“Well.” Dad adjusted his glasses on the other end of the call, voice gruff but calm. “There she is. My daughter, the newlywed. I suppose congratulations are in order…though, I’d have preferred to hear it from you myself, not the front page of the Irish Independent.”
My head dropped, a ragged breath escaping. “Dad…we planned to tell you before it got out. But Danny went off the rails last night and…”
“I know,” he cut in gently. “He called me.”
My stomach twisted. “So you already knew?”
“I did. Thankfully. Because if I’d woken up and seen those papers without warning, it might’ve put me back in hospital.” He gave a dry grin.
“Dad, for fuck’s sake, don’t say that.” I huffed.
“Orla, look.” His voice softened, but the weight of it still pressed on me. “You’re my only daughter. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. There’s nothing more I’d have wanted than to walk you down the aisle, especially knowing your mother wouldn’t be there to help you pick the dress.”
The words landed like a sledgehammer to my heart. Beside me, Tyler scrunched his eyes shut, as though he were taking the blow on my behalf.
“But,” Dad went on, his expression easing. “You’ve always done what you wanted, and I’ve never held you back. You’re not stupid, love, we all know that. So if this is how you wanted to do it, then so be it. I just wish you’d let us be part of it.”
My lip wobbled. “I know, Dad. I do feel guilty. Beyond guilty. But…” My eyes flicked to Tyler. “I love him more than anyone could ever imagine.”
Tyler’s smile widened, his eyes burning with something I’d never get over.
“He there with you?” Dad asked.
I looked at Tyler and he nodded, reaching his hand out to take the phone with steadiness. “Good morning, sir.”
Dad chuckled. “Jesus, Tyler lad, I can see my Danny did some of his finest work on you.”
Tyler huffed a laugh, rubbing the bruise under his eye. “He certainly did, sir. I probably deserved it. But please, I want you to know, I realise Vegas was reckless. That’s on me. But I’m so in love with your daughter, and I’d give her the world if I could.” My heart was a big giant puddle on the floor. It was almost too much to hold in.
“That’s all I can ask for her then, lad,” Dad said softly. “In any case, you already know what the Sheehans will do if you hurt her.” He laughed, and Tyler did too.
Relief washed through me so hard my eyes stung. I slid closer to Tyler so I was in frame again.
“As for your brother…” Dad’s tone grew wry. “Leave Danny to me. He’ll come round. He’s hot-headed, like your uncle was. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
I nodded quickly. “Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem, angel. Now, you two find time to get out here soon. We need to meet you properly, lad.”
Tyler smiled, boyish and earnest all at once. “I’ll look forward to it, sir.”
The call ended and we both collapsed into each other with relief. Tyler tipped my chin to meet his eyes. “I can see where you get your personality from, O. He’s a solid guy.”
I smiled. “He’s the best. I think he’s going to like you.”
He brought his mouth to mine, kissing me slowly and softly. “Come on, we’re taking the coffee back to bed and I’m not letting you out of it for a while.”
Chapter 51
Orla
Another few dayswent by before we heard from Danny. I knew he’d spoken to Dad, he’d already told me. And Dad, in his infinite calm, told me not to push too much—we all knew that was the absolute worst way to handle Danny. I knew if I pushed him, he’d dig in his heels. The best approach with my brother was always to leave him alone to stew until he came storming back with his tail between his legs.
I’d texted him once, offered an olive branch, even told him where we were staying in case he wanted to talk. But it had been four days since then and nothing but silence.
Tyler had been out on court all morning, conditioning. He had maybe three weeks of downtime before Shanghai in October and the clock was already ticking. I’d spent mine down at Wimbledon, helping Emma with her shoulder rehab.The poor girl was still smiling like the sun, even with months of recovery ahead of her. And even though I loved helping her…there was that familiar tug in my ribs again. Everyone needed something from me, all at once. Emma’s shoulder. Tyler’s leg. Danny’s temper. Plus my usual caseload from the tennis centre I’d pickedback up. Sometimes I felt like I was being pulled in too many different directions, and none of them left room for me.
This afternoon we were supposed to view a flat in Wimbledon. There was no way we could live in my tiny Balham place with Danny still there and I couldn’t exactly kick him out after the bomb we’d just dropped on him.
