by Unknown
“I'll use Max's acoustic guitar and Coop can use Jackson’s electric. We have a song we used to play all the time.”
We had played this a hundred times in four years. It wasn't ever gonna be forgotten. We played Johns Mayer's version of Free Fallin’. We broke into a duet with me taking the first half. I started singing, then coming to the chorus together and then he would take the second verse and we would continue singing in harmony. I saw images of Coop's and my times together playing this song at the Barton's student lounge on open mic night. We used to think it was his song for Emma. I could feel my tears hitting my hands as they plucked out the cords. Once we both hit the last cord, I opened my eyes to see Coop covering his eyes with his fists. I set my guitar down and he set his down and we embraced and cried. We were ready to move on. This was our new start.
Easton's POV
Watching Kennedy sing with Tristan live was much harder than watching them on video. He shared something with her that I would never understand. Their love for music; their grief in missing their friends, each one was an amazing talent but watching them together was life changing. They have an ease while together. I could tell Tristan didn't look at her with lust, he looked at her in awe.
Once the song was over, there wasn't a dry face in the house. I'm not sure if it was because the song was delivered with such emotion and sorrow, or because by the end Tristan and Kennedy couldn't hold it in anymore. We left them in the living room and moved to the kitchen. About twenty minutes later Kennedy came in and asked to speak to me. I was nervous as hell when we walked outside. The weather had cooled and it was a nice evening.
Standing at the fence, she turned to me and said, "I just talked to Coop. He told me I don't have to see the whole staircase, I just have to see the first step. You coming here was the first step, so I'm going to stand on this one step that I can see."
The way she is looking at me breaks my heart. She is unsure if she can trust me with her heart again.
"Coop said he's only had one regret in life. He never told Emma he loved her. When he built up the nerve, it was too late. He was only able to whisper it to a closed casket. I don't want to waste any more time. I know better than anyone life is so short. I got a second chance, and I'm wasting it not being with you, the person I love."
My heart is beating fast, I want to wrap my arms around her so bad, but I don't want to push my luck.
"What happened in Denver: you pushing me away, yelling at me like that, humiliating me in front of a room full of people, and worst of all, putting your hands on me in anger; that can never happen again. I won't stand for it. In addition, I certainly won't have it around my kids. I understand why you did it. I know you were trying to keep me safe, but not telling me I was the target put me in a lot more danger. I'm not helpless! If you would have just explained I would have come home to my parents. I wouldn't put myself or my babies in danger."
I put my hand on her belly, "You and these babies are the most important things to me. I made a mistake, and I will make a lot more, but I will never, ever push you away from me again, and I will never leave you out of important decisions."
"That's all I want! I love that you're a strong man, I love that you’re aggressive and know exactly what you want, but I don't want to ever shrink myself to make you bigger. Does that make sense?" I wrapped my arms around her.
"Baby, I promise you I will make everything up to you. You won't ever be sorry you gave us another chance.”
“I've spent the day with our dads fishing and talking about the day I met you. I told my dad I was going to marry you. He told me I had a better chance of fucking a mermaid. I asked your dad for permission to ask for your hand. He told me he had to see the ring first because he wasn't letting his daughter marry some cheap asshole. Since he already knew I was an asshole, he just wanted to make sure I wasn't cheap on top of that. I saw you on Monday, and I bought this ring Tuesday. Before I ask, I want to tell you a story about the ring.”
“At the time, I thought the people were crazy, but I need you to listen. Okay, baby?”
I start my story about going to a few large luxury jewelry stores and after hours of not finding anything, I came across a small jeweler I didn't even know existed. I told her how I went inside and was about to leave when I saw a sparkle out of the corner of my eye. When I asked about the ring, he told me it dates back to the early eighteen hundreds. The royal family originally owned it. It was given to a young woman named Martha Bowing. She had fallen in love with a Duke. He proposed marriage, and they planned to run off to America together to start a new life. On the day they were to set sail, he never showed up at the dock. The Duke sent his young servant, Thomas Green, to inform the young woman that he was currently at the church marrying a titled woman. He gave the woman what is today's equivalent of five hundred thousand dollars and requested the ring back. She refused and explained that she was pregnant and didn't want to go to America alone. She was only Fifteen at the time. The servant who was only Seventeen himself, left his entire life and family behind, boarding the boat with nothing but the clothes on his back. Once on board, they were married by the captain and came to America. They then spent the first four years in New York before traveling west. They grew their family, never telling the oldest child of his true parentage. The couple went on to have a daughter, Margaret Green, who moved to New York to be an actress. Martha and Thomas lived a full life together, happy and in love until the day, they died.
Charles Green remained in Denver where he met a young woman by the name of Hope Caldwell. They fell very much in love, and he gave her this ring. The woman was a lover of the arts, so he built her The Hope Theatre. They owned it until they died peacefully in their sleep. They never had any children, but the sister had a son. He came to help get his uncle's estate in order. He found the journal that went to the ring. He brought it to my family in the late nineteen-twenties as instructed by the late Greens, but after reading the journals my grandparents decided not to sell the ring, only to display it. You see, inside the journal are very specific instructions and my grandparents being superstitious, always believed.
