I step into his embrace, breathing in the familiar scent of wood smoke and that spicy aftershave he’s worn for as long as I can remember. “Hi, Dad.”
When we pull apart, he looks past me to Aidan, who’s standing tall with Isla partially hidden behind his legs, her small fingers clutching the fabric of his jeans.
“Paul,” my father says, extending his hand. His voice carries that gentle authority that’s always been his signature.
“Aidan Reid,” Aidan replies, his grip firm as they shake hands. “Thank you for having us.”
Dad nods. “We’ve been looking forward to it. Lucy speaks very highly of you both.”
“Daddy,” Isla whispers. “Can I go see the babies?”
My eyes drift to the couch where Bree and Juliette are sitting with the twins. The girls are tiny, perfect little mirrors of one another, their soft giggles filling the room.
Aidan’s attention flickers to Isla. “Of course.”
Isla approaches cautiously as Juliette beckons her over. “Would you like to sit next to me and say hello?”
Isla nods eagerly, climbing up onto the couch. Aidan relaxes beside me as Isla is welcomed into the fold.
I turn to see Callan striding into the room, his face lightingup when he sees me. Behind him is Knox, whose eyes immediately narrow when they land on Aidan.
“Lou!” Callan sweeps me into a bear hug, lifting me off my feet. “Thought you’d never get here.”
“We’re right on time,” I laugh as he sets me down. “Callan, Knox, this is Aidan. And that’s Isla over there, making friends with the twins.”
Callan’s eyes shift to Aidan before he breaks into a wide grin. He claps Aidan on the shoulder with enough force to make a lesser man stumble. “Welcome to the madhouse, mate.”
Knox finally steps forward to shake Aidan’s hand. His grip looks firmer than necessary. “Knox. Nice to meet you.”
“Knox, play nice!” Juliette calls from the couch.
“Yeah,” Bree adds. “Don’t break him yet. I haven’t even gotten a chance to interrogate him.”
I let out a laugh, feeling some of the tension lift from my shoulders. I slip my hand back into Aidan’s, giving it a squeeze.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper, leaning closer to him. “That’s Bree’s way of saying she likes you.”
Aidan doesn’t look entirely convinced, but his mouth quirks up at one corner.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Mum calls from the doorway.
As everyone starts moving toward the dining room, I notice Isla still perched on the couch beside Juliette, completely entranced by the twins. Her small face is alight with wonder as one of the babies grabs her finger.
The pride in Aidan’s eyes as he watches her makes my heart swell.
Dinner goes well with easy conversation. Once the plates are cleared, Isla abandons her chair at the table in favor of playing in the living room with the twins.
Everything seems to be falling into place. My family’s warming up to Aidan, and he’s more than holding hisown. True to form, my dad can’t let the question I’ve been waiting for go unasked now that it’s only adults at the table. “So, Aidan, you’re quite a bit older than Lucy, aye?”
My heart skips a beat, and suddenly, the room shrinks. A knot forms in my stomach. I quickly glance at Aidan again, but he’s not reacting the way I thought he might. No tension in his jaw, no shift in his posture. He was waiting for this.
The words hang there, awkward, like they always do when my dad asks something everyone else sidesteps. Aidan reaches for my hand under the table, and his voice when he answers is astonishingly sure.
“Ten years, yes,” Aidan says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. Callan’s watching us with interest while Knox’s gaze is more scrutinizing.
“And you work on the rigs?” Dad asks, leaning back in his chair.
“Aye, North Sea. Two weeks on, two weeks off. Been doing it for eight years now.”
