“Oh, yes.” Chloe nodded hard, smiling with awe. “She looks like a princess!”
Maura smiled in return. She had to agree. Toni was an attractive woman, to be sure, but she was radiant today. Her bronzed-from-the-summer skin was in contrast with the white wedding dress, strapless with an A-line cut, simple and elegant. But there must have been sequins or beading that were hard to see; whenever Toni moved, the full skirt seemed to shimmer and catch light. She looked up adoringly at Gavin as they exchanged vows, and he gazed down at her with such love it was a palpable thing. It made Maura want to give a dreamy sigh.
She looked over to her fiancée. Aidan stood behind Gavin with his oldest brother, Colin, and two other men she knew were Gavin’s friends. They were a handsome bunch of groomsmen in their light gray suits and ties, but Aidan was the most handsome by a landslide. His eyes canvassed the wedding-goers, looking for her. When he saw she was already gazing at him, his lips curved up and he winked.
He was hers. They were a true couple now; she felt it in her bones. And it no longer scared her, but thrilled her. She’d never been so happy in a relationship before. Closing her eyes, she sent up a quick prayer of thanks for Aidan and all the light he’d brought into her life. She also prayed that their marriage would be a good one, and that they’d be able to keep Chloe not only safe, but happy.
After the ceremony was finished, the wedding party went outside to gather in front of the church to form a receiving line. Maura noticed how Toni’s maid of honor, Anna McKinnon, doted on the bride and watched over her like a hawk. Gavin and Aidan’s fiery sister was apparently as fiercely loyal as the rest of the McKinnons. She’d dyed the ends of her dark blonde hair pale blue to match her gown and those of the other three bridesmaids, and Chloe was entranced by that. Anna had flown in from New York for this and only gotten to Ireland two days before; and this was the first time they’d been able to see her. She was staying with her parents for the week.
Maura grasped Chloe’s hand tightly as they made their way along the reception line, smiling and congratulating everyone. When they reached Anna and Maura introduced herself, Anna cried out and grabbed her in a tight hug. “I’ve been dyin’ to see you!” She stood back, hands on Maura’s shoulders as she beamed at her. “I only met ya once or twice, it was years back, do you remember?”
“I do.” Maura smiled.
“I liked you straight away,” Anna said. “And now you’re marrying my little brother, God bless ya. I’m so happy to see you again!” She hugged Maura a second time, making Maura laugh in surprise from her exuberance. Then Anna peered down at Chloe. “And this must be the famous Princess Chloe I’ve heard about, yes?”
Chloe nodded shyly but smiled, obviously delighted. “Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Anna, and I’m going to be one of your aunties!” Anna crouched down to meet her at eye level. “I live in New York now, so I’m afraid I’m not here much. But I’m so glad to meet ya, Chloe. Can I have a wee hug?”
Enchanted, Chloe nodded and leaned in for a hug. “I like your hair.”
“Do ya? Thanks!” Anna smiled broadly. “I like your dress.”
Chloe blushed and ran her hands over her lavender dress with pride. “Thanks!”
“You’ve got the McKinnon touch.” Maura grinned when Anna rose to her full height again. “It’s lovely to see you.”
“We’ll have to have lunch or dinner,” Anna said. “You, me, and Aidan. All right? We’ll set that up. I’m only here for a few days, then back to New York for Gavin and Toni’s beach wedding. I had to be part of both, I just had to be.”
“I’m going with Aidan to New York for that,” Maura said. “Did he tell you?”
“No! Are you?!? That’s fantastic!” Anna cried. “Oh, then I’ll get to see ya for sure. Okay, good!”
Maura grasped Chloe’s hand again. “We’re holding up the queue,” she said, getting one more kiss on the cheek from Anna before moving along.
“Ya blockin’ traffic there, I saw,” Aidan joked when they got to where he stood in the queue, to Gavin’s right.
“Anna’s as charming as the rest of you,” Maura said.
“Aye, and the most chatty for sure.” Aidan grinned, dropped a light kiss on her lips, and murmured, “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
“You did, but thank you.” Maura warmed to his compliment. She felt pretty in the pale, mint green dress she’d bought for the wedding, but it was nice to hear he thought she was, too.