"What does the journal say?"
"It says the ring is only visible to the man that is going to propose to the ring's intended.
“Mr. Kerrigan, this ring has been sitting in this display case for over seventy-five years. You are the first man to ever ask about it."
"Are you pulling my chain?" I ask him. He walks to the back and returns with a book and a very elderly woman.
He hands me the book and the ring. "Ahhh, wonderful!" the old women says. "The ring has found its next owner. Her eyes will be the color of the emerald on the ring. She will have fiery red hair and personality."
"No, the woman I want to marry has blonde hair and light brown eyes."
The woman walks forward, "Listen to me, and listen well, Easton Kerrigan. This ring belongs to your intended; she will have green eyes and red hair as has every woman who has owned this ring before her. Read the book, it's all in there. You will have a happy life together. Heed the book!"
“I turn to the jeweler and asked to purchase the ring. After getting home, I have a good laugh at the whole story. What theatrics just to sell a ring. I would have paid any price for the ring. The minute I saw it, I knew it belonged on your finger. I kept this ring in my jacket pocket every day. I just never got brave enough to ask until now."
Getting down on one knee I said, "Kennedy Brennan, will you please marry me, be the mother of my children, and my best friend?"
I slipped the ring on her finger as she said “yes”. I kissed her belly, then kissed her. We made our way back to the house. We walked through the door hand in hand. Everyone was waiting in the living room.
"I've asked Kennedy to marry me, and she said yes!"
The room erupted in cheers, the women all gathered around to inspect the ring. It was a vintage, four-carat, flawless cushion diamond set with a one-carat emerald on each side. At the time, I didn't know
it but they match her eyes. Along with her red hair and fiery personality. I knew the ring had found its new owner.
I whisper to Kennedy that I needed to speak to Estelle and asked if she wanted me to wait for her. She said no, that she believed she was in the barn with Rhydian. Walking to the barn, I saw Rhydian and Estelle sitting in two Adirondack chairs playing chess, of all things. When Kennedy said they were in the barn together, this is not what I had expected to find. Even more interesting was the fact that Estelle just check mated the best chess player I know.
“Oh hell no,” he said. “You cheated! I know you did!”
“You’re an awful chess player! I didn't have to cheat!” Estelle replied.
“I want a rematch!”
I finally spoke, “Mind if I play the winner?” Rhydian got up.
Estelle spoke, “Rhydian, can you please stay?” He nodded his head and sat on some hay bales. I took his place across from Estelle while she set up her side of the board.
“I want to apologize to you, Estelle. I want to say sorry for so many things, but I don't even know where to start.” I moved my first piece and waited, Estelle moved her first piece.
“Do you love Kennedy?”
“With all my heart. I've never loved anyone but her.”
“Would you give your life for her and the babies?”
“Without any hesitation,” I answered.
I moved my second piece.
“Easton, I don't know how I got so lucky with having Kennedy in my life but Kennedy has become the single most important person in my life. She saved my life, but more importantly, she saved my soul and mind and my spirit. I know exactly what you see in Kennedy because I see the same thing, but not in a girl on girl way.
“That would be hot!” Rhydian added.
Both Estelle and I said, “Shut up!” at the same time.
“Do you find it odd that in the six months we were each other's plus one that we never so much as kissed with tongue? I knew you were using me to look into my father, but I was using you too. See, as long as my father thought I warmed your bed I escaped his fist. Without even knowing it, you kept me alive for those six months. I hated being nasty to your family, but I also couldn't take the chance that anyone got too close to me. My father exploits every connection, he looks for a way to hurt you by hurting the people you love. I thank the stars every day that Kennedy came into your life. I didn't know then, but I know now. She was put in place so I could escape, get healthy and find out who the hell I am, really am, so I don't need any apology. I just need your guarantee that you will love and protect her till your dying day.”
Estelle made her second move. “Checkmate!”
“How the fuck did you just check mate me in two moves?”
“You suck, that's how!” Rhydian was laughing.
“Damn, it took her five moves to beat me at least!”
“I was taking it easy on you because you're cute! Easton doesn't have that luxury.” Rhydian blushes, Hmmm, I thought to myself, very interesting. I watched Rhydian get checkmated four more times before we packed it up and headed to the house.
“Everything okay with Estelle?” Kennedy asked.
I kissed her, “I don't even know how Stella and Estelle are the same person, not only do they look completely different but Estelle is, like, the most easy going person on earth. She's wearing Converse, cutoff shorts and a Doctor Who t-shirt.”
Kennedy chuckled, “Estelle is finally who she is supposed to be.”
Chapter 16
Saying goodbye to my parents was hard. We decided to travel back with the Kerrigan’s and give my parents some time to get their affairs in order. The kids were asking Coop a million questions. They wanted to know what it was like to be famous, and what celebrities did he know. Liam and Rose were sleeping, Elena was knitting something, Shamus was reading the paper. Killian was doing something on his laptop and Estelle was busy finishing up things for the event on her iPad and phone. I sat snuggled up to Easton as he rubbed my belly.
