Page 191 of Not Another Yesterday
“And I ignored everything that showed me how wrong I was. I didn’t want to see the truth. I didn’t want to see that you were good for her. Really good. And when you told us Cat was pregnant…” He laughs under his breath, low and rough. “It’s a good thing there were witnesses, because I was about ready to strangle you.”
He chuckles again, but this time it’s tinged with something softer. “But even then, I admired the way you took the heat. You didn’t flinch. You stepped up. Over the last few months, I’ve watched you work your ass off. You’ve taken the weight off Cat’s shoulders. You’ve gone to every doctor’s appointment, made sure she had what she needed, was taken care of, all while juggling work and a full course load at school.”
My chest tightens with love for Ronan. My dad’s right. Ronan did step up. No hesitation. No question. Despite the clear boundary he had set, he didn’t let his fears prevent him from being the softest version of himself with me.
“What really impressed me,” my dad goes on, “was how you kept your cool when I lost mine. I laid into you more than once. I lashed out at you, but you never retaliated. And slowly, I started to see the truth. You’re a good guy, Ronan. A goodman. A really good man.”
His voice falters for the first time.
“Then the hemorrhage happened. And I saw it—your fear of losing her. It was written all over you. The way you held her hand for hours, never letting go. You didn’t rest. And when she cried…” He clears his throat again, voice thick now. “You were the one who held her together, even though it was clear your own heart was broken. You’d just lost your son, and still, your first thought was Cat. You fought for her. You’d fight for her with your dying breath. And that… that’s all a father could ever ask for his daughter.”
There’s a moment of silence, then my dad says, a little unsteadily, “I’m glad you held your son, Ronan. And I’m glad you told her to listen to her heart. You gave her that permission to let go. So… all that to say, Ronan, I forgive you.” My dad releases a sound, a strangled mix of a sob and a chuckle.
There’s a rustling kind of jingly sound, and then he says, “Here.”
I have no idea what’s happening.
“You’re working tonight?” my dad asks.
“Yeah,” Ronan says.
“What time are you done? Two-thirty?”
“Yeah, around then. Fridays and Saturdays usually run later. Takes time to clean up and get the stragglers out.”
“Okay, well, if you care to, just let yourself in,” my dad says. “I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the two of you in the same bed before you’re married, but I guess that ship hasveryobviously sailed. So I might as well accept the reality of your relationship with Cat.”
There’s a pause. His voice softens.
“And the reality is that she needs you right now. So if you’re comfortable, just stay with us until Cat’s back on her feet and the two of you can figure out your next steps.”
Another pause, then more briskly: “But, please—for my peace of mind—leave the door to her room open.”
“Sure, no problem,” Ronan says with a quiet chuckle.
When he rejoins me a couple of minutes later, he holds up a silver key, his expression a mix of disbelief and awe.
“Your dad gave me this and told me to let myself in when I get off work tonight,” he says, sitting down beside me and kicking off his shoes. He pulls his legs up and settles in next to me like he’s been doing it forever.
“Yeah, I heard,” I say, grinning. “Sounds like he’s coming around.”
“Or it’s his way of trying to control the situation,” Ronan says.
I burst out laughing. “Probably both. So, are you coming back here after work?” I ask hopefully.
“That’s the plan,” he says, pulling me into his arms.
I lean into him, breathing him in—that familiar mix of sun, ocean air, and clean laundry. He goes quiet, and I can tell he’s thinking hard about something.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I say, watching his beautiful profile.
He smiles a little. “I don’t know if this is a good time to bring it up,” he says, turning to face me.
“It is,” I say, nudging him. “Whatever it is.”
He laughs. “Of course it is. You never think there’s a bad time.”
“Because there isn’t.”
