Page 103 of Verses Of Us

Joan guided the pony and Colin over to the fence.

“You alright, baby?” Alexis asked, her face lighting up.

Lex coming back into Ciarán’s life was the best gift he could get, and unlike any he believed he deserved. The love in her eyes when she watched their son always melted his heart. Colin resembled her in more ways than one. Not only in his eyes that spoke volumes, but with a mystery behind them that stole your heart. And all common sense, too. Their son often charmed them into anything. And even if Ciarán knew this, he still fell victim to it every single time.

“You’re a real-life cowboy,” he offered, rubbing his son’s leg.

“Just like you, Daddy?” Colin asked, his adorably squeaky lisp making Ciarán’s heart ache.

“Even better than me.”

With a ticking sound, Joan pulled the pony back toward the paddock. Ciarán and Alexis walked the length of the fence to meet them, Ciarán holding her hand, squeezing it tight, keeping it warm.

It was a sunny spring morning, but the lingering winter was not too far behind and left a crispness in the air. Ciarán marvelled at the beauty of his home, his thoughts drifting.

She glanced up. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying.” She poked him in the ribs. “You were thinking of something. Tell me.”

He laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “God, woman, will you ever stop reading my mind?”

“Never.” She winked, causing his heart to swell with love.

They’d grown so much stronger together over the years, and though he could sometimes sense her fears about him leaving hovering near the surface, he spent all his time convincing her he never would.

She and Colin were where he belonged.

Having Alexis here turned his formerly empty medieval cottage into a true home. A complete surprise, they’d cherished and adored Colin into being. Ciarán could say without a doubt he had everything he ever needed.

Louise and Simon visited twice a year. Saoirse, who’d recently started dating Rajesh—a fact that Ciarán wasn’t too keen on—came over every week. Even Julie was a usual visitor, which made Alexis smile in ways he never could. The family he’d never had, but had always needed, was all around him and helped calm the bitter war raging inside. He’d even made peace with his former bandmate, Calum, and had him over for dinner a few times, if only to appease Alexis’s many requests.

Ciarán had also gotten his wish. Published weeks before Colin was born, his memoir was a success and, of course, penned by Alexis.Verses of Mesold millions of copies all thanks to Alexis’ knack for finding any rockstar’s well-hidden details, which also helped get her new gigs authoring other biographies.

“Come on, spill it,” she urged, poking him again. They stopped at the paddock. Inside, Joan held Colin in her arms while he helped her remove the saddle.

Ciarán tugged Alexis to the side, and her brow dipped with concern. “We have a good life here, don’t we?”

She arched an eyebrow. “We do…”

“And I hope I’ve given you everything you could ever need.”

“And then some. What’s going on with you?”

She grabbed his hands, and he glanced down. The black cursive ink sprawled across the inside of her left wrist—Ciarán—peeked out from her sleeve and made him grin.

“Nothing. I’m glad you’re happy.”

“I’m happy. Are you happy?”

He knew she was teasing, and he laughed. “Never been happier.” He hugged her tight, her body melting into his. He crouched down to her level, searching her eyes. “You know there’s no place I’d rather be, right?”

She touched his cheek. “Ciarán, you’re freaking me out.”

“I’ve given you what I can, but I want to give you more. Something has kept me from doing it before, but now with all this that we’ve made our home…” He waved a hand around them, taking a second to still the lump forming in his throat. “I love you, Lex. More than I have ever loved.” He glanced over her shoulder at his son. “You’ve given me more than a family; more than unconditional love and acceptance. I can’t ever repay you for that.”

Tears filled her eyes, a tight pinch caught between them. She reached up and kissed him, tickling his nose with hers. “There’s nothing to repay, love.”

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