Silence.
Bronagh stroked her thumb over my hand. “What’d he say?”
“That he regretted it.” I snorted humourlessly. “That the second he found out me ma had cancer, he ended it. That the possibility of losin’ ’er made ’im realise how wrong he had been and that she is the only one he could ever love and want.”
Damien murmured, “You don’t believe him?”
“No,” I answered. “I don’t. If he loved ’er in the first place, he would have never looked at another woman, much less have a relationship with ’er. He swore to God that they never had sex, but even if they didn’t, he still cheated on ’er. He broke the vows he made to ’er.”
“Does your mom know?” Alec inquired.
I looked at him and shook my head, drawing a frown from him.
“He begged me not to tell ’er.” I snivelled. “He said we need ’er to focus on gettin’ better, and if I tell ’er, it won’t help that.”
“That manipulative bastard!” Aideen scowled. “He is usin’ the situation to hide his mistakes.”
I solemnly nodded. “I know, but as much as it pains me to admit it, he is right.”
“How so?” Bronagh quizzed.
“If I tell me ma about the affair, it’ll break ’er, and I don’t think she’ll want to beat ’er cancer.”
“Of course she will,” Damien spluttered. “She’ll want to live.”
“You don’t understand,” I cried. “She adores me da. She is so in love with ’im, Damien. If I tell ’er, it’ll ruin ’er.”
Silence.
“Whatever you decide to do,” Bronagh reassured. “We’ll fully support you.”
“Thanks,” I acknowledged. “That means a lot.”
“I’ll make tea,” Branna announced.
This was one situation that tea couldn’t make better.
“No,” I quickly said, “I’m not stayin’.”
She frowned at me. “But, Alannah—”
“I really just want to go home, Bran.”
Branna’s frown stayed in place as she nodded at me.
“I thought you were supposed to have the babies by now? On Monday, when I saw you last, you said you were gettin’ induced in four days’ time, but that has come and gone.”
“Me doctor changed me dates last minute. I’m thirty-eight weeks now, so anytime to have them is a good time.” She placed a hand on her large stomach. “I’m gettin’ induced this Friday for definite if I don’t go into labour before then.”
I smiled. “That makes me shitty day much better.”
She winked at me, but she couldn’t hide the worry I knew she felt for me. I didn’t want to worry her further so I stood, the action causing Damien and Bronagh’s arms to fall away from me. “I better get goin’.”
Everyone was frowning at me, and I hated it. I didn’t want anyone’s pity, but I knew I received it tenfold.
Bronagh stood. “I’ll walk you out.”
I said goodbye to everyone, and she grabbed my hand when we reached the front door.
“What am I goin’ to do?” I asked her. “I can’t lose ’er, Bronagh. I can’t.”
“You won’t,” she said firmly. “There isn’t a chance your ma won’t beat this.”
“But there is,” I whimpered. “There is a chance she won’t survive.”
“Look at me,” she ordered, and when I did, she leaned in and kissed my cheek. “She will be fine.”
I nodded, repeating that over and over in my mind.
“I’m comin’ to stay the night with you,” she added. “Give me a minute to get clothes.”
“No,” I told her. “Stay ’ere with your family. I know I’ve had plenty of it, but bein’ on me own when things get too much for me is just what I need.”
She wasn’t happy with my decision, but she didn’t argue with me. He did, though.
“Excuse me, Bee.”
Bronagh moved aside when Damien stepped into the hall, and I stepped back when he approached me.
“I’m staying the night.”
I was sure my eyebrows reached my hairline.
“Excuse me?”
“You have a spare bedroom,” Damien said, his grey eyes locked on mine. “I’m sleeping in there.”
I looked at Bronagh, and she looked as shocked as I felt, but she said nothing. I turned my attention back to Damien. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He shrugged. “I’m still staying the night.”
A part of me was shocked at his boldness while another part of me liked it. A week ago, if he had made such a demand, I’d have argued with him until I was blue in the face, but tonight ... I had no fight left in me. I didn’t want to argue with him anymore, so I relented.
“Okay.”
Bronagh almost fell over at my acceptance, but she said nothing. She stood mute as she glanced back and forth between Damien and me.
“Good,” Damien said with a nod. “I don’t need anything, so we can go.”
Robotically, I said goodbye to Bronagh, hugging her tightly before I turned away from her, then along with Damien, I walked down the pathway and climbed into my car. I put my key in the ignition, buckled my seat belt, but before I put the car in gear, I looked at Damien in the passenger side of the car.