“That gave ye’ no right to attack the man durin’ the kids’ game, Alec.”
I waved my sister-in-law off. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Ye’ made the man cry,” Alannah countered. “And a bunch of the kids, too.”
I’ll admit ... I forgot about that part.
“Bad things happen every day. They needed toughing up.”
“It was a nine-year-old’s football game, Alec. Not the bloody World Cup final.”
My brothers laughed at Alannah, which made me rolled my eyes.
“Even if I wanted to go to their games, which I don’t, Miller hurt his head, so he’s staying home. Alfie is in my house too. I’ll watch them.”
“Ye’ sure?” Alannah quizzed. “I won’t be there to annoy ye’. Dominic will be there, so will Kane. I’ll be at the community centre.”
She practically lived there.
“That’s a tempting offer, but no. I’m good, love.”
Alannah snorted as she walked by me, and mumbled, “Star Trek is still better.”
“Trekkie whore!”
She ran all the way to her car laughing. She jumped into the passenger side and locked the door, screaming when she looked up and saw me staring through the window motioning my finger across my neck.
“You’re done when I get you, Ryan.”
“I’ll have you know she’s been a Slater for ten years.”
I looked at my baby brother, ignoring the fact that at thirty-eight he wasn’t a baby anymore, and glared at him.
“The demon part of her is a Ryan. That’s when the bitch comes out to play.”
“Don’t curse!” Alannah shouted through the window.
“Excuse me, but I am a Christian.” I placed my hand over my heart. “I would never speak such vulgar language in front of children.”
Alannah rolled her eyes. “It’s amazing how ye’ become a man of God when you’re in it up to your neck.”
I scowled at her. “Back off, Satan.”
She beamed at me, then discreetly stuck her finger up at me as my brother drove off with my nephews waving and making funny faces at me. Ryder was getting into his van too, so I waved at him, then jogged back across the road to my house, watching my step this time. When I entered my house and closed the door after me, I went into the sitting room and found my wife lying on her side with her eyes closed. I knew she was asleep without having to get close to her to confirm it. After we had babies, she developed the magical ability to fall asleep whenever there was silence.
I sat next to her and put her feet on my lap. Un-pausing the television, I watched Star Wars by myself. When an hour passed by, I got up, careful not to wake Keela, and went to check on the boys. They were off their video game without me having to tell them, which pleased me. They were playing with slime that the boys had recently made, and once I saw they had the protective sheets on the floor, I made no mention of reminding them to be careful.
“Are you guys hungry?”
“Yeah,” they answered in unison.
“What do you want?”
“I’m feelin’ noodles,” Alfie answered.
“Yeah.” Miller bobbed his head in agreement. “I want noodles, too. Curry ones.”
“I’ll have chicken, please.”
With their orders noted, I went down to the kitchen and made their noodles. I called them down to eat when I dished them up and put them on the table. I jumped a little when I felt hands slide around my stomach. I relaxed when I heard my wife giggle.
“You scared me.”
“I know,” she mused. “Ye’ never hear me when I come up behind ye’.”
“‘Cause you move like a ninja.”
Keela chuckled, and when I turned to face her, my smile vanished when I saw her eyes were red and swollen.
“What’s wrong?”
She blinked. “Nothin’, why?”
I lifted my hands to her face and gently brushed my fingers under her eyes.
“You were crying.”
Keela waved me off. “I just had a bad dream.”
“About what?”
She looked away from me. “Those noodles smell good.”
I turned her head back in my direction and frowned down at her. I hate seeing her upset in any way, and knowing something made her cry, even if it was a dream, made my stomach roil.
“Alec, I’m fine, honey.”
“Then tell me what made you cry.”
She swallowed. “It’s just ... that ... that nightmare I used to have, remember?”
My entire body tensed, and my heart rate pick up its pace. She hadn’t had that nightmare in years and knowing that those images were once again in her beautiful mind cut me to the bone. She only had that nightmare because of me. Everything about it was my fault.
“Kitten.”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t move a muscle.
“Keela.”
She closed her eyes. “It was ... I saw them ... touchin’ ye’ again.”
Sickness filled my gut, and my heart just about shattered. I tightened my hold on my wife.
“I have never been touched until you first lay your hands and lips on my body. I have never been touched in any way that matters until there was you. You’re the only person on this Earth to own me mind, body, and soul.”