‘It’s so peaceful,’ she murmurs. ‘It’s stunning.’
I look at her, not the view. ‘It is.’
And I’m not talking about the lake, the mountains or the property—I’m talking about her. About us. What we have.
And I will do whatever it takes to preserve it—us—because she’s everything I never knew I needed in life.
43
AOIFE
We’ve been at the villa for three glorious days now, splitting our time between the bedroom and the decking. This afternoon we’re lying side by side on the cushioned daybeds overlooking the lake glistening in front of us—smooth and unbroken, a pale blue mirror cradled by dark green mountains. My bikini is still wet from our swim. The plush white mattress is warm beneath my skin. The air is balmy with a gentle breeze. And the empty carton of Chunky Monkey Ben & Jerry’s Dom had shipped in especially for me lies discarded on the decking next to me.
I am in utter heaven.
Dominic sprawls beside me in a pair of shorts and prescription sunglasses. His fingers are threaded loosely through mine, and his thumb sweeps over the back of my hand in small circles that are soothing rather than sexual.
I reach for my glass of rosé, cool condensation slick against my fingertips, and take a sip. The taste is light and almost sweet.
I don’t need to do anything. Be anywhere. Cook or cleanfor my father or anyone else. All that demands my attention is the sunshine, the gentle swishing of the lake below, and my husband.
I could get used to a life that feels this calm.
The unsettling, fragile realisation hits me like a punch to the stomach—I shouldn’t get used to it—because this is the calm before the storm. When we get back to Dublin, all the things I hoped to escape are going to be there—but on steroids.
Rory Kavanagh still hasn’t been caught.
I’ll be perpetually looking over my shoulder, and worrying about the man beside me, the man I’m falling deeper for every damn day.
‘Do you feel bad that we’re soaking up the sun while your family are cleaning up the mess we made?’
‘No. That was the plan.’ He squeezes my fingers reassuringly. ‘We’re on honeymoon. We’re damn well going to enjoy it. And the only mess we made was on the bedsheets. Everything else was down to your father, and that cunt Kavanagh.’
I flinch. I’ve barely thought about my father over the past couple of weeks. He is safe. Thanks to Dominic. And that’s all I can ask for.
Dom’s right, I know he is, but I can’t shift the guilt that we’re away while people are fighting a literal war for us.
‘Is there any news from home today?’ I ask tentatively, hating bringing a shadow over us but needing to ask.
‘No news. Kavanagh’s still in hiding. But he can’t hide forever.’ Dominic grimaces.
‘The uncertainty is killing me,’ I admit quietly. ‘I hate that’—I sweep a hand between us—‘this feels borrowed. Like we’ve pressed pause on real life and sooner or later someone’s going to hit play again.’ I swallow. ‘I’ve lovedevery moment here with you… and part of me keeps waiting for the price.’
‘Do you know what I think?’ He twists to face me, shoving his glasses on top of his head. ‘I think deep down, you don’t believe you deserve to be happy.’
I meet his unwavering stare. ‘What makes you think that?’
‘Aoife, you said it yourself. You’ve worked every day of your life. Anything you’ve ever had, you’ve fought for it. Clawed for it. Bled for it. And now…’ His thumb brushes slowly over my knuckles. ‘Now we’ve found something good—at least, I think we have,’ The tiniest flicker of vulnerability flits through his eyes. ‘And you don’t know what to do with it.’
My heart swells in my chest.
My throat tightens.
He’s not wrong.
We found something amazing. Something most people don’t find in an entire lifetime.
‘You’re waiting for the catch,’ he continues quietly. ‘You’re waiting for someone to snatch it away. Like when you finally graduated, landed your dream job, then bang, your father drops another bomb on you.’ His eyes narrow. ‘Because that’s how it’s always been.’