“Princess Chloe!” He scooped the little girl up into his arms and hugged her. “Well, this wedding was bigger and fancier than the one your mum and I will have. I hope you’re enjoying it so far?”
“It’s all so pretty,” Chloe said. “But I’m hungry now.”
He laughed and nodded. “Aye, me too. We’ll all feast at the party soon, don’t ya worry.” He kissed her forehead and set her down again as he added, “I’ve got to stay with the wedding party still, so you’ll keep your mum company for me ’til I can join you at the party, all right?”
Chloe nodded and took Maura’s hand again. They only took one step over to speak with Gavin and Toni, wishing them well and hugging them both. When she looked down at Chloe, her daughter was looking out towards the street.
“Look, Mummy.” Chloe pointed. “It’s that nice friend of yours. He’s right there.”
Maura looked, only seeing a random group of people who’d stopped to look at the wedding, a natural occurrence. Then her heart stopped. Niall was there, holding hands with a short brunette, smiling back at Chloe.
Maura tried to swallow, to breathe, as Niall met her eyes.
“He comes by the day care sometimes and waves hello to me,” Chloe said. “From outside the gate.”
“He does?” Maura felt frozen where she stood. She fought back a sudden wave of nausea as her heart started pounding.
“What’s going on?” Aidan asked. “Em? You all right?”
“Aidan…” Maura whispered. She didn’t want to cause a scene here. Looking around frantically, again they were holding up the queue, and well-wishers behind them glanced at her as if to say, “Move along, already!”
“Mummy’s friend came to the wedding, Uncle Ay,” Chloe said. She pointed to Niall. “See? Isn’t that nice?”
Maura watched Aidan’s face change, the sparks of ire flame in his blazing blue eyes. “Your friend?” he whispered hotly to Maura. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“I can’t believe he’d do this,” she choked out.
“Why does Chloe think he’s your friend?” Aidan hissed.
“Ehm…” Gavin cut in. “Everything all right?”
Maura blinked, then flushed with embarrassment. For goodness sakes, they were on the receiving line. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered to the bride and groom. She grabbed Chloe’s hand. “Come with me.” She pulled her daughter to the only safe place she could think of—back inside the church.
She walked quickly, desperate to get away from Niall’s menacing presence and the shocked anger she’d seen on Aidan’s face. Her mind raced almost as fast as her heart. Niall was there to make a point, but of what, she didn’t know. He hadn’t done anything or come close enough to be accused of being a threat, but the fact that he’d show up there at all was crazy. He knew Aidan wouldn’t go after him in front of his entire family, or disrupt the wedding… if Niall just wanted to shake them up, it had worked, damn him.
She led Chloe to one of the pews in the now empty church and sat with her. “That man… his name is Niall. He comes by your day care?”
“Yes, Mummy.” Chloe frowned. “Have I done something bad? You look upset.”
“Well, I am a little upset,” Maura admitted, “but not with you. I’m upset that Niall comes by your day care. He’s not supposed to do that.”
“Why not?”
Maura swallowed back a sigh of frustration and fought to keep her voice calm and level. “What does he do when he goes there? And how often does he go?�
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Chloe shrugged as she thought it over, then said, “I dunno, once or twice a week, maybe? He’s standing outside the gate when we go out to play on the playground. Once I notice him, he smiles and waves hi, then walks way. That’s all.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “Don’t be angry, Mummy. He’s just being nice.”
Maura nodded, unable to catch her breath. She worked hard to control her breathing… long breath in through her nose… long exhale out of her mouth…
Hard, quick footsteps made her look up. Aidan headed towards them, eyes blazing and his jaw set tightly. He stopped where they were and said, “Chloe, I need to talk to your mum, but—”
“Are you angry, too?” Chloe asked. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“Me neither,” he said in a low voice.
He shot Maura a hard look. Waves of aggravation floated off of him, almost palpable, and a new roll of angst sludged through her chest.
