I watched her leave the room, and I felt damn proud of her for accepting the situation in front of her with her head held high. I picked up my glass, drained its contents, then closed my eyes.
“What are you thinkin’ of, big man?”
I opened my eyes, watching as Bronagh silently entered the room and walked towards me. Her hips seemed to sway in slow motion, and my mouth all but watered. When she sat her ass down on my crotch and snuggled against me, my arms automatically encased her and held her body to mine. I loved the feel of her, the smell of her hair. I loved her.
“I was just thinking about when I was a kid, then about how I met you and our life together so far.”
She smiled. “We’ve had a great twenty years, right?”
“And the best years are yet to come.”
She ran her fingers through my hair. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I love you, that’s what on my mind.”
She sat up straight and looked at me with admiration and love in those big green eyes of hers.
“I love ye’ too, fuckface.”
I snorted. “You better, fat ass.”
Bronagh grinned. “How are ye’ holdin’ up after everythin’ with Georgie?”
“I’ve considered whether or not you and the kids could survive without me if I went to jail.”
“And what conclusion did ye’ come to?”
“That’d you guys would miss me too much.”
“We would.” Bronagh nodded. “I’d prefer if ye’ stayed home with us. If ye’ don’t mind benchin’ prison, that is.”
Smartass.
I sighed. “If I have to.”
She smiled, and my heart thudded against my chest.
“You’re so beautiful, Bronagh.”
Her cheeks flamed, and it drew a chuckle from me.
“After all this time, you still blush when I sweet-talk you.”
“Hush up.”
I smiled, tugged her head to mine, and kissed her until her body melted against me.
“Hmmmm.” She hummed against my lips. “I’ll never get tired of your kisses.”
“Good,” I said, relaxing. “‘Cause I plan on giving you kisses for a very long time.”
My wife smiled. “I know our girl hurt ye’ today. She hurt me too.”
I rested my forehead against hers.
“I’m terrified of her growing up, Bronagh. I’m not ready for it to happen yet.”
“I know, love. It’s snuck up on us. Yesterday, she was a baby, and today, she is a young woman.”
I squeezed her body. “This is fucking shit.”
Bronagh laughed. “Think of it, though, we get to watch her grow into a woman. We get to see her start a career for herself, fall in love, get married, and have babies of her own. We raised good kids, Dominic. She’s gonna do us proud. I know she is.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. “She’s my only daughter, and I just ... I just want ... I want her to be the best she can be. I want her to make mistakes, but I want to her take responsibility for them, like she did tonight. She’s perfect to me, Bronagh. She’s an extension of you. All my babies are an extension of you.”
Bronagh brushed her fingers over my lips. “They’re all extensions of you, too. Our boys look just like you and your brothers. Georgie has your smile and your strength.”
My chest warmed.
“D’ye feel better after speakin’ to ‘er?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “But I’m still scared because she says she won’t do anything grown-up until she is older, but we both know that can be bullshit. What was I doing to you when I was eighteen and you were seventeen?” I asked with a frustrated shake of my head. “I didn’t just kiss you in that hospital room when you sprained your hand. My fingers got very intimate with you, if I remember it correctly.”
My wife hummed. “Oh, I remember, husband.”
“Not now, wife.”
“Ye’ made me body yours,” she continued.
“Exactly,” I whispered. “Do you remember what I did to you when we were kids? I touched you, licked you, sucked you, and fucked you so hard you sometimes forgot to breathe. Jesus, Bronagh, I’d have jumped through hoops just to have your body before I even knew you. Georgie is shaped like you, so I know this little prick will have a mind like I did, and he will want to—God, I can’t even say it.”
“Dominic”—my wife chuckled—”ye’ can’t really think she will be a virgin forever.”
“Christ, Bronagh,” I almost whimpered. “You have no idea how much I can’t talk about this. She is my baby girl. No punk will ever be good enough for her. She is above everyone in this world. I love her more than life itself, and this ... this is just fucking hard, okay? She was five yesterday asking me for piggy back rides and telling me boys were icky, and now she has a damn boyfriend. Fuck!”
My wife’s arms came around my neck, and her head rested against mine.
“Our babies are growin’ up.”