Chapter 36
Kian
finished the breakfast dishes, still halfway dressed for the morning trying to
get his girls ready for the day. He was finding the demands of fatherhood trying
when he had the duties of the club to himself now with Sidney gone and Shane in
the hospital. He put the final plate of Taylor�s remains of her breakfast in
the dishwasher and wiped the counter. He took the apron off around his black
jeans and laid it on the counter. A sudden laugh coming to his lips, how his
life had changed in the last months. A good change, a change he would never want
different but he still had to laugh. The bachelor was now a father to Taylor and
a husband to Emily; the news still a shock to the others. But Kian and Emily had
no doubts, had no reserves as they stood before the priest at a very small
church, Emily�s parents and Kian�s family present and Taylor standing by
with a big smile. They started their life together as a family and just a few
weeks later, rejoiced in the news of Emily being pregnant. With all that had
happened with Sidney leaving and Shane in the hospital, it was nice to see one
happy couple in the town of Sligo.
�Daddy,
how many dolls can I take to Grandma Egan�s?� Taylor asked coming into the
kitchen.
�One,
T.� Kian said patting her tiny head.
�One?
Daddy, I can�t leave Susie and Mickey. And Millie and Sara will be very
unhappy if I leave them. I told them I was going to Grandma�s house and they
were happy.� Taylor said looking up at Kian. She already knew that if she gave
him the look of sweetness, something that was easy for her, he would give in.
She had quickly become daddy�s little girl.
�Taylor,
don�t give me those eyes.� Kian said picking her up. �Daddy can�t refuse
those eyes.�
�What
is she trying to get out of you this time?� Emily said entering the kitchen in
a beautiful dark green short dress that highlighted her blue eyes. Kian�s
breath was taken away as he looked at his bride, he was so in love with Emily,
nothing compared to her smile.
�She
wants to take all her dolls to Mum�s.� Kian said, Taylor�s head on his
shoulder.
�Taylor,
I already told you no. Don�t use your father against me.� Emily said patting
her hand.
�Mommy��
�Taylor,
I told you one doll.� Emily said getting herself a drink of juice. The morning
sickness had already started and left her with a bitter taste in her mouth, not
to mention her emotions high.
�Mommy.�
Taylor said with a whine.
�Taylor
Marie, do not whine to me. I told you��
�Why
don�t you go and get ready to go. I need to talk to your mommy.� Kian said
setting Taylor down who stumped her feet walking out of the kitchen.
�You
can�t spoil her Kian.� Emily said taking her last swallow of her juice.
�It�s
only a few more dolls.� Kian said taking her hand.
�It
starts with a few dolls and then what?� Emily stood staring at Kian.
�Em,
it�s okay.� Kian said smiling. �Honey, what�s wrong. Are you still��
�Yes,
I am still sick.� Emily said interrupting him.
�But
it�s something more. What is it?� Kian moved closer to her, his hand around
her waist. He kissed her cheek and brought her even closer to him.
�Kian
Egan, don�t think that your sweet kisses are going to make me feel better.�
Emily said knowing that his kisses did take everything away.
�Honey,
please tell me. Are you nervous about seeing the lawyer? I can go with you��
�No,
I am fine. We need to get the papers started for you to adopt Taylor. I am
just��
�Tell
me. Are you having doubts about me adopting Taylor?� Kian asked, hurt
beginning to show in the thought of her not wanting him to adopt Taylor. He
adored Taylor, she was his life now. When Mark shared how lost he was without
Bailey, Kian was the only one who understood. In just the short amount of time
being Taylor�s father, he would be lost without her.
�No,
I want you to adopt Taylor. But it does open some things with David.� Emily
said looking down.
�I
can handle the asshole. He will not hurt you again and he will not hurt Taylor.
We have a new life here.� Kian gently placed his hand on Emily�s stomach,
taking in the life that was forming inside her. �He will not take this way
from me.� Kian kissed her lips, wrapping his arms around his sweet wife.
�Kian,
I love you.� Emily said in his ear, squeezing him tight.
�I
love you and Taylor. Everything will be wonderful.� Kian said returning the
squeeze. He sent his wife off, dropped Taylor off at his parents and made his
way to the club. Thoughts soaring through his mind but one thing remained. David
was not going to take Emily and Taylor away from him. He would kill David before
that happened.
