Wounded Hearts

Prologue

Tears flowed freely from Ronan’s grey eyes, soaking his wife’s dark hair as he clung to her body, desperately begging her to come back to him. He smoothed her hair from her face which was a mess of cuts and bruises. He begged her to open her eyes…. He was desperate to see the sparkle that had always shone in their brown depths but the heart monitor beside him was telling him that he would never again see it.

“Come on, Ronan, she’s gone.” his father-in-law said his own heart breaking as he grabbed Ronan’s arm and tried to pull him away from his daughter. Five long days Ronan had been at her bedside begging her to come back and clinging to hope that Amelia would wake up. Bruce had known his daughter would not wake. Her body had been too damaged from the car accident and Bruce was convinced that only her sheer strong-willed stubbornness had kept her heart beating as long as it had.

Ronan shoved his father-in-law away from him and climbed into the bed pulling Amelia’s broken body into his arms. Bruce felt tears running down his own wrinkled cheeks. He knew the pain that Ronan was feeling because Bruce had felt it when the cancer had taken his own wife four years before. Now Bruce’s old heart was breaking anew as he looked at his son-in-law clinging to his daughters body.

“Wake up, Amelia, honey.” Ronan said desperately. “Penelope needs her mommy to come home. She needs you, baby. I need you.” As Ronan rocked her in his arms the room filled up with nurses to unhook the various machines and tell Ronan there were forms that needed to be signed. Ronan ignored them and laid down in the bed with Amelia’s body in his arms. He wished he could just die with her… Just lay here and never have to live another second without her beautiful smile.

“Ronan, come on son we have to go.” Bruce said his voice breaking through Ronan’s pain filled thoughts. “Penelope needs her daddy with her right now.” Only the thought of his beautiful daughter needing him made him pull his body out of that bed and away from Amelia. Ronan signed the forms the doctors put in front of him without knowing what they said. His body was on autopilot while his mind was still trying to wrap around how he was going to carry on with his life without Amelia… How he was going to tell his beautiful three year old daughter that her mommy was not coming home?

Ronan let Bruce drive him back to Bruce’s home where Amelia’s older sister was watching Penelope. Ronan fell to his knees as Penelope ran from the house, her dark pigtails swinging and her chubby legs pumping as fast as they could. She laughed happily and jumped into his arms. He breathed in the scent of her. She smelled like chocolate chip cookies. She was already talking about how much fun she’d had with her aunt Abigail and Ronan sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God that he still had this beautiful baby girl. With her he would make it through this. Or at least he hoped he would.

He would dedicate the rest of his life to his daughter. He would live it only to protect and provide for her. He vowed there would never be another woman in his life. Amelia had been his one and only.

Chapter One

Two Years Later

Drip. Drip. Drip. Ronan cursed as the leaky rusted pipe dripped cold water on his forehead. He cursed again when he busted his knuckles against said pipe as his wrench slipped. As far as he was concerned the owners of this house would be better off burning it to the ground and building a new one. But he supposed he’d fix whatever they wanted fixed as long they were paying him good money to do it.

He went about removing the old metal pipe and replacing it with a more modern PVC piping. He was just finishing up when he heard someone walk into the kitchen. He crawled out from under the sink and saw the man who owned the place standing there with a bouquet of red roses.

“Did you get it fixed?” he asked setting the roses down on the counter and removing his suit jacket. Ronan nodded and wiped his dirty hands on his stained up blue jeans.

“Yea, I got the kitchen sink fixed anyway. But the piping in the rest of the house is just as bad and is gonna need to be fixed. Not to mention the windows need work, and your heating and a/c ducts are shot all to hell.” he added. Mason Thomas chuckled and nodded.

“I figured as much but the woman had her heart set on buying this place so that’s what she did. You can’t tell her anything.” Ronan nodded and ran his hand through his thick chestnut hair. “Oh well, my man, I’ll pay you for the work you did today and you can come out next week and get started on the rest.” Mason said as he pulled out his wallet and handed Ronan several fifty dollar bills. Ronan pocketed the money and grabbed his toolbox.

“I’ll get going then. Looks like you and the wife are gonna have a good night.” Ronan said pointing at the roses. Mason laughed.

“No, she isn’t my wife. I keep her around because the sex is so good.” he said giving Ronan a knowing wink as if Ronan would understand completely what he meant. Ronan smiled because he knew that was what was expected of him but inside the mans comment pissed him off. He hoped he never heard a man say something like that about his Penelope because he would have to murder them for sure.

“Well I gotta be going.” Ronan said walking out the door and into the bright Georgia sunlight. Mason followed him.

“You know how women are I’m sure.” he said not realizing that Ronan really didn’t want to hear what he had to say. “If you don’t bring them flowers every now then, the bitches become impossible to live with. Don’t know how much longer I’m going to keep this one around though. I’m starting to get tired of her and she’s starting to want marriage and marriage is definitely something I’m not willing to give her. Talk about putting a noose around your neck! Only a crazy man would tie himself down to one woman.” Mason was chuckling as if he found what he was saying to be highly entertaining.

Ronan merely grunted in reply while throwing his toolbox loudly into the back of his beat up chevy work truck. An image of Amelia’s face came to his mind with her dark slightly slanted eyes, her tan skin and light freckles all framed by her raven black hair…. He felt a stab of pain in his heart but quickly pushed it away. He was about to open his truck door and jump in when a small black Saturn pulled in the driveway beside him.

“There the pain in the ass is now.” Mason whispered nudging Ronan with his elbow. Ronan wondered why in the hell Mason seemed to think they were such good friends. The door to the car opened and a woman in a crisp black business skirt and jacket stepped out. Her blond hair was up in a clip on her head. She had pale skin, green eyes and a heart shaped mouth with big pink lips.

She was pretty, Ronan noticed, and she was all smiles as she looked at Mason. Ronan looked over at the man and saw that he was smiling as well.

“Hello, my love!” Mason said wrapping her in a tight hug. “How was your day? I missed you.” Ronan grunted and decided he had to give Mason credit. For a man who clearly did not love his girlfriend, he knew how to put on a pretty good act. She was obviously fooled as she smiled up at her man and didn’t even seem to notice Ronan standing there.

“Laura, this is Ronan Matthews. He’s the man that’s gonna fix our house up for us.” Mason said tilting his head toward Ronan who was climbing up in the truck seat. Ronan slammed the door shut and rolled his window down to try to combat the intense late august heat.

“Nice to meet you ma’am.” Ronan said giving her a small wave of farewell which she returned. He pulled away quickly as he looked at his watch. He had a hot date with a five year old he had to be getting to.

Ronan pulled in the driveway of his small, white, two bedroom house at the end of the one way back road. Before he had time to get out of the truck Penelope was running from the house with her dark braided pigtails swinging. Ronan scooped her up into his arms and spun her around several times before propping her on his hip. She wrinkled her nose and looked at him with her grey eyes.

“You’re dirty, daddy.” she said in her high pitched angelic voice. Ronan chuckled.

“I know, sweetpea. I’ve been working all day.” he replied, kissing her forehead.

“Are we going to my kinnergarden house today?” she asked excitedly. Ronan nodded.

“Yes we’re going to you kindergarten open house.” he replied. He carried her into the house and Abigail smiled at them from where she was just placing two plates of food on the kitchen table. Ronan didn’t know what he would have done the last two years without Amelia’s sister Abigail. She had filled in as a babysitter, cook and housekeeper and helped to keep Ronan’s head on straight.

“Ronan, you are filthy.” she said curling her nose the same way Penelope had.

“So I’ve heard.” Ronan replied setting Penelope down in a chair at the table.

“Well if you can handle things from here, I’ve got to get home.” Abigail said wiping her hands clean on a dishtowel before tossing it on the counter.

“Don’t you want to stay for dinner since you worked so hard to cook it?” Ronan asked as he picked up his fork and stabbed it through a big chunk of meatloaf.

“No I have a husband and kids at home that are waiting for dinner.” she replied grabbing her purse off the counter by the door. “Besides if I keep having dinner so late at home, Jeff is going to start looking for a new wife.”

“No he won’t. Jeff loves you.” Ronan replied shoving a bite of peas in his mouth.

“Well I guess I’ll see you both Monday.” she said opening the door. Ronan looked over at her.

“Penelope only has a half day of school that day so she’ll need you to get her around eleven-thirty.” he said. Abigail nodded, blew a kiss to Penelope who giggled, and then left.

“Hurry up and eat, daddy! You have to get clean and take me to my kinnergarden house!” Penelope exclaimed and then she put her lips on her bendy straw and blew bubbles in her milk. Ronan knew he should tell her not to do that but since it made him smile he didn’t say a word.

888

Ronan tugged at the collar of his gray button down shirt and ran his free hand through his unruly hair. Penelope had a tight grip on his other hand and he looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

“You’ll do fine.” he promised. “Let’s go meet your teacher.” Mrs. Gilbert was an older woman with a plump waist, friendly eyes, big smile and seemingly boundless energy as she bounced around the room, greeting all the parents and kids and making instant friends with all of the five year olds.

“I like it here, daddy.” Penelope said as she sat in one of the tiny chairs at a round table and colored a picture of a mermaid. Ronan grabbed the black crayon and began coloring the mermaids hair as he crouched next to her.

“I’m glad, sweetpea.” he replied. She swung her head around to face him slapping him in the cheek with one of her pigtails.

“Daddy! She is supposed to have red hair! Not hair like me and mommy!” she exclaimed. Ronan dropped the black crayon as if it had burned him and closed his eyes against the pain that shot through his heart at the mention of Amelia. He opened his eyes and cleared his throat to find Penelope’s grey eyes glaring at him impatiently.

“Sorry, sweetpea.” he said kissing her tiny nose. “You have pretty hair and I wanted the mermaid to be pretty.” Penelope smiled and her eyes lit back up. Just like that the crayola incident was forgiven.

“Yes I’m pretty aren’t I, daddy? Just like mommy was.” she said as she went back to coloring her picture. Ronan couldn’t speak around the lump of emotion in his throat so he just nodded and rubbed her back.

“Well hello there, Ronan.” a feminine voice said from behind them and Ronan groaned, closed his eyes, prayed for patience, and then stood and looked at the woman behind him. She was short and petite with her smooth black hair cut in a bob. She wore far too much make-up and perfume and her dress was too tight and highly inappropriate for an evening with rowdy five year olds.

“Hi Susan.” Ronan replied trying his best to sound polite. She batted her long lashes, which Ronan suspected were fake, and looked up at him with her big blue eyes.

“Penny is finally starting school huh?” she asked. Ronan felt a muscle tense in his jaw at the nickname. Amelia had been the only one to ever call Penelope, Penny.

“Yes, Penelope starts Monday.” he replied as he wiped some glitter off of his pants and wondered how it had gotten there. He supposed that was a hazard of being in a room full of twenty, five year olds and their parents all doing arts and crafts.

“Oh well that is wonderful.” Susan replied with a big smile that revealed a mouth full of bleached teeth. “I’ll keep a close eye on her so don’t you worry about that.” Ronan nodded and kicked himself for forgetting that Susan was the guidance councilor here at the elementary school. What the hell did a bunch of five thru eleven year olds need a damn guidance councilor for anyway?

“Thanks.” he said. Susan laid her hand on his arm and he looked down at her bright red nails against the gray of his shirt.

“You look tired, Ronan. You’ve been working too hard. Between your job, the house and Penelope you are stretching yourself too thin. You need a woman to make things easier for you. A mother for Penelope and perhaps a wife for you, to warm your bed at night and rub all the tension out of those muscles.” Ronan’s grey eyes hardened as he glared at her and she removed her hand from his arm quickly. He could feel the muscles jumping in his jaw.

“Penelope had a mother and I had a wife. We aren’t looking for a replacement.” he growled out with barely contained fury. He turned from Susan who was stuttering as she tried to think of something to say to calm him and knelt back down to Penelope.

“It’s time to go, sweetpea.” he said.

“No daddy, I haven’t made Aunt Abigail her picture yet.” Penelope pouted. Ronan nodded as he started putting her crayons away.

“Me and you will go to the store in the morning and we’ll buy a bunch of new crayons and paper and whatever other sorts of little doodads you need and you can make her whatever kind of picture you want to at home.” he replied. Penelope giggled as she stood up and she placed her tiny hand into his big scarred up one.

“You’re silly daddy. What’s a doodad?” she asked. Ronan shrugged.

“I’m not sure but if the store has any then we’ll buy them.” he replied. They said goodbye to Mrs. Gilbert who happily told Penelope she’d see her Monday and then they left.

Chapter Two

“Daddy, you can go now.” Penelope said with exasperation as Ronan stood in the doorway of the classroom holding onto the door frame with one white knuckled hand. His other hand was shoved down deep in the pocket of his jeans.

“You have my cell phone number in your backpack.” he reminded his daughter. “And aunt Abigail’s number and grandpa Bruce’s number are in there too.” Penelope nodded.

“I know, daddy. Now go.” she said stomping her foot. Ronan knew he was embarrassing her. He looked around at all the other kids who were busy coloring and playing and then back at his little girl. She looked so grown up with her pink backpack over her shoulders and her yellow sun dress. Her black hair that was so much like her mothers was pulled back in a simple pony tail (since Ronan had not yet mastered the art of braiding) and while she had his grey eyes, they and her lips were shaped just like her mothers.

“Okay, sweetpea, I’m going. I love you.” he said squatting down and hugging her and throwing a protective glare in the direction of some freckle faced red headed boy that was looking their way. He stood up and Penelope ran off into the room and Ronan wasn’t sure how he managed to do it but he slowly managed to drag his feet back out to his truck.

888

“What are you saying?” Laura demanded, feeling her heart shatter into a million pieces and fall at Mason’s feet.

“I’m saying that we just aren’t working out.” Mason replied smoothing his hand over his slicked back blond hair and adjusting his suit jacket.

“Not working out?” Laura yelled angrily. “We have been together for over two years! I thought we were happy! How are we not working out?”

“I knew you would be unreasonable about this.” Mason said with a sigh. Laura looked at the man and wondered if he had lost his mind. She stomped her foot, nearly snapping the two inch heel.

“Unreasonable! Unreasonable! I will show you unreasonable you asshole! Two years of my life I gave to you. Two whole years! I bought us this house and I thought we were going to be starting our future together…” Mason cut her off with the raise of one of his soft business man hands that had never seen a hard day of labor in his life.

“That is not my problem, Laura. I never once let on that I wanted any kind of a permanent future with you.” Laura rolled her eyes and laughed harshly.

“I think that’s kind of implied after the two year mark, Mason.” she said matter of factly.

“Well you see I was going to leave a long time ago but the sex with you is some of the best I’ve ever had.” Mason replied as if his words were completely logical and reasonable. Laura however had to fight the urge that suddenly came over her arm to slap that smug look right off his face.

“Isn’t that ironic.. You pretended to love me because you thought the sex was good and I loved you even though the sex was terrible.” She spat raising her brow and crossing her arms over her aqua colored camisole. Mason shook his head and picked up both his suitcases off the floor.

“I am not going to fight with you Laura. We are done. We’ve been done for a while.” he said calmly. Laura wanted to claw his eyeballs out so that would not be able to look at her like she was an angry child.

“We have?” she asked. “I didn’t hear you telling me we were over last night. What was that a farewell screw?”

“I have to go, Laura, or I’ll be late for work. I’ve got a heck of a court case to get through today.” Mason said looking at his watch. Laura nodded and waved toward the door.

“Go then , I would hate for my broken heart to make you late for work.” she said. She wanted to cry but she bit the inside of her cheek and held the tears back. She would be damned before she let him see her cry. Mason nodded and walked to the door. He stopped before he walked out and looked back at her.

“It’s been fun, sweetheart.” He gave her a nod and then walked out of her life, closing the door gently behind him. The door closed much too quietly for Laura’s tastes. She grabbed a picture of the two of them on vacation in Italy the year before off of the coffee table and jerked the door back open.

Mason was just pulling out in his silver Jaguar and Laura threw the picture for all she was worth, shattering the glass across the driveway. She glared at him as he gave her a friendly wave and drove away. She slammed the door as hard as she could and winced when she heard the living room window rattle at the impact.

She held herself together long enough to call into work. It probably would not earn her any brownie points when she missed work on the first day of school but she just was not in any mood to deal with hundreds of teenagers all day.

She walked upstairs and changed out of her suit skirt and camisole and into a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt she still had from her college days. She walked back down to the large oversized brown suede couch and threw herself down onto it. She curled up to her big green throw pillow and began crying silent tears into it.

Over two years of her life wasted on a man who had had the nerve to offer her a ‘it’s been fun sweetheart’ as he’d walked out of her door. What pissed her off the most was that she was going to have to tell her mother she’d been right about the jerk after all. Men were assholes. Each and every one of them and Laura would be damned before she’d ever let herself trust another one.

888

Ronan pulled into the driveway of Mason and Laura’s house and his work boots crunched on broken glass as he jumped from the truck. He looked around at the small pieces of glass covering the blacktop and prayed he wouldn’t end up with a flat tire in his truck since his spare was currently being used to help jack up his car that had a broken axle.

He grabbed his toolbox out of the back of the truck and then started up toward the door. He saw a piece of paper in the grass and he walked over to pick it up. He realized it wasn’t a piece of paper but a photograph. He looked at the smiling couple in the photo and recognized Mason and Laura.

“Aww shit.” he mumbled. Looked like he’d arrived just in time for a lovers spat. Maybe Laura had finally realized what a loser her current boyfriend was. Ronan thought about getting back in his truck and heading home. He had no desire to get caught in the middle of something but then again, the economy was pretty crappy right now and this job was going to keep him busy and well paid for a long while. He decided to take his chances and walked up to the door.

Mason had given him a spare key since he’d have to let himself in and out of the house while Mason and Laura were at work. Ronan tested the handle to find that the door was unlocked and he took note of the black Saturn still in the driveway.

“Hello? Anybody home?” Ronan called out. From his spot in the doorway he could see into both the living room and the kitchen. Both appeared to be empty. He shrugged and walked further in, shutting the door behind him.

“Hello? Is there anyone here?” he called out again. The words were no sooner out of his mouth and he heard a thud upstairs followed by a lot of feminine cursing that would have made his very Christian mother fall to her knees and beg forgiveness if she’d still been alive. Ronan wondered if he should go up and see what was wrong but then again he figured it wasn’t any of his business and he had work to do in the downstairs bathroom.

Since he could not find one good reason to go upstairs and risk his neck with a woman who was obviously in a very bad mood he walked back to the bathroom and got started on the pipes and faucets.

888

Laura had gathered up all of Mason’s love letters and cards along with every single photo she had of him or of the two of them together and put them in an empty shoe box. She tucked the box under her arm and grabbed his zippo lighter off the dresser. She had thought about burying the mementos of her two wasted years but she had decided that burning them sounded like much more fun.

She was done crying over the bastard. Her green eyes were red and swollen and her face was puffy. She could have lost herself in her tears for the rest of the day as miserable as she felt but she would not let herself. Not when he had driven away with a smile. She walked downstairs and was about to let herself out the back door when she heard a muffled voice coming from the bathroom. She froze in her tracks and felt her heart speed up.

Who was in her bathroom? She looked around her and saw that the only handy weapon she could find at the base of the stairs was her purple umbrella. She sat the box down and grabbed the umbrella, holding it by the top so that the wooden handle could be used as a club. She made her way to the bathroom and she could hear the sound of metal rubbing against metal and more of that deep masculine voice mumbling.

She took a deep breath to try to calm her runaway nerves and then jumped through the open bathroom door. She saw a pair of dirty work boots, attached to a pair of very long, lean blue jean clad legs and a flat stomach with a trail of chestnut colored hair leading into the waistband of said blue jeans. The intruder was wearing a blue t-shirt as well but given his position under the sink with his arms raised the shirt had risen up revealing his very lean and well muscled midsection.

Laura felt her body heat at the very perfection of manhood sticking out from under her bathroom sink and she couldn’t even see his face! Then common sense kicked back in and she realized that this man had broken into her home and was now….. What was he doing now? Stealing a faucet? Laura didn’t have time to worry about that. She was a woman here alone and she needed to defend herself. She swung with the umbrella catching the man sharply on the shins with the solid wood handle.

“HOLY SHIT!” the man yelled as he raised up suddenly and then quickly lowered back down when his head banged on the top of the cabinet. Laura overcame her shock at his outburst and was about to hit him again when his arm shot out from under the sink and he pointed at her with one large, dirty, calloused finger.

“If you hit me with that umbrella again, so help me God, I will beat you to death with a pipe wrench.” he warned and then as if to prove his point he stuck his other hand out from under the sink and showed her the very large metal pipe wrench he was holding.

“Come out from under there right now and tell me exactly what it is you think you’re doing in my house!” Laura demanded angrily. Ronan growled under his breath and maneuvered himself out from under the sink being more careful this time not to crack his head open.

Laura’s mouth fell open as the man stood up and he raised his hand to his head as if checking for blood. He was tall and he was handsome. He had broad shoulders, muscular arms, sharp rugged features, strong cheek bones and a jaw line to die for beneath his couple days worth of stubble. That jaw was currently set in a very angry manner and his grey eyes seemed to be full of mean storm clouds as he glared at her.

“My name is Ronan Matthews, ma’am, and your boyfriend hired me to do the work that needs to be done around here. We met just the other day I believe.” Laura thought back but could not remember meeting this man. Surely she would remember meeting a man that looked like this.

“I don’t ever remember meeting you.” she said squaring her shoulders and raising her chin a little just to show him that she wasn’t afraid of him.

“You were pretty preoccupied making googoo eyes at your man.” he replied. Laura felt her temper flare at the mention of her blind love for her ex and she raised the umbrella, as if it was an extension of her arm and pointed it into his chest.

“Mason is not my man anymore and this is my home and you had no right to just come in here and start doing things without my permission!” Ronan grabbed the handle of the umbrella and moved it away from his chest.

“Mason gave me a key, ma’am, and I was told to come today and get to work. I apologize if I startled you but seeing as how you cracked my legs open with that umbrella of yours I would have to say we’re even.” he said and then he raised his brow as he looked at the umbrella. Purple? The damn thing was the brightest color purple he’d ever seen. It looked like one of those damn teletubbies that Penelope used to watch all the time.

