Gray
forty-eight
JOSEPHINE
Josephine sighedas she read over the messages in her friends’ group chat. Gray had shown up unexpectedly two weeks ago, giving only a vague reason as to why she’d left Dublin and, more importantly, her baby’s father.
Thomas was beside himself. He had not been a Ciar fan since he found out his daughter was pregnant. Truthfully, he hadn’t been a fan since the night they’d seen him on a date, and Gray had cried.
Thomas was protective of his children at the best of times, but he’d never witnessed a man making Gray emotional, and it enraged him. As Gray’s mother, Jo was more aware of a young woman’s emotional ups and downs and knew that, with enough time, the situation might work itself out.
Which it had, just not for long. Having her daughter pregnant and alone wasn’t making Josephine happy either. After their house decorating and watching Gray fall in love with Ciar’s daughter, Imogen, she had believed that things between the two were finally healing, if not healed.
But here they were, living with their teenage son and an adult daughter who refused to answer a single question about where she planned to live once her baby was born. They didn’t even know if she planned on giving birth in Inverness or Dublin.
There was a fully outfitted baby’s room waiting at Ciar’s while Gray had nothing of her own and refused Jo’s overtures to buy her a home close to theirs and make it ready for the upcoming birth.
Rowan: Bébhinn is worried. Gray refuses to tell any of her friends what happened when Ciar got home from Japan, except that they had a “different opinion on what a relationship consisted of.”
River: What does that even mean? Does he want some sort of open relationship? Christ, Jo, surely the boy isn’t that foolish. Jonathan swears that Ciar isn’t saying.
Catriona: No matter what has happened or is happening between those two, Gray needs to make some decisions about her future. Even one decision!
Aileen: Margaret told me to back off, and not as kindly as that sounds. She said that Gray needs support and zero questions.
Catriona: Blair is still in Wales, but she agrees. She told me to give Gray space. The baby was coming with or without Gray being in a relationship with the baby’s father.
Josephine: She isn’t wrong about that.
Raven: Daniel has been very quiet. If Ciar has opened up with him, he isn’t saying. I think you should let it ride for now, Jo. Give her support and space. Let her soak up the comfort and safety of her family home without expectations.
Rowan: I agree. She will confide in you when the time is right. Bébhinn said that they speak every day. Gray isn’t cutting anyone off, which is a good sign. She just needs a place to settle.
River: And if it comes to it, and she goes into labor without a baby blanket to her name, Great-grandma O’Connor will move heaven and earth to outfit her newest grandchild before he so much as sneezes.
Josephine: You guys are right. I’ll love her only. No pushing.
forty-nine
GRAY
“Lochlann!”Gray screamed from her parents’ kitchen. “So help me God, if you leave dirty dishes in the sink one more damn time, I will strangle you while you sleep.”
Dramatic? Yes. Did she care? No.
“Christ have mercy, Jo,” her father barked from his office, “do something with your children before I kick them both out.”
An empty threat, but still, Gray felt a modicum of remorse and embarrassment over her childish behavior, even if her brother was a little shit.
She’d left Dublin two months ago. Left Ciar two months ago, specifically. Her son would be born in a few weeks, which didn’t improve her attitude. Sure, she was beyond excited to meet her wee son, but she was equally downtrodden.
Ciar hadn’t come for her. He hadn’t sat her down and explained. Anything. He didn’t text her or tell her he missed her beyond measure, like heroes did in the movies. He didn’t sweep her off her feet and force her back to Dublin.
He didn’t give her declarations of love. Or even declarations of like.
She wanted her child more than anything she’d ever wanted, but the unknown of “them” cut off her joy like a rusted valve.
She was stuck.
