Maureen met the man’s stare. “I’ll assume you’re admiring my charming grandchildren at that level and not my daughter-in-law’s arse.” His eyes snapped to hers. “There we go. Eyes up here like a good lad. Now, I may be old, but I know what you’re doing. Mallory can deny it until she’s blue in the face, but that girl’s sweet as pie and doesn’t know just how beautiful she truly is. I understand why you’d be attracted to her—I’m not a lesbian, mind you, but her beauty’s irrefutable. However, before you encroach one more millimeter on my son’s territory, I want you to know that she’s a McCullough, and we don’t take kindly to others poaching from us. Do you understand, young man?”
He looked like someone clocked him right in his bollocks. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. We’ll just keep this little chat between us. Enjoy your aerobics now.” She turned back to the children. “I’m sorry, Mallory. I’ll not be bringing them here again. I just thought it would be faster than waiting in line at the Dairy Queen.”
“It’s fine.” Bless Mallory for lying when Maureen knew perfectly well she was cross.
“How about I keep them overnight this Friday and give you and Finnegan a little alone time?”
That seemed to lighten her mood. “Really?”
“What are grandmothers for, dearie? Of course. Go somewhere special, maybe take a trip to the city.”
“Th—thanks, Maureen. I appreciate it.”
She nodded. “Now, we’ll leave you alone to finish your exercises. Say goodbye, my little cherubs.”
The kids all kissed their mother and Mallory scanned the gym. “Where did Mitch go?”
Maureen bustled the kids toward the door. “Off to the car, dearies. Chop. Chop.”
The day after Maureen brought the children to the gym, Mitch had pulled her aside and suggested they grab lunch rather than finish their work out. Mallory laughed—thinking of the last time she had the chance to enjoy a social lunch with anyone that didn’t color on the placemats.
“But we’re working out…”
His cheeks flushed and not from the lifting they were doing. “I like you, Mallory. I think you’re funny and you’ve gotten so pretty and I want to be more than your gym partner.”
It was then she understood what he was asking and just how naïve she’d been. Worst of all, Maureen was right. She took a step back, understanding sinking in like an oily fist punching her right in the chest. Guilt filled her. “Mitch, I’m married.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you saying this stuff?”
“I thought…you’re always here. We see each other every day…”
That wouldn’t be happening anymore. She frowned, trying to grasp the fact that a body builder like Mitch could want her when the gym was crawling with Barbie type women who didn’t have husbands or children.
“I love my husband.” And he loved her. Finn didn’t think she evolved into something pretty like Mitch so clumsily put it. He always saw her as beautiful, just as she saw him.
He frowned. “Then why are you trying to change so much for him?”
She scowled. “What? I’m not changing for him. I come here for me, because with three kids it’s my only escape.” She shook her head. “I run and workout, because I like the way it makes me feel. It has nothing to do with Finn. He loves me at any size. I’m his wife.”
“I just thought—”
“You thought wrong.” Pissed off he’d confuse their relationship and thereby threaten it, she said, “I think you need to find a new gym buddy.”
“Mallory, it doesn’t have to be—”
“It does. I’m sorry if I sent you any mixed signals, but my heart belongs to my husband, always has, always will. For you to even consider jeopardizing my marriage is an insult to me, my husband, and our family. I’m sorry.”
She left the gym, so out of sorts she’d forgotten her favorite water bottle and didn’t have the nerve to go back for it.
That Friday, when she and Finn took a trip to the city and spent the night, Mallory knew she had to tell him what happened. Her stomach knotted as she worried how her husband would react.
After a romantic dinner they returned to the hotel room. She was nervous, the intimate setting and sexual tension an almost forgotten thing between them. He plopped on the bed and reached for the remote and her heart sank. Of course he was tired and just wanted to unwind—enjoy the precious peace and quiet. She was tired too, but this was exactly why so much distance rested between them. She hated it.
But most of all, more than missing sleep or fancy clothes or her independent schedule, she missed her husband. “Finn, I need to tell you something.”
Finn stilled, as nothing about his wife’s tone boded well. He placed the remote control on the pillows and sat up. “What is it?”
Mallory sighed and sat on the far corner of the bed—another bad sign. “Something happened at the gym.”
He frowned. “Go on.”
“You know how your mom made that big fuss about Mitch?”
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
“Well…she wasn’t as far off the mark as I thought.”
His smile faltered. His mother, though sometimes drawn to imagined drama, warned him Mitch was trying to steal his wife. If she wasn’t off her mark then… Blood roared in his ears as he scowled and sat up. His entire world flashing before his eyes as fear fisted his heart.
Quietly, he rasped, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
She blinked and looked away. “Mitch…came on to me.”
His jaw locked. “Did he fucking touch you?”
“No,” she quickly said. “Nothing like that. He just…asked me out.”
“Oh, nothing like that, he just asked you out, knowing full bloody well you are my wife!” He was on his feet and pacing without realizing he’d stood.
“I handled it. I told him he was not only disrespecting you, but me and my family by even asking such a thing.” She looked away. “I told him we couldn’t work out together anymore.”
“I’ll kill him—”
“Finn, please don’t make this any worse than it already is. It’s still my gym.”