“What are you doing anyway?” Laura asked turning her attention away from him and the way his thick chestnut colored hair fell carelessly across his forehead and looking into the bathroom behind him.

“Fixing the pipes ma’am.” he replied. He took a few moments to glance at her. It was clear she had been crying. Her green eyes were red and swollen and her blond hair was in a sloppy ponytail. Her gray sweatpants and sweatshirt looked to be several sizes too big and she was bare foot and he saw that while her fingernails weren’t painted her toenails were bright red. She really was a pretty woman.

Ronan felt guilt enter his heart at that thought. He had always been a one woman man. He had worked hard to never even give other women more than just a passing glance when he had been with Amelia and even now, two years after her death, looking at Laura was the first time he had allowed himself to really look at another woman. He almost felt as if by doing so he had betrayed Amelia.

“So, ma’am, do you want me to leave or do I still have a job?” he demanded harshly. He hadn’t meant to sound so mean but looking at this woman was making his body feel things that he did not ever want to feel for any woman other then Amelia. Laura just shrugged and turned away from him.

“Can we talk in the kitchen?” she asked. It just didn’t feel right to be having a conversation with a complete stranger in the middle of her bathroom. Ronan nodded and followed her out to the kitchen. Once they were sitting on the stools on either side of the bar Ronan waited quietly for her to begin the conversation.

“So what exactly did Mason have you hired on to do?” Laura asked. Mason had not told her any of his plans for the house. She knew it needed work and she had trusted him enough to believe he would take care of it. She snorted out loud at her own stupidity and this got her a curious glance from Ronan.

“Well he didn’t have any set list made out. He told me to give the house a look and just fix what I thought needed to be fixed.” Ronan replied. Laura laughed harshly and stood up. She went to the refrigerator and jerked it open. She pulled out a pitcher of lemonade and got out two glasses. She filled them both and sat one in front of Ronan before taking her seat again.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Ronan said before taking a sip. Laura waved her hand at him, dismissing his words.

“Mason is an idiot.” she said matter-of-factly. “He was paying you with my money so he wasn’t at all concerned about you swindling him. You won’t find me so naïve.” She would make sure she was never naïve enough to trust a man again. Ronan felt his own temper flare at having his honor and trustworthiness questioned but he pushed it back down. She had every right to question him.

“I can promise you now, ma’am, that I have no interest in swindling anyone. I’ll tell you like I told Mason. The pipes in the sinks and tubs need to be replaced, the windows need to be replaced and the heating and air ducts under the house all need work.” Laura was quiet for a while as she sat and thought about what he had said. She sipped her lemonade silently and looked around the kitchen.

“I knew the house needed a lot of work.” she said quietly. Ronan nodded.

“I don’t want to offend you ma’am but with Mason gone are you still wanting me to fix everything or do you need time to get the money….” Anger flashed in Laura’s big green eyes and he stopped talking.

“My finances are none of your concern.” she snapped.

“I hate to argue with you, ma’am, but when it comes to me getting paid for my work then your finances are my concern.” Laura looked down at the faux oak bar and his large hands which were wrapped around his cup of lemonade. She saw that he wore a wedding ring. She felt sorry for his wife. Of course he might be a perfectly wonderful man but at the moment she felt sorry for any woman tied down to a member of the dumber sex.

“If you do honest work for me then I will pay you for it.” Laura replied. “I don’t see any need for me to find someone else since you are already familiar with the house and what needs to be done.” Ronan nodded and took another drink of his lemonade.

“When do I pay you?” she asked. “Do I pay you daily or…..” Ronan shook his head.

“What would be easiest for you?” he asked. She thought for a moment.

“I get paid every other Friday.” she replied.

“Works for me.” he said. “I guess I’ll get back to work now.” Laura sighed.

“Actually I was really hoping for a few hours of privacy.” she said. “I’ve had a bad morning. Do you think you could call it a day and come back out tomorrow?”

“Sure. Today was my daughter’s first day of kindergarten and she gets out in about a half hour. I’ll go pick her up.” he said with a happy smile. Laura cursed the way her heart reacted to the sight of that smile on his face. She noticed that he had a single dimple in his right cheek.

“I’m sure that will make her day.” Laura said dryly. She really didn’t want to hear about a man doing nice things. Men were dogs. Ronan stood up. He wasn’t sure why he had told her about picking Penelope up from school. Something about sitting here with her, drinking her homemade lemonade that had just a tad too much sugar in it, had made him feel more comfortable and relaxed than he had been in a long time. He scowled at the realization and sent up a silent apology to Amelia.

“I’ll just get my things and be on my way then ma’am. Can I keep the house key?” he asked. Laura didn’t know if she was entirely comfortable with this man having a key to her home but she saw no way around it since she would have to be at work and he would have no other way in.

“Yes you can keep it.” she said. ‘Just don’t use it to break into my home and murder me in my sleep.’ she added silently.

Chapter Three

Nearly three weeks came and went quickly. Laura found herself settling into her American history teaching job at the high school. Teenagers were annoying but the pay was decent and the job kept her busy and being busy was what she needed right now.

She had not heard from Mason since he had waved at her and drove away. She still did not understand how he could have just taken over two years of history and flushed it down the toilet as efficiently as he had. She sincerely hoped she never saw him again because if she did she would probably end up on death row, wearing an orange jump suit and begging her lawyers for an appeal.

Laura had not seen Ronan more then a couple of times since the day they had shared lemonade in the kitchen. She knew he had been at the house because everyday more and more work was done. The faucets and pipes in the bathrooms and kitchen had all been replaced, and while he hadn’t replaced the windows he had replaced the frames around them and sealed the gaps so that you could no longer feel the breeze through them and they no longer rattled when you slammed the door.

She kept telling herself that she was not avoiding him and that work had just kept her too busy. She was gone before he got there and she stayed late at the school grading tests and doing lesson plans and he was usually gone by the time she got home. Ronan was entirely too good looking for her new motto of ‘men suck’ and to top it off he was married and had a kid. She did not even know his wife but she didn’t like her. No woman should have a good man and be happy if she didn’t. Okay so she knew that wasn’t the most mature of thought processes but she didn’t care. It was how she felt.

Today however she had to make sure she was home early enough to pay him his money for the last two weeks of work he’d done. She parked her Saturn next to his dirty work truck and got out of the car. She walked up the walkway and into the house.

“Ronan, I’m home! I have your money!” she called out. There was no response. She walked into the kitchen and sat her purse on the counter. She pulled off her high heels and released the clip from her blond hair letting it fall down her back.

“Hello, Bob the builder! I’m home.” she called out again but again there was answer. She had taken to calling him Bob the builder most of the time since she found the name Ronan to sound entirely too sexy on her lips. She walked into the living room and almost screamed out in fear when there was a thud through the floor beneath her.

“Son of a bitch that hurt!” she heard Ronan’s deep voice say. She bit back a laugh. He must be down there working on the heat and air ducts. Laura was secretly happy that she would avoid seeing him today. She tore a piece of paper from the memo pad on the refrigerator and left him a note and a check for the amount they’d determined he was owed on the bar.

She went upstairs and laid out a pair of low rise, tight fitting, dark denim jeans and a red satin, spaghetti strap tank top. She dug through the pile of shoes in the bottom of her closet and found her black, four inch, strappy heels.

She was going out tonight. She had had enough of moping around this house all weekend, every weekend. She was going to go to the honky tonk bar on the edge of town called ‘Jimmies’ and she was going to sing karaoke and dance and drink and forget all about Mason and being lonely.

She left her clothes on the bed and walked to the bathroom. She turned the shower on and then pulled her clothes off and ran her brush through her long blond hair. She studied her face in the mirror. She had big green eyes, high cheekbones, heart shaped lips and a tiny nose sprinkled with freckles. She was pale skinned naturally but she knew that sleepless night had worsened that and the dark circles around her eyes paid tribute to the tossing and turning she’d been doing alone in her bed without Mason.

It was not really Mason that she missed, it was having someone else around. She missed having someone to talk to about her day and having someone to share a cup of coffee with in the mornings. Maybe she should get a dog. She sighed and then pulled the curtain back and jumped into the shower.

888

Ronan walked into the house and saw the note and check lying on the bar. He pulled out his wallet and put the check inside and he found himself smiling as he read the note and saw that she had addressed it to Bob the builder. He had learned over the last few weeks that she had a great sense of humor even if it was sarcastic and mean at times. He had also learned that thanks to Mason she had a very firm hatred of men. He felt sorry for her and for men everywhere because she would make some man a good woman if she could get past what Mason had done to her.

He tossed the note in the garbage and was about to go out and gather up all his tools when a blood curdling scream came from the upstairs bathroom. Ronan did not even have time to think about what he was doing. He ran up the stairs taking them three at a time and burst into the bathroom.

His adrenaline charged body stopped short and stared in shock at the sight of Laura dripping wet and wrapped in a towel, standing on top of the toilet screaming and sputtering and pointing at something in the corner. He looked where she was pointing and saw the large gray wolf spider on the floor. It was a good sized spider, bigger than a silver dollar. but still he didn’t see why she should be so afraid of it.

“Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!” Laura yelled her voice full of fear. He looked back up at her face and saw that she was near panic and he couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling up out of him. The laughter surprised him because he hadn’t done much of it the last two years but the sight of her soaking wet in that towel, with a look of pure panic on her face as she bounced around on top of the toilet was the funniest thing he had seen in a long time.

“Calm down Laura, it’s just a spider.” he said once his laughter had run its course. His laughter had taken the edge off of Laura’s panic and she glared down at him from her perch on the toilet seat.

“Look at the size of that thing! That is not just a spider!” she said. Ronan wondered if he should tell her that he’d been fighting with this little guys grandma and grandpa under the house all day but judging by the look in her eyes he figured that wouldn’t be a good idea.

“Okay, I’ll get it.” he assured her. He walked to the corner and with the toe of one of his size twelve boots he quickly ended the threat of the ‘killer’ spider. He grabbed a handful of toilet paper and wrapped the dead spider up in it. Laura looked at the handful of paper in his hand as if it was a loaded gun or a bomb ready to blow.

“Get it out of here.” she said pointing out the bathroom door. Ronan was laughing again as he nodded.

“Yes, ma’am.” He left the bathroom leaving Laura standing alone on top of the toilet. Once she heard him walk down the stairs she let what had just happened sink in. Her handyman had just barged into her bathroom, seen her wrapped in nothing but towel standing on the toilet, and then had proceeded to laugh at her, kill the giant tarantula in the corner and walk back out.

She should be horrified that he had seen her basically naked but looking back on what had happened she didn’t think he really had looked at her. Sure he’d looked at her face but she had never seen his eyes stray any lower.

Ronan’s wife was a lucky woman. It must be nice to have a man that loves you so much he doesn’t even check other women out. Even when they are half naked, soaking wet and helpless. She walked down the hall to her room and slipped into her clothes. She could hear Ronan downstairs and she knew she needed to go down and thank him for killing the spider. She wasn’t sure how she was going to face him after making such a complete fool of herself but it had to be done sooner or later.

She walked barefoot down to the kitchen to find that it was empty. She heard noise outside and realized that Ronan must be out there loading up his truck. She wanted to catch him before he left so she opened the door and walked barefoot out into the yard.

Ronan heard her come outside so he looked up from where he was throwing the old crumpled ac ducts into his truck.

“I see you survived.” he said as he quickly looked away from her and went back to picking up the mess. She looked beautiful in those tight jeans and clingy satin top. She had a nice chest, tiny waist and feminine hips and those clothes showed off every bit of it.

“Yes I did.” Laura said as she blushed with embarrassment. “Thanks for killing the spider.” Ronan could hear the irritation in her voice and he figured it was because she was having to thank a man for something.

“You’re welcome ma’am.” he replied. Laura rolled her eyes.

“Why do you call me ma’am all the time?” she demanded. She wanted to find some reason to argue with him because that way she could pretend he was a jerk when in truth he was one of the most ‘unjerkiest’ men she had ever met.

“My mom and dad always taught me to call a lady ma’am. If I was to stop now I guess they’d come back from the dead and beat me pretty good for it.” he replied. He ignored her harsh tone since he had already figured out that she used that tone as a defense mechanism to keep him at arms length. Which he was fine with since he had no interest in a relationship with her or any other woman. Penelope was the only woman he needed in his life.

“So do you have plans this weekend?” Laura asked and then she mentally kicked herself and asked herself why in the heck she was trying to make small talk with Ronan. He was her handyman and that was all. He certainly wasn’t her friend.

“No.” he replied simply. He didn’t like the way his body responded when she was around. His heart beat faster, his blood ran hotter, and he would swear those were butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. He hadn’t felt butterflies in ten years. Not since he’d been seventeen and had first seen Amelia walking through the halls of the high school.

“You’re not taking the wife and daughter out?” Laura asked as she looked up and down the quiet street. Most of the land around her was empty but there were several other houses within seeing distance down the road. Ronan grunted as he hoisted his big toolbox up into the truck and Laura couldn’t help but notice the way the muscles in his arms and shoulders worked through his sweaty, dirt covered t-shirt.

“Nope. My daughter is going to her grandpas.” Ronan replied. Laura noticed that he left out mention of his wife and she felt a small moment of selfish joy at the thought that she wasn’t the only one with relationship troubles. Then she called herself a selfish bitch for thinking that way. Just because she was lonely didn’t mean she wanted anyone else to be.

“Marriage troubles?” she asked before she could stop herself. She waited for him to yell at her and tell her to mind her own business since that is what she would have done to someone asking something like that but instead she saw a look of pain come over his face before he quickly turned from her and jumped into his truck. He rolled his window down and looked back over at her.

“You could say that.” he replied in a voice full of so much sadness that Laura felt her own heart aching for him. “Amelia died more than two years ago.” Ronan did not give her time to reply before starting his truck and backing out of the driveway.

Chapter Four

Penelope ran quickly from Ronan’s truck and jumped into her grandpa’s waiting arms. Bruce swung her around and kissed her tiny nose before setting her back down.

“How was school?” he asked his granddaughter. Other than her grey eyes, looking at Penelope was like looking at Amelia when she’d been that age.

“Good.” Penelope replied twirling one of her pigtails with her hand. “I have a boyfriend.” she added happily. Bruce bit back a laugh when he saw the protective gleam enter Ronan’s eyes.

“What’s his name?” Bruce asked Penelope.

“Dead man walking.” Ronan muttered as he grabbed Penelope’s suitcase and handed it to Bruce.

“No, daddy, that’s not his name!” Penelope said stomping her tiny sandal clad foot on the gravel driveway. “His name is Josh.”

“That’s nice, baby girl.” Bruce said patting her on the head. “Aunt Abigail was here earlier today and she baked some cookies. You oughta go in there and see if you can find them.” Penelope laughed and ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her up into the house.

“What are your plans for the weekend?” Bruce asked as he leaned against Ronan’s truck. Ronan wiped some dirt off his jeans and shrugged.

“Don’t have any.” he replied.

“You need to go out and have some fun. I would swear sometimes that you are older than I am.”

“What exactly do you think I should do?” Ronan asked irritably. Bruce sighed.

“Go to ‘Jimmies’, drink a little, dance a little. Just let loose and have a good time for a couple of hours.”

“No I don’t want to go to ‘Jimmies’.” Ronan replied quickly as he shoved his hand through his messy hair. Bruce sighed.

“Why?” he asked though he already knew the answer. Ronan and Amelia had gone to Jimmies a lot before Penelope had been born and Ronan had been avoiding that place, and every other place that reminded him of Amelia, for the last two years.

“You know why.” Ronan growled as jerked open the driver door and hopped inside. Bruce sighed and leaned against the driver door, laying his arms on the open window.

“You need to start living again, Ronan.” he said matter of factly. “I miss her too. Hell she was my little girl. My baby. But life has to go on.” Ronan felt the tears stinging his eyes but he fought to hold them back as he stared out through the windshield at the many willow trees blowing in the light breeze.

“I’m alive, Bruce.” he said quietly. Bruce shook his head.

“No you’re not. You go to work, you come home, you go to sleep and then you get back up in the morning and do it all over again.”

“What are you a fucking therapist?” Ronan demanded in an attempt to cover up his pain with anger.

“No I’m not a therapist but I love you like a son, Ronan. You need to start living again for your daughter. She is going to notice that her daddy is never happy.”

“I am a damn good father.” Ronan argued. Bruce nodded.

“Yes you are and Penelope loves you but one day she is going to notice that you aren’t happy. Is that the kind of role model you want to be for your daughter? Do you want to teach her to stick her head in the sand when life deals her a painful blow instead of going on with her life and doing her best to be happy?”

“I’m fine, Bruce.” Ronan said trying his best not to lose his temper with the older man. He knew that Bruce was just trying to look out for him.

“No you’re not.” Bruce argued gently. “You used to be fun loving. You used to joke and have a good time. You were always laughing.” Ronan swiped angrily at his face with the back of his hand as a tear found its way down his cheek.

“I forgot how to laugh the day I held my wife’s dead, broken body in that hospital bed.” he replied as he picked at the broken and tearing leather of his steering wheel.

“It’s been over two years, Ronan. You can’t hold on to all that pain forever. Please go out tonight and have a good time. Do it for Penelope.” Bruce quickly jerked his arms away from the window when Ronan began to roll it up. Bruce sighed and crossed his arms over his chest as Ronan fired the old truck to life and pulled away.

“Amelia, honey, you gotta send that man a sign. Let him know it’s okay if he moves on.” Bruce said looking up at the cloudless blue sky. The sound of Penelope’s sweet voice brought his attention away from heaven and back to earth.

“I found the cookies, Grandpa! But I need some milk and I can’t reach the cups!” she called out. Bruce smiled and headed toward the house.

“I’m coming, baby girl. You know your mommy wouldn’t eat cookies without milk either.”

888

Laura gave herself a quick look in the rear view mirror. Her golden blond hair was lying in blond waves and curls down her back and her make-up was dark and smoky around her eyes. She hadn’t taken the time to wear make-up or do anything with her hair other then throw it up in a clip since Mason had left her. Today was a new day though and she was determined to have a good time.

She walked into the dusty honkytonk bar and looked around at the crowd already gathered inside. The dance floor was full of couples holding each other close as the band played covers of a popular country love song. Laura’s heels clicked on the wood floor as she walked up to the bar and sat down on a scarred up stool.

First order of business tonight was getting drunk and as she threw back a shot of whiskey and felt it burn its way down her throat she knew that wouldn’t take long.

888

Ronan slammed his truck door closed and looked at the neon lights that lit up the dark gravel parking lot of ‘Jimmies’. He was going to make Bruce pay for using Penelope to get what he wanted. Ronan knew his father-in-law was right. He needed to start having more fun for his daughters sake and show her that even when something bad happened in life you had to move on. He knew he didn’t joke or laugh anymore.

Suddenly an image of Laura wrapped in that towel and dancing around on the toilet came into his mind and he felt a smile come to his face. He had laughed today and Laura was the one that made him do it. Ronan decided he needed a drink to help him think about what that met.

He walked into the honkytonk and didn’t even look around as he took a seat at the bar.

“Haven’t seen you around in a long time, Ronan.” Jimmie said as he walked over. Ronan shrugged looked up at him.

“I haven’t had a whole lot of time for fun the last few years.” he replied. Jimmie nodded knowingly and sat a beer in front of Ronan.

“I figure you still like the usual.” he said. Ronan nodded a thank you and popped the bottle open. Jimmie walked away down the bar to leave the sad looking man to his thoughts.

Ronan’s thoughts were full of Amelia at first. Her dark exotic looks that she’d gotten from her native american mother. He missed her so bad that at times he was sure it would kill him and every time he looked at his beautiful daughter he was reminded of her. Ronan was surprised when suddenly an image of Laura entered his mind.

He had not thought of any woman other then Amelia in ten years. She had been his first love and his only love. He didn’t want to think of any other woman. It made him feel as if he was spitting on the memory of his wife.

Ronan slammed the beer back down on the bar. This was ridiculous. He just needed to go home and forget about what Bruce had said. He was a damn good father and he provided for his daughter and was always there for her. There was no good damn reason why he needed to go out and party just to prove he was happy.

He stood up and was about to make his way through the crowd to the door when he caught a flash of golden hair from the corner of his eyes and stopped dead.

“I think I’m drunk.” Laura slurred as she leaned against the tall thin man who seemed to be just as drunk as she was.

“I think you’re right.” he said with a laugh. Laura took another swig of the beer in her hand and looked around. The honkytonk seemed to be spinning and she was happy to let her body move to the sound of the music that the band was playing. She was surprised by just how much better they sounded now then they had when she had arrived.

“Hey beautiful.” A second man said walking over. Laura didn’t see the danger immediately in her drunken state as two more men walked up on either side.

“Well hello.” she replied with a grin. She felt the first of the four men run his hand over her bare arm and she jerked away.

“Hands off.” she said. He just laughed and grabbed her arm roughly.

“What are you a tease?” he asked. Laura looked around at the four men surrounding her. No one else in this crowded honkytonk seemed to notice there was a problem as they drank and danced and laughed.

“I think I’m ready to go on home.” Laura said as she tried to push her way out of the circle of men surrounding her.

“Not so fast princess. I haven’t been buying you drinks and dancing with you all night just to have you walk away from me.” The tall thin man said. Laura nodded.

“Apparently you have because I’m leaving.” she said. She realized now what a mistake she had made by coming to this bar alone and drinking and flirting. She had been a tease all night and now these men were going to make her pay for that.

So much for my first night of being carefree . She thought to herself. She had never done anything like this before. She had always been the responsible one. The perfect angel. Now it looked like the perfect angel was about to be taught a very serious lesson.

“No I don’t think so. I want a kiss.” the tall thin man said as he grabbed her arm and jerked her back to him.

“Me too.” the second man agreed and the third and fourth men nodded in agreement.

“No. Let me go or I’ll scream.” she said. The tall man laughed.

“Honey, everybody in this bar knows you’ve been acting like a slut all night.” he said with a sneer. “Now you’re going to walk right out the door with us and you’re gonna show us a good time.” he said. Laura was too scared to scream as he gripped her upper arm tightly and led her toward the door. No one even seemed to notice them as the five of them walked out into the Georgia night.

