Page 97

My chest filled with so much joy as I looked at my reflection after putting it on. Now I’m getting my makeup done after a loc technician he hired for me finished weaving an intricate style in my hair. Even I can see I’m glowing.

“Ya look absolutely gorgeous.”

I turn around and gasp as Laoise McGowan stands in the doorway next to my mother. She has a huge smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She looks pretty in the green dress she has on. It works with her skin and hair.

“You came?” I breathe.

“I would have been here for that little shit Braxton if he would have given me notice. Ronan knows I would have had his balls for making me wait all this time just for me to miss out on the ceremony. I was on the first thing smoking after he called me last night, I was. So it is,” she replies, getting choked up at the end.

“I’m so happy you could make it. Now I’m really nervous,” I laugh on a shaky breath.

“Don’t worry. If he tries to run, I’ll put a bullet in his backside meself. He’d have to be out of his mind to let ya slip away. Besides, it’s not every day ya get me over here to the States. We’re going to have ourselves a grand time.”

“Laoise and I are going to get to know each other while sipping this champagne over here,” my mother says, and she leads Ronan’s mother over to sit in the little area they set up for brunch for us.

I haven’t been able to eat a thing. This is really happening. I’m getting married.

* * *

Ronan

“I wantya to know I’m proud of ya. I know how hard things were for ya when … ya know. I wasn’t sure if it would break ya and leave ya broken.

“I figured in time ya would heal. That’s why I never got on yer back about finding someone and getting married. I wanted to give ya time.”

Da pauses and shrugs. “I would have let ya be if it never happened because I understood ya. As yer da, I’ve been hurting for twenty-four years because I couldn’t fix it for ya. Yer me last-born.

“The biggest of my lot, but my wee un. Don’t tell yer sister but I also think yer the strongest. Lesser men have crumbled under the weight of all ya’ve been through. I’m mighty proud of ya, Ronan.

“Seeing this smile on yer face does my heart grand. And now for the love of God I can get some peace and yer ma will shut her fucking gub about finding ya a wife,” he says with a huge smile.

I roar with laughter and tug him into a hug. He has no idea how much his words mean to me. I’ve been waiting all day for my past to creep in and smother me. However, the thought of my soon-to-be wife has kept me grounded.

Yes, I was in love with Sasha, but I was a young lad with little to no experience. I don’t know that I was ready to be a father. Sasha had been older than me and had experienced way more than I had.

Things are different with Danika. She is my now. I don’t know what I would do if I lost her. I wouldn’t recover as I did before.

“I love ya, son. Yer going to make a grand husband,” Da says in my ear and pats me on the back.

“Thanks, Da. I’m glad yer here.”

While I didn’t have time to round up my entire family, I’m happy Ma and Da could make it. In all honesty, I don’t think it’s wise to broadcast that Danika and I are getting married. I still have questions about what Freddie knew.

However, if I didn’t tell my ma, she would have killed me. I think my ears are still ringing from the call I made last night—or should I say early morning—after Danika fell asleep.

Ma screamed so loud with excitement; I was sure she was going to wake Danika through the phone. I had to climb out of bed and move into the common area to finish the call. From there, I began to make all the arrangements for our wedding this evening.

I had been confident I would get her to repeat the words this morning. When they slipped from her lips with ease, I was able to breathe and relax. Had I lost the bet, Ma would have killed me. I was ninety-nine percent sure I had nothing to worry about.

Da looks down at his watch. “Looks like it’s time.”

I turn for my clan ring and slip it on my pointer finger. For once, I’m placing it on for my good fortune. We all wear our rings for family weddings, christenings, and to honor the dead who have passed on into paradise.

Today, my father and I will bear our rings to welcome my wife into our lot. Danika will be a McGowan before the night is over. The thought brings a smile to my lips.

“Aye, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

***