CHAPTER 3

Tilly

Stepping out onto the veranda, I walked over to the swing that was supported by chains hanging down from the open beams of the roof. It had comfortable cushions on it and a small table to the side, making me wonder if it was used often. Setting my mug of tea on the table, I wrapped the throw blanket I’d brought with me from the bedroom tighter around my shoulders, settling down gingerly on the swing, one leg folded under me. Picking up my mug, I push against the floor of the veranda and set the swing to slowly rock. The movement was a soothing comfort.

It had been two days since the O’Sheas had spirited us away to their place. I wasn’t sure where exactly we were, but it was peaceful. About a hundred meters away through the trees, I could see the white painted walls with green trim of the main house. I didn’t remember much about arriving other than an older man who must have been their father cursing when he’d caught sight of me and Ally. There had been another dark-haired man with a beard who bore a striking resemblance to Johnny, Maya’s husband, but with much colder eyes. Eyes that turned colder, if that was possible, when he caught sight of Ally and the damage that had been done to her. His expression had made me shiver and wonder if my ex-husband would make it out alive if he caught up to him before anyone else did. Not that it would upset me at all if he got some payback for the amount of hurt he’d left my baby in. The guilt of not protecting her better was eating at me.

Other than someone checking on us every day, we’d been left alone for the most part, although now that I was feeling better, I had a feeling they’d be wanting more answers, although I didn’t have much else to tell them. Like everyone else, I’d thought Troy was dead. I wondered what it meant for me now legally if he was back. ‘That was a worry for another day, though,’ I thought as the front door opened and Ally and Jeanie walked slowly out. Removing the blanket from around my shoulders, I shuffled to the middle of the swing, smiling softly at the care that Jeanie showed as she helped Ally sit down on the swing next to me. Wrapping my arm around Ally’s shoulders, I pulled her close. Once Jeanie was settled on the other side of me, I pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.

“Thank you for looking after your sister, baby.”

“You’re welcome, Mum.”

We’d not been sitting there long when I heard the sound of young children’s voices, then Maya’s as she answered; it seemed that we’d be getting visitors soon.

It didn’t take them long to reach us. Jackson was first to run up the stairs, but he came to a stop as soon as he saw us. Maya wasn’t far behind him, holding her daughter Emy’s hand and helping her up the stairs. She was carrying a bag in her other hand. Jeanie hurriedly got up to help her.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Maya smiled at Jeanie. “Those are a few things for you, Ally, and your mum. They should fit.”

“Oh, Maya, you shouldn’t have got us anything,” I protested.

Maya waved her hand at me, “It’s not much just comfy leggings and stuff that won’t hurt your bruises from the local supermarket. It’s not fancy or anything.”

“Still,” I replied, “thank you, it’s very much appreciated.”

“You’re welcome. We came over to see if you’d like to join us for breakfast at the main house. Lana, Tommy’s wife, is going to come over and check on you and Ally to make sure you’re healing okay.”

I’d not met Lana, and I wondered who she was. Maya must have seen the confusion on my face because she went on to explain.

“Lana is married to Tommy, who is Adam, Liam, and Johnny’s cousin. He grew up here with them. Lana used to work for the ambulance service but has an aversion to blood, so she had to stop. Anyway, she’s still medically trained, and as you both aren’t bleeding, she’ll be good checking you over.”

Well, that was clear as mud as we hadn’t met Tommy properly yet, but I guess I would eventually.

“Okay, then,” I agreed, getting up from the swing and pulling a still quiet Ally up with me. “Let us get dressed, and we’ll come over.”

“Excellent,” Maya beamed at me. “Just follow that path toward the main house and you’ll come to the kitchen door. It’ll be open, so just walk in. Is there anything you don’t eat?”

Shaking my head, “No, we eat everything.”

“See you soon then,” Maya replied, picking Emy up and hitching her onto her hip. Standing on the veranda, I watched as they wandered off back down the path towards the main house.