The tall man led her toward an old blue van and that’s when Laura’s panic really kicked in. She dug her heels into the gravel and began to fight against him. She yelled though she knew it was useless. No one in the loud honkytonk was going to hear her out here.

“Let me go!” she yelled as she swung her hand out and caught the tall man across the cheek. He laughed and was about to hit her back when a throat cleared to their right. All five of them turned to see a man standing there in dark denim jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. His muscular arms were crossed over his broad chest. His gray eyes shown in the neon lights and were full of anger. Laura’s eyes widened when she realized it was Ronan.

“Who the hell are you?” the tall man demanded. Ronan looked at the four thugs. Clearly they weren’t from around here. The tall one didn’t have a southern accent and he didn’t recognize any of them. This was too small of a town for him to not know at least one of them if they’d grown up around here.

“I don’t think the lady wants to go with you.” he said. Laura could feel her head starting to spin and her vision was getting blurry. A combination of the alcohol and shock she supposed and she hoped that she wouldn’t pass out in the tall mans arms.

“Get the hell out of our way.” one of the thugs said. Ronan shook his head.

“That lady is my friend and I’m afraid I can’t let you put her in that van.”

“That’s funny.” the tall man said. The biggest of the thugs stepped forward and took a swing at Ronan. Ronan caught his hand in midair and twisted his arm, bringing the big man to his knees.

“Let the lady go.” Ronan said looking over at the tall man while the other man squirmed in pain. The tall man looked at Laura and shook his head.

“She isn’t worth trouble.” he said and shoved Laura toward Ronan. Laura stumbled and would have fallen but Ronan released the big mans arm and caught her. He held her tight against him until the four men got into the van and drove away.

“Thanks.” Laura said as he released her.

“What the hell happened?” Ronan asked, masking the effect that feeling her body against his had had on him with anger.

“I’m gonna puke.” Laura said suddenly and then she bent over and did just that on the toes of his boots. Ronan sighed and shook his head.

“Come on and I’ll take you home.” he said. Laura shook her head as she stood back up.

“No way. I’ll get myself home.” she said. It was Ronan’s turn to shake his head as he jerked her purse out of her hands.

“I don’t think so. You are drunk.” he replied. Laura snorted and grabbed for her purse. She lost her balance and would have fallen in her own vomit if Ronan had not grabbed her.

“Come on, ma’am. Let me get you home.” he said again. He felt more of her weight fall against him and he looked down at her face to see that she had passed out in his arms.

This woman is a pain in the ass. He thought to himself. A rundown damn house that he injured himself on everyday, killer spiders in the bathrooms and now this. He should just walk away and leave her out here passed out drunk but he couldn’t bring himself to. Something about her had gotten under his skin and while he would never love a woman other then Amelia he saw no reason why he couldn’t be Laura’s friend. At least friend enough to not leave her out here.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his truck. He opened the passenger door and sat her inside. He buckled her up the best he could and shut the door before walking around and getting in the drivers seat.

“Fun night out my ass.” he said out loud and then he started the truck and headed toward Laura’s house.

Chapter Five

Laura groaned as she raised her hand to her aching head and opened her eyes slowly. She was grateful that the curtains were closed in her room blocking out the bright morning sunlight.

How had she gotten in her bed? She looked down at herself and realized she was still wearing her clothes from the night before, even her shoes. She sat up and thought back to the night before and tried to remember what had happened through the fog in her head.

She remembered getting more drunk than she had ever been in her entire life. She remembered the four men forcing her out the door and then Ronan had been there and he had saved her. She groaned when she thought of Ronan… She was fairly certain that she had vomited on his boots before passing out in his arms.

He must have brought her home and put her to bed. She tried to ignore the way her body heated at the thought of Ronan being in her bedroom. There was no way she wanted a relationship with a man…. Even one as deliciously sexy and amazing as Ronan.

What she needed was a shower, some aspirin, a cup of coffee and she would worry about how to face Ronan come Monday when he came to the house for work. She really did not know what she would say. ‘Gee Ronan, thanks for saving my butt after I got drunk off my ass and acted like a slut all night. Oh yeah by the way I’m sorry I puked on your shoes… My bad’. Lauran groaned again and threw herself back down on the bed. She took a deep breath and froze.

She smelled coffee and bacon. While her stomach turned at the thought of food, the coffee was definitely tempting. But who was in her house making coffee and bacon? Laura looked around the room for a weapon and didn’t see anything. She took off her high heels and decided that one of those would make as good a weapon as any.

She held the shoe out in front of her and opened her door quietly. She tiptoed down the stairs and took a deep breath before counting to three and running into the kitchen.

“Good morning.” Ronan said as he sat a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast on the table. Laura winced at the loudness of his greeting and stared at him as if he was crazy.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded. Ronan turned away from her and filled a coffee cup before setting it down next to the plate.

“Are you gonna stab me with your shoe or are you going to sit down and eat?” he asked pointing at the place he had set on the table. Laura blushed and sat the shoe down on the floor before taking a seat.

“What are you still doing here?” she asked again as she took a grateful sip of her coffee.

“You’re welcome.” Ronan said irritably as he sat down with his own plate of food and coffee cup. Laura sighed and felt guilty for being so rude.

“I’m sorry.” she said. “Thank you for breakfast, even though I really don’t think my stomach is up for eating it and thank you for the coffee. And thank you for helping me last night.”

“You’re welcome for all three.” Ronan replied before shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

“I don’t usually act the way I did last night.” she added feeling an urge to defend herself. For some reason she didn’t want Ronan thinking bad about her.

“Okay.” he said simply before taking a large bite of his jelly covered toast. “You know the sooner you get some solid food into your stomach the better you’ll feel.”

“You have experience with hangovers?” she asked looking at him over her coffee cup as she took a sip. Ronan couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Not recently but back when I was younger I had a couple.” he replied. Laura couldn’t help but laugh and she saw an odd look come over his face as he looked at her.

“So you brought me home and then spent the night here?” she asked after several moments of silence. Ronan turned his attention back to his food as he nodded.

“Yeah I figured you’d need a ride to go get your car this morning.” he replied. Laura was surprised by just how much Ronan was doing for her. She had wanted to live the rest of her life believing that all men suck but Ronan made that impossible.

“You’re not going to tell me how stupid I was last night?” she asked. She knew that if it had been Mason he would be busy lecturing her and letting her know just how stupidly she had behaved.

“No, I think you learned your lesson.” he replied. “I called Jimmie and let him know what happened but those guys weren’t from around here. They were just passing through we think. Did you want to file a report with the cops?” Laura shook her head.

“No.” she said quickly. What had happened last night had been just as much her fault and she was in no mood to let anyone else know how foolishly she had acted.

“Are you going to eat?” Ronan asked. Laura looked at his plate and saw that it was empty and she had not even touched hers. Her stomach rolled slowly and she pushed the plate away from her as she shook her head.

“No.” Ronan saw her face turn green and he fought back laughter. He could tell by looking at her this morning that she didn’t make a habit out of staying out and getting shit faced very often. He stood up and began filling the sink with water to wash the dishes he had dirtied. Laura didn’t say a word as she went about helping him. Ronan washed them while she rinsed and dried and Ronan was struck by the intimacy of the moment.

He was thankful when they finally finished cleaning the kitchen and he had an excuse to put some distance between their bodies.

“You ready to go get your car?” he asked. Laura nodded.

“Just let me go change first.” she said and walked back up to her room as quickly as she could. She could still feel the heat from his arm against hers as they had stood together at the sink. She had no sense when it came to men. First there was Mason who had turned out to be a complete loser and now she was falling for Ronan. A man who was still in love with his dead wife and even wore his wedding ring today, more than two years after her death. She pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a pink t-shirt. She pulled her messy hair into a pony tail and then walked into the bathroom and washed her face and brushed her teeth.

When she finally walked back downstairs she found Ronan in the kitchen staring at an outlet above the counter.

“What are you doing?” Laura asked hoping that he had not lost his mind. Ronan shook his head and walked to the door.

“That outlet doesn’t work. I think you got some wiring problems.” Laura cursed under her breath as she slipped on her sneakers.

“I guess I’ll call an electrician Monday.” she said. Ronan shook his head.

“Why? I’ll fix it.” Laura raised a brow.

“You know how to work on electricity too?” she asked with disbelief. Ronan smiled at her and Laura felt her knees grow weak. He had the most handsome smile she had ever seen and the one dimple in his right cheek gave his rugged face an almost boyish quality.

“I can fix just about anything, ma’am.” he replied. Laura knelt down to tie her shoes, happy to have a reason to look away from his face.

“Stop calling me ma’am. I think we’re friends enough now that you can call me by my name.”

“Okay.” Ronan replied and walked out the door quickly. Laura wondered if she had said something wrong but she didn’t think that she had. She followed him outside just in time to see him jumping in his truck. Laura practically ran across the yard and jumped in the passenger side. Ronan started the truck and Laura looked over at him when he didn’t pull out.

“What are we waiting for?” she asked. Ronan ran his hand over the shoulder strap of his seat belt.

“Put your seatbelt on.” Laura rolled her eyes and did as he told her.

“I’m twenty-seven years old Ronan.”

“If you want me to give you a ride you’ll wear your belt.” Ronan replied. Laura sighed and looked out the passenger window as they started down the road. The silence in the car was anything but comfortable and Laura knew that if she didn’t end it soon it would drive her crazy. She looked over at Ronan.

“So, how old is your daughter? Didn’t you say she just started kindergarten?” Laura saw his grey eyes fill with pride and joy as he thought about his daughter.

“Yeah she’s five. She’s my life.” Laura felt an ache in her heart. She wanted kids and she had been pregnant with Mason’s child about a year ago but had miscarried. She still missed her little boy even though she had never gotten to meet him.

“What’s her name?” she asked.

“Penelope.”

“Penelope? That’s a name you don’t hear very often.” Ronan laughed lightly.

“Her mother picked it. She didn’t want her kids to have the same names as everybody else.”

“Do you have more kids?” Laura asked. Ronan shook his head.

“No we never got around to it before…” Ronan stopped talking suddenly and she saw the same sadness she’d seen the day before come over his face.

“You really loved your wife.” Laura said. It was a statement and not a question but Ronan nodded.

“Yes. Amelia was an amazing woman.” he replied as he stared at the road ahead.

“What happened to her?” Laura asked and then she blushed and bit her lip. “Feel free to tell me to mind my own business. I’ve always been too nosy.” Ronan thought about doing just that but there was something about Laura that made him want to confide in her.

“She was in a car accident.” he said. “She ran a stop sign and a truck hit her. She wasn’t wearing her seatbelt.” Laura ran her hand over her belt as understanding dawned on her.

“I’m sorry.” she said weakly. She wished there was more she could say or do. The sadness on his face broke her heart.

“She laid in the hospital for five days afterward. She never did wake up.” he added.

“Something tells me that you don’t open up about this very often.” Laura said. Ronan ran a hand over his face and shook his head.

“No I don’t. I’m not sure why I’m telling you about it to be honest.” he replied as they pulled into Jimmies. He put the truck in park beside her car.

“Thanks for the ride.” Laura said as she undid her seat belt and opened her door.

“Sure.” Ronan replied without looking at her. He was picking at the steering wheel and looking straight ahead.

“I’ll see you Monday.” Laura added. This just earned her a small nod and she sighed and jumped from the truck shutting the door behind her. Ronan waited until she started her car and then she watched him drive away.

888

Ronan’s mind was racing as he pulled into the cemetery. He had been here enough times that he did not even have to think about where he was going as he drove down the narrow gravel road to the back of the cemetery and the giant willow tree that grew there.

Laura was making him feel things that he did not want to feel. She was making parts of his heart come to life that he thought had died with Amelia. He knew it wasn’t logical but he felt like he was cheating on Amelia by having these feelings for Laura.

He got out of his truck and walked up to the gray marble headstone. Amelia Matthews. It read. Beloved daughter, wife and mother. Ronan hated those words. They weren’t enough. They didn’t fully explain just want Amelia had meant to each and every person in her life. They didn’t fully explain what she had meant to him.

“Hi baby.” Ronan said quietly as the breeze blew against him and made the flowers that Abigail kept on Amelia’s grave dance around. “I miss you so much.” Ronan waited for the familiar feeling of peace to come over him that always seemed to find him when he visited his wife’s grave but instead today he felt a loneliness and a pain so deep and profound that he was helpless to stop the tears that fell down his stubble covered cheeks.

He fell to his knees on the grass in front of the tombstone and laid his head against the cold marble. He didn’t know how long he stayed that way, crying silent tears against that hard, lifeless headstone when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned quickly and looked up and for just a moment his tear filled eyes and pain filled mind made him think he was looking at Amelia but he wiped his eyes dry and realized it was Abigail.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded harshly as he rose to his feet and used his shirt to clean his face. Abigail held up the fresh bouquet of lilies she had in her hand. She pulled up the dying lilies already on the grave and replaced them with the fresh bouquet.

She grabbed Ronan’s hand and though he resisted at first he finally allowed her to pull him over to the small stone wall at the edge of the cemetery. They both sat down on the old bricks, that Ronan figured had been here since the civil war, and neither one of them spoke for a while.

“Something has been different with you the last few weeks.” Abigail said finally. Ronan wiped at the fresh grass stains on his jeans.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been smiling more and I have never seen you act so happy to go to work everyday. Everyday when I see you dropping Penelope off at school you are practically running to your truck to get to work.”

“I have a lot to do. I’m running because I’m in a hurry.” Ronan replied.

“You know it’s okay if you like that woman.” Abigail said matter of factly as she looked out over the silent cemetery.

“What are you talking about?” Ronan demanded as he glared over at her. Abigail smiled.

“You talk about her a lot you know. ‘Laura wants me to do this..’ or ‘That woman is going to drive me crazy with all these jobs.’ . I can remember a time when you used to say that Amelia was going to drive you crazy too.” Ronan knew there was no point lying to his sister in law. She knew him too well to fall for it.

“I can’t be feeling these things for her, Abigail. Amelia was my one and only.”

“Ronan, Amelia is dead but you aren’t. It’s okay for you to move on with your life.” Ronan shook his head.

“No it’s not. It’s my fault she’s dead Abigail. The least I can do is remain faithful to her.” he replied looking down at the long grass blowing against his boots.

“Okay first off your wedding vows said ’til death do we part and everyone knows how much you loved Amelia and that you were faithful to her for every single second that the two of you had together. Second, it is not your fault that she died Ronan. She ran a stop sign and she paid for it.”

“We had a fight, Abigail. That morning before I left for work.” Abigail’s eyes widened and she looked over at Ronan.

“You never told anybody that.” she said. “ But Ronan that doesn’t make what happened your fault. All of this time you’ve had all this guilt?“

“It is my fault. She accused me of not appreciating her anymore. She said I didn’t love her the way I used to.” Ronan stopped talking and grunted. “That made me so mad to hear her say that because my entire life revolved around her and Penelope. They were my whole world.”

“Amelia knew that.” Abigail assured him. Ronan looked down at his hands and began twirling his wedding band around on his finger.

“Looking back now I can see where she was coming from. I had stopped doing a lot of the little things that I done in the beginning. But in that moment I was just mad and I couldn’t see what she was talking about. I yelled at her and I told her that I wasn’t the only one who had changed. I threw a bunch of things in her face. One of those things was that she never surprised me on the job anymore. Never brought me lunch or swung by just to talk….” Ronan rubbed his face roughly with his hands and Abigail laid a gentle hand on his back.

“We all say things when we’re mad, Ronan.” she assured him. Ronan shook his head.

“I never even told her I loved her as I walked out of the house and slammed the door. The last words I ever said to my wife were spoken in anger.”

“That doesn’t make what happened your fault. My sister knew how much you loved her. Trust me.”

“Do you know why she was in such a hurry and ran that stop sign?” Ronan asked as he went back to picking at the grass stains on his knees.

“She said something about being late for an errand when she dropped Penelope off with me.” Abigail replied. Ronan shook his head.

“She was bringing me lunch, Abigail. She wanted to prove her love to me and she died for it. She died because I was such an asshole.” Abigail stared at him in shock for several seconds.

“How do you know….?” she asked quietly. Ronan fought back his tears with everything he had.

“The police released the contents of her car to me. There was a lunch bag inside and a note telling me how sorry she was and how much she loved me…” His voice broke so he stopped talking. Abigail felt the tears falling down her own face and she stood up and threw her arms around Ronan’s neck holding him tight. She felt him stiffen as he patted her back awkwardly.

“Ronan, it was not your fault. You can’t live with that kind of guilt. Amelia knew what she was doing when she ran that stop sign. It was her fault not yours. You have to let her go, Ronan. You have to let this guilt go or else you are going to drive yourself crazy.” Ronan pulled away from her as he stood up.

“I have to go, Abigail.” he said as he sniffed and wiped his face with his arm.

“Please, Ronan, think about what I said. If you have a chance at happiness then take it. Amelia would want you to. You are too good of a man with too much love to offer a woman, to spend the rest of your life alone.” Ronan just grunted in reply and walked away from her. She looked at his strong, broad shoulders slumped with grief and she shook her head. After he had gotten in his truck and drove away she walked back to her little sisters grave.

“You have to send that man a sign Amelia. You were so lucky to have him and now it’s someone else’s turn to see what a great man he is. You need to let him know it’s okay for him to move on with his life.” Abigail waited for the reply that she knew would never come. She sighed and then walked back to her car.

Chapter Six

The week passed quickly. Ronan noticed that Laura was home everyday before he left and she always found a way to pull him into a conversation. Ronan found himself unable to resist talking to her. He was always surprised by how easily she could make him laugh and they fell into a comfortable friendship.

Ronan told himself that friendship was all he wanted but his body was quick to call him a liar with the way it reacted to seeing her everyday. He tried to tell himself that he couldn’t let himself fall in love with Laura but his conversation with Abigail kept replaying itself inside his head. He knew she was right and that Amelia would have wanted him to move on but how could he when it was his fault his wife and the mother of his child was dead?

It was Friday morning and Ronan was on the phone with Abigail and the conversation was not going well.

“I cannot watch her today, Ronan. You’ll either have to take the day off work or take her to work with you.” Ronan sighed. He couldn’t just skip work today. The wiring in that damn house of Laura’s was terrible and he wanted to get it fixed before the place caught fire and burnt to the ground. Of all the days for the kids to not have school, they had to pick today when Abigail and Bruce were both busy.

He knew Laura wouldn’t mind him bringing Penelope along though he was nervous for his daughter to meet his new friend. What if Penelope got the wrong idea about Laura? Ronan ended his call with Abigail and then turned to Penelope who was just finishing up her breakfast.

“Pack a bag with some toys, sweetpea. You have to come to work with daddy today.” Penelope squealed happily as she jumped to her feet.

“I get to spend the day with you?” she asked. Ronan smiled at her excitement.

“Yes. But you have to promise to be good.” Penelope stuck her hands on her tiny hips.

“I’m always good.” she said. He ruffled her hair.

“Yes you are.” he replied honestly. “Now go pack some toys. It’s going to be a long day and I don’t want you to get bored.” Penelope ran off as fast as she could to her room.

888

Ronan could hear Laura’s angry voice coming through the door as he and Penelope walked up to it. He tested the knob to find it unlocked and he walked in with Penelope clinging to his pants leg. Laura had her back to them as she stood in the living room waving her free hand as she yelled into the telephone.

“Does your conscience feel better now that you know I’m not dead or crying my eyes out every day because of you?” she demanded. Ronan couldn’t hear the reply but by the tensing of her shoulders he assumed it had not been a good one.

“You are one selfish son of a bitch.” Laura spat and this earned a gasp from Penelope. Laura turned and her eyes widened when she saw the two of them watching her. Ronan gave her a questioning look and she mouthed the word ‘Mason’.

“I would not take you back if a giant flesh eating plague came to earth and you and I were the only survivors left with all their parts. I would gladly be with a half rotted, brain eating zombie before I would ever take you back.” she hissed into the phone. While the image that brought to Ronan’s mind was not a pleasant one, he had to give her points for originality.

“Mason, please stop…” Ronan saw through her anger and realized just how badly she was hurting. Whatever Mason was saying it was hurting Laura and as far as Ronan was concerned that was unacceptable. He strode across the room and jerked the phone from Laura’s hand.

“I think Laura has said all she wants to say to you.” he said in a cold voice full of ice that Laura had never heard from him before. Other than the few times she’d heard him sad, his voice was normally happy and sometimes even full of teasing mischief. Never had she heard him sound angry like this.

“My relationship with Laura is none of your business, whoever you are. Now give her back the phone.” Mason growled in Ronan’s ear.

“Your relationship with her is very much my business.” Ronan replied in that same cold voice.

“What are you, her new lover?” Mason demanded. “What the hell is your name anyway?” Ronan looked down at Laura and she saw that mischievous twinkle come back into his grey eyes as he winked.

“I’m Bob the builder.” he replied and then he hung the phone up and laid it down on the coffee table. Laura smiled gratefully up at him and he cursed at the way his heart reacted to that smile. He suddenly felt an almost uncontrollable urge to kiss her soft heart shaped lips and so he quickly took a few steps back to put some distance between them.

“Thank you.” Laura said trying to act as if she hadn’t noticed the look in his eyes as he’d gazed down at her. To act as if she hadn’t seen the passion in his grey eyes as they had wandered down to her lips. She was quickly losing her heart to Ronan but she knew he would probably never let himself love her. One thing she had learned over the last few weeks was that he was very much in love with his dead wife.

“What are friends for?” Ronan asked as he turned his attention back to Penelope who was watching the grown ups with curiosity. Laura followed his gaze and smiled.

“Is this Penelope?” she asked. Ronan nodded.

“Yeah. I hope you don’t mind that I brought her today. I didn’t have anybody to watch her. She won’t be any trouble for you.” Ronan added quickly as he held up the big bag that was stuffed full of toys. “She’ll entertain herself.” Laura waved her hand dismissively.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been wondering what I’m going to do today and hanging out with the girl I’ve heard so much about seems like a pretty good thing to do.” Laura walked over to Penelope and crouched down to her level.

“My name is Laura.” she said. Penelope nodded.

