Page 51 of Accidental Irish Daddy

He shakes his head. “She wanted more than just that, Aisling. Ma thought that you were good for me. Both of you. Good for my life. She believed that if the two of you were more of a constant presence, then I would be a better person for it. With your help, I’d like to honor that wish.”

She’s just staring at me with wide eyes and a furrowed brow.

I can’t tell if she’s angry at me…but I guess I’m about to find out for certain.

“I think that we should get married,” I say to her.

She gapes at me, then laughs.

“You’re codding me.”

“I’m not.”

“Then you’re off your rocker.”

“Not that either.”

She stops laughing, reading the seriousness on my face.

“Oh, my God, you’re serious, aren’t you?”

I nod. “It would be for convenience’s sake, of course. You and Bridget would legally be in my care. I’ll be able to take care of all of Bridget’s doctor and hospital expenses. You both will have a comfortable place to live, and you’ll be able to save up to move out on your own eventually.”

She rolls her eyes. “Right. And I’ll be able to continue working at the gentlemen’s club?”

I almost say no, but I immediately see the flaw in that logic.

She sees right through my silence, scoffing and shaking her head. “Well, Mr. Duncan, maybe you should tell me how I’m supposed to save anything up without employment?”

“You can do something else. Surely being a stripper isn’t the only thing you’re good at.”

She narrows her eyes at me. That was the wrong answer.

“Aisling, you know what I mean,” I say. “You don’thaveto continue stripping for money.”

“My, my,” she replies in a bitter tone. “I never realized how much of a prude you are.”

“I’m not being a prude. I don’t care that you’re doing it, all right? I told you that I can’t abide that environment, not the actual job.”

“So, don’t follow me into the club,” she says with a snarky eyebrow.

We’re glaring at each other, and it occurs to me that this is less of an argument about the arrangements and more about a contest of wills. She wants her way and I want mine.

“Why is it so important to you to keep that job?” I ask her. I see her gearing up to argue and I add, “Because if this is something that you enjoy doing, that you want to do with your life, then that’s a different discussion, isn’t it?”

She doesn’t say anything. The fire in her argument quenched for the moment.

“You said you wanted to be a nurse, not a stripper, Aisling. So, why are you fighting me on this? I’m offering you a better way to get to exactly where you want to be.”

“What does that even mean?” she asks. “If I don’t strip, are you going to give me an allowance or something equally as asinine?”

That’s not a bad idea, but clearly, that’s not what she wants. I sigh and say, “Look, Aisling…I just want to honor my mother’s wishes. She wants me to take care of you and Bridget and she wants you both to stay in my life. This was the best way I could think to do that.”

Her eyebrows raise slowly, and for just a moment, I think that I’ve put my foot in my mouth once again. The moment passes and she walks up to me, putting her hand out to me, looking up at me expectantly. I shake it, and she holds it firmly, looking into my eyes.

“Just until I pay off my debts and find my own place,” she states. “Then I want a divorce. No questions asked.”

“Agreed on the provision that you’ll find work as a nurse in the meantime.”

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