Page 75 of Shattered Union

“Real funny, baby, but seriously. How much?”

She presses a kiss against my lips. “I need a house, Denny. I’m having two babies. We need the space.”

I nip at her bottom lip. “I know, but,mo ghrá, those are my babies too. They’re mine and you’re mine. It’s my fucking fault you’re leaving your home. Just tell me how much.”

“We’ll go halves?” she barters with me.

I grit my teeth. Not what I want, but I know it’s all I’m going to get. “Fine.”

She leans forward and gives me a peck on the lips. “So, I have been thinking about this for the last few days…” she begins.

I tighten my hands around her waist. “What’s that?”

“I have a scan next week and I’d really love it if you’d come with me. I also don’t want to find out the genders right away.”

“No need to even ask, baby. I’m there. And what do you have planned?” I can tell by the way she’s looking at me she’s got something up her sleeve.

Her fingers once again run through my hair. “I was thinking of having Mam and Chloe with us when we go to the scan and then have them organize the party to announce to everyone we’re having twins.”

That she wants to include Chloe just speaks volumes. “Sounds good, baby.”

She beams at me. “Excellent,” she breathes. “It also will get Mam off my back. She’s still hurt that I didn’t tell her about us.”

“It’ll be grand, she’ll find out she’s going to be a granny to twins, she’ll settle down.”

She nods. “That's what I’m hoping. Otherwise, you can deal with her.” She laughs as though she’s joking, but her ma pisses me off and I’ll let her know about it. No one is going to make Callie feel uncomfortable.

“Oh, I was meant to ask. What happened with Chloe, she told me yesterday she moved schools? She moved last week, and I’m curious why.”

“Some girls were saying shit to her, and she had asked a few times and Zoe brushed her off, telling her if she wore make-up she’d fit in. When she came to me, I made sure she got what she wanted. She’s in the same class as your cousin.”

“Ah, that’s great. Jess and Mallory will be delighted. Mam’s been bragging about her,” she tells me with a laugh.

“I think,mo ghrá, they’re already friends. She’s going to Mallory’s this evening for a sleepover.” Jess is Callie’s cousin, she’s the same age as Chloe and her best friend Mallory have welcomed Chloe into their fold.

She claps her hands and lets out a shrill squeal. “Oh, thank God. Honestly, I want to smack the shit out of Leeane, for not teaching her daughter not to be a bully.”

I chuckle, she’s such a vicious thing. “Come on baby, come and meet the kids.”

Her eyes light up. “I can’t wait!”

I help her off the counter and hold her tighter. Fuck, I’m a lucky bastard having her in my life. She could have walked away; she came so fucking close. But now she’s here, and we’re moving on—together.

22

Callie

Denis clasps my hand as we walk into the living room. I love he's offering me support, but from everything that Chloe has told me about her younger siblings, I'm going to love them. I caught a glimpse of them when Denis walked in. Mary had a toothy smile as she was perched in her father's arms. She has a beautiful head of dark curls. Gareth, God, he's so very much like Chloe. From his enormous eyes to his tight smile. He's so handsome and my heart hurts for him, for the two of them. Both Mary and Gareth will never know their mam, and even though Zoe was a bitch, she was still their mam.

"Is everything okay?" Chloe asks as she glances between Denis and me. Her gaze darts to our joined hands and then to our faces.

"Yeah," I reply with a smile. "Everything's good." I look up at Denis and see the softness in his eyes as he stares down at me. "Things are going to be different for a while as we all try to navigate what comes next."

Chloe shrugs. "I don't see why. You and Da love each other, you're having a baby. You'll live together, won't you? Or don't you want us with you?" The vulnerability in her voice has my chest aching.

"Of course I do," I respond instantly. "You have to understand Chloe, while you've been around me for a while, Mary and Gareth haven't. You've all had a lot of upheaval in your lives already, and I don't want to cause any pain. So your dad and I are going to do this right. Give you all the time to adjust to us before we all move in together."

Denis's hand tightens around mine. "We'll all be moving into the house that you and Callie looked at yesterday."

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