“I know. My daddy talks about you a lot.” she said as she twirled one of her pigtails. Laura blushed while Ronan shifted his feet.

“Right. Well I gotta get busy on that wiring. I can’t have something catching fire around here.” He pointed at Penelope.

“You be good, sweetpea.” he said sternly.

“Penny and I will have a good time.” Laura said standing back up straight. She heard Penelope giggle and she saw the tension in Ronan’s jaw.

“What did I say?” she asked.

“Daddy says my mommy always called me Penny.” Penelope replied. Laura sighed guiltily and bit her lip.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” she said finding that she couldn’t meet Ronan’s eyes.

“It’s okay.” Ronan said and Laura was surprised by how gentle his voice sounded. She looked up at him and saw that his eyes were warm as he looked at her. “Penelope always liked the nickname. I’m sure she’ll like it when you say it.” Laura wanted to think of something that was either really sweet or really witty to say but her brain seemed to have shut down.

The look in his eyes as he looked at her was one she had often imagined seeing in a mans eyes. Mason had faked that look a million times but there was no way Ronan was faking it. He wasn’t the type of man to even know how. She knew in that instant that she and Ronan could have a future together. It might not happen quickly and it might take a lot of patience and effort on her part but it could happen. And Laura realized that she wanted it bad enough to give it all the time and work it took.

“Well I’ll leave you two ladies to it then.” Ronan said after clearing his throat and then he walked back outside to get his tools.

888

It was late afternoon and Penelope and Laura were outside sitting in the grass and making jewelry with the bead kit that Penelope had brought with her.

“D-A-D-D-Y spells daddy, right?” Penelope asked. Laura nodded.

“Yes it does. You’re very smart.” she said. Penelope nodded.

“Yes I know.” she said and Laura laughed at her innocent confidence. “I’ve had a lot of fun with you today.” Penelope added as she finished putting beads on her string and handed it to Laura to tie together.

“I’ve had fun too.” Laura replied. She was finding that she loved this little girl. She was the sweetest child that Laura had ever met and she realized that Ronan must really be an incredible man to raise a daughter like her. They had spent the day coloring, playing dolls and making jewelry.

“I want to come back over and play again.” Penelope said as Laura handed her the finished bracelet.

“I would like that.” Laura replied with a smile. A shadow cast over her and Laura turned and looked up to see Ronan standing there with a smile on his face as he watched the two of them.

“What do you think?” Laura asked showing him the string and bead necklace that Penelope had made for her. Ronan nodded.

“I like it.” he said.

“Look what I made you, daddy!” Penelope said jumping to her feet and holding out the bracelet. Ronan took it and saw that the beads spelled out the word daddy. He was happy that it fit as he slipped it onto his wrist.

“Thank you, sweetpea. I’ll keep it forever.” he said and he smiled at the pride in her eyes. Laura rose to her feet.

“Are you done?” she asked feeling a little disappointed when he nodded. She’d been having a blast with Penelope and didn’t want her or Ronan to leave. The house was so quiet and lonely when she was here by herself.

“I had fun today, daddy.” Penelope said as Ronan helped her gather all her toys back up.

“I’m glad, sweetpea.” he replied. Truthfully the way that Laura had acted with Penelope all day had warmed his heart in a way he had not expected. He had seen them laughing and playing. He had seen how patient and kind Laura was and it had broke down a little more of that wall he had built around his heart.

What he needed to do was finish up with the house and then stay away from Laura. She was too big of a temptation for him and no matter how badly he wanted her, he wasn’t sure if he could ever love her the way she deserved. He had seen the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. He knew she was falling for him too. The house shouldn’t take more then two or three more days to finish patching up the roof and fixing a hole in the upstairs wall and then he would walk away before Laura got hurt.

888

“You should see her, grandpa Bruce! She’s really pretty and she’s so nice!” Penelope said as she slurped at her spaghetti noodles. Abigail looked over at her sternly.

“Penelope, mind your manners and don’t slurp your dinner.” she scolded. “Ronan, you shouldn’t let her act that way.” she added looking over at him. Ronan just shrugged and slurped his own spaghetti. Abigail tried to look irritated but it was nice to see Ronan acting a little more like his old self.

“She helped me make daddies bracelet.” Penelope added and she grabbed Ronan’s arm and lifted it in the air to show everyone what she had made the day before. Abigail’s husband Jeff chuckled.

“I like it Ronan. Brings out your eyes.” Ronan’s ten year old niece and eight year old nephew laughed.

“Don’t be jealous, Jeff. I’m sure she’ll make you one too.” Ronan said with a grin.

“So this Laura woman, you’ve been working on her house for the last month huh?” Bruce asked. Ronan sighed.

“Yes. But I should have everything done my Wednesday or so and then I’ll be looking for a new job.”

“No daddy! You can’t be done yet! I really like Laura.” Penelope exclaimed as she glared over her spaghetti at him.

“Daddy really likes Laura too, that’s the problem.” Abigail said matter of factly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her ten year old daughter Grace asked. Abigail waved her hand.

“Nothing. It’s grown up business.” she said.

“So she’s pretty huh?” Bruce asked. Ronan had had enough. What was it with this family and hoping to set him up? You would think that his wife’s family would understand him not wanting anyone else. He dropped his spoon back into his bowl, pushed his chair back and stood up.

“Thanks for dinner, Bruce.” he said. “I gotta get going.”

“Ronan, don’t. We’ll leave you alone.” Abigail said guiltily. Ronan ignored her and looked at Penelope.

“Are you coming home with me, sweetpea, or are you staying the night with grandpa?” he asked.

“I’m gonna stay with grandpa.” she replied. Ronan nodded and bent down and kissed her hair.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow.” he said and walked out. Jeff stood up and followed him outside. It was time Ronan had somebody talk some damn sense into him.

“Ronan, wait up.” Jeff called and Ronan rolled his eyes and stopped with his hand on the handle of his truck door. It was no secret that the two men weren’t the best of friends and he was sure that Jeff following him out here alone was not going to end well.

“What?” he asked turning to face him. Jeff looked at him with annoyance in his blue eyes and his lips were set in a thin line.

“You and I need to have a talk, Ronan. You gotta get your life straight man.” Jeff said.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ronan demanded as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the shorter and thinner man.

“Look I know you’ve had a hard time since Amelia died but it’s been two years. It’s time to quit leaning so hard on Abigail and start standing on your own two feet again.”

“Jeff, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t asked Abigail for a damn thing so maybe you need to be talking to your wife instead of jumping my ass.”

“Amelia’s dead, Ronan, and it’s about time you stop using my damn wife as a replacement.” Ronan stepped forward and clenched his fists at his sides.

“You need to shut your damn mouth.” he growled.

“You need to get over her. She’s been dead for over two years, Ronan. Quit being such a selfish ass and get the hell over it.” Ronan saw red. He didn’t say a word, just swung his fist out and caught Jeff hard on the jaw. Jeff’s head snapped back and he glared back at Ronan with blood trickling down his chin.

“What the hell is your problem?” Jeff demanded.

“You are.” Ronan replied his grey eyes flashing. “You need to keep your damn mouth shut and mind your own business.”

“This is my business.” Jeff said wiping the back of his hand across his bloody lip. “You are running my wife to death. She is so damn tore up and worried about you that she can hardly sleep at night and between taking care of your house, our house, your kid, our kids and cooking your meals and our meals the damn woman is killing herself.”

“That’s enough.” Abigail’s stern angry voice came from behind Jeff. He turned quickly her eyes widened when she saw his split lip.

“Did you punch him?” she demanded of Ronan. Ronan nodded and shook his throbbing hand. Abigail shook her head and looked back at her husband. “You deserved it I’m sure.” she said. Jeff looked at his wife with disbelief.

“I was looking out for you!” he said defensively. Abigail laid a comforting hand on his harm.

“I know and I love you but I don’t need you to look out for me when it comes to this honey.” Ronan didn’t wait to hear any more. He jumped in his truck and fired the old thing to life. Abigail was trying to talk to him but he wasn’t in the mood to listen.

“Why did you tell him he was running me to death?” Abigail demanded of Jeff after Ronan had driven away.

“Because it’s the truth.” he said wincing as she ran her fingers over his lip.

“Honey, he’s getting better. Ever since he met that Laura woman. He’s laughing more. He’s joking more. It’s just going to take time.”

“It’s been over two years.” Jeff said. “I want my damn wife back.” Abigail sighed. She was tempted to tell him to quit being a selfish ass but she knew he had been a very patient man for the last two years and it was just natural for him to be feeling neglected.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much. I’ll talk to Ronan and we’ll work something out. I love you, Jeff.” she said. Jeff hugged her close and kissed her dark hair.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Seven

That Wednesday Ronan did not know why he was sitting on Laura’s step waiting for her to get home. He was done with all the work on the house and he needed to just write her a note letting her know and leave but he couldn’t bring himself to. He wanted to see her and tell her goodbye in person.

Laura pulled in the driveway to find Ronan sitting on the step in front of the door. She got out of the car, adjusted her heavy bag full of homework and tests to grade on her shoulder, and walked up to him.

“How was work?” Ronan asked as he stood up. Laura felt the familiar increase in her pulse that always came from being around him. He was tall and broad and he moved with a masculine grace that had Laura imagining how he’d move at night. In a bed. With her….

“Today was rough.” Laura replied as she shook her head to try to clear the images that were filling it.

“That looks heavy. Let me take it.” Ronan said as he grabbed the strap of her bag and slid it over his own shoulder before Laura could refuse. She walked into the house and he followed behind her.

“So how did things go here?” Laura asked as she took two sodas from the refrigerator and handed one to Ronan.

“Thanks.” Ronan said setting her bag on the bar. “Things went pretty good. I’m done actually.” he replied.

“Done?” Laura asked. Ronan nodded.

“Yeah. I’m out of jobs to do.” he replied. Truthfully he had thought about breaking something today just so he would have an excuse to come back tomorrow. Laura made him feel better. There was something about being around her that made him want to laugh and be happy. He worried that without her he would stop doing those things again.

“Oh.” Laura turned from him quickly to hide the disappointment on her face. Maybe there was something she could break and give herself an excuse to call him to fix it.

“If anything else tears up just call me and I’ll take care of it.” Ronan said trying to think of things to say to delay him walking out of her door. Laura just nodded and still would not look at him. He wanted to grab her arm, spin her around and kiss her senseless and he was about two seconds away from doing just that when the phone rang.

Laura was grateful for the distraction and she walked into the living room.

“I’ll be going.” Ronan said. The phone had just kept him from making a huge mistake. Laura held up her hand.

“Please wait. I want to walk you out.” she said. Ronan nodded, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. Laura picked the phone up and clicked talk.

“Hello?” she said.

“Hi, my darling.” her mothers voice came in her ear. Laura bit back a groan and made a mental note to get caller ID.

“Hi, mom.” she said as she turned away from Ronan and sat down on the back of the couch.

“Are you still coming to visit your mother this weekend?” Helen asked her daughter.

“Yes mom, I’m still coming this weekend.” Laura replied. Truthfully the last thing she wanted to do was make the two hour drive to Savannah but she had been putting it off since her break up with Mason and she had run out of excuses to tell her mother.

“Good because I have a few of Savannah’s most eligible bachelors lined up to come over for lunch.” Laura sighed and shook her head.

“No mom. I’m not interested in Savannah’s most eligible bachelors.” she said.

“Honey, your biological clock is ticking.”

“Yes, mom, I’m aware that my biological clock is ticking but that doesn’t mean I want to date any of those men.”

“It won’t hurt you to meet them, dear.” Helen said matter of factly.

“It might.” Laura replied, wincing when she realized she sounded very much like an angry teenager instead of a grown woman.

“Is there a reason that you want to be alone?” Helen asked.

“I don’t want to be alone, mom.” Laura replied honestly. When Mason had first left her Laura had hated all men but Ronan had changed that. “Being alone is lonely.” she added. She could feel Ronan’s eyes on her back and she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Then you’ll come and eat lunch with some nice men and maybe you’ll like one of them.” Helen replied and Laura could tell that her mother thought this was a perfectly logical request. Laura’s mind was racing. She had to think of a way out of this. An idea entered her head and she just hoped that Ronan would go along with and forgive her for using him to deal with her mother.

“Mom, I have a boyfriend.” Laura said turning to face Ronan. She saw the look of surprise on his face and was that hurt…..?

“You do! You never told me.” Helen accused.

“I know. That’s because it’s new but I really don’t think he’d appreciate it if I came down and ate lunch with all of Savannah’s eligible bachelors.” Laura replied looking at Ronan and begging him for patience with the look in her eyes. Whatever Ronan was thinking he kept his face a mask of indifference.

“Of course not!” Helen said happily. “You can bring him down instead and we can all have lunch.”

“Mom, I don’t think he’s quite ready to meet you yet.” Laura said quickly as she felt the onset of panic.

“Nonsense. Is there something wrong with me?”

“No, it’s just….”

“Good, then it’s settled. You’ll bring your new boyfriend to lunch Saturday. I gotta go now, dear.” Helen hung up before Laura had time to voice any further protests. She sighed as she sat the phone back on the base.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” Ronan said quietly. Laura shook her head.

“That’s because I don’t.” she replied. Then she wrung her hands nervously and started chewing on her lip.

“I need to ask you for a really huge favor.” she said. Ronan raised his brow and looked down at her.

“What?” he asked suspiciously.

“Can’t you just agree to do it and I’ll tell you what it is later?” she asked. Ronan smiled and her knees grew weak at the sight of that dimple.

“No, I sure can’t.” he replied. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Come to Savannah with me this Saturday and pretend to be my boyfriend so that my mother doesn’t turn hundreds of single, bloodthirsty men loose on me.” Laura said in a rush.

“No.” Ronan said matter of factly.

“Please, Ronan.” Laura begged. “You don’t understand the kind of hell I’ll have to go through if I show up alone.”

“Why don’t I just hide in a tree with a sniper rifle and drop them at the door?” Ronan asked. He was finding this very entertaining. He knew damn well he wasn’t going to tell her no. Though it scared him to admit it, he cared too much about her to throw her to the wolves and for some reason the thought of other men touching or flirting with her made his temper rise.

“You would do that for me?” Laura asked, her big green eyes wide. Ronan laughed and shook his head as he walked out the door.

“No.” he said. He could hear her following on his heels.

“Please Ronan. I know that I’m asking you for a lot but I really really need your help. You are the only male friend that I have… The only friend I have really. I mean sure there are maybe one or two female teachers at the school I could ask but if I show up as a lesbian, I’ll be in worse shape than I am now.” Ronan was laughing hard now as he leaned against his truck. It had been a long time since he had laughed this hard and his stomach was hurting from it.

Laura glared at him as she stood there with her hands on her hips.

“I’m glad you find this so funny.” she said. Ronan held up his hands.

“Fine I’ll go. But only because we’re friends.”

“Friends.” Laura said feeling both relieved that he was going to help her out and disappointed by the word friend.

“Yeah friends.” Ronan replied hoping that his point was clear.

“That’s fine.” Laura promised. “I’ll tell her you’re a southern gentleman and she won’t expect anything more then maybe holding hands.”

“I’ve gotta be crazy to go along with this.” Ronan said matter of factly as he jumped in his truck. “You are the single most impulsive and insane person I have ever met.”

“Since you’re helping me, I won’t insult you back.” Laura said as she stepped away from his truck and he fired the engine to life.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult.” Ronan replied. “I’ve always liked impulsive and insane.” Before Laura could reply Ronan backed the truck out of the driveway and pulled away.

888

“You have a date!” Abigail exclaimed happily. It was early Saturday morning and she had just arrived at Ronan’s house to pick up Penelope.

“No. It is not a date.” Ronan replied gruffly as he swept the kitchen floor. Since his fight with Jeff he had insisted that Abigail quit doing his housework and cooking his meals. Penelope had been going to Abigail’s house after school as well so that Abigail could spend more time with her own kids and husband. Ronan could tell that the arrangement had taken a huge weight off of Abigail’s shoulders but in all honesty he hated sweeping the damn floors himself.

“I want to meet her.” Abigail said matter of factly as she sat down at the kitchen table.

“She should be here any minute.” Ronan replied tugging at the collar of his button down shirt. Abigail smiled. Ronan might want to say this was not a date but he had changed into a button down and even had a sport coat laid out to wear. This was a date.

“Sweetpea, hurry up. You and Aunt Abigail have to go.” Ronan called. Penelope came out of her room dragging her princess suitcase.

“I’m not leaving until Laura gets here. I want to tell her hi.” Penelope said sitting down at the table next to Abigail. Ronan grunted as he emptied the dustpan into the garbage.

“Damn meddlesome women.” he said as he walked down the hallway and put the broom in the closet. He heard a car pull up outside and cursed at the way his heart sped up.

“She’s here! She’s here!” Penelope squealed. Ronan walked back into the kitchen just in time to see Penelope run out the door yelling Laura’s name.

“Penelope, stop yelling!” Ronan called out loudly.

“You’re nervous.” Abigail said giving him a knowing smile. Ronan shook his head so hard that Abigail feared his neck might snap.

“No I’m not. There is nothing to be nervous about. We are just friends.” he said, though Abigail wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

“You always act grumpy when you’re nervous.” she argued. Ronan glared at her.

“I’m not nervous dammit and I’m not grumpy either.”

“No not at all.” Abigail replied with a grin. Ronan rolled his eyes, shook his head and grabbed the sport coat off of the back of the kitchen chair before walking out the door. Abigail followed close behind him.

Ronan felt his mouth go suddenly dry at the sight of Laura standing in his driveway. She was wearing a black halter dress that was tight around her waist and then flared slightly at the bottom, coming to a stop just below her knees. She was wearing a dark gray jacket over it to keep the early morning September chill off of her arms. Her hair was pulled back but several long curled tendrils were hanging down her neck and around her face.

“You look beautiful.” he said and then he cleared his throat to try to get rid of the husky quality his voice seemed to have suddenly developed. Laura smiled.

“You look pretty good yourself.” she replied. Ronan tugged at the collar of his shirt and then looked at Penelope who was holding Laura’s hand.

“Look daddy! She’s wearing her necklace!” Penelope said happily. Ronan looked and sure enough Laura was wearing the bead necklace that Penelope had made for her.

“Of course I am, Penny.” Laura said crouching down and poking Penelope on the nose. “It’s beautiful and I thought it looked great with my dress.”

“It does.” Penelope replied proudly.

“Alright, sweetpea, daddy and Laura have to go now. You be good for your aunt Abigail and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ronan said. Penelope ran to him and gave him a hug.

“Go in the house and get your jacket and your suitcase, Penelope.” Abigail said and Penelope happily took off to the house.

“You two have fun.” Abigail said with a big smile. Ronan muttered something under his breath and nodded.

“You are a pain in the rear.” he said. Abigail’s smile just grew bigger.

“I know.” she said. Ronan rubbed his hands over his face and the sunrise glinted off the gold of his wedding band.

“Uh-oh.” Laura said quietly. Ronan looked over at her.

“Uh-oh what?” he asked.

“I just realized something that might not go over well.” she said.

“You mean you found a flaw in your master plan… shocking.” Ronan said dryly. Abigail sighed.

“Don’t mind him, Laura. He’s nervous and he always gets grumpy when he’s nervous.”

“I’m not grumpy and I’m not nervous so shut up about that already.” he snapped and then he turned his attention back to Laura.

“What’s the problem?” he asked.

“If I show up with a married man my mother will skin me alive.” Laura replied pointing to his left hand. Ronan looked down at his wedding ring and remained silent for several long seconds. Laura wondered what he was going to do. She couldn’t very well ask him to take it off and she knew how much he still loved his wife. There was no way he would take that ring off for Laura.

Then to the shock of both Abigail and Laura, Ronan pulled the ring off of his finger and handed it to Abigail who took it and stared at it as if it was the most valuable thing she had ever held in her hands.

“Ronan, you don’t have to take it off.” Laura said quickly. “We’ll just let my mom think what she wants.” Ronan shook his head.

“No, you’re right. You can’t show up with a married man.” he replied. “Put that up somewhere.” he said to Abigail. Abigail nodded. She wondered if Laura knew the significance of what had just happened. Ronan had not taken that ring off in over seven years and without a single bit of argument he had slipped it off his finger for her.

“Let’s go.” Ronan said. Laura nodded and got in the drivers seat of her car. Abigail caught Ronan’s arm before he could walk away.

“Ronan, Amelia would have wanted this. You have a chance at happiness with Laura…. Take it.” she whispered. When Ronan nodded, Abigail couldn’t stop a tear from falling down her cheek. Ronan patted her arm and then walked away from her and got in the car. Abigail watched them pull away and she prayed that Ronan would finally let her sister go and let himself love another woman. Any woman that got Ronan’s love would be the luckiest woman alive because when Ronan loved, he loved with all he had… His devotion to Amelia proved

Chapter Eight

“Abigail is Penelope’s aunt?” Laura asked once they were on the freeway and headed toward Savannah. Ronan nodded.

“I guess I forgot to introduce you.” he replied. “She’s Amelia’s sister.”

“What about your family?” Laura asked. “I never hear you talk about them.”

“I don’t have family.” Ronan replied. “I was an only child and my parents are gone. Amelia’s family is my family.” Laura nodded and changed the topic to the weather. The two of them made small talk and laughed and joked the rest of the way to Savannah.

Ronan looked around the city as they drove through it. Obviously Laura’s mother was rich because they were in the wealthy part of the city. The part of the city that had remained practically unchanged since civil war times. The large white buildings and plantation like houses. The cobblestone sidewalks lined with pedestrians strolling slowly and the large weeping willow trees and Spanish moss made you feel almost as if you had stepped back in time.

“I knew your family was rich but wow… this place is impressive.” Ronan said as they pulled up in front of a large white house with black shutters, a black door and huge white pillars on the wraparound porch holding up the wraparound balcony.

“You can still back out.” Laura said as she put the car in park. Ronan looked over at her and was tempted to tell her just how wrong she was but stopped himself. Laura was the first woman since Amelia’s death to make him want to fall in love again and he was going to try hard to let go of the past and do just that. It was far too late for him to back out now.

“Naw, I’m a southern man. I don’t have legs made for backing out.” he replied with a grin. Laura smiled gratefully and the two of them got out of the car. Before they even made it to the door it was thrown open and a tall slender blond ran out with her arms open wide.