“Tell him what you just told me,” she choked out to her daughter.
Chloe did as she was told. Maura closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her breathing as her girl talked. Lapsing into a panic attack at a wedding was the last thing she wanted to do.
“You didn’t know?” Aidan said to Maura when Chloe was done.
She shook her head no and opened her eyes to look at him. He was furious, that was clear. But he must have seen the anxiety she was battling, because he dropped into a crouch before her and said, “I thought you knew and had kept it from me. I’m sorry.”
She stared back at him dumbly. That didn’t make it better, that made it worse, because she was keeping things from him. The texts, the threats, all of it. Now she wanted nothing more than to tell him all of it, but was afraid of what his reaction would be in light of this. She’d put herself in a corner and had only herself to blame. Her heart was still fluttering wildly in her chest, but now her eyes filled with tears.
“Shhhh, it’s okay,” he whispered, grasping her hand. “I’m sorry, I am.” His other hand reached out to take one of Chloe’s tiny hands. “Chloe, sweetheart… we’re not angry at you. We’re upset because, well…” He rubbed her skin as he tried to figure out how to phrase what he wanted to say properly. “I know he acts like he’s friends with your mum, but he’s not. He’s… I’m sorry to tell you this, Chloe, but he’s kind of a bad man. He makes your mum feel sad, and sometimes even a little scared. And he’s not supposed to be anywhere near you, or your day care. That’s why we’re upset. Not at you, sweetie, but at him. Okay? You understand now?”
Chloe nodded, but looked worried. “I didn’t know, Uncle Ay.”
“Of course you didn’t, princess. That’s all right.” He leaned away from Maura to focus on Chloe, taking both her hands in his as he looked into her face. “Your mum and I… we don’t like him because he’s not very nice, and he shouldn’t be anywhere around you without our permission. So we’re going to put a stop to it. We’re glad you told us.”
Chloe nodded again, but still looked unsure.
“Everything’s fine, princess.” He assured her, his voice so warm and sure that Maura wanted to wrap herself in it like a blanket. “Mummy and I will take care of it.”
Sniffling back her tears, making herself buck up, Maura told her, “Today, all we want you to do is have fun at the party with us, okay?”
“Okay.” Finally Chloe smiled.
Aidan pulled her into his arms for a hug, but looked at Maura. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have jumped to any conclusions. I know you’d never keep something like that from me.”
Maura’s insides seized with a rush and her stomach lurched.
She gave a stiff nod and whispered, “Stop apologizing. It’s fine.”
“No, I all but growled at you. I shouldn’t have.” He sighed as he added, “Niall took off as soon as you did, by the way. That must have been his girlfriend with him, he dragged her off.”
Maura only nodded again.
He tweaked Chloe under her chin and said, “I’ve got to get back to the wedding party. They’re all likely wondering where I went off to and are waiting for me. See you and your mum at the party, okay?”
Chloe smiled and asked, “Will they have lots of food there?”
He chuckled as he rose to stand. “Aye, tons of it! We McKinnons eat a lot.” He held a hand out to Maura. She slipped her hand in his as she got to her feet.
“Jaysus, you’re ice cold.” He rubbed her hands between his and looked into her eyes. “Deep breaths, Em. He’s gone. All’s well.”
“You were wonderful with her just now,” Maura whispered. “You’re going to be such a good dad.”
He smiled warmly, raising her hands to his lips. “Let’s go to the party and forget about him, have some fun.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said.
Her chest still felt tight. She knew she wouldn’t be able to shake off what had happened so easily.
“I still can’t believe… he’s got a hell of a nerve, showing up here like that.” Aidan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He and I are going to have quite a chat. At the end, I won’t kill him, but I might beat him within an inch of his life.”
She only nodded again. When I tell you I’ve been holding out on you, you’ll likely want to do the same to me.
Chapter Sixteen
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Late that night, after a long but lovely afternoon celebrating with more McKinnons than Maura could count, she laid in bed and thought, unable to sleep. The rest of the day had been fantastic, and Chloe and Aidan had both enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Many of his relatives had come to Maura and said, “Just think, you’re up next!” She’d smiled back at them. She ate and drank and savored the feel of being in Aidan’s arms as he pulled her into his embrace time and time again.
