I studied her face, wondering how in the fuck I hadn’t realized how beautiful she was until that moment. How her face would be enough if it was the last one I’d ever see. How out of every woman in the entire world, my eyes had decided she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever see.
“No, my darlin,’” I said. “When I stole your heart, I found something I’d never felt before. Relief.”
Her head came forward, resting against my chest. “You can’t truly appreciate peace without chaos.” She wrapped her arms around me, turning her head to the side to look out at the water. She pressed even closer to me. “I can hear it, the chaos. It’s tearing you apart from the inside. The truth about your Da, the truth he hid from you, is killing something inside of you. Don’t let it,” she whispered. “My heart is yours now, Cashel Kelly, and if something kills you, it kills me. That’s why I called youmy heart. Because you are, no matter who you are or what you’ve done. You’re mine. End of story.”
30
Keely
We spent the rest of the month in Ireland, Maureen and the kids joining us after two weeks.
After that, we headed to Scotland, to spend some time with my family. Cash insisted. He said all ghosts had to be put to rest. It wasn’t easy breaking the news to my Mam that I wouldn’t be going back to Broadway; I would be starting an art class. For whatever reason, she seemed to handle it better when Cash was next to me.
Maybe it wasn’t Cash at all. Maybe it was because I’d finally set boundaries on her guilt, and my life was what it was. I couldn’t bring my sister back, no matter how many times I held my breath, and it was time for me to live my life. My life. Not hers.
Before we left, my brothers attacked Cash like a bunch of wrestlers during a free-for-all, since Harrison decided to tell them the circumstances of our first wedding in New York. He said he couldn’t keep it from them any longer because they’d all decided to work for Cash. He’d funded a pub for them, and he required a certain amount of the proceeds until the loan was paid back. I sensed there was more to it, maybe some criminal dealings, but my brothers were grown men, and I couldn’t fix all of their problems, either.
However.
It was decided that my parents would never find out about the circumstances that brought Cash and me together. I had dirt on each of my brothers that I’d sworn never to reveal. Shit was going to get real if they snitched on me first.
As far as I was concerned, I’d found my place in Cash Kelly’s life, and I claimed my spot at his table. Our business was our own, and how we got to where we were in our relationship was no one’s concern but ours.
After that, Maureen and the kids went home to New York, while we flew to Italy to meet Harrison. He’d been spending time with Gigi, Mac’s cousin, and I needed to see Mari. I decided that since I was expelling all of my old ghosts, it was time for me to come clean with her. About everything.
Harrison stood with me and Mari while Cash went out to talk to Mac.
After I spilled my guts, Mari said, “You said you had something to talk to me about. You told methings. Plenty of things.”
“I guess I did,” I said. “I had to. It was time.”
She nodded. “I knew about your sister.”
I immediately turned to look at Harrison, who held his hands up. “She needed to know.”
“When did you tell her?” I asked.
“Years ago.”
“You’re worse than a gossiping little bitch,” I said.
He laughed and so did Mari.
She put her hand over mine, squeezing. “I’m glad you finally told methings,” she said.
“Yeah,” I said, leaning in and kissing her head. “I’m glad you finally told methings, too.”
“I’ll always be your little sister,” she said. “But we’re all grown-up now. You don’t have to protect me anymore, Kee. I’m going to be okay.”
“Fucka me,” I said, copying her, wiping my eyes. It was something she said that mirrored what her adoptive Sicilian grandfather used to say when bugs would eat the vegetables in his garden. He had an accent, and he would add an “‘a” to the end of words sometimes. It must’ve stuck with her, something to keep him close.
On the plane back to New York, I closed my eyes, my head on Kelly’s shoulder while he read a book.
“Tell me one thing, my darlin’,” he said, his eyes scanning the page. “Now that you know the reason why I stole your heart. Is it good enough?”
“It all happened the way it was supposed to,” I said, leaning in and kissing the tiger on his neck. “You found me through the reason, no matter what it stemmed from.” I hesitated. One minute. Two. “I think we should invite Maureen and the kids to come and live with us permanently.”
Even though I loved it when it was the two of us, having them around filled something inside of me that I had no idea was missing. When the kids were around, it was like our family was complete. I loved to hear Connolly giggle, even though she still wasn’t talking much. I loved to see Ryan smile and experience all of the milestones children achieve as they grow. And even though Maureen could be a grumpy old lady, I liked having her around, too. Her strength was something I admired.