“Oh my baby girl I’ve missed you!” the woman exclaimed wrapping her arms tight around Laura. Ronan stood there awkwardly waiting for the woman to acknowledge him.

“Hi mom.” Laura said breathing in the comforting scent of cinnamon that was always present on her mothers clothing from her love of baking.

Helen pulled away from her daughter and turned her attention to Ronan.

“Mom, this is Ronan. Ronan, this is my mother Helen Green.” Laura said quickly. Helen lowered her tiny rectangle framed glasses on her nose and gave Ronan a long, assessing look. He was tall, much taller then her five foot three inch daughter. He had thick chestnut hair that had just a bit of curl to it and fell carelessly across his forehead. He had a storm grey eyes and a strong jaw and right now that jaw was clenched nervously. Helen smiled warmly.

“I see what my daughter sees in you. You are very handsome.” she said holding out her hand. Ronan looked over at Laura who let out a small sigh and shook her head as she looked down at he ground.

“Thank you, ma’am. I can see where Laura gets her good looks.” he replied taking her outstretched hand and kissing it politely.

“Oh my!” Helen said putting her free hand to her chest. “A true southern gentleman! You did good, Laura. This one is much better then that last asshole.” Helen turned away from the two of them and walked back up the porch steps.

“Well come on in and we can visit for a while.” she called back to the two of them. Ronan held his arm out and Laura wrapped hers through it.

“Sorry about my mother. She just kind of says whatever pops into her mind without thinking.”

“Must be where you get it from.” Ronan replied with a grin.

“Yes it is.” Laura replied, not even trying to deny it. Helen led them to a living room that was full of dark mahogany furniture and a very Victorian looking floral couch and armchair. Ronan looked at the giant ceramic cat in the corner and fought back a grin. The room was full of the most god awful decorations he had ever seen. He assumed Laura didn’t like it and that’s why she kept her house pretty empty.

“Have a seat.” Helen said pointing to the couch and Ronan and Laura were quick to obey. Helen poured herself a cup off tea out of the pitcher on the coffee table and motioned to Ronan as she sat down in the armchair.

“I know Laura hates the stuff but would you like some tea?” she asked. Ronan shook his head.

“No thanks ma’am. I’m afraid I feel the same way as your daughter.” Helen laughed and sipped her cup.

The three of them sat in that living room talking for what felt like hours. Helen shared stories of Laura as a child that had Laura blushing and burying her face in her hands and had Ronan chuckling and wanting to hear more. Finally Laura looked up at the clock.

“Look at that mom! It’s time for lunch.” Laura said happy to have something to get the conversation off of her potty training escapades.

“Of course!” Helen said standing up. “We’ll walk down the block to that cute little outdoor restaurant. We have to take advantage of these warm sunny days because there won’t be many more before winter.”

888

“Thank you for doing this for me.” Laura said to Ronan later that night as the two of them sat alone in Helen’s living room. “I wasn’t joking when I said she would have had men lined up at the door if I had shown up alone.” Ronan chuckled.

“Now that I’ve met your mother, I believe you.” he replied.

“You’re a great friend.” Laura said. Ronan looked into her eyes and cleared his throat.

“About that…” he said with just a hint of nervousness in his voice. Laura looked at him questioningly but before he could say anything further Helen called from the kitchen.

“Laura! I need your help with something please.” she said. Laura sighed and stood up.

“I’ll be right back.” she said. Ronan nodded and watched her leave, thinking that being friends with that woman just wasn’t going to be enough. He hoped that she would be patient enough to try her hands at a relationship with him and all the baggage that came along with him.

“What is it mom?” Laura asked. Helen turned from where she was pouring herself a glass of wine and glared at her daughter.

“Who is that man really?” she asked. Laura looked around the fancy magazine kitchen and chewed on her lip.

“My boyfriend, Ronan.” she said. Helen shook her head and took a sip of her wine.

“Oh please. You’re chewing your lip off so I know you are lying.” she said. Laura quickly stopped chewing on her lip and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well who do you think he is?” she demanded.

“I believe that the two of you are friends… And I will admit that I see a lot of chemistry between you. His eyes follow every move you make the same as yours follow him but you are not in a relationship. I think you talked him into coming here with you so that I would not have a chance to shove a bunch of single men in your face.”

“That’s just crazy.” Laura said with a nervous chuckle. Helen rolled her eyes.

“Fine then. How about we give the man a test.” she said and then without waiting for a reply she walked into the living room. Ronan stood when they walked in and tugged at his collar before smoothing out his shirt.

“Ronan, now I know that Laura says you are a true southern gentleman but surely even southern gentlemen kiss their girlfriends don’t they?’ Helen asked as she tapped her long nail against her wine glass. Ronan looked at Laura as if asking for backup and she quickly crossed the room to him.

“Mom leave Ronan alone.” she said standing beside him.

“What?” Helen asked widening her eyes innocently. “I am an old woman, Laura, and I just want to know that you are with a man that cares about you. The quickest way to know that is to see him kiss you.” Laura glared at her mother and shook her head. She’d been using the ‘I’m an old woman.’ argument since Laura was four.

“Mom…” she started but Ronan interrupted her.

“She’s right.” he said. Laura turned her back on her mother and looked up at Ronan.

“She knows you’re just a friend. She’s only doing this to mess with you.” she said. Ronan shook his head.

“I want more.” he whispered. Laura felt her breath catch in her chest and Ronan could see the disbelief in her green eyes as she looked up at him. He reached out a shaking hand and laid his fingers gently on her cheek.

Laura could see a war waging in those intense grey eyes and she wished she knew what he was thinking. She felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her as he tilted her head up and lowered his lips to hers.

Ronan couldn’t stop the groan that came from his throat as she pressed herself up against him. Her lips were soft and passionate beneath his own and he moved his hand to the back of her head to pull her closer.

Laura had never felt this much passion fill her from just a simple kiss. She could smell his cologne and she could taste the wine he’d had to drink earlier, still on his lips. They were lost in that kiss. The rest of the world faded away into nothing as not only their lips joined but their hearts became tangled together as well.

“Well I stand corrected.” Helen said with a light laugh. Laura and Ronan jumped away from each other and looked over at her. She took in both of their harsh breathing, their flushed cheeks and darkened eyes and smiled.

“Ronan, you had better be good to my daughter.” she said. Ronan nodded as he cleared his throat and again tugged at the collar of his shirt.

“Yes ma’am.” he replied. Helen looked at the ticking cat clock on the wall.

“Oh my. You two better get on the road. It’s nearly seven and you have a long drive ahead of you.”

The ride back to Archer was basically silent. Laura’s mind was racing too much for her to think of anything worth saying and Ronan never had been much of a talker. Laura pulled into Ronan’s driveway and turned off the engine.

“Ronan, what was that back there?” Laura asked finally. Ronan sighed and leaned his head back on the headrest.

“A kiss.” he replied.

“I’ve been kissed before, Ronan.” Laura said. “That was more than just a kiss.”

“Yes it was.” Ronan admitted. He sat up and looked over at her. “I know you hate men because of what Mason did to you, Laura, but I want you to know that I’m not like him.”

“I know you’re not.” Laura replied. “And I don’t hate all men. I don’t hate you.”

“I can’t promise you I won’t screw this up, Laura. I’ve got a mess up here.” he said pressing his finger against his temple. Laura smiled and laid her hand on his cheek.

“I’m willing to try if you are.” she said. Ronan grabbed her wrist gently and moved her palm to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against it.

“I want to try.” he said. “I’ll call you.” Laura nodded and felt her heart do a slow roll in her chest as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“Goodnight, Ronan.” she said quietly.

“Goodnight.” he replied and he quickly got out of the car and let himself into the house. That night as he laid down in bed was the first night that instead of feeling the familiar ache of loneliness he felt the smallest ray of hope.

Chapter Nine

“Let’s go to the beach, daddy, pleeeeease!” Penelope begged jumping up and down. Ronan sighed and looked outside. It was a beautiful day and it was going to be hot and it would give him an excuse to call Laura today.

All his thoughts and dreams the night before had been of Laura. He had woken up covered in sweat and tangled in his sheets and even the cold shower he had taken hadn’t been enough to cool his body or his thoughts. He was almost a twenty-eight year old man but that one amazing kiss he had shared with Laura had him feeling like a teenager again.

“Okay, sweetpea.” he said giving her a wink. “But we’ll have to go home first and get our swimsuits.”

“Can we see if Laura wants to come?” Penelope asked and Ronan wondered if maybe his daughter was psychic. Ronan could feel Abigail’s eyes on him from where she was sitting at her dining room table with a magazine.

“Yeah we can call Laura.” he replied. “Now go on and get your stuff.” Penelope took off down the hall to the guest room.

“So I take it that it went well yesterday?” Abigail asked.

“Yeah it went well.” Abigail smiled happily.

“That is wonderful! So is today going to be a real date then?”

“If she agrees to come and if you can call going to the beach with a five year old a date, then yes.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Abigail asked suddenly seeming wary. Ronan raised brow as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her.

“What do you mean?” he asked. Abigail sighed, stood up and walked over to him.

“Laura seems like a good woman and I just want to make sure that you’re serious about this. I don’t want to see her, or you, get hurt.”

“Abigail, you know me. I really like Laura. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think that her and I could stand a chance at having something special.” Ronan replied. Abigail nodded and hugged him

“Just take it slow, Ronan. Make sure you’re not just using her for a rebound or something like that.” Ronan pushed her off of him and shook his head angrily.

“You make no sense. One second you’re pushing me to go out with her and the next you’re telling me to back off.” he exclaimed with frustration. “Laura is not a rebound, or whatever else you’re thinking. I really do like her. I like her a lot as a matter of fact. Besides if I was just interested in a rebound I would have said yes to Susan a long time ago.” he added. Abigail made a face, looking very much like she smelled something rotten.

“Susan? Isn’t that the guidance councilor at the kid’s school that has been after you forever?” Ronan nodded.

“Have a little faith in me. I might not be entirely sure where the relationship is going or how quickly it will get there but I can tell you right now that I would never hurt her on purpose and that I am taking it very seriously.”

Before Abigail could reply Penelope came running back into the room. She grabbed Ronan’s hand and pulled him toward the door.

“Come on, daddy! I want to go to the beach!” she exclaimed. Ronan gave Abigail a small wave and then he and Penelope left.

Abigail watched them drive away and smiled to herself. Ronan must really be serious about Laura because he hadn’t even mentioned wanting his wedding ring back.

888

“Oh my God, I am going to die.” Laura said aloud as she looked up from the stack of tests she was grading and rubbed her throbbing temples. She had not slept a wink the night before because thoughts of Ronan’s kiss had kept her awake. She had known the man over a month.. Was it too soon to be falling in love? Because she was fairly certain that love is right where she was heading… If she wasn’t there already.

The shrill ring of the telephone brought her thoughts back to reality. She sighed and rubbed her face. She thought about ignoring it. She was in no mood to talk to her mother and Mason had been calling nearly everyday since his talk with Ronan. She really needed to get caller ID. But then she remembered Ronan saying he would call her. What if it was him? That thought was all it took to have her hand flying to the phone and bringing it quickly to her ear.

“Hello?”

“You sound tired.” Laura smiled. Though she had never spoke to him on the phone before she recognized that deep soothing voice.

“,Ronan.”

“I told you I’d call.”

“Yes you did. I didn’t expect you to call so quick. Isn’t there some sort of rule among you men that you have to wait a certain amount of days.” she asked with a smile. She heard a smile in his voice when he replied.

“Is there? I’ve been out of the dating pool for a while.”

“I’m glad you called. I needed a distraction.” Laura said looking down at the stack of evil tests on her coffee table.

“Darn and here I was thinking I swept you off your feet and turns out all I am is a distraction.”

“You’re a welcome distraction…There’s a difference between that and a regular distraction.” She heard the deep rumbling sound of his chuckle and it made her heart beat a little faster. She could remember a time when he had always seemed sad… She liked to think that maybe she had had a hand in the change in him.

“I was actually calling because I’m taking Penelope to the beach and she wants you to come with us.”

“Is she the only one who wants me to come?” Laura teased. Ronan cleared his throat.

“You know better.” he replied. Laura looked back down at the coffee table and sighed.

“I wish I could come but I have a bunch of tests to grade.” she said with regret. A day in the sun with Penelope and Ronan sounded like her idea of heaven.

“How about we work out a deal.” Ronan said. “You come to the beach and make my daughter happy and we’ll come back to your house after and I’ll help you grade your tests.”

“Do you know a lot about American History?”

“Well we killed some English people, fought with Indians, got our butts whooped by the Yankees and then there is something about some world wars.” Ronan replied and Laura laughed.

“Good enough. You talked me into it.”

“Penelope and I will pick you up in about an hour if that’s okay.” Ronan said happily.

“See you then.” Laura said and she hung up the phone. She looked at the stack of tests and smiled.

“I shall conquer you later… Right now I have to pick out a swimsuit.” Laura felt her stomach turn at that thought. What should she wear? A bikini? Was that really appropriate for a day at the beach with a five year old? A one piece? She didn’t want to look like an old woman… She ran up the stairs to her room and starting emptying her swimsuit drawer onto her bed in a state of near panic.

888

“This is the right spot.” Penelope said as she came to a stop about twenty feet from the water and dropped her bucket full of sandcastle building supplies onto the sand. Ronan and Laura both sighed with relief. Penelope had been searching for the perfect spot for nearly fifteen minutes.

Ronan laid out the three beach towels they had brought along and as Penelope went to work on her sandcastle Ronan and Laura sat down in the sun.

“I needed this.” Laura said leaning back on her elbows and closing her eyes as she let the sun shine brightly on her face. “If I had to look at one more poorly written essay about the revolutionary war I would have lost my mind.” Ronan chuckled though he couldn’t take his eyes off the graceful curve of her neck as she held her head back.

Laura was enjoying the heat of the sun on her face when suddenly she felt something cold and hard bump against her arm. She opened her eyes and looked over at Ronan to see him holding out a bottle of sunscreen.

“You need to put some on or else you’re going to burn up.” he said, looking at her pale skin. Laura knew he was right so she took the bottle.

“Yes, daddy.” she said teasingly. Ronan just shrugged.

“Being overprotective is an occupational hazard.” he said nodding toward Penelope, who he had covered in sunscreen before they had left the truck. Laura sat the bottle of sunscreen down and stood up.

“I like your swimsuit, Penny.” she said. Penelope looked down at her pink bikini with yellow polka dots and smiled.

“Thanks.” she said. Ronan grunted.

“Abigail picked it out at the store. I said it’s fine for now but the second she starts growing woman parts the damn thing is headed for the trash.”

“I think you have a few years.” Laura assured him and then she slipped off her cargo shorts and oversized t-shirt. She could feel Ronan’s eyes on her as she covered herself with the sunscreen. After fifteen minutes of throwing bathing suits left and right she had finally settled on a red tankini and judging by the way that Ronan’s eyes were lighting her body on fire she figured she had chosen well.

She looked over at him and saw that his grey eyes had darkened to nearly black as he stared at her slack jawed. Laura smiled… Those killer zumba workouts in town were currently seeming very worth the sore muscles and near paralysis that accompanied them.

“Can you get my back?” she asked holding the sunscreen out to him. Ronan cleared his throat and nodded as he stood up quickly and grabbed the bottle.

“Yes, ma’am.” he said. Laura felt as if his hands were burning her alive as he ran them over her shoulders and upper back. His hands were rough and calloused and the feel of them against her soft skin had her legs turning to mush.

She nearly fell face first onto the sand when she felt his lips brush against her shoulder, leaving trails of flames in their wake. She was grateful for the distraction when Penelope suddenly jumped to her feet and grabbed Ronan’s hand.

“Daddy, I want to go swimming!” she exclaimed. Ronan forced his body away from Laura’s. Damn this woman had him so tied up in knots he couldn’t even think straight. He looked down at his daughter.

“I thought you wanted to make sandcastles?” he said as he wiped his hands on his black swimming trunks.

“I do but I want to go swimming first.” she replied. Ronan sighed.

“Alright, sweetpea. Do you want to come?” he asked Laura. She shook her head and sat back down on her towel.

“I think I’m just going to lay here and relax for a while.” she replied. Ronan raised his brow.

“Are you sure?” he asked. Laura bit her lip and looked up at him.

“Promise not to laugh at me?” she asked. Ronan shook his head.

“No.” Laura sighed and looked out at the water.

“I’m afraid of sharks.” she admitted. Ronan tried not to laugh but there was no hiding the amusement in his voice when he spoke.

“I don’t think you have to worry about sharks here, Laura.” he said. Laura blushed and glared up at him.

“You’re wasting your time trying to reason with me. When something scares me I don’t pay any attention to logic.” Ronan grinned.

“I know. I was the one that saved you from the spider remember?” Laura blushed even brighter as she remembered that day.

“Yes you were.” she said. “My hero.” Ronan rubbed the back of his neck and was about to respond when Penelope yanked his hand again.

“Come on daddy!” she said impatiently. Ronan nodded and pulled his hand free. He slipped off his shoes and socks and then pulled off his shirt and tossed it over on his beach towel.

Laura was very thankful that he didn’t look over at her because she was fairly certain that her chin was resting on the ground. She had known he was hard, tan and muscular but she had had no idea he would look this good. She hadn’t known that men could look quite this perfect. His body looked like one of those greek statures… or perhaps a Chippendale.

“Let’s go, sweetpea.” he said taking Penelope’s hand and letting her lead him toward the water. Laura stared at the muscles and smoothness of his lean back and felt her heart racing.

“Watch out for sharks.” she called. Ronan looked back at her and smiled and the beach suddenly seemed a lot hotter. That man was too much. Perfection to look at, gentle, kind, a great father, funny, and passionate too if their kiss the day before was any indication… Only an ice queen could keep herself from falling in love with him and there could be no doubts, as she fanned her flushed face with her hand, that she was definitely no ice queen.

Chapter Ten

The week passed much too slowly for both Ronan and Laura. Both of them were too busy with work to be able to see each other but every night Ronan called Laura and the two of them would lay in their beds and talk well into the night.

Coffee had become very important to both of them since they were losing sleep but neither minded. Ronan found that his heart was becoming Laura’s more and more everyday. He was surprised that it felt so natural to be with Laura. He had not thought that his heart could ever belong to any woman other then Amelia but he had learned a long time ago that God often had His own plans. And it truly felt like Laura was a gift from God.

Ronan was lying in bed early Saturday morning and thinking about getting up when he heard the phone ring in the living room. He jumped to his feet and ran the short length of the hallway to the kitchen and quickly grabbed the phone off the wall.

“Hello?” he said hoping to hear Laura’s soft voice on the other end and he wasn’t disappointed.

“Good morning.” she said sleepily. “I didn’t wake you up did I?”

“No. I’ve been lying in bed awake for at least an hour waiting until it was late enough to call you.” He heard her smile on the other end of the line.

“What are you gonna do today?” Laura asked.

“I was actually hoping maybe we could do something together.” Ronan replied honestly.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I’m not sure. Penelope stayed the night with Bruce so we won’t have to worry about entertaining a five year old.” he said with a smile.

“I love entertaining Penny.” Laura said quickly. “But then again it will be nice to have you all to myself.” she added.

“Well why don’t I take a shower and come on over and we can figure out what we want to do once I get there?” he asked.

“It’s a date.” Laura replied.

“Alright. I’ll see you soon.” Ronan said and hung up. Laura put the phone on the base and ran for the bathroom. So far Ronan had done nothing more then give her a few earthshaking, knee weakening, pulse quickening kisses and she had no idea if her relationship with him was going to get any more physical today but she was going to make sure her legs were shaved…. Just in case.

Laura was just stepping out of the shower when she heard the front door open and close. She smiled. ’ That was quick.’ She thought to herself. Ronan must have really been wanting to see her.

“I’ll be down in just a minute! Make yourself comfortable.” she called. She looked in the mirror and decided she didn’t want to take the time to blow dry her hair so she brushed it out and pulled it up into a pony tail. She felt her heart jump up into her throat and quickly wrapped her towel around herself when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs toward the bathroom door. Those were not Ronan’s footsteps. Ronan’s footsteps were heavy and confident. These were softer and almost hesitant just like….

“Mason!” Laura exclaimed as the bathroom door opened and Mason was standing there in his perfectly tailored suit, his blond hair slicked back and his blue eyes flashing as he looked her up and down.

“Hello Laura.” he said with that smirky grin on his face that she hated so much… Had she actually thought he was handsome once upon a time?

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded pulling the towel tighter around her.

“Who did you think it was? How many people have a key to this place?” he asked running his hand over his smooth boyish cheek.

“I wasn’t aware that you still had a key.” Laura replied matter of factly. “Now answer my question and tell me what the hell you are doing here?”

“I want to come back home Laura. I miss you.” he replied. Laura laughed harshly and pointed over his shoulder.

“Get out of my house!” Mason shook his head.

“Not until you listen to reason.” Mason replied calmly. “I love you Laura and I made a mistake. I want you back.” He laid his hand on her bare shoulder and she jerked away from him.

“Don’t touch me.” she hissed. She pushed past him and ran down the stairs. She could hear him right behind her. She grabbed the phone and pointed to the door. Neither of them noticed Ronan’s grey eyes watching them from the kitchen.

“Get out Mason or else I’ll call the police.” she said. Mason laughed lightly and his blue eyes took on a cold, hard look.

“What good will that do love? I have a key.” he added holding it up. Laura grabbed for it but he quickly put it back in his pocket.

“You will give that back to me Mason Hicks or so help me God I will shove it somewhere where the sun doesn’t shine.”

“Why are you in such a temper?” Mason asked. “I came here because I want you back, love. I made a terrible mistake when I let you go. I love you.” Laura sat there in silence for several long moments. In truth she was wondering just how hard she would have to swing the telephone to crack Mason’s skull open but Mason seemed to take her silence as a good sign.

“Please tell me that I haven’t lost you.” he said grabbing her by the wrist gently.

“Mason, you need to leave.” Laura said.

“There is someone else isn’t there?” he demanded his grip becoming tighter on her arm.

“Yes as a matter of fact there is.” she replied sticking her chin out to try to hide her fear.

