Page 194 of Destined Lovers

Declan told me she was not handling my kidnapping well, as expected from anyone, but he’s been feeling guilty for not being there for her, afraid he’d been too selfish, only worrying about rescuing me that he didn’t tend to Maeve as he would have liked.

“Come on, you two, let’s go inside before the meddlesome neighbors come out to see what’s going on.”

I pull back to look at Maeve, and she starts to hyperventilate between her silent cries, unable to catch her breath. She’s getting too worked up, and it’s taking everything in my body to stop my own tears—to be strong for her.

To show her I’m okay.

“Maeve, shhh.” I coo.

“Look at me. I’m okay. I came back for you, I’m here now, and I’m okay. Shh, breathe.”

After a few deep breaths, she calms down while Declan passes me tissues. I hadn’t even realized he had gone inside.

He bends down next to me and takes Maeve’s hands in his, rubbing his thumb in a soothing motion over her skin.

“I know it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed right now. We were scared, and all missed Nora very much. But she’s home safe, and that’s something to celebrate,” he says as he wipes his tears.

We’re all emotional wrecks.

“Today will be a good day, Mo dheirfiúr, Aye?” She finally cracks a smile while she lovingly looks up at her brother and nods in agreement as she settles her breathing.

Declan reaches over for the tissues and gently wipes Maeve’s tears. Then ever so softly, he uses his fingertips to push back her bangs that have fallen in her eyes.

He smiles at her once more before standing up to give her a kiss.

“You ready to go inside?” he asks and starts to push Maeve before we answer. Bacon is off running into the house, surely going to grab me one of his balls.

Same thing, different day.

It’s the silly little things I thought of with my idle time—Bacon greeting me with a tennis ball every day or Declan’s annoying habit of leaving his clothes on the floor after he changes out of his work attire. I missed it all.

I step through the entryway and am taken by surprise when I notice small lights shining down from the ceiling.

What in the world is going on?

After a split second, I’m unable to control the gasp of surprise that passes through my trembling lips while my eyes widen in shock.

It took me a second to noticewhatthe lights shone down on. He’s set up our whole first floor as if it’s a small art gallery.

“W-What is this?”

“Come on, Pip, this way, babe,” Declan murmurs, then laces his fingers through mine to pull me into the house.

I can’t wipe the shocked look off my face as I see pictures blown up to an ungodly size of different sayings, ones Declan has never given me, but still written in his handwriting.

We continue walking slowly into the living room, and as we pass by each one, I read them aloud one by one.

“I looked into her eyes and saw all of my tomorrows.”

Mark Anthony

I smile. I feel the same way.

“Whatever our souls are made of, hers and mine are the same.”

Emily Bronte

I try but fail to hold back a chuckle. He crossed outhisand wrotehersin replace of it.

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