Sidney
and Bailey took in the Irish air as they stepped off the plane. Her nerves were
high, the fear of maybe Mark rejecting her. She thought about calling him,
making sure that he did want her but then she wanted to surprise him. Bailey had
made him a card on the plane asking him to be his daddy. A tear ran down
Sidney�s eye as she saw the card being made, her heart was filled with so much
joy in that Bailey would finally have that strong male bond. But again, the
thought of Mark rejecting Bailey continued to creep it�s way in. She could
deal with the rejection, but Bailey would be devastated. She gathered the
luggage, hailed a taxi and was now on her way to Mark�s, no turning back. The
scenery was wonderful to see, the beautiful hills, the familiar stores. The
people that walked the streets. It had only been a few months that she had left
but seemed longer. Sligo had truly become her home. She first noticed that when
she returned to San Diego, she felt lost and out of place. But then maybe it was
because she was without Mark.
She
thought at stopping at the hospital first, to see Shane. She felt so guilty
leaving him the way she did. She knew that Shane needed her, just like he had
been there for her so many times. Shane was disappointed in her leaving but she
hoped that her return would be a joyous one. She couldn�t wait to see Alex and
Bryan; they were the two that she missed the most. They were her strength in her
leaving and their calls in the last few months had been important to her. Kian
and Emily being married were still a shock to her, a happy shock but still a
shock. And then Andrea who refused to return her calls. Her best friend who was
completely hurt by her leaving. Perhaps Andrea understood but didn�t know how
to express it. Sidney knew that she had mending to do with Andrea but the task
was at hand, his house was close and her heart was almost beating out of her
chest.
She
paid the driver, carried her luggage to the doorstep. Bailey began jumping up
and down, his excitement too much to contain.
�Bailey,
please calm down.� Sidney said taking his hand.
�I
want to see Mark!� Bailey yelled.
�I
do to but we can�t be too pushy. Mark may not��
�He
loves us. He wants us.� Bailey said quickly. �Daddy told me.�
�Daddy
told me too.� Sidney said kissing his cheek. �Okay, Bai, here goes.�
Sidney�s finger�s reached for the doorbell, her hand shaking. She pushed the
button, the sound ringing through the house. She suddenly began brushing her
hair back, wishing she had stopped at the restroom at the airport to freshen up.
�You
look pretty, mommy.� Bailey said taking her hand.
�Thank
you sweetie.� Sidney said her heart beating faster waiting.
�Maybe
he didn�t hear the bell?� Bailey said reaching for the button, the sound
ringing again through the house. The two stood on the doorstep, waiting. The
house was dark inside, the door remained closed life standing still. �Mommy,
does Mark not want�� Bailey was interrupted by the mobile phone, Sidney
jumping at the ring. She quickly pulled it out of her purse, seeing the number
was her parent�s house in San Diego. She was not in the mood to talk to them
but yet, a rejection was close and she would need their comfort.
�Hello?�
She asked, taking Bailey�s hand.
�I
don�t believe this!� Yelled the voice. �Let me guess, you are at my
house.�
�Mark?�
Sidney said Bailey looking up at her. �What�Where�are you at my
parents?�
�Yes!�
Mark said screaming. �I came to San Diego to get you.�
�But
Bailey and I came to Sligo to be with you.� She said laughing but then
suddenly wanting to cry.
�Honey!�
Mark yelled. �You were coming to Sligo?�
�I
was coming home, to you.� Sidney said. �But this is awful! You aren�t
here. I should have called you. I am so sorry.�
�No,
it�s my fault.� Mark said Mr. Weston laughing at the happenings.
�Mark,
I need to see you.� Sidney voice trailing off with a sob. �Bailey needs to
see you.�
�Sid��
�Mark,
I love you!� Sidney said quickly, her tears of happiness taking her over.
�Stay
right there!� Mark said looking at Mr. Weston. �Well, go ahead in my house,
the key is under the mat. BUT STAY THERE! DON�T MOVE!� Mark said and hung up
the phone. He darted out of the house to the�he stopped and turned to the
front porch. �Mr. Weston��
�Get
in the car, son.� Mr. Weston said laughing at his future son-in-law. �My
daughter needs you.