Page 140 of A Ryan Recollection

“Are you gonna be able to handle it this time?” she grits out the words and I’m reminded of when she gave birth to the twins. Liam and I couldn’t stand to see her in pain so we let Conor and Shane hold her hand while she pushed our beautiful children into the world. Not this fucking time.

I kiss her forehead. “Yeah, Red. I’ll be right there with you every step of the way. I promise.”

“Me too, baby,” Liam assures her.

I wrap my arm around her and she leans her head on my shoulder. Shane gives me a knowing smile, like he’s proud of me for stepping up and suddenly tears are pricking at my eyes. How the fuck did I ever get so lucky to have a family like this one?

Jessie doubles over. “Holy fuck!”

A knot of anxiety settles in my throat. I feel so fucking useless.

Shane puts a hand on my shoulder and offers me a reassuring squeeze. “You got this, son.”

I lace my fingers through my incredible wife’s and she squeezes my hand in a death grip. Like she’s never ever gonna let me go. The feeling is mutual, Red.

Fuck yeah, I got this.

The final epilogue

(FOR NOW)

Jessie

New Years Eve

“You want me to take him?” I sit down on the sofa next to Shane as he nestles baby Cian in the crook of his arm.

He shakes his head, lifting his free arm and allowing me to snuggle next to him before he wraps it around me. Pulling me close he drops a sweet kiss on the top of my head. “I got him.” He squeezes me tighter. “And you.”

I brush my cheek against his soft cotton t-shirt and yawn.

“Why don’t you go to bed and try to get some sleep, sweetheart?” he suggests.

“No,” I grumble, wrapping an arm around his waist and burrowing my face deeper into his chest. “I like it right here. And Finn and Ella will be awake soon.”

“I like you right here too, but we can handle the kids if you need a few hours sleep.”

“I know,” I whisper. “But I’m good with you as my pillow.”

A soft laugh rumbles through him making Cian wriggle a little and let out the cutest baby whimper I think I ever heard.

“I love you,” I say with a soft sigh. “Comfiest pillow I’ve ever owned.”

He brushes my hair behind my ear. “And you do own me, Hacker. You know that, don’t you?”

My chest fills with warm fuzzy feelings and tears prick at my eyes. “Yeah.”

“Thank you for everything, sweetheart. I mean it.” His voice is thick with emotion and I look up into his beautiful green eyes.

“There wouldn’t be any of it without you. I would be nothing without you and your brothers.”

His eyes narrow. “Youwould be everything, no matter what, Jessie Ryan. Never forget that, sweetheart. You are the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever known.”

“But I’ll never have to be because we’re together forever.”

He winks at me and insides contract. “Of course we are, sweetheart. Written in the stars, remember?”

The sound of squealing laughter in the hallway snatches both of our attention.

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