But she hadn’t been able to get away from herself, or her guilty conscience. Aidan had been so upset with her when he thought she’d been holding out on him. His heartfelt apologies only made it ten times worse. He had no idea how right he was. It made her stomach twist with self-loathing.
When he’d dropped her and Chloe back at her house, he’d kissed her long and sweet at the door, assuring her not to worry, promising her once again how he’d handle Niall the next day. Telling her how beautiful she looked, and how proud he’d been to have her as his fiancée, at his side, before his entire family. How he couldn’t wait for them to be married, and how he felt like a different man, a happier one with a brilliant future. She felt like a fraud.
Now, in the silence of her bedroom, her thoughts barraged and battered her. She hadn’t handled Niall on her own; if anything, the more determined she was to not let him have alone time with Chloe, the more determined he became to get at Maura, try to unnerve her, and harass her. His showing up at Gavin’s wedding was a bold move, designed to assert his presence, and he had. She’d wanted to make him go away on her own, without having to lean on Aidan for assistance, when he was doing so much for her already. She was a strong woman, dammit. One who’d raised a child basically on her own. Why couldn’t she resolve this on her own?
It frustrated her. And frightened her. Niall hadn’t done much all summer but throw around threats and harassment through texts and verbal exchanges, but still. She thought he wasn’t pushing it, but to find out he’d been lurking at the day care? Making Chloe think he was a friend, someone familiar? That was sinister. It was borderline psychotic, as far as she was concerned. Ignoring him hadn’t worked, engaging him hadn’t worked… because he wanted what he wanted, and he wasn’t afraid of her.
Because five years ago, she’d loved him so much that even though he’d steadily descended into worse and worse behavior once she got pregnant, and then actually hit her, she’d still cried and ached when he left. Because even though she knew he was not a good man, and that she deserved better, it hurt when he left because before she’d realized that, she’d truly loved him. A tiny piece of her felt lesser for that awful truth, and somehow, he seemed to know
it and seize on it. He acted like he still held power over her. She hated him for it. But she was starting to hate herself for it more.
No more. She vowed. I want my new life with Aidan, for us as a family, to be present as my best self, not my worst self. The only way to deal with a bully is head on.
Flinging back the covers, she sat up in bed and grabbed her cell, dialing Niall’s number. It went to his voice mail. She steeled herself and left a message, hoping she sounded as serious and enraged as she felt. “You listen to me, you piece of garbage. I don’t know what you thought you were doing showing up at Aidan’s brother’s wedding, but a stunt like that only goes to prove how gone in the head you are. Chloe told us you’ve been showing up at her daycare. God knows you’ve harassed me with texts and calls all summer long. I tried to reason with you, and I’ve tried to tell you to stay away. I don’t know what ya thought you’d accomplish today, but now I’m done. Tomorrow, I’m goin’ to the Garda, and reporting you for harassment, and being a danger to my child. My child. The one you have no rights to because you walked away.” She drew a quick breath and licked her dry lips before continuing.
“So I’m warning you, Niall. Authorities alerted, first thing tomorrow. You better stop this now, all of it, before it gets any worse. I’ll no longer answer your texts or calls, or engage you on any level, so don’t bother. Just leave us alone, go back to your life as it was. You’re manipulative, subversive, and now, proven you’re probably dangerous. So you and your girlfriend can adopt a child, and I wish that poor child luck because you’re obviously mental, but you can’t have access to mine. Am I clear?” She disconnected the call and realized her hands were trembling. Restless and shaky, she got out of bed and went down the hall to Chloe’s room. She sank down beside the tiny bed and watched her daughter sleep. Tomorrow, she’d do what she’d said she would, and also have a long talk with Aidan. She wanted to be upfront and tell him everything, so she’d never have to see that wounded, fierce look in his eyes aimed at her again. Hurting him hurt her, too. She’d made a mistake, and she’d have to fix it.
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