Page 61 of Ciaran

With infinite care, Ciaran places the boat on his nightstand. The box goes flying the moment he leaps on me. I squeal as he covers my face, neck, and breasts in warm, wet kisses.

“You are the best girlfriend ever.”

“Thank you so much for having us,” Mom says to Indie, rising to leave after Christmas lunch. “We’ve had such a lovely time.”

“Anytime, Mrs. Frayser,” Indie says. “It was wonderful to meet you.”

Ciaran gets to his feet. “Let me get your coats.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I say while Ciaran helps my parents into their winter coats. I brush a hand down his arm. “Won’t be long.”

His brows lower, but he doesn’t argue or ask why I haven’t invited him to come with me to see my parents out. I have good reason to want to be alone with them—because I want to talk about Ciaran. Specifically, Ciaran and me.

“Have you got a minute before you head off?” I ask them when we reach the top of the stairs.

“Of course,” Mom replies.

I gesture for us to go into the bar-lounge area, and I wave at Marion who is helping behind the bar. It’s packed with vacationers enjoying a late afternoon celebratory drink. I find a spot in a corner and motion for my parents to sit.

“You seem happy, settled,” Mom says.

“I am. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”

“Ciaran?” Mom asks tentatively.

I nod. “But I’m scared, too.”

“Of what, darling?” Dad asks.

I grimace. “Look, I haven’t said much about my years with Tanner because I don’t want to upset you, but they weren’t good. And what does that say about my judgment? Don’t get me wrong, Ciaran is nothing like Tanner, but what if I mess up again?”

“Oh, my darling girl.” Mom caresses my cheek. “One mistake does not define the wonderful, amazing woman you are. If you were wrong about anything, it was not reaching out to your father and I when you needed us. We would never have turned you away.”

I bite down on my lip. “I wasn’t sure, after everything and the way I broke off our relationship, that you’d want to help me. I didn’t think I had the right to bring trouble to your door.”

Dad’s eyes bulge, while my mother’s face creases in pain, and her hand covers her mouth.

“Oh, my baby. How we’ve failed you.”

“No,” I say, my tone adamant. “It’s me who’s failed you. I should have listened to you when you warned me about Tanner, but I was blind and stupid.”

Mom shuffles her chair closer, and her arms come around my neck while Dad rubs my back. It’s several seconds before we break apart. Mom digs into her purse for a tissue and dabs it to her face, then wipes mascara stains from underneath her eyes.

“We are your parents, and we love you. We will always be there for you. And as for Ciaran? You’re older and wiser now. Trust your judgment, and trust your heart. If you think he’s the right man for you then he is.”

I swallow my emotions as I walk my parents outside. I hail them a cab and wave them off, my throat raw from trying to keep my tears at bay. Their unequivocal support toward me, and their faith in me is exactly what I needed to hear from them but feared I never would.

With my parents and Ciaran in my corner, a happy future is finally within my grasp.

Chapter 23

Millie

I nervously shake Angela Lockwood’s hand. Angela is the administrator at the college Ciaran’s boss arranged for me to take a look around.

“Have a seat, Millie,” Angela says. “Do you want anything to drink? Coffee? Water?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” I smooth my skirt beneath me, then sit. Realizing my hands are shaking, I try to keep them still, but they mustn’t have gotten the memo.

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