Chapter Four
Bari
While I’d been blacklisted from information on Ahearn’s recovery by the hospital, Galen, our longtime houseman had no objection to filling me in after his weekly trips to the recovery center where my husband was rehabilitating.
His balance was improving, Galen told me after Ahearn’s third week in recovery, and much of his memory had returned. Except for the parts that included our lives together, it seemed. They were expecting to release him within the week and I had no idea what that would mean for me.
Seven days later, I was out in the herb garden, clipping as much as possible to set up on the drying racks now that the nights were turning colder, when his voice came from behind me.
“Why are you here, Bari?”
“I live here,” I said as calmly as I could manage, never taking my eyes off the plants in front of me. I drew in a deep breath and turned to meet those glorious green eyes. “I would never lie to you, Alpha. We’ve been together more than seventy years. I..I don’t understand why you can’t remember.”
Ahearn’s jaw tightened noticeably. “I can’t answer that, obviously,” he said firmly. “I’ve spoken with my father and he knows nothing about our being together.”
I winced at the accusation in his voice. “No. No, he wouldn’t,” I admitted. “We, ah, decided not to tell your family right away.”
“Right away?” Ahearn sounded amused for a brief moment. “Seventy years is too soon?”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “It’s complicated.”
“That, I believe,” Ahearn agreed with a small sigh. He paused and then continued more quietly. “It took only the briefest scent on waking to know that the babes you carry are not of my line, Bari.”
I cringed, realizing that he must have lain awake as I sat beside him and chosen not to reveal himself. “No,” I admitted. “They are not, but..”
Ahearn interrupted me. “Please, spare me the story,” he said with another sigh. “You can stay the night, but my father is arriving in the morning. I’d prefer to avoid the scene that will be caused by you being present.”
I felt my jaw drop. “But..the estate is mine, also!” I objected. “You can’t throw me out of my home!”
Ahearn studied me as I fought back tears. “I saw another building as I arrived,” he said calmly.
I nodded. “The guesthouse,” I said weakly.
Ahearn gave a decisive nod. “You may stay there until the solicitor determines what happens next.”
I’m ashamed to say I whimpered. “Please, Alpha, don’t send me away!” I held out my hand, oblivious to the mud caked on my nails. “I need your touch. Thebabiesneed your touch! I’ve missed you so much!”
Ahearn shook his head. “It’s unfortunate that you’re in a predicament,” he said quietly, “but I’ll not be playing papa to your bastards. If the father isn’t willing to provide the physical care that you need, I assume that even in this day and age a professional can be found.”
As the love of my life suggested that I hire a stranger to provide me with the intimacy required by my Omega biology, my heart sank and my stomach lurched. I was able to wait until Ahearn had turned his back and walked away to toss my cookies into the garden I’d been tending. Then, I rose to my feet and made my way to the large bedchamberthat I’d so lovingly decorated to share with my mate. Carefully lifting my suitcases off the top closet shelf, I began to pack for my relocation to the guest quarters.
Between the weeks that Ahearn had lain in a coma and the time after where he had recovered in the rehabilitation center, I was already in neglect by the time he had confronted me in the garden. When another week passed of guesthouse isolation and there was no indication that Ahearn was going to relent in his disdain of me, I found myself facing the sad reality that if I didn’t take his advice and seek out an Alpha to tend to my needs, the babes I carried would be lost. Situation be damned,thatwas something that I simply couldn’t allow to happen. The babes were the last chance to continue one of the most distinguished familial lines in our home country and I would not fail in my duty to protect them.
That was how I found myself at the guest services desk of the hospital, hesitantly asking the kindly volunteer if she could possibly page Jan. Surely a nurse would know how to go about finding men who provided intimacy for money? I waited for what seemed an eternity, wringing my hands as I stared out the window, hoping that the fever I could feel burning in my blood wasn’t yet showing in my face.
“Mr. Walsh?” Jan’s quiet voice sounded concerned. “Are you sick? Is there something I can do?”
I managed to hold back my tears but couldn’t control the tremble in my voice as I explained the situation.
“My husband doesn’t remember our relationship,” I said sadly. “He’s withdrawn from me and I believe I am in the beginning stages of neglect.” Jan frowned and I continued, “He told me to seek a professional to provide the Alpha touch I need, but I am not familiar with how that works in this place and time. Can you help?”
“Oh, Sweetie,” Jan crooned, wrapping her arm around my waist. “I can. There’s an organization that helps abandoned Omegas in all conditions, but it might take a couple of days. Can you hold on that long?”
“I think so,” I said hesitantly.
“And you have somewhere safe to be?”
I nodded. “My Alpha is graciously allowing me to stay in our guest house while his attorney attempts to separate our assets.”
