Page 42 of His Remorseful King
Sean is standing against the fireplace, his foot tapping impatiently.
“There’s a few things,” I say, inhaling. Cal and I decided to start with the engagement first. Let Da know I’m getting married, that way he can’t start in with marrying Camille instead.
Griffin rests his hand on my lap, and all eyes fall to my thighs. The unspoken outing is the encouragement I need.
“Michael and I are getting married.” My chest deflates.There, it’s out.
“You’re getting married,” Da repeats, brows scrunching in confusion. The entire room is silent, waiting to gauge his reaction before they respond.
Stay firm, both Griffin and Cal had said over and over. There’s going to be questions, and I’m going to have to patiently answer them. “Yes, Da. I love Michael. We’ve been together off and on throughout the years. I proposed last night.”
“You love each other?” Da asks.
“We love each other,” Griffin cuts in.
“When exactly did it start?” Ma asks.
“When we were in the Army,” I say. “And when I hurt my leg, I realized how much I truly needed him in my life. We’d been scared. About what it meant for me. About what it meant for the family business. And we fought it for a long time, Da. But I don’t want to anymore.”
Da nods, standing. “That’s understandable.”
He walks toward me, holding his hand out. I take it, and he tugs. He’s not strong enough to pull me up, but I go anyway. Embracing me in a tight hug, my father holds me. This moment is one I never imagined. Everyone being open about this. Especially with all the lies I forced both Griffin and myself to tell over the years.
The secrets were always a part of my life, burdening me with a heaviness in my body. I hadn’t realized until now how crushing and detrimental those secrets were. The need to have my family’s support and the gnawing pain that was always pushed to the back burner in fear that they’d reject this side of me. Because it isn’t just a side. This is who I am.
“I’m happy for you,” Da says. “Happy that two of my children have found what I was so fortunate to have. It’s important to have someone by your side when we do the things that we do.” He pulls away, turning to Griffin.
Griffin stands and accepts Da’s hug. “And it’s important for you to understand that responsibility. You’re his anchor.”
“I know,” Griffin whispers.
“When is the wedding? What will we do?” Ma asks. “Large, intimate? Can I help, or will you hire a planner?”
Griffin chuckles, hugging her. “I think we’ll just have a quick and small wedding, Ma. You can plan it all if you’d like.”
“Oh I would.” She turns to Saoirse. “You’ll make sure the ball room in the hotel is booked.”
“The hotel won’t be up and running for six more months,” Saoirse says.
“They’ll be getting married on Thursday,” Callum says. “Ma, I’ve cleared out the bar for an intimate dinner with only our family and Griffin’s mother. You’ll have to make do with that.”
“Why such a rush?” Da and Saoirse ask.
Declan snorts from the corner where he’s been silent this entire time. He knows why. It’s clear to everyone who knows about the baby that we’re doing this to prevent any issues.
I glare at him, a silent warning to shut the fuck up.
“There’s more news,” I say. “There was a bit of a break in my relationship with Michael. And during that time, a woman became pregnant with my baby.”
Ma gasps, her hand clutching her chest. “Oh, Patrick. A grandbaby. When?”
“She’s due in ten weeks,” I say. “And it’s important to Michael and me that we’re married and have a home in the same area as Camille. So we can all raise the baby together. The baby won’t be able to stay with me overnight until he is finished nursing. It’s important to me that we’re all spending time bonding, and I want Camille to feel confident that Michael is going to be in all of our lives.”
“A baby and a wedding,” Saoirse cheers. “Ten weeks is late for a baby shower. She should have everything she needs by now. I need a registry and her guest list. I can pull strings and get a last minute booking at Hampton House.”
The next thirty minutes are spent planning and explaining Camille will be here to meet the family on Friday. Then, Cal lets Ma know there’s more business to be discussed, and she and Saoirse excuse themselves to another room for planning two last-minute events.
“That’ll keep them busy for a while,” Da chuckles when only the men and Haley are left. He grows serious rather quickly, already knowing that there’s an underlying reason to rush the marriage. He’s always been able to read between the lines and catch on that we’re not being entirely truthful.