Page 20 of Coal
“It’s going to be okay, love.”
“What happens if they don’t like me, though?” Thea says. “They may think I’m not good enough for you.”
Needing to see her face, I turn her towards me, and my heart cracks open when I see tears welling in her brown eyes. Bending my head, I kiss her cheek. “They’re going to love you, baby. How can they not? You’re fierce, protective, a fucking fantastic mother, and best of all, you’re not afraid of this lifestyle. It’s like you were born just for me.”
A tear falls and rolls down her cheek. It guts me as I wipe it away while she states, “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“You could never let me down,” I reassure her as Shea lets out a squawk, obviously done with being in her car seat. “How about we get our girl out and introduce her to her new grandparents?”
“Okay,” Thea nods, wiping at her cheeks and clearing her throat, then looking up at me. “How do I look?” she wants to know.
Even with her nose red at the tip from crying, she’s beautiful.
“You look beautiful, baby.”
She snorts a laugh. “You’re a liar, but thank you.”
I’m not letting her get away with that, so I tip her head up with my thumb, “I’m not lying, Thea; to me, you’re beautiful.”
A blush lights her cheeks and a smile blooms on her face at my words. Rising to her toes, she presses her lips to mine before sinking back on her heels. “Thank you.” Shea lets out another angry cry, making Thea chuckle, “Let me get her out before we have World War Three on our hands.”
Letting Thea go, I wait while she unsnaps Shea’s harness and removes her from her seat. My heart does another strange flutter when she extends her arms to me. I’m beginning to wonder if I need to have it checked. Taking Shea from Thea, I bring her close to my chest, and fuck me, but when she wraps her little arm around my neck and kisses my cheek, I realise what that flutter is. My heart is gone for these two.
Blowing a raspberry on her neck, making her laugh as I step away from the vehicle door so that Thea can shut it, I say to Shea, “Are you ready to be spoilt, baby girl?” She babblessomething at me, obviously in agreement. When Thea steps to my side, I curl my arm around her shoulders, tugging her close to me as I walk her towards my parents.
The brothers and Opal have disappeared into the clubhouse, leaving just the five of us in the covered parking.
Mom has her hands clasped under her chin as if she’s restraining herself from reaching out for Shea. And knowing her, she probably is.
When her eyes flit from me and Shea to the woman beside me, something flashes over them. And I’m wondering if we’re going to have a problem, but then my mom’s face softens, and she holds out her arms. Thea leaves my side and sinks into my mom’s embrace.
Dad and I exchange a look, but he’s smiling.
“Nothing to worry about, son. I think your mom is just what your Old Lady needs. Now, introduce me to your daughter.” He turns towards Shea with a smile. She immediately holds out her arms for him to take her.
“No introduction necessary,” I chuckle when she kisses his cheek like she’d just done to me. “Dad, meet your granddaughter, Shea.”
“Fuck me, son. I didn’t see this coming in amillion years,” Dad sniffs slightly, as if he’s a little choked up. “Beautiful girls,” he smirks at me.
We’re interrupted by Mom and Thea, who are both wiping tears from their cheeks, making me and Dad growl.
Holding out my arm to her, Thea comes to me and curls into my side. “They’re not sad tears,” she reassures me.
“Give me my grandbaby, David,” Mom demands, holding her hands out for Shea, who happily goes to her.
Mom holds her up above her head, a wide smile on her face. “Welcome home, Shea Tin.”
Right then, as Mom said my daughter’s name, I knew I’d move heaven and earth to make sure that nothing bad ever touched them again. Not if I could help it. They’d had years of eating shit and doing without. That stopped. Today!
CHAPTER 6
THEA
‘Jesus, I’m so nervous.’
The closer we get to Southampton, the sweatier my palms get. I’ve wiped them on my leggings several times already. By the time we get to Coal’s home, I’ll be able to wring them out. Thank feck Shea had been good as gold, considering she’d never travelled for so long before.
Not only am I meeting his family, which is a whole worry on its own because I didn’t know what I’d do if his mam and da didn’t like me. I’d tied myself to a man without considering that, and from what I could see with the way he interacted with his blood brothers and by listening to their conversations, they were a close-knit family.
