile?”
Soon the room is full of our laughter, and I can’t believe this is my life now. It used to be only my mom and dad and me, and while it was always loud and fun in my home, I never felt like I do at this particular moment. I’m looking around at the faces of my family. My aunt, my uncle, and cousin. Kane who has wiggled his way into my heart and then my love—my Declan. I’m complete. It’s weird, but it also makes me feel like I am doing everything my mother wanted me to do. She wanted me to live and I’m doing that.
I want Michael Maclaster to work for me.
He is very clever when it comes to flavors and ways of brewing whiskey. I always knew that he had worked for Jameson, but I didn’t realize how close he was to the inner workings of the distillery. Hearing him talk about it is like talking to my grandda, and it’s refreshing. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and want nothing more to bring him on to my team, but as soon as I bring that up, he shoots me down.
“Ah, Declan, I’m done with that.”
“Never,” I try, but he is already shaking his head.
“No, I am. With Fiona moving out, it gives me and Shelia time to ourselves. I can’t get a job now.”
Leaning toward him, I say, “I’ll pay ya whatever ya like.”
He smirks at me as he shakes his head. “Declan, lad, when you marry Amberlyn, you’ll learn very quickly that being wealthy is having that girl look at ya and smile. I don’t need money; I need the time back that I lost with Sheila ’cause I didn’t know then what I know now.” He leans back in his chair, taking a shot of his whiskey before setting me and then Kane with a look. “Listen to this old man, lads. Don’t work yerselfs to death ’cause at the end of the day, she’ll love ya no matter what.”
I want to convince him otherwise, but I can see in his eyes it’s no use. As I climb the stairs to Amberlyn’s room, his words play over and over in my head. I’ve been so giddy to start working hard to make O’Callaghan’s a success on my own, but maybe that’s wrong of me. I already work too much as it is and hardly get to see my love. I could see the regret in Mr. Maclaster’s eyes for the years he spent away from his daughter and wife, and I just can’t do that.
I have to be mindful.
Amberlyn comes before my work.
No matter what.
Reaching Amberlyn’s room, I push open the door to find her on her bed. Her knees are brought up to her chest with a book on her knees. She has changed since she isn’t wearing the dress any longer, only a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. Her hair is piled on her head and she is sleepy-sexy. I want to lie down next to her, nuzzle my nose into her neck, and fall asleep with her breath on my cheek. This is my bride. My life.
Looking up at me, she smiles. “Come here.”
I come to her without question, crawling into bed with her. She cuddles into my chest and opens the book along our legs. The first thing I see is a small Amberlyn. I know it’s her from first glance. Her cherub cheeks and bright aquamarine eyes. She was as stunning as a child as she is now.
“This is me at nine.”
I smile. “Gorgeous, of course.”
Turning the page, it’s her again with who I presume is her da. She has his eyes, his lips, and the shape of his face. He was a happy man from what I can see. His arms are tight around Amberlyn’s small frame, grinning at the camera. I can almost hear the laughter. On the opposite page is one of her, her da, and her ma. I thought she looked like her da, but she is her ma made over. Simply stunning.
“This is my mom and dad.”
“You look very happy.”
“I was,” she answers and slowly she turns the page. Each picture is her with her parents at various spots, their home, on vacation, and at sporting events. They were happy, very happy. When she pauses at one picture, her fingers come along the face of her da and she sucks in a deep breath. They are both wearing Mickey Mouse shirts, standing outside of a gate. “This was three days before he died. I was twelve.”
“Where were you guys?”
“Disney World,” she answers, smiling. “We left that day; it was the most magical trip of my life. We had so much fun. My mom always said we’d go back, but we never did. I think it hurt her too much.”
Snaking my arm around her, I kiss her temple. “We’ll go, yes? Me and you, fly to the States and do it again.”
She glances up at me, her eyes watering a bit as her bottom lip wobbles. “Really?”
“Yeah, for sure. Wanna go before or after the wedding?”
“Probably after. We have so much before.”
“Sure, but I don’t care. You tell me and we will go.”
She cuddles into me and my heart aches in my chest. I want her to be happy. I want to fill the hole she has in her, and I pray that I am doing enough to help. To make this life one she is proud of. One her parents would be proud of.
“I love you, Declan.”
“I love you,” I whisper as she turns the page again. We don’t say anything as she slides each page over, and I watch as her ma gets skinner and skinner. When the last picture appears, one of her mother lying in a bed with a scarf around her head, her face sunken in and her eyes dull in color, I have to swallow back my own tears. I can feel them falling from Amberlyn’s sweet face, but I know I have to be strong for her.
“She died that night,” she says softly, biting her lip. “I knew it was going to happen. I felt it in my heart. I kissed her over and over again, telling her how much I loved her, and she kept saying it back to me. She didn’t want to leave; I know she didn’t.”
“Who would ever want to leave you, Amberlyn?” I ask. “I couldn’t fathom it. I couldn’t imagine my life without your love, and I know that it had to be so hard for your ma and your da. But I know they are watching and they are so fuckin’ proud, mo stór. So proud.”
Burying her face into my neck, she cries. Her whole body shakes against me as she sobs for the death of her parents. I place the book beside us and hold her, allowing her to get it all out. I knew before I even realized she had my heart that there would be days like this. When she would lose it because of the loss she has suffered. I hate that she is in so much pain, that her parents aren’t here to watch her grow and live her life. If I could, I’d give it all back. Meeting her, loving her, and ultimately being allowed to marry her if only she could have her ma and da back, or hell, just her ma. I know I�
�d find her. I would because she was made for me. We were made to be together. No other way, just us.
Kissing her temple, I whisper how much I love her and she just cries against me. I want to comfort her, but really what can I do? How do you mend that kind of loss? I just don’t see it happening. As much as I want to believe I do comfort her, I know that it can’t be enough. Time will heal, and hopefully, I’ll help a bit. When she pulls back, her eyes full of tears, she cups my face, running her thumbs along my jaw as her eyes search mine.
When her lips curve up in a shaky grin, it honestly guts me. She is so beautiful and so fuckin’ strong. It kills me. I wish I were a quarter of what she is. To go through so much pain but still love with all ya heart is saintlike almost. She is my angel. My sweet, gorgeous angel.
“I swear, Declan, you are my salvation,” she whispers, tears rolling fast along her cheeks. “I wouldn’t be as happy as I am without you. I try so hard to be happy, to make other people happy, and to just be the person everyone wants. But when I’m with you, I only have to be me. Sometimes that’s a hot mess of tears, but I know you’ll always love me.”
“I will,” I promise. “No matter what.”
Her lip starts to wobble, and when her eyes close, I want to gather her in my arms, but then she sucks in a deep breath before glancing at me. “I’m not saying this to hurt your feelings, but you’ll never be what my parents were—”
“I know that—” I say, but she shakes her head, cutting off any further words.
“And I know you don’t try to be. You are Declan, only Declan, for me, and that’s all I need. I miss my parents, I do, and I know that over the years, the pain will dull, but I just want you to know that I wouldn’t make it without you. I’d put on a front, I would, but I would never experience life the way I am now that you are in it.”
Smiling, I cover her hands with mine. “And to think, we have so much more to do. Our wedding, honeymoon, and then our life. No matter what, I’ll be beside you.”
“Good ’cause I don’t believe in divorce.”