Turning to the girls, who had been quiet while we chatted, I said, “Come on then, my loves. Let’s see what Maya has brought us.”

Jeanie bounced off the swing and skipped forward, but Ally was still moving slowly.

Half an hour later, we were washed, dressed, and ready to walk over to the other house for breakfast. It was hard not to be nervous; these were complete strangers, and I’d entrusted us to their care with no questions asked. It was only a short walk, but it did both Ally and me a lot of good to be moving. Already I could feel my sore muscles easing. Ally had lost that haunted look on her face as she scanned around with interest. It was peaceful and quiet here. We seemed to be deep in the forest.

It didn’t take us long to get to the back door that was propped open. Stepping up and into the kitchen, I paused in the doorway. There was a tiny woman with dark hair and pixie features sitting at the table; next to her was the familiar large man from the night we arrived. This time, I got to see him without being in pain. He had a dark beard and dark hair and was covered in tattoos, but it was the air of menace coming off him that had me pausing in the doorway. At least until Emy demanded he pick her up, which he did with no qualms, his face softening as he looked at the little girl. Seemed like she had everyone wrapped around her little finger. There was one other person at the table. He was an older man that I knew had to be the O’Sheas’ father because they looked so much like him, even if some differed in their colouring. I recognised him too from the night we arrived.

He rose from his seat at the table as soon as he noticed us in the doorway. Smiling, he walked towards us. Taking my hand, he gently drew me towards him, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and guiding me to the table.

“Come in, Tilly. Welcome to our home,” he smiled as he pulled out a chair and helped me sit.

Maya turned from the stove with a wide smile, “You made it.” She gestured towards the other couple, “This is Lana and Tommy. They live a little way up the road. Tommy, Lana, this is Tilly, Ally and Jeanie.”

Returning their smiles, I greeted them as I sat. Once I was comfortable, Colm helped Ally into a seat, Jeanie already having made herself at home. As soon as I saw the look on Tommy’s face when he looked at Ally, I knew that he wasn’t to be feared by us.

“Morning all,” Lana grinned at us. “It’s lovely to meet you. Once Maya’s fed us, I’ll check you both out and make sure all is good.”

“Thank you,” I replied before asking Maya, “Can I do anything to help?” I felt like a slug just sitting here and having her cook, especially while she was pregnant.

“Nope,” Maya assured me. “It’s all done, just waiting on the toast. Grab a coffee or a cup of tea and settle in.”

Maya was right. It wasn’t long before she deftly added serving dishes piled high with bacon, sausage, eggs and tomatoes to the table, along with a plate of toast. There was a lot of food, and I wondered how many she was feeding. It soon became clear when we heard footsteps and deep voices coming from the front of the house. Ally shifted closer to me, even Jeanie stopped talking as we waited for whoever it was to get to the kitchen.

It was when Emy squealed loudly, “Daddy,” and started clapping in the highchair that Maya had deposited her in, that I relaxed, realising who it was coming towards the kitchen.

Johnny was first through the door, and my heart melted when his gaze softened as it fell on Emy, who was still clapping and smiling at the sight of him. I knew she wasn’t his, but you would never know it, not with how he treated her. Bending down, he blew a raspberry on her neck, making her squeal with laughter. You couldn’t help but smile at the sound of baby laughter. His daughter happy, he moved on to Jackson, who was quiet but smiling as he watched Johnny with his sister.

Johnny ruffled his hair, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Jackson tilted his eyes up with a smile, “Morning, Dad.”

“Morning, son. You been looking after the ladies?”

“Uh, huh,” Jackson nodded. “Good lad,” Johnny replied before sitting in the empty chair next to Maya and kissing her cheek, “Morning, mo ghrá, breakfast looks good.”

Maya didn’t reply just shook her head at him, but she was smiling. A pang of envy went through me at their easy, loving relationship. After kissing her, he got up, went to the kitchen sink, and washed up before walking back to his seat.