“Who is it, you slut?” Mason demanded his features hardening with anger. Laura winced as his grip on her arm grew painful.

“You’re hurting me.” she said trying to pull away. Mason just gripped her harder.

“Answer me.” he growled.

“Get your hands off of her now.” Laura’s eyes flew to the kitchen at the sound of Ronan’s deep, angry voice. Mason kept his grip on her arm but turned to face Ronan as well.

“I know you… You’re the handyman I had hired. Aren’t you done around here yet?” Mason asked. Ronan shook his head.

“No I’m not done yet.” he replied. “Now I’m gonna ask you one more time to take your hands off of Laura.” Mason looked down at Laura’s arm gripped tightly in his hand and realized that her hand was turning red as he cut off her blood flow. He dropped it quickly.

“Sorry about that love. I’m not sure what I was thinking.” Mason said guiltily as he smoothed out his suit jacket.

“Me either.” Laura said as she quickly walked over to Ronan and positioned herself next to him. She had no way of knowing if he could really protect her if things went south but since he was a good six inches taller then Mason, much more muscular and had a rugged masculine quality that Mason did not, Laura figured she was safe.

“Ronan, my friend, please try to talk some sense into the woman.” Mason said not realizing that he was simply digging himself deeper into his already bottomless hole. “You know how women can be, I’m sure, and she just simply will not listen to reason…” Ronan held up his hand to cut Mason off.

“Just stop. I think there are some things you need to know before you say another word because my fist is getting damn close to becoming real familiar with your jaw if you don’t shut up.” Ronan growled. Laura’s eyes widened at the threat. She knew Ronan was serious. He was not the type of man to say anything he did not mean or make idle threats. She just hoped that Mason realized the same thing.

“What…?” Mason started but Ronan threw him a look that would have frozen a volcano and it was enough to have his mouth snapping closed.

“First off, Laura is not your woman anymore, she is mine, and I will not have you putting your hands on her or saying a single bad thing about her. Second, I have a five year old daughter and quite frankly your views on women make my blood boil so I would really rather not hear them.” Mason stared at both of them in shock for several moments before bursting out in laughter.

“Really now? A handyman Laura? What will your mother think?”

“I got the impression that Helen likes me.” Ronan replied before Laura could speak. Laura wanted to stomp on his toe and let him know that she could defend herself verbally against Mason but given the fact that he was wearing his old work boots and she was barefoot she figured that would do more harm then good.

“I came over here to have a conversation with Laura so if you don’t mind…” Mason started and this time it was Laura that interrupted him.

“More like you let yourself in while I was in the shower and then burst into the bathroom without so much as a knock!” she said and she regretted the words instantly when she felt Ronan tense and become as still as a statue beside her.

“Don’t act so innocent Laura. You used to love it when I would surprise you in the shower.” Mason said with a cocky grin. Laura barely had time to realize that Ronan had moved before his fist was connecting solidly with Mason’s jaw and sending the smaller man flying backwards into the back of the couch. Ronan took another step forward as if to attack Mason again and Laura grabbed his arm.

“Stop!” she yelled. Ronan glanced down at her before looking back at Mason who was wiping his bloody mouth and looking down at the drops of bright red on the front of his white shirt.

“I’ll have you arrested!” Mason sputtered nervously even as he inched toward the door. Ronan grunted.

“You won’t do anything unless you want the cops to hear about how you broke into Laura’s home and entered her bathroom and then yanked her around by the arm and threatened her.” he growled crossing his arms over his chest.

“I changed my mind Laura. I no longer want you back.” Mason said opening the door. Laura laughed harshly.

“Whoo that’s a relief.” she said. Mason took the key from his pocket and tossed it at her and then he quickly left, slamming the door behind him.

“What were you thinking!” Laura demanded of Ronan. Ronan looked at her questioningly.

“What are you talking about?”

“You punched him!” Laura reminded him loudly and Ronan wondered if he should remind her that he wasn’t deaf but based on the look in her eyes that probably would not be a wise decision.

“Yeah.” he said instead.

“Why?” Laura demanded, finding his sudden calm to be highly annoying.

“Because I never have been very good with words.” Ronan replied and Laura saw that mischievous look in his eyes and realized that he was fighting back a smile. She sighed and shook her head.

“You can’t just go around hitting people.” she scolded. “But it was kind of satisfying to see that blood on his perfectly tailored suit.” she added as she smiled. Ronan looked down at her and suddenly the fact that she was wearing nothing but a towel was all he could think about.

Laura saw the change in his eyes as he stepped toward her. She felt her knees grow weak as he wrapped his arms tight around her waist, gripped her backside and pulled her body into his. She stood on her toes and threw her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair and he crushed his lips against hers passionately.

He kissed her long and hard and his big hands roamed over her body causing her knees to shake and her insides to feel like a mixture between jelly and molten lava. When he finally pulled away she kept her arms wrapped tight around his neck because she knew that her trembling legs would never hold her up.

“I think you should go get dressed.” Ronan said his voice even deeper then usual as he pressed his forehead against hers. Laura tried to look in his eyes from this angle and he started laughing as she went cross-eyed.

“Where are you taking me?” Laura asked as she pulled away and tightened the towel which had come loose beneath his roaming hands.

“I don’t know yet. I’ll figure something out while you’re getting ready.” he replied. Laura nodded and ran quickly out of the room and her excitement reminded Ronan of Penelope and made him smile. He walked over to the couch and sat down.

He looked over at the door and an image of Mason letting himself into Laura’s house at night when Ronan wasn’t around to protect her suddenly entered his mind. Sure Mason had given Laura back a key but what if that wasn’t the only one he had?

Ronan was standing by the door when Laura came back downstairs a few minutes later wearing a pair of jeans and a flowy, dark blue blouse.

“So where are we going?” she asked.

“Hardware store.” Ronan replied. Laura raised her brow.

“You’re joking. Where are we really going?”

“Hardware store. You need the locks on the door changed and I’m gonna get a few motion lights for outside. They turn on when someone….” Laura held up her hand and cocked her hip with irritation.

“I know what motion lights are Ronan.” she snapped. “Can I ask why you’re doing this?”

“Because I don’t want him coming back and letting himself in again.” Ronan replied matter of factly.

“He gave me his key.” Laura reminded him.

“He might have more.”

“Are you always this protective and paranoid?” Laura asked with a sigh. Ronan grinned and Laura felt her irritation melt away at the sight of that damn dimple… She realized that that dimple was going to be a problem in the future because she couldn’t seem to stay mad when she saw it.

“Fine.” she said giving in. “Let’s go on a romantic date to the hardware store.”

They did go to the hardware store and Ronan bought a new door handle and a bolt lock for the door, as well as two motion lights. Then he had treated Laura to lunch at the small burger joint in town and had laughed when Laura had eaten her fries and stole a few of his as well.

“Next time we come out remind me to get extra fries.” Ronan had said with a smile. Once they got back to Laura’s house, she busied herself going over some homework while Ronan changed the locks and put up the lights.

Ronan was still outside putting up the last light when his cell phone rang. Laura looked at it laying on the coffee table and wondered if she should answer it. She figured he had left it lying here so he wouldn’t care…. Besides she had warned him before that she was nosy. She flipped the phone open and put it to her ear.

“Hello?” she said.

“Is this Ronan’s phone?” an older male voice asked.

“Yes it is. This is Laura.” she replied.

“Well hello there. Nice to talk to you finally. I’m Bruce.”

“Hi Bruce. Is something wrong with Penny?” Laura asked as she rubbed tiny circles into the brown suede couch with her finger.

“Yes actually. She has a fever and she wants her daddy.” Bruce replied. Before Laura could reply Ronan walked in and she stood quickly.

“Ronan just walked in.” she said and she held the phone out to him. Ronan gave her an odd look and then wiped his hands on his pants.\

“Hello?” he said after he had taken the phone. Laura watched the happy look on his face quickly be replaced by worry.

“Tell her I’m on my way.” he said and flipped his phone closed.

“Rain check on the hot date?” Laura asked. Ronan sighed and put his phone in his pocket.

“I’m sorry.” he said. Laura waved her hand and walked over to him. She threw her arms around his neck and smiled.

“There is nothing to be sorry about.” she assured him. “You are a great dad and that’s one of the things I lo….like the most about you.” She blushed deep crimson when she realized what she had almost said. She knew deep down that she loved Ronan but she wasn’t going to be the first to say that word. She didn’t want him to feel rushed.

“I’ll call you.” Ronan said pressing a kiss to her forehead. He knew what she had almost said and while he was starting to think he loved her too, he wasn’t quite ready to say that word just yet. He wouldn’t’ say it.. Not as long as part of his heart still belonged to Amelia. He figured that Laura deserved better then that.. She deserved his whole heart and he was sure that eventually she would have it. It would just take time.

“I’ll see you later then. Thanks for the new locks and the lights.” Laura said. Ronan grinned and kissed her gently before turning and walking out the door. Laura stood in the doorway and watched him pull away before walking back into the house.

Chapter Eleven

Later that evening Laura was lying on the couch watching old reruns of ‘The Nanny’ and thinking about Ronan and Penelope. Ronan had called her earlier to let her know that he and Penelope were home and that her doctor had said it was just a virus and she needed to rest.

Laura listened to the clock ticking on the wall and turned the television off. She jumped off of the couch, pulled on her shoes, grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

888

“I don’t feel good, daddy.” Penelope whined as she snuggled against him on the couch. Ronan kissed her dark hair and nodded.

“I know, sweetpea.” he replied. It was times like these when he missed Amelia the most. She had always been the one that took care of Penelope when she was sick. She had always had that magic ‘mommy’ touch that Ronan lacked.

A knock came at the door and Ronan grumbled with irritation as he rose from the couch and walked into the kitchen to answer it. He opened the door and his eyes widened when he saw Laura standing there with shopping bags in her hands.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he took the bags from her. Laura smiled and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“I brought some things for, Penny.” she replied. Ronan frowned.

“You didn’t have to do that.” he said. Laura rolled her eyes and laid her hand on his cheek.

“Sure I did. Now can I come in?” Ronan couldn’t believe she had shown up. She did realize just how unexciting taking care of a sick kid was didn’t she?

“Set those bags on the counter.” Laura said sliding past him and into the house. Ronan did as she told him and Penelope walked into the kitchen.

“Laura!” she yelled happily and threw her arms around Laura’s waist. Laura smiled and patted her hair.

“Hi Penny.” she said. “I brought you some things to help you feel better.” Penelope looked at the shopping bags and began jumping up and down in excitement.

“What did you get me?” she asked. Ronan wanted to tell Penelope to mind her manners but for the first time all day she was smiling and happy and he wasn’t about to do anything to make her upset.

“Okay, we have popsicles.” Laura said holding them up. Ronan took them from her and put them in the freezer after taking a green one from the box and handing it to Penelope. “Movies about all of the most important princesses…” Laura said holding up a handful of movies. “Popcorn of course. And some nail polish because I was hoping you could do my nails for me.”

“Yay!” Penelope said hopping up and down. Ronan shook his head at her miraculous rate of healing now that Laura was here.

“Alright, sweetpea, you go on out to the couch and daddy will get us some popcorn popped.” he said. Penelope grabbed the movies from Laura and ran into the living room to pick out the one that she wanted to watch. Laura was about to follow after her but Ronan grabbed her arm gently to stop her.

“Thanks.” he said.

“For what?” she asked. Ronan leaned against the white counter with his arms crossed over his chest.

“For being so good with my daughter.” he said. Laura smiled and leaned against the counter next to him.

“I like Penelope a lot.” she said.

“She likes you too.” Ronan replied. “Almost as much as I do.” Laura bumped her shoulder up against him.

“Almost huh?” she asked softly. Ronan grabbed her arm and turned her so that the fronts of their bodies were pressed together.

“Spending these last few weeks with you has given me hope, Laura. I used to think that my heart would never fully heal after losing Amelia but you have changed my way of thinking.” Ronan saw tears come into her green eyes and he smiled.

“Are those good tears or bad tears?” he asked. Laura sniffed and tried to blink away the tears but one lone droplet managed to slip down her cheek. Ronan quickly wiped it away with his thumb.

“Good tears.” she replied with a smile. Ronan kissed her forehead.

“It’s weird isn’t it?” he asked. Laura raised her brow and tilted her head.

“What is?”

“We haven’t known each other for very long. We both lived a long time without each other but I already don’t see how I could ever live without you in my life.”

“I think that is the sweetest thing any man has ever said to me.” Laura said as yet another tear slipped down her cheek and Ronan slid his thumb across it. She knew that Ronan meant what he was saying because he was not the kind of man to say things he did not mean.

“Thanks for having patience with me… I know there are times when I talk about Amelia too much or I say the wrong things but..” Laura cut him off by pressing her finger to his lips.

“Ronan, you loved her a lot. She was your wife and the mother of your child. I would worry about what kind of man you were if you could just forget about her like it was nothing.” Ronan was about to reply when Penelope’s voice came from the couch.

“Daddy, where’s my popcorn?” she called. Laura laughed and pulled away from him. She grabbed the box of popcorn off of the counter and tossed it to him.

“Duty calls.” she said. Then she grabbed the nail polish out of the bag. “I on the other hand, am going to go get my nails did.” she added with a wink. Ronan chuckled and watched her walk out of the kitchen toward the living room.

One sloppy manicure, a lot of popcorn and three princess movies later and Ronan realized that Penelope had fallen asleep where she was curled up between he and Laura on the couch.

“I’m gonna go put her to bed.” he whispered. Laura nodded and Ronan scooped Penelope up into his arms and carried her down the short hall.

Laura looked around the living room. There were pictures on the wall of a younger Penelope with a dark haired, dark eyed woman that looked a lot like Abigail. Laura knew that this must be Amelia. She was beautiful Laura had to admit and Penelope looked just like her. Laura was so caught up in looking at the picture that she didn’t hear Ronan walk into the living room.

“That’s Amelia.” his deep voice came from behind her and made her jump and blush guiltily as she turned to face him.

“I figured it was. Penny looks just like her.” she said. Ronan looked uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Yeah she does.” he said. “But she got my eyes.” he added. Laura wanted to get him away from the living room and that picture. He belonged to her now, not Amelia and she did not want him feeling awkward with Amelia’s picture watching them.

“It’s a pretty night. You want to go sit on the porch?” she asked. Ronan nodded quickly and they walked out to the porch and sat down together on the swing. Ronan patted his chest and held his arm out and Laura smiled and curled up against him. She felt his lips press against her hair and she sighed happily.

“You’re really good with Penelope.” Ronan said after a few minutes of sitting in quiet comfort and listening to the crickets chirp. The dusk to dawn light on the pole beside the house flickered and hummed and lit up the otherwise pitch black night.

“Penelope is a really good kid. You’ve done a good job.” she replied.

“I had help. Bruce and Abigail have done a lot of the work the last couple of years.”

“Yeah but you are her daddy and she looks up to you. You’re doing a good job.” Ronan smiled into her hair.

“Have you ever thought about having kids?” he asked her. Laura felt the familiar pain in her heart at the thought of being a mother.

“Yes.” she said quietly. Ronan heard the sadness in her answer.

“You would be a good mom.” he said, wishing he knew where her pain was coming from.

“I was almost a mom once. But I lost the baby.” Ronan let out a long breath and squeezed her tight.

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” he said. Laura snuggled deeper into his strong arms and the comfort they provided.

“It was about a year ago. I was three months pregnant and the doctor said it was just one of those things that happens sometimes… I hate it when people say things like that. Like hearing that is going to make it any easier.” Ronan nodded. He remembered how many people had come to him after Amelia had died and said those words. ‘Sometimes these things happen.’ He had hated hearing it every single time.

“It’s not too late though. You can still have kids.” Ronan said. Laura sighed and looked out into the dark night.

“Maybe some day.” she said quietly. Ronan put his finger on her cheek and turned her face while tilting it up towards his.

“Maybe some day.” he agreed. Their eyes locked and then their lips found each other quickly. The sounds of their moans and whispers as they kissed and touched intermingled with the sounds of the crickets on the breeze. Neither knew how long they stayed tangled up on that porch swing. It could have been minutes or it could have been hours that they were lost in each other.

Laura finally pulled away from him and he grunted and tried to bring her face back to his. She sighed and shook her head regretfully.

“I should go.” she said. “You need to get some rest. Penelope might not sleep good tonight.” Ronan growled irritably as she stood up and smoothed out her clothes.

“I can promise you right now that I am not going to get any sleep tonight… Not after that.” he said. Laura smiled and bit her lip.

“Me either.” she admitted. “But at least now I know that you’ll be thinking of me tonight.” she teased. Ronan looked up at her and shook his head.

“Laura, it seems like any more you are all I can think about.” he said. Laura leaned down and gave him one more gentle kiss, laughing and pulling away quickly when he tried to deepen it.

“Goodnight Ronan.” she said.

“Goodnight.” he replied and he watched her get in her car and drive away.

He stayed on the porch swing, looking out into the night long after she had left. He thought about Amelia and he thought about Laura and he was surprised when he did not feel the guilt that he used to feel whenever he thought about Laura. He no longer felt like he was betraying Amelia when he was with Laura.

He stretched his arms when he finally stood up and then he looked up at the dark sky.

“I really think I’m in love with her Amelia.” he whispered at the stars. “And it feels good.” he added before walking back into the house and shutting the door behind him.

Chapter Twelve

That Wednesday Laura thanked God a million times over when the final bell rang and her last group of teenage migraines walked out of her classroom. She stood up from her desk and smoothed out her black knee length skirt and blue blouse. She quickly grabbed her teaching bag full of the latest group of essays sure to fry what few brain cells she had left still alive and walked out of the room.

She walked quickly to her car, happy to avoid being drawn into any conversations with the other teacher and headed toward home. As she walked in the door and dropped her bag on the floor she felt a yearning to see Ronan that was almost painful. For some reason she was suddenly certain that he needed her. She decided to ride to his house and surprise him. The essays could wait.

She arrived at his house nearly thirty minutes later and was disappointed to see that his truck wasn’t home. She parked next to Abigail’s car and walked up to the door. She barely had time to knock before the door flew open and Penelope was throwing her arms around her waist.

“I missed you!” she exclaimed happily. Laura laughed and patted her braided pigtails.

“I missed you too.” she said.

“Let her come in the house, Penelope!” Abigail called out. Penelope grabbed Laura’s hand and pulled her into the house. Laura saw Abigail standing at the stove stirring a pot of what smelled like chicken and dumplings.

“Hi Laura!’ Abigail said happily.

“Hi.” Laura replied. “You’re making dinner?” Abigail nodded as she added a little bit of salt to the delicious smelling food.

“Yeah, I knew that Ronan would have a long day today so I wanted to make sure he had one less thing to worry about when he got home.”

“Why would he have a long day today?” Laura asked feeling a tiny bit of jealousy. It was her job to take care or Ronan and know when he was going to need help… Why hadn’t he come to her?

“Penelope, go to your room and get that picture you made for Laura.” Abigail said and Penelope nodded and took off running down the hallway. Abigail turned back to Laura.

“Today is, was, or would have been Amelia’s birthday.” she whispered. Laura nodded and suddenly understood why Ronan had not told her.

“Where is Ronan?” she asked. Abigail sighed.

“He called me about a half hour ago and said he was done with work but he still had some things to do. He didn’t tell me what those things were because he doesn’t want me to worry but I know he’s at the cemetery.”

“I’ll just go home. I was hoping to see him but I guess today isn’t a good day.” Laura said, suddenly feeling very awkward. Abigail tilted her head and stared hard at her.

“Why don’t you go to the cemetery and be with him?” she said. Laura shook her head hard enough to send her blond hair whipping around her face.

“No. He won’t want me there.” she said matter of factly. Abigail sat the big spoon she’d been stirring dinner with on the counter, crossed her arms over her chest and smiled at Laura.

“Laura, he loves you. You should be there with him.” Laura stared at Abigail in shock.

“Why would you say he loves me? He’s never said anything….” her voice trailed off as she thought back to their long, slow passion filled kisses and remembered the look that she had often seen in his grey eyes as he’d stared at her.

“Ronan is the type of man that won’t say anything unless he is absolutely one hundred percent sure of it and falling in love with you is something he never expected so he doesn’t want to rush it. But trust me when I say that he loves you.”

“How can you tell?” Laura asked. Abigail laid her hand comfortingly on Laura’s arm.

“You have healed his heart sweetie.” she said. “Sure there are bound to still be some scars on it and I’m not saying that he’s one hundred percent better but he is definitely getting there and that is thanks to you.” Laura fought back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes and hugged Abigail tight.

“So you really think I should go? Do you really think he’s ready for me to be in that place? I don’t want him to feel like I’m trying to push Amelia aside, because I would never do that. I know that part of him will always love her because she was his wife and Penelope’s mom.”

“Yes, she was an incredible woman but you know what? So are you. And you need to be by his side and claim him as yours. Now I loved my sister very much but it’s high time that Ronan moves on and I think that he should move on with you. So go to the cemetery. Just your presence there will make him think and I believe that once he starts thinking, he’s going to realize that you are the one that has his heart now, not Amelia.”

“How do I get there?” Laura asked with a tear filled laugh. Abigail was just finished telling her how to get to the cemetery when Penny ran back into the kitchen.

“Here you go!” she said holding out a blue piece of construction paper. Laura took it and looked at the picture and felt new tears fill her eyes, only this time she couldn’t hold them back. She recognized Ronan’s house and standing in front of it were stick figures of a man, a little girl and a woman. One of the teachers had obviously helped Penelope label them Ronan, Penelope and Laura. There was also a dark haired woman up in the clouds with wings and a halo and she was labeled mommy.

“This is beautiful.” Laura gasped. Penelope nodded.

“I know. I worked hard on it.” she said. Abigail looked over Laura’s shoulder and smiled.

“That is pretty.” she said.

“That’s you and me and daddy.” Penelope said. “And mommy is an angel up in heaven watching over me and daddy because she wants us to be happy.”

“Penny, you help aunt Abigail get supper ready because when I get back, your daddy will be with me and he’ll be hungry. You know how he gets when he’s hungry.” Laura said with a wink.

“Grumpy.” Penelope replied with a nod.

