Chapter 15
The next day, the boys leave early for a meeting. Emma has a doctor's appointment. Ari and I offer to go with her, but she insists that she wants to go alone. It's a pretty quiet day until everyone comes back. When Emma gets back from the doctor’s, she goes straight to her room. I don't question her because I figure she is still not feeling well and just wants to rest.
When the boys come back, dinner is almost ready. Rebel's phone rings just as they walk in the door and her steps into the living room to take it. Ice goes upstairs to check on Emma and when they come back down, Emma is practically glowing. Ice looks a bit wary and I realize my assumptions are correct. They're having a baby. He then confirms my suspicions with the big announcement. My heart shatters, not only for my unborn child, but for the fact that it’s not me having Ice’s baby.Why couldn’t it have been me? I would have done anything for him.I laugh at myself. I still would do anything for him.
"OMG!" Ari squeals. "I'm gonna be an aunt!" She runs over to Emma and hugs her tightly then steps back. "Are you really pregnant?" I laugh at her excitement. Despite my jealousy, I have to say that I am excited for them as well.
Emma laughs too. "Yes, Ari, I'm really pregnant, and yes, you are gonna be an aunt."
She runs over to Ice and jumps up and down. "My big brother is gonna be a daddy! I'm so excited!" she sings.
I walk over to Emma and give her a hug. I'm fighting back tears and I don't know if they are tears of joy for them or tears of loss for me—not for Ice, but for the baby I lost all those years ago. I will regret that every day of my life. Ice is the only one that knows about that and I prefer to keep it that way. He catches my solemn look and I know he's thinking about it. I smile at him to show him that I am truly happy for him and Emma. He replies silently, indicating to me that he understands just by the look on his face. I walk over to him and say awkwardly, "You're gonna make one hell of a dad, Ice."
"Ya think?"
"Hell yeah, I sure do," I say confidently.
He smiles and then replies with feeling, "Thanks, Honey, that means a lot."
He looks around at everyone and smiles. "Well, this could not have come at a better time. We are all whole, we've finally made peace with the Satans, and things should be calming down now significantly."
Before anything else is said, we hear Rebel yell, "What the fuck! What do you mean you don't know where they are?" Ice turns to Rebel to see what's going on.
"Find them! I'll get there as soon as I can!" He hits end on his conversation and looks at Ice with total despair in his eyes. I've never seen Rebel like this. Rebel says, "Ice, man, I need you. We have to go to Belfast."
"Belfast? What the fuck, Rebel? I just fucking got home and you're telling me I have to leave. Have you lost your mind, brother?"
"That call was from my brother, Damon. My parents are missing. Actually, they've been missing for a couple of weeks now, but those fuckers decided to wait until now to tell me," Rebel replies.
"Missing?" Ice asks. Rebel goes on to explain that his parents are IRA and something went down in Ireland and he needs to go there and find them. Ice doesn't even hesitate. He just got back with his family, but instead of saying no and telling Rebel he's on his own, he readily agrees to help him.
Emma, Ari, and I are not too pleased about this as we soon realize that our men are going to Ireland. It's not gonna be a vacation, either, as we gather there is quite a bit of danger involved. And most importantly, they are not taking us along.
They spend the next day engrossed in making plans. We hardly see them, but I am pleased to find out that Hawk is not going. Ice needs him to stay back and move things forward with the MC. I have to say that I kind of like those plans. This change in our relationship status is new and the thought of him leaving indefinitely had me worried. I also think it will be good for us that the Ice factor will be thousands of miles away.
The boys are leaving tomorrow morning and we are having a ‘going away' dinner for them tonight. Ari is heading back to school tomorrow as well. It will be just Emma and me here. She and Ice have assured me that I can stay as long as I want until the new clubhouse is finished. Everything seems to be settling down, except for the guys leaving. But I know they will be ok, they will do what they have to do and be back before we know it.
I'm in the kitchen working on dinner when Emma comes in. "Hey girl," I say as she walks in.
"Hey. Can I help you with anything?"
I smile and reply, "No love, I'm good. But thanks for asking." I'm in an unusually good mood today and I begin to hum. I catch Emma watching me curiously and I know she is wondering what's up. Finally, she asks, "Ok, Honey, what's going on?"
I stop humming and look up at her. "Nothing,"
"Don't tell me ‘nothing', girl. You're humming! You never hum!" she says and she's fucking right. I can't help but laugh.
"Am I that transparent?"
"Yeah! So what's up?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know. Silly girl, you've become a good friend. If something is going on with you, of course I want to know."
"Well, I think things might be getting better for me in the relationship department," I say and I can't help the smile on my face. Hell, every time I think of that kiss I smile.
"Oh my God! Did Hawk finally admit that he has feelings for you?"
