Page 70 of Awakened Desires

"No." My skin prickles.

"Have you ever mentioned them?”

I look away from her and stare at the baby instead. He looks so peaceful, so sweet and innocent, so beautiful. It's hard to believe he's mine.

"I'll take that as a no. They must be a good friend if they made you a rattle.” I can't ignore the accusing tone in her voice.

"He made the baby a rattle, not me."

Niamh shakes her head and lets out a bitter laugh. "Don't hide behind semantics, Callan. At least if it's a man, I know you weren't having an affair with him."

"I never cheated on you."

"But you never told me about this friend either."

"All right, he was a friend from when I was a kid back in Wexford. My best friend. We fell out of touch, and I've only just got back in touch with him."

"And yet he made you a baby rattle. And gave you a place to stay."

"Rory is a good man. He's a good friend. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him. But as I said, we weren't in touch. I hadn't seen him in seventeen years. He wasn't part of my life while you were."

Not that I didn't think about him during that time. He was never far from my thoughts. Rory was a symbol of a better time in my life. A happier time. A time before pain and alcohol.

"I'll bring him to meet you if you want."

"Do what you want."

"Please don't be like that, Niamh."

"Like what? Pissed that you kept secrets from me? Pissed that you got a good night’s sleep while I was woken up every few hours by a screaming baby?"

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I don't want to fight with you."

"Then maybe you should go. Because arguing is what we do best."

"I'm here to help."

She folds her arms and stares out the window. I leave her be, stroking the baby's hair as I watch him sleep. I don't dare to talk again until several minutes have gone past.

"He needs a name, Niamh."

“What would you call him?"

"Aidan is a nice name. It means little flame. I thought it would suit him because he has red hair."

"Like you. He looks like you. He looks nothing like me."

"That's not true. He's got your nose." I run my finger over his adorable nose.

Niamh snorts. "If you want to call him Aidan, call him Aidan."

"We have to decide together."

"You've already chosen a name for him."

"No. It's just a suggestion. We should discuss it. You should make some suggestions too. He’s your baby as well as mine. You have to be happy with his name."

"Aidan is fine."