“I’ll be back.” Laura said to both Abigail and Penelope and then she left.

She drove to the cemetery with Penelope’s picture in the passenger seat. She couldn’t explain how much that picture meant to her. It was Penelope’s way of accepting Laura into the family and accepting Laura being with Ronan.

Laura pulled into the gravel driveway and saw Ronan’s truck parked at the back of the cemetery underneath a large weeping willow tree. Laura put her car in park behind his truck and turned off the ignition. Ronan never looked up or acted like he had even anyone was there. Laura had a moment of indecision. Maybe she should just start the car and leave Ronan alone with his thoughts.

Her mind was changed instantly when Ronan turned to face her and she saw the smile that came to his face when he realized it was her. He waved her over and she quickly got out of the car and joined him. He wrapped his arm tight around her waist and kissed her hair.

“I missed you.” he said.

“You just saw me yesterday.” she reminded him. “You brought me lunch at the school remember?” Ronan grinned.

“Yeah I remember. And I brought extra fries.” he added. Laura laughed and then she looked at him more seriously.

“Are you okay?” she asked him. To her surprise the smile never left his face as he looked at her.

“I am now,” he replied. “Can I be honest with you about something?” he asked. Laura nodded.

“You can be honest with me about anything.” she replied. “As a matter of fact I expect it.” she added and this made him chuckle.

“I haven’t been to her grave since you and I started getting more serious.” he said. Laura looked at the pretty gray tombstone. There was an angel beside Amelia’s name and this made her think of Penelope’s picture.

“Why not?” she asked. Ronan sighed and was silent for a second before replying.

“I felt like if I came here and was thinking about you that somehow that would be like I was betraying Amelia. I know that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” he added seeing the confused look on her face. “But it’s the way I felt at the time.”

“How do you feel now?” Laura asked with just a hint of nervousness in her voice. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear the answer or not but she knew that he needed to talk.

“For the first time since she left, I am standing in this graveyard, looking at that headstone that I have always hated and instead of feeling sad or guilty or lonely…. I feel peaceful. I think that Amelia would have liked you.”

“I’m glad that you feel more at peace Ronan. You are a good man.” Ronan shook his head and laid a gentle hand on her cheek.

“You are the reason I feel that peace Laura. You are my angel.” he said. Laura smiled and buried her face in his chest to hide her tears. He held her tight and rubbed her back with his big hands.

“How did you know I was here anyway?” he asked her. She kept herself pressed against him and breathed in the scent of drywall that was clinging to his t-shirt, as she answered.

“I wanted to see you so I drove over to your house and Abigail told me where you were. I wasn’t going to come but Abigail convinced me that I should.”

“I’m glad you came.” Ronan replied, kissing her hair. He almost told her that he loved her then but he didn’t think that standing beside his dead wife’s grave was the most romantic place to make that confession. And when he told Laura that he loved her, he wanted it to be perfect.

“So what was Abigail doing at my house?” he asked.

“Making chicken and dumplings.” Laura replied.

“I’m gonna have to have a talk with her. She isn’t supposed to do things like that anymore. Her husband will make me punch him again.” Ronan said. Laura pulled away from him and glared up at him with her hands on her hips.

“You punched him too? What is it with you and punching people?” Ronan grinned and Laura made it a point to look away from him so she wouldn’t be blindsided by that damn dimple.

“I told you already. I’m not very good with words.” he replied. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving. What do you say you come back to my house and eat dinner with us?”

“I already told Penelope I would.” she replied.

“I can already taste those chicken and dumplings…. MmmmMmmm.. My favorite.” he said leading her back toward her car.

“I guess I’ll have to take some cooking classes and learn how to make them.” Laura admitted. Ronan raised his brow.

“You can’t cook?” he asked. Laura’s face flushed with indignation and she stuck out her chin.

“I can microwave like no bodies business but no I can’t cook.” she said. Ronan laughed and wrapped his arm tight around her shoulders.

“That’s alright angel. I’m one hell of a cook so we won’t go hungry.” he said with a smile that Laura felt was far too cocky. She elbowed him in the stomach but all that did was cause him to burst out in loud laughter that echoed through the quiet cemetery.

“Laugh it up big boy but I guarantee I can out bake your behind.” she said. He nodded as he rubbed his stomach which was sore from both her elbow and his own laughter.

“I won’t argue that point ma’am.” he conceded

Chapter Thirteen

That Saturday morning Laura was getting caught up on her housework and was in the middle of mopping the floors when the phone rang. She ran quickly to the phone and checked the caller ID, which she had finally invested in, and smiled when she saw Ronan’s number.

“Hello handsome.” she whispered huskily. Ronan chuckled on the other end of the line.

“I’m guessing you finally got caller ID?” he asked.

“Oh shoot, it’s you… I thought it was somebody else.” she teased.

“Very funny.” Ronan replied with a snort. “I was actually hoping that you would do a favor for me.” he added.

“Anything.” Laura replied sitting down on the back of the couch.

“I got a call from somebody on the other side of town that needs me to come out today and fix their water heater and I don’t have anybody to watch Penelope. Do you think you could come over and sit with her? I won’t be gone more than a couple of hours and then I’ll take you girls out to eat.” Laura smiled happily.

“Of course I will.” she said. “Any excuse to hang out with Penny.”

“Thanks, Laura, I’ll owe you one.” he said and she could hear the mischievous tone in his voice.

“Just give me an hour or so and I’ll be there.” she replied and hung up.

It was nearly one hour, on the dot, later when Lauren walked into Ronan’s house. Penelope jumped up from where she was eating her breakfast of French toast and eggs and ran to her. Laura hugged her tight and patted her dark hair.

“Are we going to play today?” Penelope asked. Laura nodded.

“Of course we are. Now go finish your breakfast.” she said. Penelope laughed and ran back to the table with her princess sleeping gown whipping around her ankles.

Ronan walked into the kitchen then wearing only a pair of jeans that were riding low on his hips and his boots. Laura stared in awe at him as he walked over to her and she fought the urge to bury her fingers in the chestnut hair covering his sculpted chest.

“I promise I’ll hurry.” Ronan said, not noticing the fact that Laura’s chin was practically resting on the floor. She managed to nod and he gave her an odd look as he kissed her temple.

“You okay?” he asked. Laura forced herself to look up at his face but of course he was smiling and so she was greeted by the sight of that dimple.

“Yeah I’m fine.” she squeaked. Ronan shrugged and pulled his shirt on.

“Come give daddy a kiss, sweetpea.” Ronan said and Penelope ran over from the table and Ronan scooped her up in his arms. She kissed his nose and he hugged her tight.

“You and Laura have to decide where you want daddy to take you out to dinner at when I get back.” he said.

“I like the Dairy Barn.” Penelope replied. Ronan chuckled.

“Laura might want to go somewhere fancier then the Dairy Barn.” he said. Penelope made a face that clearly said she was worried about her father and Laura’s sanity.

“But they have tubes and slides and balls and everything!” she said matter of factly. Laura laughed.

“Dairy Barn sounds good to me.” she said earning her an ear to ear smile from Penelope. Ronan chuckled and nodded.

“Okay fine but if we take Laura to Dairy Barn we have to make sure to get extra fries or else she’ll eat all of ours.” he said in an exaggerated whisper to Penelope. Laura laughed and slapped his arm playfully.

“Why don’t you hush and go fix a water heater, Bob the builder.” she said.

“I like that show!” Penelope exclaimed. Ronan laughed and sat Penelope down on her feet.

“I’ll see you ladies later.” he said. He gave Laura a quick kiss, grabbed his keys off the counter and went out the door.

“So what are we going to do?” Laura asked Penelope. Penelope put her hands on her tiny hips and acted like she was thinking hard for several seconds before responding.

“Do you know how to play Candyland?” Laura smiled.

“It’s my favorite.” she replied.

Several hours later Laura was watching Penelope as she mixed the chocolate chip cookie dough they’d made.

“My aunt Abigail makes cookies with me sometimes.” Penelope said.

“You’re a good cookie maker.” Laura replied.

“I wonder if my mommy liked making cookies.” Penelope said as she spooned big drops of dough onto a cookie sheet.

“I don’t know. You should ask your aunt Abigail.” Laura replied with a smile.

“My mommy was very pretty.” Laura wiped a bit of dough off of Penelope’s cheek with her finger and smiled.

“Yes she was.” She said as she took the full cookie sheet and placed it in the preheated oven. “You look a lot like your mommy.” Penelope nodded and jumped down off the chair she was standing on.

“You are really pretty too.” she said.

“Thank you.”

“Do you want to play dress up?” Penelope asked.

“Sure. You got on and get everything ready and I’ll be there as soon as I clean this mess up.” Penelope took off running down the hall toward her room. Laura was just finishing up the dishes when Penelope came back out to the kitchen with a dainty, cherry wood jewelry box.

“What do you have there Penny?”

“Jewelry.” Penelope replied sitting down at the table. Laura walked over and sat down next to her.

“Are you supposed to play with that?” she asked. Penelope’s big brown eyes looked up at her innocently.

“Yes, it’s pretty.” she replied. Laura smiled at the little girl and nodded. She didn’t see what harm could come from letting Penelope dress her up with the pretty jewelry. Ronan hadn’t said anything about it and Penelope did not seem like the type of kid to do something she wasn’t supposed to do.

“Well then dress me up, Penny. Make me beautiful.”

888

Ronan pulled in the driveway, and practically ran up to the door. It had taken him a little longer then he had thought it would to fix the water heater but he was finally home and he couldn’t wait to see both Laura and Penelope and take them out to dinner.

While the Dairy Barn didn’t seem like the most romantic of places to tell Laura that he loved her he was tired of waiting. He would tell her tonight and he prayed that she felt the same.

But when Ronan stepped into the house and saw Penelope and Laura at the table his lunch bucket clattered to the floor and his brain seemed to shut down.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. Laura smiled and looked over at him.

“Penny wanted to play dress up.” she said. Then she saw the look on his face and her smile faltered. He looked lost. Scared. Laura looked over at Penelope and saw that she looked guilty and suddenly Laura was sure that she had done something very wrong.

“Take that off.” Ronan said desperately. Laura looked down at the pearl necklace he was pointing at around her neck.

“Why? Is something wrong, Ronan?”

“Take that damn necklace off.” he said again even more desperately. His grey eyes were locked on the necklace and Laura quickly reached back to try to undo the clasp.

“It’s stuck.” she said feeling tears welling in her eyes at the amount of pain on Ronan’s face. He stormed toward her, his pain coming out as anger.

“Who the hell told you it was okay to wear that!” he demanded.

“Penny said….”

“Take the damn thing off!” he yelled. Laura tried again to undo the clasp but it was stuck fast.

“I can’t.” she replied desperately. Ronan reached out and grabbed the pearl necklace tearing it from her neck and sending pearls scattering across the linoleum tile of the kitchen floor.

“Ronan…”

“You should never have put that on!” he yelled. “Never.” Laura jumped to her feet quickly while Penelope ran down the hallway and slammed her bedroom door shut behind her.

“Are you okay?” Laura asked him. She had never seem him look this upset before and while she was scared of what he might do in his anger she was more concerned about taking away his pain.

“Get out.” he said. Laura crossed her arms over her chest and felt tears burning her eyes and sliding down her cheeks.

“What?’ she asked. Ronan would not meet her gaze as he looked at all the tiny white pearls scattered across the tile.

“Get the hell out of my house!” he said in a voice full of rage and pain. Laura quickly grabbed her purse and ran from the house, desperate to be away from the angry man before he had a chance to realize just how badly he was hurting her.

Chapter Fourteen

“What in the hell is your problem?” Abigail demanded about thirty minutes later as she stormed into Ronan’s house and found him sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.

“I didn’t call you over here to jump my ass, Abigail. I called you over here so you could get Penelope. She’s in her room and doesn’t want me to come in.” Ronan replied. Abigail saw the jewelry box on the table and recognized it as Amelia’s.

“Ronan, what did you do?” Abigail asked gently as she saw the pearls scattered across the kitchen.

“I screwed up, Abigail. I bought Amelia that necklace on our first anniversary and when I saw it on Laura I don’t know what came over me. I just wanted her to take it off but then the clasp was stuck and I flipped out.” Abigail started to pick the pearls up off the floor but Ronan pushed his chair back and stood quickly.

“I’ll get that!” he snapped. “Just please get Penelope and take her to either your house or Bruce’s house for the night. She doesn’t want to be here with me right now.”

“She saw you rip the necklace off of Laura?” Abigail asked. Ronan nodded and she covered her mouth as she shook her head.

“What did you do, Ronan? I thought that you loved Laura.” she said. Then she noticed the surprised look on his face. “Don’t act so shocked. I’ve known you for a long time and I could see the signs easily enough.” Ronan collapsed back down in the chair looking completely defeated.

“I do love her. I love her with all my heart, Abigail. She is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I can’t lose her but I think it’s too late.”

“No it’s not.” Abigail said laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. “What made you react that way?”

“I don’t know.” Ronan replied with irritation. “It was just seeing Amelia’s necklace on her.. .It felt like the biggest betrayal I could have dished out to Amelia. She loved that necklace. You remember. She wore it every single chance that she got.” Abigail nodded. She remembered how much her sister had always loved that pearl necklace.

“I’ll get Penelope. You clean this mess up and figure out what you’re going to do, Ronan. Either you’re ready to move on or you’re not but you can’t keep both woman in your heart like this. It’s not good for you and it’s not fair to Laura.” Ronan did not say a word in reply and soon he found himself alone in the house.

He didn’t know how long he stayed in that chair at the table. Darkness was falling outside when he finally got to his feet and began gathering up the tiny pearls. He cried as he gathered them all in his hands and dropped them into the tiny jewelry box. He prayed he could get the necklace fixed. He had been hoping to give it to Penelope when she grew up.

Ronan drug his feet down the hall to the bathroom where he took a quick shower. He looked at himself in the foggy mirror afterward and then down at his toothbrush sitting in the cup beside of Amelia’s.

Did he really still have that? It seemed like it had been a long time since he had paid any attention to her things that still covered the house. Her brush was still on the shelf above the toilet, her clothes were still in the closet along with her shoes. He walked to the bedroom and saw all the little touches that were hers. Her make-up pouch was on the dresser. Their was an empty spot there as well where Penelope had taken the jewelry box from.

He wondered why he still had all of Amelia’s things. They weren’t doing him any good and in truth they were probably holding him back. Could he bring himself to get rid of them? He wasn’t sure….. He curled up in bed, his heart aching to speak to Laura but he had tried to call her several times and she did not answer. Damn that caller ID. He lay there awake for a long time before finally drifting off to sleep.

888

“Ronan.” Amelia’s gentle voice woke him from his sleep and he opened his eyes to see her sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed all in white. Her dark hair flowing over her shoulders and that sparkle in her dark eyes that he had always loved so much.

“Amelia, I’ve missed you.” he said sitting up and reaching a hand out for her only to find that his hand passed through her.

“Ronan, you’ve been a fool.” she scolded and he couldn’t help but smile. She had always been the first to tell him when he screwed up. “I worked hard to find that woman. I worked hard to bring you both together because I knew that she would be good for you and good for Penelope. Are you determined to make all my hard work be for nothing?”

“You sent her to us?” Ronan asked in shock.

“Sure I did. You didn’t think I would just let you move on with some sleezy tramp like that Susan did you?” she teased.

“I was never tempted by Susan.” Ronan assured her and Amelia laughed lightly.

“I know. You are a good man and Laura is a lucky woman to have you but you aren’t being fair to her. Let me go, love, so that she can have your whole heart.”

“She has my heart Amelia.” Ronan replied and then he winced. “Sorry, I don’t want to hurt you.” Amelia just shook her head and looked at him with love in her eyes.

“My dear, I have been gone for going on three years now. You were an amazing husband and now it is someone else’s turn to have you. I am happy to hear that you love her.”

“I do love her. She has my heart.. It’s just my mind that’s having trouble. There were so many things I wanted to say to you but you never woke up.”

“I heard every word you whispered to me while I laid there in that hospital bed, Ronan. My death was not your fault, it was my own. You have to know that deep down.”

“I wish Penelope was here so she could talk to you.” Ronan said. Amelia smiled.

“I check on her often. She is getting so big and you are doing a wonderful job with her.”

“She’s scared of me right now.” Ronan replied guiltily.

“And with good reason. That was my favorite necklace you know… And it looked very pretty on Laura. There was no reason for you to break it like that.” Amelia scolded.

“I’m sorry.” he replied.

“Penelope will forgive you. She loves her daddy.”

“What about Laura?” Ronan asked sadly. Amelia shrugged.

“That I can’t answer. I know that she loves you but the question is can you convince her that you love her and only her…. That part is up to you.” she said. “I have to go now.”

“Thank you for coming to me.” Ronan said. He had expected sadness at hearing that she was leaving but instead he felt peace. He had finally gotten a chance to speak to her and let her know that he was sorry for the words he’s spoken in anger and in an instant he felt the burden of guilt tying his mind to Amelia melt away.

“I’m glad it gave you peace, Ronan. I loved you very much while I had you.”

“I loved you too.” Ronan replied finding that saying those words in past tense was easier then he had thought it would be. She stood and walked to the edge of the room and Ronan watched her fade away into the darkness. He laid his head back down finally sure of what he wanted. He wanted Laura. He wanted to marry Laura. He wanted to give her the children that she wanted. He wanted to spend every single day for the rest of his life loving no one but her.

888

“Hello?” Abigail said poking her head into Ronan’s house. “Are you a little less hateful today?”

“I’m never hateful.” Ronan shouted back from the living room. Abigail knew this was a lie but chose not to call him on it. She walked into the living room to find Ronan stacking boxes.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“These are Amelia’s clothes, shoes. All her personal things like that. I want you to take them to goodwill or something. I have her jewelry and pictures in this box.” he added holding up a small box. “I want you to take this and put it up for Penelope when she gets older.”

“Are you sure, Ronan?” Abigail asked warily. “Are you sure you want to get rid of all this?”

“Yes, it’s well past time that I get rid of it. There isn’t any good reason to be holding onto it anymore.”

“Okay. I’ll get rid of it for you.” Abigail said picking up a box and heading for the door. “I’m proud of you.” she added.

Chapter Fifteen

Laura covered her head with her pillow to try to block out the sound of Ronan knocking on her door. She knew it was Ronan because she had recognized the sound of his truck pulling up in the driveway. She was not ready to see him yet. She had been crying all night and she was sure she looked terrible. His temper had frightened her yesterday and him ordering her out of his house had hurt her worse than any pain that Mason had ever dished out. She loved Ronan. One hundred percent, with all of her heart and soul, loved that man, but she had realized in that moment that they would never work out.

She was smart enough to realize that the necklace must have belonged to Amelia and his reaction led her to believe that he was still deeply in love with his dead wife and while Laura could compete with a flesh and blood woman, she could not and would not compete with a ghost.

The knocking stopped suddenly and Laura listened hard and heard the sound of keys in the door.

“Dammit!” she exclaimed as she jumped out of bed. What was it with men and keeping their damn keys to her house?

“Laura?” Ronan’s deep voice called from downstairs. Laura pulled on her yellow, knee length, terry cloth robe over her tank top and short shorts that she had slept in and walked down the stairs to the living room.

She cursed when she realized just how good Ronan looked. He was wearing dark jeans and a blue t-shirt with a flannel shirt pulled over his arms. His chestnut hair was the same thick careless mess it always was and his grey eyes looked well rested. She looked at herself in the small mirror on the wall and fought the urge to run back upstairs and bury herself under the covers.

Her green eyes were red and swollen, and dark bruise like circles surrounded them. Her face was pale and her blond hair was a mess of tangles around her face. She wrapped her robe tighter around herself and glared at him.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded. Though she was disappointed when her words lacked the angry edge she had hoped would be there.

“I need to talk to you.” Ronan replied. The sight of her had guilt tearing his heart in half. He had hurt her badly and that had been the last thing that he had ever wanted to do.

“You could have called.” she replied.

“I did. About fifty times actually.” he said glancing over at the phone. Laura shifted her feet uncomfortably and looked at his chest to avoid looking at his face.

“What do you want, Ronan?” she asked.

“I’m sorry.” he said with a sigh. “I know that doesn’t make up for the way I acted yesterday but I really am sorry.”

“That was Amelia’s necklace wasn’t it?” Laura asked leaning against the back of the couch to put a few more feet of distance between them. Ronan rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.

“Yeah it was. I lost it when I saw it on you Lauran and I pray that you can forgive me for that.”

“I can’t do this Ronan.” Laura said matter of factly even as her throat filled with emotion. Ronan’s eyes filled with confusion.

“Can’t do what?” he asked.

“This.” she replied pointing back and forth between them.

“You mean us?” he asked. She nodded and he felt his heart shatter apart in his chest.

“Laura, don’t do this, please. I know I screwed up, honey, but I love you. I love you so much and I don’t want to lose you.”

“No you don’t Ronan. You love Amelia and I can’t compete with a ghost.” Ronan crossed the room to her and dropped to his knees in front of her. He took her hands in his and looked up at her with his grey eyes pleading for her to listen to and believe him.

“I love you, Laura Green. Only you. You are the only woman that is in my heart. I was confused for a while but I am not confused anymore. Please believe me.” Laura pulled away from him. She had heard enough pretty words from Mason to last her a lifetime and regardless of what Ronan was saying now his actions the day before had spoken much more loudly.

“I love you Ronan. I think you are a great man and a wonderful father but you and I are just not going to work out.” she said. Ronan stood and opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I want you to leave.” she said. “Leave and don’t come back. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be with you while you are still loving her. If that makes me sound like a selfish bitch then I guess that’s what I am.”

“Laura, please….”

“Leave, Ronan.” she said sternly. She prayed he would leave soon because she was about to break down. Another five seconds and her shaking knees were going to buckle beneath her.

“I love you, Laura.” Ronan said and he drug his feet to the door and walked out of her life wishing and praying that he could go back in time and change the night before. Wishing that he could take back the mistake he had made but knowing that he could not…. He had lost all hope. Without Laura he didn’t see how he would ever be happy again. She had given him happiness when he had thought his heart was dead and now, in the blink of an eye, she had ripped that happiness away and it was nearly the worst pain he had ever felt in all his life.