Adam was next through the door, his eyes searching until they found mine. He seemed to relax at seeing us at the table and gave me a small smile before walking to the kitchen sink to take his turn to wash up.

“Always has to make an entrance,” Liam muttered at Johnny as he followed Adam to the kitchen sink.

Johnny shrugged, replying, “I am who I am,” as he helped Jackson dish up, then turned to Jeanie. “What about you, cailín deas, would you like some eggs?”

“Yes, please,” Jeanie answered quietly, her eyes wide as she watched the banter between the brothers. I relaxed further as the food was passed around the table. Liam sat down on the other side of the table on Colm’s right-hand side. I jumped a little as the chair next to me was pulled away from the table and Adam sat down.

Leaning towards me, Adam pressed a soft kiss to my temple, taking me by surprise before he whispered in my ear, “Best you dish up what you want before Johnny, or you might not get any.” A shiver ran through me, not only at having his mouth on me but that he’d immediately sought me out when he’d walked through the door.

Tilting my eyes at him, I replied in disbelief, “There’s loads of food.”

“We’re growing boys,” Liam smiled at me. “Adam’s right; grab it while you can.”

Colm snorted, “Don’t listen to them, lass. Women and children always get fed first at my table. You take what you want, my boys know to wait.”

That’s when I realised, as I looked around the table, that none of the men had any food on their plates, but the children did, as had Maya and Lana. Looking down the table at Jeanie, I noticed her plate was full. Her eyes were wide at the amount of food piled on it.

“What about you, Ally, what would you like?” Tommy asked Ally softly, as if he knew any loud noise would likely spook her.

“Toast, eggs, and bacon, please.”

Leaning across the table, he added a couple of pieces of toast, some scrambled eggs, and bacon to her plate.

“Thank you,” Ally replied with a small smile.

“You’re welcome, ceann beag.”

“What about you, a stór ?” Adam nudged me gently. Turning my head to look at him, I wiped my hand over my eyes as tears threatened. I’d never known kindness like this, it was a balm to my wounded soul. I had no idea what fate had in store for us, but at this moment in time, I was grateful that we’d somehow ended up here. Resting my forehead against Adam, my shoulders shook as I cried silent tears of relief. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.

“It's going to be okay, a stór, ” Adam assured me, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. Nobody had said anything as I broke down. When I felt like I could, I sat up and wiped at my eyes.

Clearing my throat, I said, “A bit of everything, please.”

“You got it,” Liam replied as he passed the platters to Adam, who dished up for me and himself before sending the platters back down the table. It was exactly what was needed; before long, the chatter started up again as Lana asked the girls questions on what they liked to do. She, in turn, told us about how much she loved holidays and that every December she dyed her hair red just for Christmas. But that she loved all holidays and decorated her house for most of them. Even Ally relaxed enough to join in the conversation. It did my heart good to see her almost back to herself.

After breakfast, the women and children were shooed out of the kitchen to the lounge while the men cleaned up. It was like I was living in an alternate universe, even my dad, as lovely as he’d been, would never have washed dishes after Mum or I’d cooked.

When we got to the lounge, I looked around with interest. You could tell it was a home, with throw blankets thrown over the backs of large, comfortable couches, children’s toys stacked in plastic crates at one end of the room, along with a low bookshelf full of books. Lana checked both Ally and me over. We were healing as expected, but she said to rest if we felt like we needed it. However, moving around would help with the stiffness.

As lovely as it was, I knew I had decisions to make; we couldn’t stay here forever. The girls had school in a few weeks, and I had my job, such as it was, to get back to. I mentioned as much to Lana and Maya.

Ally let out a loud cry of dismay at my words. Her cry was loud enough that it had the sound of men’s feet thundering down the passage to the lounge.

“I don’t want to go back, Mum,” Ally sobbed in my arms. Jeanie, who’d been at the bookshelf, turned around at her cry, looking a little freaked as she watched her sister fall apart. She hurried over and burrowed in close, wrapping her arms around Ally and me, tears welling in her eyes. “He knows where we live. He’ll hurt us again,” Ally wailed.

