Page 81 of Destined Lovers

“Yes,” I whisper, and without a beat, I can tell he’s already in work mode.

“Are you safe?”

“Yes.”

“Then you know the drill. Send me your location. I’m already in Galway. We need to move quickly.”

I take another deep breath and hold back the sob that threatens to pass through my lips. I knew this would happen but knowing and doing are two different things.

“Did you follow through with our plan if something like this happened? I need to know you left the letter for Agnes.”

“Of course, it’s on your bed. She’ll see it in the morning.”

“Thank you. I’ll text you my location now.”

“I’ll see you soon. We leave immediately from the area.”

I go to hang up, but then hear him call my name.

“Yes?”

“That is the last time you’ll ever hear me call you Riley. She no longer exists. I hope you like the name Fiona.”

12

One Year Later

Declan

“Maeve,are you almost ready to leave?” I call from the front door, glancing at my watch, realizing I’ve been waiting for over fifteen minutes for her.

Since she moved in a few months ago, Maeve’s become different. In the best way possible.

I’m not complaining. I’m thrilled she’s taken on new interests and made friends beside me. One thing I didn’t realize is that living with a girl who’s just come into her own is exhausting, and I don’t have time to wait around while her nurse does her makeup all morning.

All my annoyances disappear when I see her wheelchair turn the corner, with a smile gracing her beautiful face. I lean down, kiss her cheek and take her hand in mine.

“Mo dheirfiúr, you look amazing. Do a spin.” She moves her wheelchair around in a circle and squeals in delight.

She’s never been happier. It’s days like this that I get angry at myself for not fighting harder for her when she was younger.

She could have been living this carefree life all along instead of having my parents breathing down her neck, or worse, having them absent, traveling for work, and leaving her behind.

The saddest part of this was when the day finally came for me to pick up Maeve. They didn’t even care that she was leaving. At the end of the day, they only care about their lives associated with academia, and that doesn’t involve Maeve or me.

I glance up at her nurse, Penelope, sending her a silent thank you for taking the time to indulge in Maeve’s new interests. When I hired Penelope, I didn’t list makeup artist, hairdresser, or fashion stylist as a requirement, but that quickly changed when Maeve started hanging around all my girlfriends.

Maeve’s old nurse decided not to come to London, wanting to retire in Ireland. In the end, it worked out for the best. Penelope is young, energetic, and keeps Maeve appraised of all the new trends. Doesn’t hurt that she knows London like the back of her hand.

She gets along brilliantly with all the ladies in the group, especially Lola, who’s the same age as Penelope. They’ve gotten quite close, spending much of their free time together.

“Do you want to drive, or shall we get some fresh air?” I ask Maeve.

She points outside, signaling a walk. “Sadie, a-after?”

“Aye, you’ll go with her. She’ll have her SUV to take you later,” I reply, lucky to have friends like mine. When Maeve moved to London, everyone pitched in, helping her get settled, showing her the lay of the land in London, and making sure she felt like one of the crew.

Although Maeve and I have a fifteen-year age gap, she’ll still be around us often enough. I wanted her to feel comfortable with each of my friends.

---