Page 24 of The Irish Rogue

Tom rubbed a hand over his face. “I know, sweetheart. I just…” he sighed as his shoulders slumped. “I feel as if we’re ambushing her. She was so devastated when he didn’t call her back. What if we’re just ripping open a wound that has finally begun to heal?”

Dorothy soothed herself and the tiny soul in her arms by swaying back and forth. “What if we heal a wound that has been festering this whole time?”

Tom contemplated that, then looked sharply at his wife of forty-five years. “Do you really think that she is still hurting?”

Dorothy bounced and swayed now, still rubbing Declan’s back. “Yes. I’ve seen the haunted look in her eyes. I’m sure she’s hurting. Plus, she’s terrified that she’s going to fail as a mother and cries all the time.”

“Maybe she’s suffering from postpartum depression?”

“That’s possible,” Dorothy replied with a nod. “I’ve urged her to see her doctor and explain what she’s feeling. But then she looks at Declan and smiles.” She looked down at the tiny infant, her heart aching with love for him as well as his mother. “I’m just not sure of anything anymore.”

“If the man hurts her again, we will be there to help her through it again,” Tom vowed with absolute certainty.

“Kennedi knows we will always be here for her.”

Tom grunted with agreement, then ran a gentle hand over the infant’s back as well. “Woman, you’ve held that little man for too long. It’s my turn!”

Dorothy chuckled as she handed over the baby. “When is he due to arrive?”

Tom shook his head. “I have a meeting with him in thirty minutes. I’ll have enough time to speak with him while you and Kennedi are having lunch. I’ll feel him out and find out why he left so abruptly. If I think his rationale is good enough, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, stick to the plan and keep her away from the office.”

“Will do,” his wife assured him, then went up on her tip toes to kiss his age-roughened cheek. “I love you, Tom. You’re a good man with a big heart and I’ve loved you since the first moment I set eyes on you.”

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, my dear.”

She sighed, then rubbed her hands down her thighs. “I just hope we’re doing the right thing.”

Tom grumbled his agreement. “I do too.”

She brightened. “At a minimum, if you sell the brewery, then we can go on that road trip across the country!”

He chuckled, nodding his agreement. “Exactly, love. You’ve already picked out the camper. We’ll just pack a bag and head off into the horizon.”

She beamed, delighted with the idea, her eyes softening as she watched him gently patting Declan’s well-diapered bottom. “You’re a good man, Tom. And you’ve given me a great deal of happiness in this lifetime.”

Dorothy headed out of her husband’s office in search of Kennedi. She and her husband had this all planned out.

She was just patting herself on the back when the doors opened and the man in question stepped into the air-conditioned office. “Mr. Byrne!” she gasped.

What was that phrase about the best laid plans?

Kennedi did a little wiggle of happiness as she flipped her clipboard around, tucking it under her arm. Declan had slept through the night last night. She knew it wouldn’t happen again for a while. Her little man was only three months old, but she adored him with every part of her soul.

That didn’t mean she didn’t also enjoy her time away from him. She was so appreciative of Dorothy for taking care of him during the days. She wondered why Dorothy hadn’t had children of her own. She and Tom were like grandparents to Declan and they doted on him. It was rare that Dorothy didn’t show up with an outfit or toy for Declan whenever she arrived.

Kennedi wondered what would happen when Declan could eat solid foods. Dorothy would be baking cookies and cakes like crazy! She was laughing as she pushed through the supply room doorway and…came to a screeching halt.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, glaring at the man who had completely changed her life.

A soft cry pulled her attention away from the man. Unfortunately, it also pulled Sean’s attention towards her tiny son. Tom stood in the doorway, holding Declan, and Dorothy was hovering in the office lobby, not sure what to do.

A comedian might have written the next sixty seconds. Sean’s gaze bounced from the baby, to Kennedi, then back to the baby. Dorothy’s eyes went from Kennedi, to Declan, and then to Sean, her mouth forming a small “O” of surprise. And Tom’s expression morphed from surprise to guilt as he cradled the infant, one hand cupping Declan’s soft head. A head with hair the exact shade of Sean’s dark locks.

Declan, on the other hand, waved his tiny fists in Kennedi’s direction, his gaze unwavering.

Kennedi was the first to react. She reached for Declan, trying to appear as casual as possible. Meanwhile, her stomach was churning and her betraying heart fluttered with unexpected hope. Hope that he was here to see her. Hope that he cared about his son. But how could he know about Declan? She hadn’t told him about their son because he’d never bothered to call her back! After all of those phone calls, he dared to just show up over a year later?

Damn him! How dare he just appear out of the blue like this?

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