Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
I couldn’t imagine all Davi was feeling. Guilt, for being happy her mum didn’t do that so they could have their family. This mingled with regret for the time Kenna lost. And obviously anger, for her dad fucking all of it up.
“It took time to realize I didnae regret it,” Kenna went on. “I loved your father. He loved me. We made happy memories. We shared the pleasure of raising you two and watching ye grow into smart, capable, responsible, talented, lovely people.”
She took another sip before she carried on.
“I’m actually excited to start a new phase of my life. Your father has agreed to give me the house and my solicitors say the settlement he’s offered will see me very comfortably. Though, I’ve secured a part-time job doing some fundraising for the local SPCA. I start tomorrow.”
Wow, Kenna had been busy.
And by the by, the SPCA was the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, one of the charities I was considering patronizing.
“It goes without saying,” she continued, “ye need to have whatever feelings you have. Those are yours and not mine to dictate. So if this is too soon, when he arrives, I’ll ask him to go away. But the shock of it is over. The decisions made. And I’m looking forward to my future. Though, I will say, I hope that future includes this family adjusting to become something loving and functional again, if different.”
“And how is Dad with your decisions?” Dair asked.
Kenna looked to the fire, her expression a warring mixture of sadness, triumph and contentment, and I understood that.
It was over, and she was smart enough to allow herself to feel sad about it.
But she was now calling the shots, and it was Bally who had to put up with her decisions, that was no small victory, and it was one that was well-deserved.
Last, she’d worked through it and was in a better place, and that brought peace.
“He wishes to attempt a reconciliation.” She turned back to her children. “That will not be happening.”
“So he’s all right with this friendly family thing?” Davi asked.
“He says he’ll take ye both, and me, remaining in his life after what he’s done any way he can have us,” Kenna shared.
I really didn’t want to like Bally.
But he was behaving in a manner it was hard to hold onto that.
Perhaps feeling his discomfiture, Sorcha moved from resting her head on Davi’s leg for pets, to her daddy, where she rested on his leg for pets.
Dair didn’t scrimp in giving them.
The doorbell rang.
And the room descended into a profound quiet that confused me at first, before it hit me.
That was Bally, and he had to ring the doorbell to their home, and that was strange, weird, wrong, right, and sad all at once.
I looked to Dair to see his jaw bulge.
So I put my mouth to his ear and whispered, “You’re unbearable.’
He started and turned to me.
“Love ye too, lass,” he said softly.
My smile was just as soft before I looked to the room and started to get up, saying, “I’ll get the door.”
“No,” Dair said, setting his drink aside. “I’ll get it.”
He pushed up.
Sorcha shifted to me.
Davi brooded at the fire.
Kenna calmly sipped her wine.
Dair and Bally came in.
I got up. Kenna got up.
Davi remained seated, brooding at the fire.
Kenna and Bally touched cheeks, and I wanted to give a cheer at how Kenna did it. She was entirely comfortable. It was only awkward on Bally’s part.
His attention came to me, and I set my glass down and approached.
“Hey, Bally,” I greeted.
I tipped my head for him, and he seemed startled before he touched his cheek to mine.
I pulled away and Dair claimed me.
“Our Blake,” Balfour murmured, his gaze shifting between Dair and me. “So glad you two worked things out. You’re a bonny couple.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“Drink?” Dair asked.
Bally glanced at Kenna.
She did a barely-there lift of her chin.
“I can get it,” Bally said.
Davi grunted unhappily, still ruminating toward the fire, but now she’d lifted her feet to rest them on the upholstered coffee table.
Bally shot a devastated glance at his daughter and left the room.
No one said anything as we returned to our seats, but Kenna switched hers so she was sitting next to Davi, and Bally would not be doing so.
Bally returned with his drink, sat on the sofa, and as it seemed was the way with the Wallaces, he didn’t fuck around.
“Davina, my darling, if ye and I could go somewhere to—”
“Save it, Dad,” Davi sniped to the fire. “I’m all in to do this friendly family thing, but you’re going to have to give me more time to be”—she slowly turned her head his way—“insanely pissed off at you.”
“I can give ye that time,” Bally said quickly.
“Good,” she spat.
Bally looked to Dair. “Son?”
“You made me a promise in your office and you’re keeping it,” Dair proclaimed. “Mum has the house, as she should. You’re providing for her financially, as ye should. You assisted with the Signe problem, and I appreciate it. You shared honestly what prompted this mess with Helena, and I appreciate that too.”