“Two months!”
“When you know, you know. We’ve been married forty-one years last September.”
“Do you have any children?”
Her smile fades a fraction. “No, we weren’t blessed in that department, but those men out there keep me busy enough that I don’t pay it any mind. They’re all the family I need. Hell, I’m more of a mother to some of them than their own flesh and blood.”
“I expect they’re quite a handful.”
“Oh, yes,” she agrees. “Especially your man.”
“Myman?”
She gives me a knowing smile. “That man is in love with you.”
I drop my gaze back to the potatoes in front of me. “I don’t know about that.”
“I know the look of love when I see it. He might not realise it himself, but he loves you. He’s a different man since you two have been seeing each other.” She drops her knife and turns to me. “Ask yourself this, when was the last time he took part in one of those fights at the bar since you two got together?”
I search back through my mind. The last fight was at the barn. He hasn’t fought at the bar in weeks.
When I don’t say anything, her smile widens, knowing she’s right.
“He fights to numb the pain inside. The fact he hasn’t fought since you grew close tells you everything you should know. He doesn’t need to, because you are the balm for his pain now. He’s more at ease. Less reckless. You’ve given him focus, apurpose.”
With that, she turns back to chopping her carrots, leavingme with that thought to play on my mind.
An hour later, we’re all sat around the dinner table with enough food in front of us to feed an army. It looks a little excessive, but the amount of food these guys pack away I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve made more. Both Jett and Killian are on their second helpings by the time I’ve finished my first and the thought of going in for more is enough to make me feel sick. If I eat anymore Killian’s going to have to carry me home.
“Okay, everyone,” Fi calls, jumping up from her seat, stealing everyone’s attention. “Pick out a fortune cookie, but keep it to yourselves otherwise it won’t come true.”
Fi does a lap around the table, letting us all pick one out of the bag she’s holding.
I snap open mine, pulling out the piece of paper inside and unfolding it.
An unexpected blessing is coming your way.
My belly does a little flip, though I’m not sure if it’s from excitement or nerves.
An unexpected blessing… I wonder what that could mean.
Beside me, Killian is unfurling the tiny piece of paper inside his. He takes a moment to read it, but his face gives nothing away.
Once the table has been cleared, someone suggests karaoke. Fi, who’s always up for anything gets us all in the Christmas spirit by doing her best Mariah Carey withAll I Want For Christmas Is You. Jett channels his inner Jon Bon Jovi with his not-so-terrible rendition ofLiving On A Prayer, while Alex completely annihilatesHighway To Hellby AC/DC, soundingmore like a cat being strangled than the lead singer.
We follow Kit’s lead in playing charades. We play board games and Kit teaches me how to play the new zombie video game he got for Christmas.
Every now and then, I glance across and catch Killian staring at me, though his gaze is pensive.
What is he thinking?
Rita’s words from earlier play on my mind.
Doeshe love me?
Is it possible?
It’s late when Killian and I arrive back at his house.