She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to cry right along with my girls at the enormity of what our lives had become. I wished he’d stayed dead and buried.

Adam was first through the door, and he came straight to us, pulling all of us into his arms, demanding, “What’s going on? Why are you all crying?”

“Mum wants us to go home,” Ally stuttered out, sobbing as she lifted her head from my shoulder to look at him. Her blue eyes, drenched in terrified tears, and that’s when I saw it.

Resolution and resolve. That’s the look that crossed Adam’s face as he took in the terrified look in my tearful daughter’s eyes.

‘Definitely resolution and resolve,’ that was my thought, as he fiercely replied, “You’re not going anywhere, cailín deas, we’ll sort it out. Stay here with Maya and Lana while I speak to your mum. Okay?”

Ally nodded at him. Gently taking her from me, he wrapped her up in his arms and gave her a gentle hug. Her entire body collapsed against him as she took comfort.

Jeanie, still in my arms, looked uncertainly at me, “Mum?”

Sighing, I wiped a hand down my face, removing the tears. It seemed all I’d done for the last few days was cry, and I was tired of it. Falling apart wasn’t like me at all; I’d never had that luxury.

“It’s okay, baby. Stay here with Maya and Lana. I’ll go with Adam. We won’t be far.”

Emy had continued playing, completely oblivious, as she should be, and I wished my girls had had that luxury when they were little. Jackson, though, I could see much of my girls in his demeanour, making me wonder that even though he’d been the much-wanted son, he hadn’t escaped whatever hell Troy had heaped on them. From the firm hold he had on Johnny’s leg, he knew he’d found a safe haven.

Maya walked over to Adam to take Ally from him, speaking softly, “Come, baby, let’s get you settled on the couch while Adam and the boys talk to your mum. They’ll get it all sorted, I promise. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” All the while Maya was talking, she was helping Ally onto the couch to lie down, tucking a blanket around her. I hoped that one day I was as strong as Maya seemed to be, but today was not that day!

Jeanie pulled out of my arms to go to her sister but was stopped by Adam, who tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. “You’re a brave girl, Jeanie. You’ve done well looking after your mum and sister. I don’t want you to worry. We’ll sort it out so that you’re all safe. Okay?”

“Okay,” she nodded in agreement.

“That’s my girl,” Adam smiled proudly at her before letting her go to Ally, where she immediately sank down on the floor next to where Ally lay on the couch, taking her hand and wrapping her fingers around it.

“Come, mo ghrá,” at his words, I turned to look at him before my eyes dropped to the hand he held out to me, “let’s go and have a chat so you know what your options are.”

There was no hesitation from me as I took his hand and let him lead me back to the kitchen, where Colm, Tommy, and Liam were waiting for us at the table. Johnny followed along behind us.

In the end, I agreed to everything they suggested, even if I felt like I was taking advantage. When we left the kitchen table, I not only had a job starting in a couple of weeks working for Adam as his receptionist, but we also had somewhere safe to stay. Adam had volunteered his house, although I insisted that he move back in because the caravan was only comfortable for so long, and he had three bedrooms. The girls were sharing one, there was the main bedroom and a spare room that was empty at the moment. Once my furniture arrived, we’d be able to set up the empty third bedroom. He’d only agreed to the furniture when I confirmed I’d bought and paid for all the furniture in my house myself.

Once they had my agreement, they moved fast, and before I knew it, they’d arranged for my house to be packed up and put on the rental market.

They’d also insisted that as soon as Ally and I were healed, they’d take us to the gym in the town run by the Crow MC so that we could all start working on self-defence lessons. I didn’t argue, it would be good for the girls to know how to defend themselves and I already liked the Crows.

With our lives and safety arranged to the satisfaction of the O’Shea men, I made peace with the fact that it seemed we were staying in Fitheach for now. It had been a relief to let someone else make the hard decisions for a change. As long as my girls were safe, I didn’t care where we ended up living.