“When is your next appointment?”
“It's next week, I made an appointment with Rose's doctor. He got my records a few days ago and called and said he wants to see me as soon as possible. He usually doesn't take patients this late in their pregnancy, but once he heard the Kerrigan name drop I had an appointment.”
“I want to come with you.” He stops rubbing for a minute.
“You're the father, of course you can come. The doctor wants to do another sonogram so maybe we will get lucky and find out what we are having.”
“Baby, when we land I want you to come to the penthouse. We haven't discussed the living arrangements, but I want you with me. I want to take care of you. Estelle and Tristan can take your place. Estelle and Tristan both looked up at the sound of their names.
“Not fucking happening!” Rhydian said from his seat. “She isn't living with Tristan!”
Tristen spoke, “I had already talked it over with Killian. He said he was cool if I took his extra room until I find a place to buy, but I don't think Estelle should be living alone.”
“She won't be,” Rhydian said again. “She is staying with me!”
“No, I'm not! Are you mental? I'm not living with you!”
“I'm sorry princess. I didn't realize you thought you had a choice! When we get off this plane, I will grab your bags, and you're going home with me. You can either get there on your own two legs or I can carry your fine ass, but either way, you will be at my house tonight! Am I clear?”
“Kennedy!” Estelle said.
“No, don't look to Kennedy to cosign for you! I told you what's happening, so just sit back and finish your work. We still have two hours left in this flight.”
Easton and I hid our grins. Tristan couldn't keep the smirk off his face, and poor Estelle looked ready to kill. After landing, Estelle quietly got into Rhydian's car. Arriving at the penthouse filled me with dread, this didn't feel like home. It felt cold and sterile and not somewhere, I wanted to raise my children, but for right now, it would have to work because I had too much to do to add house hunting to that list. Waking up the morning of my doctor’s appointment, I was shocked to see everyone in the living room.
“Hey, what's everyone doing here?”
“They all came for your appointment, babe.”
“We cannot fit all these people in the exam room!”
“You're right, that's why they are going to watch from here. I will Skype them when the sonogram starts. By the time we get back we will be having a small celebration.”
“Well, where is Estelle? She never misses an appointment.”
“Baby, she is finishing up grand opening stuff. She will be here in time to see, but she said it was my job to hold your hand the rest of the way. So, let's get a move on!” Giving everyone a hug, we made our way to the doctor's appointment, filling out a few forms for the hospital. I was called back here goes.
“Well Ms. Brennen, everything looks good. The measurements are right on. You should be delivering your babies at the end of December. Twins usually come a little early so if there is any sign of labor it's not Braxton Hicks. I want you to come to the hospital immediately! Looking over your chart your last labs came back great. So now are we ready to look at these babies?” Dr. Felix says.
Easton grabbed his iPad, putting it on the counter facing the giant screen on the wall.
“This is going to be cold, but here we go.”
Once he put the probe on my belly, and I saw our babies all my worries disappeared. Easton was choking back tears. We could see everyone squished in front of the webcam at the penthouse smiling. Elena and Stacy were holding hands with tears in their eyes. Rose and Estelle were huddled together.
“Well, do you want to know the sex of your babies?” Before we could answer, we heard a chorus of yeses from the iPad.
“Okay, wait,” the doctor started moving the wand around. He was concentrating, “Can you hold on for a second?”
Another doct
or from the practice came in and started looking at the screen.
“Please, is something wrong?” I can feel myself freaking out!
Easton demands, “Doctor ,what's going on? You're not saying anything!”
The doctor says, “No, it's nothing to worry about, just concerned that something like this wasn't caught before now. It’s that Ms. Brennan is higher risk.”
Then he started talking, “See these two babies right here? These are one egg that split into two giving you twins. What they didn't catch was this baby. So, in fact you’re having triplets!”
I feel Easton’s knees buckle. “Three babies! I'm having three babies?”
“Yes, I could see how it was overlooked when you had your first sonogram. The third baby is wedged behind and out of the way, so for a new sonogram tech they might have thought it was a shadow. Okay so, let’s see what we can see from the two right here. You have a boy and a girl baby, number three is hiding. I'm going to keep looking and get the baby moving so we can see the measurement.”
He moved the wand around and did some typing into the screen.
“Well we got all the measurements for baby three, but we’re unable to determine the sex. We can try again in a few weeks Ms. Brennan. I'm a little concerned since you now pose a higher risk. I want to put you on limited bed rest for the last eight weeks. We want your babies to stay as long as they can in your womb, so I'm thinking all of November and December. You need to be taking it easy.”
The doctor writes in my chart. “Ms. Brennan, I want to keep your chart listed as Siobhan Gallagher. I trust my employees, but I don't want to do anything to add any extra stress to you so your real identity will be known only to me. Thank you for bringing your complete medical history to me. It will help make your delivery run a lot smoother if we have all a patient's history.” He shakes my hand and tells me he wants to see me again in two weeks.