He shook his head, trying to quell the rage burning to spill out. “He knows you’re married! I’ve met him, invited him to O’Malley’s with us. What kind of fucking man does that?”
“I know! Which is exactly why I told him it was disrespectful.”
Fear had him panting. His palms broke into a sweat as his knuckles cracked. “Did you…consider it?”
Her lips parted. “God, no. I swear to you. I love you, Finn. Our family, our children, even our stupid dog. I will never leave you or the life we made.”
How had this happened? How had he dropped his guard so much that another man would even consider it possible to tempt his wife to stray? “This is my fault.”
“No—”
“Don’t make excuses for me, Mallory. I should have been there. We used to go to the gym together.”
“That was before we had kids, Finn.”
“My mother can watch the kids.”
“But sometimes packing them up is more of a hassle then just leaving them home. And this is my fault too.”
He frowned. “How?”
She fidgeted, wringing her hands on her lap. “I’ve been…lonely. I know I’m hardly ever by myself, but sometimes…I miss you, Finn. Us. I miss adult time.” Her face lowered, her expression hidden by her hair as she whispered, “We go days without touching each other.”
He rounded the bed and dropped to his knees, taking her hands in his and kissing her fingers. “Philly, I’m sorry we’ve let things get to this. It has nothing to do with you, I swear it. Life just caught up with me and I lost track. Every damn day I look at you and want you more than the day before.”
She sniffled and a tear fell on their hands. “I want you too. We have to take more time for each other, Finn. I don’t want to wait years before Gianna becomes a big sister, but at this rate, I don’t kno
w if that will ever happen.”
“It will.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “My aunts are always offering to take the kids and my mum never minds. We have to stop trying to do everything ourselves. I don’t know how or why we got that way, but if leaning on others a little more gets us back to where we were, then I’m game.”
She nodded. “I compare myself with others too much. I look at Ashlynn and Kelly and I see this serene couple. Then I look at our life and there’s cereal spilled all over the table and the dogs eating the couch and Gianna’s naked again.”
He laughed. “That’s life, Philly. Kelly has one kid. Let’s see how he does with two. You had twins. When me and Luke were born, my dad says my mum nearly lost her mind. Boys are tough. Twin boys are tougher. And Gianna is going to grow up into a powder puff linebacker the way things are going. And you know what? I love it. I love the chaos, the shouting, the mayhem, and even the insanity of bath time, because we made that, Philly. You and me.”
Her glassy eyes met his. “I love you, Finn.”
“I love you too. I love you more than the air I breathe. I want to kill that fucker for even thinking he could take what’s mine.”
Her fingers sifted through his hair. “I know I can sometimes be a basket case, but I need you. Otherwise I get lost in my head and it isn’t always a pretty place. You keep me grounded and make me believe I can do this.”
He kissed her nose. “I’ll always pull you back. Always.”
He eased her to the mattress and stripped her out of her dress. Their motions were hasty as they were starved for each other, their need bone deep and something only each other could satisfy.
As he made love to her, he vowed to never let things get this far again. He reclaimed her, over and over again throughout the night.
Perhaps he needed to be reminded not to take her for granted. They rarely fought and laughed every day, but he would be lost without her and he’d fight to the death to keep her. She was his. His Mallory. His Philly.
Chapter Sixteen
Maureen sighed and tossed her arms beside her on the bed. “Well… I suppose your doctors would have a thing or two to say about that.”
Frank chuckled. “I’m not dead yet, woman.”
“No, you certainly aren’t.” She rolled to her side and ran her fingers over his chest. “I’ve missed you.”
He turned and quietly studied her. “You have no idea how much I missed you, too, love. If taking better care of myself is the price I have to pay in order to feel your body wrapped around mine, then I’ll eat turkey bacon and salad for the rest of my days.”
She grinned and curled into his side. “It’s July.”
His fingers laced with hers. “Aye.”
“The children have worked so hard putting everything together. I can’t wait to see everything they’ve planned.”
“It should be quite the event.”
“Aye.”
They lay in silence for some time, her mind going over the past forty years. Try as she might, it was impossible to summarize all the ups and downs in one evening. “We’ve had quite the go of it, Frank. Do you have any regrets?”
His lashes lifted. “No, Maureen. My life has been one long line of blessings. The tears only make me appreciate the good times more.”
“You are a romantic soul, Frank McCullough. I’ll not tell the other boys to protect your reputation.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, woman. I’m a lumberjack, born and bred to hunt, fuck, and feast like a carnivorous man.”
She chuckled. “You’re a big softy.”
He rolled farther to his side, pinning her with his arms around her face. “Bite your tongue.” His mouth pressed softly to hers. “I’m a McCullough.”
“Aye. My McCullough.”
“Mum…”
Maureen frowned as someone poked her shoulder and giggled.
“Is she breathing? Mum, wake up.”
More giggles.
Maureen squinted her eyes in the dark and gasped. “What the hell are you all doing in my bed?”
“It’s your wedding day,” Sheilagh hummed.
“Wha—” She glanced around the room. Mallory, Sammy, Kate, Becca, Ashlynn, Rosemarie, and Colleen were all crowded around her. “It’s dawn.”
