Page 11 of Reckless

“What’s that man doing in my kitchen?”

“David, keep your voice down.”

I grin as Margret’s mother hisses at him.

“I’ll do no such thing woman. This is my home.” His raised voice is making it hard for me to stay still.

“He brought her home.”

“What did he do to her?”

“He stopped something bad from happening. You should be thanking him.”

His gruff huff is loud. “Margret.” The way he calls her is rough. A door opens.

“I’m fine, Father.” Her voice is small but I’m filled with relief at hearing the sound.

“I want him out of my home.” The stamping on the stairs had me stepping back into the kitchen.

“Daddy, please.” Margret follows on her father’s heels, her mother after them, as he bursts into the kitchen.

“Get out of my home.” He’s pointing at the door. Margret won’t look at me and a fear starts to grow. If I leave now, I will have lost her.

“We are getting married,” I say to her father. I don’t look at Margret for approval or her mother I keep my focus on her father. “She’s going to be my wife, David, whether you like it or not.”

It’s only now that I look at Margret. She’s covered her mouth with her hand. Her damp hair hangs around her shoulders.

“We are?” The smile that accompanies her words has me smiling too.

“We are.”

Her mother’s claps are filled with joy. Margret leaves her parents and steps into my arms.

“I love you.” Her words fill me up and make me taller. I’ve never felt so proud. I’ve built an empire from nothing but hearing those words from Margret are so much more.

“I love you too,” I say and she holds me tighter.

I finally look at her parents over her shoulder. Her mother’s crying while her father’s face is set in stone. But he has stopped telling me to get out.

Holding Margret’s face between my hands makes me forget that someone tried to hurt her, or her father who stands behind us with fire in his eyes. Fire that I often see in Margret’s. Right now that look of wonder that I often want to capture sparks and fires in her eyes. Bringing my lips to hers she doesn’t stop me. It doesn’t last long, but it’s enough to leave my mark.

“It’s sealed now.” It’s Margret’s mother who speaks up. Margret turns in my arms and the look of happiness on her face is mirrored in her mothers.

“Sealed with a kiss.” There’s something that passes between mother and daughter that I don’t fully understand but it’s lovely to see.

Chapter Nine

Margret Hegarty

My mother makes tea to celebrate, she does the best with what she has but having Michael sitting at our table is more than I could have wished for. I can’t take my eyes off him. My husband. I’m smiling around mouthfuls of food. I’m eating without tasting. I’m even managing to ignore my father’s watchful and most likely disapproving eye. My stomach lifts and drops every time Michael’s eye meets mine. Marriage has such a strong meaning. It’s the two of us forever. It’s me giving myself to him. His hands on my flesh. My skin burns at the thought and I push it away remembering that my parents were either side of me.

“So where will my daughter be living?” My father’s gruff question doesn’t alter my mood. It’s exciting to think I will live somewhere else.

“Whitewood house.” There’s a lull in the room. I can’t believe he’s saying he lives in Whitewood house.

“On the grounds?” My mother asks.

Michael’s smile is quick. “No. Mrs Hegarty. In the main house. It’s mine. Well, will be mine and Margret’s soon.”

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