Page 145 of Awakened Desires

EPILOGUE

RORY

In hindsight, moving the week before Christmas might not have been the best idea. I shut the door on the van we’ve hired to transport our things from the shared house to our new home. The only thing left to do is say goodbye.

Callan wraps his arms around me as I stare at the house. “Are you okay?”

“Aye.” I wipe my eyes. “I didn’t expect to tear up. You know?”

He leans his head on my shoulders. “They’re a great bunch of housemates. I’m sad to go, and I haven’t lived with them that long.”

“I used to think I didn’t fit in. That if I left, no one would notice.”

“That’s not true. Look at the way they rallied around us. They wouldn’t have done that if they didn’t care about you.”

I sniff. “I know. I’ll miss them.”

“We won’t be that far away. An hour if the traffic is good.”

To find an affordable house for Aidan to grow up in—one with a large enough garden for a shed come workshop—we had to look in the commuter belt rather than London itself. We’re going from a Georgian townhouse to a lovely, terraced house in a leafy suburb. Irene has helped me find a new job managing a pub local to our home. It’s more responsibility but also more money. Callan has started doing jobs in the area we’re moving to, so he can build up a name for himself.

We’re baby-free this weekend. Niamh has Aidan, so we can move into the new house and get everything organised. It gives us one less thing to worry about. She and Callan discussed things with Beau. They have an agreement they’re both happy with, one that will allow Aidan to spend time with both his parents as he grows up. Most of the time, he’ll be with us.

“We’d better go and say goodbye.”

Callan squeezes me tight. “It’s not goodbye. Not really. We’ll visit.”

His words don’t alleviate the heaviness in my heart, but I hold them close all the same.

Everyone is home, and they’ve gathered in the hall. As we enter, Theo is the first to offer cuddles. I bet he’ll be the last too. We get inundated with hugs and pats on the back from everyone except Hendrix. He’s sitting on the stairs with one arm looped through the railing.

I sit next to him and nudge his arm. “Hey. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I’ll miss you.”

“That’s an understatement, isn’t it?” Hendrix’s tone has a tetchy edge to it.

“You’ve been great with Aidan.”

“I’m his honorary uncle.”

“Aye, you are. You can expect an invite to his first birthday party.”

He lifts his chin and stares straight ahead. “That’s ages away. But I’d better get one.”

“Will you come?”

“Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

He shrugs. “I’m going to miss you too.” He looks at me through watery eyes.

I hadn’t expected him to cry.

He puts his arms around my neck and presses his face against my shoulder. “First Oscar, now you, Callan, and Aidan. Everyone’s going to move out, aren’t they?”

I rub his back. “I don’t think anyone else will leave for a while. Besides, new housemates will move in, so you’ll have new people to torment.” I hope he knows I’m joking.

“Yes, but it won’t be the same.” He pulls away from me. “You have to come and visit.”