“We’re okay, we’re okay.” Aunt Shannon rubbed my back. “It’s okay, sweetie.”
When she released me, I bit my lip to stop tears. I was so tired of crying, but more than that, I didn’t want her comforting me when I was the one who should be comforting her.
“There aren’t enough apologies in the world. I can’t believe that I put you in this position.”
Aunt Shannon tucked a long wavy lock of red hair behind her ear. “You didn’t put me in this position. Some arsehole at a tabloid newspaper did.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “Maia, you know things are strained between me and my parents and your aunt Amanda.” She referred to her and Dad’s older sister. I wasn’t super close with her, just like I wasn’t super close to my paternal grandparents, but they’d always been kind to me. I knew they hadn’t been kind to Shannon, though. “Even before everything that happened, I felt like the odd one out. Logan was always the favorite. With all of us. My parents and Amanda told me I made bad choices, including with men …” She lowered her gaze. “So, when the abuse from my ex got to the point it did, when he attacked me and I ran to your dad without thinking about the consequences, they were so angry at me.”
I knew this. And to be honest, it had tainted my view of them.
“They blamed me for Logan going to prison. They blamed it on my choices. There was never any support or empathy or kindness toward me for a situation that I realize now was not my fault. And it broke me in ways that can never be fixed.” She reached out to take my hand. “Therefore, I will never blame you for a situation that is notyour fault. You will never have anything but my love and support.”
“Aunt Shannon,” I whispered, beyond grateful for her.
“The kids are too young to know what’s being said in the papers. My only social media is my business accounts, and I have someone running those, monitoring them, so I’m not even aware of any discussions that might be had about me. I have no shame or guilt about my past now and neither does your dad, which is what matters to me. So, I don’t want you to be burdened by that, okay? I’m more worried about you than I am about your dad and me, and I know he feels the same way.”
I exhaled shakily, holding back fresh tears. Then I told her everything. The real story. About Becky, Will, the campaign, Baird. All of it. “I’m feeling a million things. Guilt. I can’t help that. Guilt for lying, even though everything turned out true in the end. Guilt for dragging you into this. Hurt that someone I didn’t even know tried to sabotage my life. Resentment at Maryanne for not caring enough, for never having cared enough.”
“Sweetheart.”
“But gratitude,” I hurried to say. “To you and Dad and all my family and friends because you’ve all just been amazing throughout this. And … I’m so deeply, deeply in love with that man out there.” I gestured back to her shop. “It terrifies me to think that one day I might not have him anymore.”
Shannon wrapped me in another big hug, swaying me from side to side. She pulled back, reaching up to cup my face, a beautiful smile wreathing hers. “I know that kind of love, Maia, and I am so excited for you. Just know that it is terrifying at first. It takes a while for that to settle. But you’ll get there, and when you do, there’s only the love.”
“Thank you for being my aunt.”
“That, sweetheart, is a privilege. No thanks required.”
Baird held my hand tightly in his as we drove the five minutes to his place. He seemed to know I was in processing mode and so he talked quietly to me, but his next words had me on alert. “Mum, Ains, and the grandparents called. They’re asking for you.”
“What was their reaction to the articles?”
“What do you think? They’re angry at your mum and feel bad for your family. No judgment. Granddad said your dad sounds like his kind of bloke.”
“Did you … did you tell them about the club?”
“Aye. They’re proud of me.” He gave me a pointed look. “They didn’t raise a man who would choose anything over family. And you’re my family, My.”
“You’re my family too. How are you, really? You’ve spent the whole morning by my side, dealing with my stuff, and you went through something huge too.”
“Maia, I meant it. I am totally at peace with my decision. I wouldn’t lie about that just to appease you.”
“I’m here if you do find yourself needing to talk about it.”
“I know, gorgeous. I promise. I’m good.”
“Have you told Callan and John?”
“They were with me when I did it. Callan wanted the gaffer to know that as captain, he felt it was a catastrophic decision for the team.” He grinned. “That was the word he used.”
“He’s right. You’re an amazing goalkeeper.”
“Aye, well, Fred Burbank thinks he knows best, and I don’t want to waste my energy on an arsehole like that.”
“I’m proud of you.”
