Page 92 of Broken Blood Ties

Am I supposed to wear this?

Wear it.Kieran’s command via text causes me to growl, yet I can’t stop the thrill thrumming under my skin as I tuck it onto my left ring finger and study it.

It’s stunning.

How did he get this so quickly? Does he just have a ring sitting around his room? Or was it meant for someone else? My memory flashes back to Allie mentioning the clothes from Laura.

Ugh. I’m wearing something he picked out for someone else, aren’t I?

Shaking my hand out in an attempt to rid myself of those stomach-churning questions, I smack my already sore knuckles against the island.

“Ouch!”

“You okay, dear?” Allie flutters back in the kitchen with a sparkly toothed Aoife in tow.

“Yep. Smacked my hand is all.”

Allie looks to the island where the velvet box sits opened and vacant, then to my left hand where I’ve taken ownership of the engagement ring. She considers, expression unreadable, before she offers me a smile. “It looks nice.”

“It does,” I whisper, shifting back and forth, then popping a hip to the side. “Is it time to go?”

“Finn should be here any minute?—”

A quick double honk from outside startles me.

“That would be him now. Come on, Aoife. Get your coat, please.”

I slide my coat on, and step into my shoes, then while Allie puts her own on, I wrap Aoife up in hers.

“Ready?” I ask.

She nods and opens the door, darting out to high-five Finn’s hand as he holds it up for her beside the back seat door of the black town car. He offers me a smile and his hand as well.

I roll my eyes.

“Ye coming with us this morning?”

I nod, tapping my foot. I’m not sure why I’m so fidgety. Probably because I’m going to show up to my place of, hopefully not prior, employment with the nanny and escort of one of my students. I sigh, following where both Allie and Aoife have already disappeared into the car.

Here goes nothing.

* * *

Experiencing preschool and kindergarten drop-off from this side of things is a nightmare. Parents bark strict orders at their young kids to “hurry up and get out of the car” or drag them faster than their little feet can walk because most of the parents at this school are late for a meeting.

Much like dismissal, where parents need to walk into the school to pick up their kids, drop-off is the same way, and after witnessing the stress of it all, I’m glad I was able to wait by my classroom door to greet joyful smiles and skipping feet into my room.

After Finn parks, Allie bundles Aoife up, and before she opens the door, I gently grab at her arm. “Mind if I walk her in?”

Allie freezes, eyes meeting Finn’s in the rearview mirror. After a what feels like forever, she says, “Yeah. Sure. We’ll be right here.”

“Yippie!” Aoife shouts, gathering up her backpack and tripping over the long strap as she gets out. I flail an arm out to catch her.

“Goodness! Don’t want to skin your knees up before the start of the day.”

She takes my hand, and my heart swells. The light feel of her soft skin trusting me. I savor it, trying to hide my beaming smile behind closed lips as we enter the building.

Most parents let their kids go in the lobby, ushering them forward and turning away before they can make it down the hallway, but I hold on tight to Aoife’s hand and walk her down the hallway toward my classroom.