Ronan descended slowly, little Clara tucked into his arms. He kept his head down, concentrated on his steps and the precious bundle in his arms.
Bree’s hand tightened on my shoulder, and she released a tiny sound so full of love that I covered her hand with mine.
Her chin lifted at the contact, and she looked across the room. “It has been my deepest fear that my tiny, precious, innocent baby girl would be mocked, pitied, or branded a mistake because of how she came into this world.”
A few people around the room gaped, their mouths falling open with wide gasps.
Bree kept going. “I want my daughter to feel safe and loved. That is how I felt growing up here. As a little girl, this town welcomed me, loved me. This community made me feel accepted. And I know that you can be as kind as you were cruel when I came back. If you can learn to accept me, to accept that I do not fit your perfect mold of a Clover Hill citizen, then I would very much like for my baby girl to grow up here.”
She’d put so much of her heart into the speech that several people sniffed and dabbed their eyes. Mine watered with the threat of tears I kept at bay even as my chest cracked open with an outpouring of love so strong it locked my legs. I’d been angry with her for leaving, but hearing her impassioned speech broke down my anger, sending it away in a rush that melted my heart.
Would they accept her? They’d better, because I would not give her up again. I shared a look with Ronan, then Finn–who’d entered in time to hear Bree’s speech. We understood each other with nothing more than that look and moved to surround the woman we loved.
39
BREE
I couldn’t remember a single time when I’d been more nervous than right this instant. My palms went all clammy and disgusting, and I breathed so fast the people closest probably heard me wheezing. Thankfully, that would be Declan.
As though he knew I was thinking about him, he released the back of the chair and moved to my side, sliding an arm around my waist. I moved my hand to the back of his neck to keep the angle from being too awkward.
Ronan moved in front of me, Clara snug in his embrace. Finn closed in on the other side and matched Declan’s stance, complete with his arm on top of Declan’s at my back.
My breathing hitched into a whooshing sound as I stared across the pub. Would these people I’d grown up with, the people I’d loved and respected so much, turn their backs on me again? On us? My men made it clear they were with me. Their presence alone bolstered my courage.
I knew this town. I knew what Mom feared and what I’d experienced as a girl and as a woman. I knew the kindness and cruelty they possessed.
Which would they turn on me and Clara? The fact I didn’t know for sure almost sent me down to the floor and rushing out the door.
I stood tall and firm instead. I hoped that by addressing my fears head on, and telling them exactly what I expected and calling them out on their shit last year, we could move on to something better. It might be too much to ask, but I had to try.
It was our only chance at a happy life in Clover Hill, living above the pub Nana loved so much.
With the men I loved.
God how I loved them.
Ronan shifted Clara when she fussed. His quiet shushing echoed in the dead silence that had yet to break. Then, he lifted his head. “We are a family. Bree. Finn. Declan. Clara. And me.” The way he said it, the absolute certainty in his low voice and how he met every eye in the pub dared anyone to tell him no.
My heart skipped, and I put my free hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and kissed my knuckles. Right there in front of everyone. I didn’t want to cry, but just having them beside me turned on the waterworks.
Having Ronan stand up for me made it inevitable.
Finn tightened his hold on my waist. “We love each other, and we will not apologize for that. Not now. Not ever. Not to anyone.”
“You can accept it, or you can fuck right off.” Declan growled the words.
I’d never, ever heard him talk like that to anyone. It sent delicious shivers down my spine. When they said they’d have my back, I hadn’t expected this.
“We hid this from you last year because we knew you were too smallminded to understand that the three of us can love Bree together. We love her equally, and we want to be with her. Wewillbe with her.” Finn’s hard stare matched Declan’s. I couldn’t see Ronan’s face, but I would bet money he glared just as hard. “We will be Clara’s father. All three of us.”
He shut down the obvious question with his firm statement.
Surprise appeared on several faces. I waited for the disgust and condemnation. I tried not to anticipate it, but it was all they’d given me before.
Declan grasped the hand I’d put on his neck and pulled it around to kiss my palm. “Our love is unconventional, but that does not make it any less. It is not less powerful. It is not less important. We hope you can learn to accept it. We want Bree to stay this time, and she will not do that if you push her away.”
“Everyone should have seen by now that Bree is part of this town.” Finn picked up the story again. “She is the heart of this town. Just like Shayla and Maeve were. We will not let you take that away from her, or from us.”
