I nod, my eyes never leaving Lucky’s as he shuffles by me. As I make my way to the stage, I take her in. She’s wearing a bright green shirt with the words “One lucky teacher” printed over her perfect tits and a dark green skirt covered in shamrocks.
Da would hate it, but I think she looks feckin’ beautiful.
“I’m sorry I had to leave ya the other night,” I say, my voice rough since I haven’t used it much today.
She tilts her head, examining my face as if she’s waiting for me to say more.
“I didn’t want to leave ya. I never want to leave ya. Nothing will change that. You and those boys matter more to me than any bloodline or name. And I don’t care if you can’t have more. You are enough for me, all of ya.”
Her fingers twitch and I watch as she reaches into the pocket of her dress and pulls out a folded piece of paper,handing it to me with a shaky hand. Is she nervous? Why is she nervous? And why hasn’t she said anything?
Something tightens in my gut at the way she’s acting. It’s not like her. Her eyes flick to the paper, gesturing for me to open it.
I blink in confusion. When I unfold it, I realize it’s her list. Everything we’ve completed is checked off. The only unfinished item—“be less boring in bed,” along with my suggestion for her to pick a new item—is scratched out, and next to it she’s written the words “marry Micah and Levi’s dad.”
Is this her way of telling me she’s getting back with her ex? That she’s done with me now that I’ve completed her list?
“Lucky…” My voice goes rough. “What is this?”
She doesn’t answer as she sinks to one knee in front of me like she’s done waiting on luck to dictate her choices.
“Mike O’Connor, you are my person, the love of my life. You bring me and my boys so much joy and laughter. Our lives are better with you in it. And I want you to be part of our family forever. Someone told me there’s this old story about St. Brigid making St. Patrick give women Leap Day to propose, but I can’t wait until the next one, so I’m asking on St. Patrick’s Day. Will you marry me?”
I haul her up, forehead to forehead, hands shaking on her waist. “A ghrá mo chroí, go deo.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means love of my heart forever.”
I lean down and kiss her, soft and sweet, filled with overwhelming joy at this turn of events. I thought she was about to end things. And then the words she scribbled on her list hit me and I break the kiss, pulling back. “But—Lucky. This says…” I tap the words with my thumb. “It says you want to marry their dad.”
“You are their dad.” She’s beaming, her smile radiant as though that fully answers my question.
I stare at her. Properly stare. “So… you want to marry me so I’ll become their dad?”
“I mean…yes, marrying you makes you their dad in every way that matters.” She reaches up and cups my jaw as her voice softens. “But, Mike… you are their actual dad. Biologically.”
“But we only just met recently. I would have remembered hooking up with ya years ago, especially twice.”
She shakes her head, seemingly unbothered by my confusion. Thank Jesus she has the patience of a saint, because I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out this puzzle she’s dropped in my lap.
“Do you ever remember going to Bright Beginnings Bank?” She smiles as I try to process what she’s saying.
“The sperm bank?”
She nods.
I went there once, early in my twenties out of desperation to give my Da some kids one day. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as a riot of emotions overwhelms me. “Holy feckin’ shite! They’re… you… they’re actually mine? My biological kids? I’m their dad? I have two sons?”
“You do. I used the same sample—your sample apparently—twice.”
I pull her into my arms, lifting and spinning her around as she laughs against me, the sound music to my ears.
When I set her back down, I cup the back of her head and pull her lips to mine. How is it possible that this woman is going to be my wife and is also already the mother of my kids?
“How? How did this happen? How long have ya known? How did ya find out?” I feel like Levi, bombarding her with questions, and it fills me with warmth to think about how many other traits we must share.
“I was watching you and Levi the other day while you were coloring, and you scrunched your brow the same way hedid. And then Micah said something about you having the same color eyes.”