“Happy birthday, Mum,” Kate said and the others echoed.
“Shhh…we’ll not tell anyone just how old I am.”
“Aye, but you’re no spring chicken,” Colleen cackled. “We got our work cut out for us. Up you go.”
They yanked away her covers and she frowned. “Where’s Frank?”
“Already at Luke and Tristan’s,” Sheilagh said. “Alec’s making all the guys a big breakfast.”
“And who will be feeding us?” They all grinned. “Oh, no. I’m not cooking on my wedding day.”
They laughed and Rosemarie said, “I’ve already taken care of it. Wash up and come get some coffee. My minions are below and I can’t leave them unsupervised for long.”
Maureen frowned, counting her daughters. “Who’s missing?”
Becca grinned. “Nikki and Carla are here for the party. They’re dying to see you so don’t take long.”
As they shuffled out Maureen went to use the bathroom. When she returned to her room in her nightgown, Kate waited on her bed. “Why aren’t you down with the others, Katie girl?”
“Sit down, Mum.”
She slowly sat beside her eldest daughter. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” She took her hands. “I love you.”
“I love you too, dear.”
She reached beside her and picked up a small wooden box. “Do you remember when I married Ant, how you told me marriage wasn’t perfect and loving a husband meant holding something in my heart too big to cram into any box?”
“Did I say that? That’s rather lovely.”
Kate smiled. “Yes. And you were right. I’ve loved him on days I didn’t like him. I’ve given more thought to what he and my children need than anything I could possibly want, because at the end of the day I just wanted them to be happy. I learned to laugh at life and roll with the punches. And through it all, I had you setting an example for me. You and Daddy make it look so easy.”
“Oh, honey, it’s not, but thank you. You’re very sweet. Truth be told, your father’s lucky I didn’t poison him long ago. But I love the bugger and I don’t know how to live without him. He’s a slob and can be a grouch, and hardly says more than the two or three words that need saying, but he’s mine and I wouldn’t have chosen differently no matter how big of a pain in my arse he can be. Love is messy and I’ve been in it with him since I was just a girl.” She smiled. “I like the mess. It tells me I’m still living.”
She opened the ornate box. “This is yours. You gave it to me on my wedding day and now I’m giving it back to you.” She held the old garter. “It’s not so new anymore, but it’s blue.”
Maureen tried not to laugh as she gently took the lace piece. They each stared at it for a moment. “Perhaps it’s more of a wristlet…” she muttered, noting the slender dimensions.
Kate snorted. “Yeah, it wouldn’t fit on my thigh either. Was I ever really that skinny?”
Maureen shook her head. “I’m lucky if I remember yesterday. You can’t expect me to remember your damn size, Kate.”
They laughed and Maureen hugged her. “Thank you. Every bride needs something old and blue.” She glanced at her chest. “Perhaps I’ll stuff it in my bosom.”
“There you go.”
There was a knock at the door and Sheilagh peeked in. “Kate, Becca needs you to help her with something.”
“Okay.” She kissed Maureen’s cheek. “Today’s going to be great, Mum. We have everything ready, so try to relax and enjoy it.”
“I will, dear.”
Kate left and Sheilagh took her spot on the bed. Maureen glanced at her enormous belly and snorted. “Are you going to be all right in this heat, love?”
Shei
lagh shook her head. “It’s ridiculous. I was supposed to go early. Never once did I expect to be a week late.”
“Brat. Your water will probably break right in the middle of my wedding and there will go my thunder.”
Sheilagh affectionately nudged her with her shoulder. “I’m praying that doesn’t happen.”
“Pray harder. Though that would be an excellent story.” They laughed and sighed. “So… are you all planning on making me emotional today?”
“Yup.”
“Well, let’s have it.”
Sheilagh smiled, showing signs of her mischievous self. “I couldn’t think of something old, new, borrowed, or blue…so I got you a flask of Tullamore Dew.” She withdrew a silver flask with a tiny blue ribbon tied around the cap.
“This and your poetic words?” Maureen laughed, taking the whiskey. “I believe this will come in handy today.”
“I figured. I, on the other hand, will be sober as a saint.”
Maureen placed a hand on her daughter’s stomach. “I’m so proud of you, Sheilagh. You made a decision and you stuck with it. You’ve also shared a bit of your heart, letting others share this incredible gift with you. It’s not something every woman could do.”
“I know it doesn’t make sense to everyone, but… I wanted my own and Alec tried. It wasn’t right that Luke and Tristan got turned down.”
She nudged her with her shoulder. “Who would have thought you’d actually be carrying Tristan’s baby after all?”
“And yet I’ve still never seen the man naked,” she joked and they both laughed.
When the giggles faded, Maureen said, “Alec is a good husband and he’s where you belong.”
“I know. I’ve never looked back since meeting him. He’s the other half of my soul.”
“It shows, dear. It shows.”
There was another knock on the door and Becca stepped in. “Am I interrupting? I can come back.”
“Nope. We’re good,” Sheilagh said as she awkwardly tried to stand. Becca rushed to her aid and helped pull her to her feet. “I’ll be downstairs.”