Laura broke down right there in the middle of the living room. She cried for a long time. She had let herself dream about one day marrying Ronan. She had let herself dream about one day having children with him. Children with his chestnut curls and her green eyes… That was all gone now.

Laura had to get out of this house. Everywhere she looked there were memories of the long talks and laughs that she and Ronan had shared. She went upstairs and pulled on some clothes and packed a small suitcase. She wanted her mom. She dried her face the best she could and walked out of the house, locking the door behind her.

888

Ronan walked into Bruce’s house feeling as if he was in a fog. He wanted to lose himself in alcohol or work or something that would keep him from thinking but he had Penelope to think about and he needed to apologize to her for the night before.

Penelope was sitting at the table with Bruce eating a grilled cheese sandwich when Ronan walked into the kitchen.

“Hi, Penelope.” Ronan said cautiously as he sat down across from her. She barely spared him a glance.

“Hi.” she said quietly.

“Daddy is sorry that I lost my temper last night, sweetpea.” Ronan said, hoping his apology to his daughter would go better then his apology to Laura. “Sometimes grown ups say or do things that they shouldn’t do.”

“You scared me, daddy.” Penelope said. Bruce stood up and left the kitchen to give the two of them some privacy.

“I know, sweetpea, and I’m sorry. I never want you to be afraid of daddy.”

“I just wanted Laura to look pretty.” Penelope said as she pushed her sandwich around on her plate.

“I know you did. Do you forgive daddy?” Ronan asked. Penelope stared hard at him for several seconds and then a big smile lit up her angelic face.

“Of course I do, daddy.” she said. “Do you want a sammich? Grandpa Bruce will make you one.” Ronan smiled and stood up. He pressed a gentle kiss to her dark hair.

“No, sweetpea, I think I’m gonna go take a nap.” Penelope giggled and made a face.

“Naps are for babies, daddy.”

“Well then I’m a big baby because I’m fixing to go take one.” Ronan replied squeezing her shoulder gently and kissing her hair again. Ronan walked toward the stairs to go up to one of the spare bedrooms and Abigail stopped him in the living room.

“What the hell?” Ronan demanded. “Are you stalking me or something?”

“Haha.” Abigail said slapping his arm. “How did it go with Laura?” Abigail said Ronan’s face fall and his grey eyes turned sad.

“Not good.” he replied. “She says that ‘we’ aren’t going to work and told me to leave and not come back.”

“She’ll come around.” Abigail said giving him a hug. Ronan patted her back awkwardly and then pulled away.

“I’m gonna go get a nap. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” he said and stomped away up the stairs. Abigail shook her head as she watched that familiar slump come back to his shoulders that hadn’t been there the last few weeks. She thought about calling Laura and asking her what her problem was but she knew that if she got involved Ronan would probably skin her alive.

Chapter Sixteen

Ronan tossed and turned for nearly two hours before finally giving up and sitting on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his weary face with his hands and looked out the window at the bright sunlight outside. The golden rays reminded him of Laura’s hair and he groaned and stood up. He could not live without that woman and that meant there was only one thing to do.

He was going to go back to Laura’s house and he was not going to leave until he managed to convince her that she was his one and only. He walked downstairs and found Abigail, Jeff, their kids, Bruce and Penelope in the living room watching television.

“I’m going out.” Ronan said. Abigail smiled knowingly at him.

“Good luck, big guy.” she said. Penelope giggled.

“Good luck, big guy.” she repeated. Ronan laughed.

“Thanks.” he said. He was pulling his boots on when the phone started ringing and he was nearly to his truck when Abigail ran out the door.

“Ronan, the phone is for you!” she yelled. Ronan stopped and turned around. Who would be calling me here? He wondered.

“Tell them I’m busy.” he said waving his hand dismissively. Abigail shook her head.

“It’s Doctor Pelphrey, Ronan.” she said. Ronan froze. He had not spoken to Lance, or Dr. Pelphrey in over two years. Not since his old friend had told him that his wife was never going to wake up.

“What does he want?” Ronan asked warily. Abigail sighed.

“Talk to him and find out.” she said holding up the phone. Ronan stomped over to her and jerked the phone out of her hand. He didn’t know why she always had to make things so damn difficult.

“What?” he said into the phone.

“Ronan?” Lance’s voice came out of the phone.

“Yeah.” Ronan grunted.

“This is Doctor Pelphrey from Archer Memorial.”

“I know who you are, Lance.” Ronan said with a sigh.

“Right. Well I don’t know if you know her but there is a woman here that keeps saying ‘Ronan’. She’s unconscious and not saying anything else other then that and we have no records on her here at this hospital to know who to call…”

“What’s her name?” Ronan asked gripping the phone a little tighter.

“Laura Green. She was in a car accident and she is in the ICU. I didn’t know if you knew her but Ronan isn’t a common name so I just…..” The phone fell loudly onto the gravel drive and Ronan was jumping into his truck.

“What’s going on?” Abigail demanded. Ronan didn’t bother to reply as he fired the truck to life and pulled out slinging gravel and squealing tires as he pulled onto the blacktop. Abigail picked up the phone to find that Lance was still there.

“He just took off like a bat out of hell. You better tell me what’s going on.”

888

Ronan’s boots echoed loudly off the white halls of the hospital as he made his way to the ICU. His mind kept playing back to over two years ago when he had made this same walk and he prayed that there would be a better sight waiting for him at the end of this one.

He rang the buzzer for admittance into the ICU and he cursed when the nurses voice seemed to take hours to come back over the line.

“May I help you?” the high pitched, robotic sounding, disembodied voice asked.

“I’m here for Laura Green.” he replied and then he cleared his throat to try to remove the emotion he could hear in it.

“Come on back.” the voice called and the door clicked. Ronan pushed it open and walked into the ICU. Nurses were scurrying back and forth and Ronan suddenly felt very overwhelmed and lost as he looked around. There was no privacy in the ICU. Every room had clear glass walls so that the patients could be viewed at all times and Ronan looked around desperately for anyone that resembled Laura.

“Ronan?” Lance’s voice came from behind him. Ronan turned quickly and Lance tried to force a smile.

“She’s in here.” he said. He led Ronan to a room in the corner and when Ronan walked up to the bed he felt as if he must still be asleep because this couldn’t really be happening. Laura was lying in that bed with her head all bandaged up. Her face was a mess of cuts and bruises and she had a number of machines hooked up to her, keeping her hydrated and keeping track of her heart rate and oxygen levels.

“What happened?” Ronan managed to whisper. Lance laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Car accident. Someone ran a red light, from what I heard from the EMT’s, and hit her in the drivers side. Like I said on the phone we don’t have any contact information for her here but she kept moaning your name…” As if on cue a low moan came from the bed.

“Ronan….” Ronan was at her side in an instant.

“I’m right here, my angel. I’m not going anywhere.” he assured her as he grabbed her hand and kissed her bandaged forehead.

“She keeps saying your name but she has not regained consciousness since the wreck.”

“She’s going to be fine.” Ronan said quickly. Lance had his doubts about that but didn’t want to tell them to Ronan right now. Clearly Ronan was in love with this woman and Lance was not about to tell him he could lose yet another woman that he loved.

“Do you know if she has any family we can call?” Lance asked instead.

“Her mom lives in Savannah.” Ronan replied as he stared down at Laura’s face. “Helen Green. I don’t know the number.”

“I’ll find her.” Lance replied. “Can I get you anything?”

“Don’t let her die.” Ronan replied looking up and making eye contact with Lance for the first time. Lance nodded.

“I’ll do my best, Ronan. I can promise you that.” he said and turned and left the room.

888

Bruce walked into Laura’s room nearly an hour later to find Ronan curled up in the bed with her sound asleep. The beeping of the machines and their steady breathing were the only sounds in the tiny room. Bruce felt his old heart breaking anew. This scene was too familiar to the one he’d seen only a few short years ago. Ronan did not deserve this. Ronan was a good man.

Bruce walked back out of the room and out of the ICU. He walked down the long hallways of the hospital to the chapel. It was empty and he closed the door behind him. He sat down in a pew and bowed his head to pray.

“Dear Lord, I have never questioned You or Your will. When I lost my wife I knew that You had Your reasons. When I lost my daughter I knew that You had Your reasons… But Lord I have to question You now. Why are You doing this to Ronan? He is a good man. He lives his life well and he takes good care of his daughter. Do not take this woman from him. He needs her in his life. You gave me nearly forty years with my dear wife. Give Ronan the same. Please here my plea Lord and give that man back the woman he loves.”

Bruce rose from the pew and walked back out of the chapel and went back up to the ICU. He needed to make sure that Ronan didn’t need anything.

Ronan was awake when he got back to the room but did not seem to notice him there as he spoke to Laura, who was still unconscious on the bed.

“You have to wake up, Laura.” he said in a sad, weak voice that was full of tears. “I’m not ready to lose you yet. You are the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. You have given me a reason to smile and have hope again and I can’t lose that… I can’t lose you. I love you with all my heart, mind, body and soul. It is all yours, Laura. Everything I have is for you, just come back to me.” Ronan laid his head on her chest and cried silent tears into the scratchy hospital blanket covering her.

“Are you okay?” Bruce asked quietly. Ronan’s head snapped up.

“What are you doing here?” he asked wiping his face clean with his flannel shirt sleeves.

“Lance told Abigail. Abigail told me. She has Penelope. She was going to take her back to her house so you won’t have to worry about her.” Bruce replied. “How is she?”

“She’s going to be fine!” Ronan snapped quickly. Then he rubbed his face and sighed. “Sorry.” Bruce just shrugged and held his hands up.

“I understand, Ronan. Do you need anything?” he asked. Ronan shook his head.

“Just for her to wake up.” he replied.

“Well I’ll be down in the waiting room if you need anything else.” Bruce said and he walked out.

Ronan sat up in the room for hours. Even when Helen arrived, he refused to leave and after a few minutes in the room watching Ronan lay in that bed looking just as broken as her daughter she had let Bruce lead her down to the waiting room to wait for news that Laura had awaken.

Chapter Seventeen

Ronan looked at the clock ticking on the wall. That clock told him that he had been lying in this bed beside Laura for fourteen hours, though it felt like days that he had been here begging her to wake up.

Ronan was vaguely aware of people coming into and out of the room. Nurses checking vitals, and doctors. Bruce, Helen and even Abigail had been in from time to time but Ronan had no time to talk to any of them. He was too busy willing his Laura to come back to him.

He did not know what he would do if she didn’t wake up. Even the thought of Penelope wasn’t enough for him to pull himself up out of Laura’s bed. How could he explain to anyone how much this woman meant to him. Before her he had been like a ship lost and floating aimlessly at sea. The waves crashing around him and throwing him closer to the jagged rocks with every swell. Then there had been a light on the horizon. A lighthouse shining on the coast beckoning him toward its safety. Laura was that lighthouse. She had saved him and now he was helpless to do anything except pray to save her… So praying is what he was doing with every single thought and every single breath that he had.

“Ronan.” a voice interrupted his thoughts. He grunted hoping the speaker would take the hint and go away but they simply said his name more loudly. Ronan sat up and looked over to see Lance standing inside the room.

“What?” Ronan asked his voice dry and cracked from being the last fourteen hours with nothing to drink.

“We’re going to move Laura to a regular room. Her vitals are all holding steady so we don’t see any reason to keep her up here any longer.” Ronan nodded and stood up.

“When is she going to wake up?” he asked for what felt like the thousandth time. Lance shook his head sadly.

“I don’t know, Ronan. I can’t say. She has brain activity so that is a positive sign. We’re just waiting on her now.” Ronan nodded and smoothed some of her blond hair that was lying across her shoulder.

“What room are you moving her too?” he asked.

“205.”

“I’ll go let everyone else know and I’ll be in there waiting.” Ronan bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to Laura’s warm lips before walking out of the room.

“Come on, woman, you have got to wake up. I don’t want to have to tell him that yet another woman he loves is never coming back to him.” Lance told the unconscious woman. Then he moved aside and made room for the nurses to come in and do their jobs.

888

Laura looked around the field she was in and breathed deeply. The scent of wildflowers filled her nose and the sounds of birds chirping made her smile. The sun was bright on her face and the wind was blowing the long grasses around her gently, brushing them against her arms and her face where she was sitting on a flat boulder.

A gentle stream flowed beside her and the water cascaded over several small rocks. The sun reflected off of the droplets of water causing tiny rainbows.

She knew this had to be a dream but it was so beautiful that she didn’t want to wake up. A doe and a fawn were standing less than ten feet away form her. They trusted her presence beside them so much that the fawn was suckling while the doe grazed.

She didn’t want to wake up because she knew that reality would be cold and cruel. Ronan was gone. She had sent him away. She vaguely remembered getting in her car to go visit her mother and then someone had hit her… She could remember an instant of pain and then there had been nothing for a long while until she had appeared in this field. She had been here for a long time, though she had no way of knowing exactly how long since in this place time did not seem to matter.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” A feminine voice came from beside of her. Laura turned to see a beautiful woman, with black hair and dark eyes, dressed all in white sitting beside her. She recognized her as Amelia.

“What are you doing in my dream?” Laura demanded. The last person she wanted to see in this beautiful place, that was supposed to be all hers, was the person who had caused her to lose Ronan.

“Stop thinking that way.” Amelia scolded gently. “I didn’t cause you to lose Ronan. You pushed him away.”

“You can read my mind now?” Lauran asked wondering why this didn’t cause her more shock than it did.

“You can’t stay here, Laura.” Amelia said. Laura sighed and looked around.

“It’s beautiful though.” she said wistfully.

“What about Ronan. He needs you. And Penelope has gotten very attached to you too.” Amelia said. Laura looked back over at Amelia and wondered if her hand would go through her if she tried to touch her arm. She didn’t want Amelia to think she was weird and so she didn’t try. She saw Amelia smile and wondered if she had known what Laura was thinking about doing.

“Ronan loves you, not me.” Laura replied and then she realized that she sounded like an angry teenage girl fighting over a boy and felt a moment of guilt and foolishness. Ronan was a grown man and she was a grown woman and sometimes grown up life wasn’t quite as black and white as things had always seemed in high school.

“You’re wrong.” Amelia said running her hands over the long grass. “Ronan loves you very much. He and I had our time and, while it lasted, it was incredible but I’ve been gone a long time. You know how incredible of a man Ronan is… You deserve him and he deserves you and you have to wake up so that he knows he hasn’t lost you.”

“I pushed him away. He won’t have anything to do with me now.” Laura said matter of factly as she watched the fawn begin to run and kick in circles around his mother.

“Do you think I would be here telling you to go back to him if I thought it would end that way? I am not that cruel. He’s waiting on you, Laura. You need to go back to him.”

“It’s so beautiful here though.” Laura said again and she laughed when the fawn stumbled and then jumped back up and snorted as if embarrassed to have been seen being so clumsy.

“You have a lot more life to live Laura and then when it is over you will be back here… Right now though you need to go back to Ronan and Penelope and be there for them.” Laura felt the wind pick up and she looked over at Amelia to ask her what this place was but she had disappeared.

888

“Ronan, I want to spend some time alone with my daughter. You go with Bruce to the cafeteria and get something to eat and then wait in here. When I’m done I’ll come back down and let you know.” Helen said matter-of-factly. Ronan was about to scream and yell. To demand that he be allowed in that room and to swear that no one would keep him away but Bruce laid his hand on his arm.

“Ronan, you have to listen to her. Now, she’s been kind enough to let you stay in that room but she is the only relative here and what she says goes.” Bruce said. Helen saw the angry and broken look on Ronan’s face and she hated doing this to him but the boy needed to eat something and if this was the only way to keep him out of that room long enough to get food down him then this is what she would do.

“Fine.” Ronan said and he stomped away toward the stairs to the cafeteria. Bruce nearly had to run to keep up with the pace Ronan was setting.

“How do you have this much energy?” Bruce demanded once they were finally sitting in the cafeteria with trays of pork chops, mashed potatoes, rolls and green beans in front of each of them. “You practically ran down here.” he added wiping his brow.

“I’m in a hurry. I want to make sure I’m back up there when Laura wakes up.” Ronan replied as he started shoveling bites of food into his mouth. It might as well have been cardboard for all the time he took to taste it. He was only eating it to shut everyone up since he had lost his appetite as soon as he’d arrived in this God forsaken hospital.

“You can’t go back up there until Helen comes and gets you.” Bruce reminded him.

“Yeah well the quicker I’m back in the waiting room, the quicker she can come get me.” Ronan snapped. Bruce couldn’t think up a good argument for that so he chose to keep his mouth shut and eat.

He was barely half done when Ronan stood and walked toward the trash with his empty tray. Bruce jumped up and followed him.

“Slow down, son.” he called but if Ronan heard him he gave no sign as he continued his fast walk back up the stairs to the waiting room where he flopped down in a chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him while crossing his arms over his chest.

Bruce was worried about Ronan. It was like he was a caged animal or something. He prayed Laura would wake up soon before all the pent up rage, frustration and anger became too much for Ronan and he ended up taking it out on someone. Bruce could still remember the fight Ronan had got into with a doctor when Amelia had been lying in the hospital. Ronan had broken the mans nose and only Lance sticking up for him had kept Ronan from going to jail.

They sat there in silence for a long while and Bruce was looking through a car magazine when he heard light snoring coming from beside him. He looked over to see that Ronan was sound asleep. He smiled. A full stomach and some sleep was exactly what Ronan had needed.

Bruce stood, hearing his old bones crack and walked to the elevators to go tell Helen that Ronan was finally resting and make sure that she didn’t need anything.

Chapter Eighteen

Ronan jerked awake suddenly and looked around. He realized he was alone in the hospital waiting room and rubbed his face with his hands. He looked down at the watch on his wrist and realized he’d only been asleep about twenty minutes.

He stood up and stretched his arms above his head. He was about to go up to Helen and tell her to take her rules and shove them up her backside when Bruce came running into the waiting room.

“She’s awake! She’s awake and she’s calling for you!” he gasped in between breaths. Ronan took off running. He didn’t wait on the elevators but took the stairs instead and within sixty seconds he was bursting into room 205.

He felt like his heart was going to burst with joy when he saw Laura’s green eyes wide open and looking at him. He swore they brightened when she saw him and he went quickly to the bed, falling to his knees beside it and taking her hand in his.

“Hi, my angel.” he said pressing his lips against her hand. It was like a dream come true… An answered prayer. She had come back. ‘Thank you God for giving her back to me.’ He thought silently.

“Ronan, I’m sorry.” she said. Ronan shook his head and laid a gentle hand on her bruised cheek.

“Hush honey. You don’t have anything to be sorry about.” he replied.

“I pushed you away.” she replied. Ronan didn’t pay any attention to either Helen or Lance who were watching them. He had eyes only for Laura.

“I backed off too easy. I feel like I should warn you now that you won’t get rid of me that easy again. I’m here to stay, love, whether you like it or not.” he said as a tear slipped down his cheek. Laura raised her hand and wiped the tear away.

“I don’t want you anywhere else except beside me Ronan. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Ronan replied kissing her forehead. “More than you know. I want to marry you, Laura. I want to be your husband and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and taking care of you.” Laura couldn’t believe her ears. There was not a doubt in her mind that this man sitting in front of her was devoted only to her. Her mother had told her that he had laid in her bed for hours and refused to leave her side until her mother had finally pulled rank just to make him go eat. And her conversation with Amelia had left little room for doubt that she approved of Laura being Penelope’s step mom.

“Of course I’ll marry you.” Laura replied. “But can we wait until the bruises heal so I look okay in my pictures?”

“Whatever you want angel. But just so you know, I think you are beautiful no matter what.” Ronan said covering her cheek with one large calloused hand.

“I knew it.” Helen said with a tear filled laugh from the chair in the corner. “From the first time they kissed in my living room I just knew they were made for each other.” Bruce clapped happily, having made it up to the room in time to hear Laura say yes.

“This is fantastic.” he said.

“Do you think I can get in there and have a look at her?” Lance asked Ronan. Ronan looked up and smiled happily.

“Of course.” he said stepping back away from the bed. Lance couldn’t believe the change in the man. He seemed to be ten years younger, his shoulders had lost their sad slump and his grey eyes were full of more happiness than Lance thought one person could feel. It made him happy that Ronan was finally getting a happy ending.

Lance took his time checking Laura’s eyes and vitals. He asked her a bunch of questions about the day and the current events and she was able to answer all of them fairly easily. Finally when he was done he turned to the room.

“She is going to be just fine. I’d like her to stay one more night for observation but she should be able to go home tomorrow.” Laura’s eyes lit up at those words. The next sound to fill the room was the growling of her stomach.

“Can she eat?” Ronan asked. Lance sighed.

“Soft foods first. Jello?” Laura made a face. “Applesauce?” Bigger face. “Yogurt?”

“What flavor?” she asked quickly.

“We have chocolate and vanilla.”

“She doesn’t like chocolate or vanilla. She likes blueberry.” Ronan said before Laura could respond. She glared up at him but kept her mouth shut. His overprotective nature was just one of the things she secretly loved about him. Though she would never tell him that because she didn’t want to encourage him.

“We don’t have blueberry.” Lance replied. Ronan shrugged.

“I’ll go get you some.” He said down to Laura. Lance made his escape while he could.

“I don’t want you to leave.” Laura whined. Ronan laughed and kissed her forehead.

“It’ll only take me a few minutes.” he promised. “You take care of her while I’m gone.” he added to Helen and Bruce. Helen laughed.

“Yes sir. I was her mother long before you showed up.” she said good naturedly. Ronan grinned sheepishly and then left the room.

Abigail and Penelope showed up several minutes later.

“I called them.” Bruce said in answer to Laura’s questioning look.

“Laura, are you okay?” Penelope asked running over to the bed. Laura smiled.

“I’m just fine.” she promised. “Did you go to school today?”

“Nope, my cousin Jack said I played hooky. Hooky is fun! I’m gonna try to get daddy to let me play it more often.” she said.

“I don’t think your daddy will let you.” Laura said. Penelope shook her head sending her braided pig tails whipping around her face.

“No probly not.” she replied. She crawled up into the bed and sat next to Laura. “I’m sorry I made daddy mad at you.” Penelope said sadly as she chewed on her finger and looked down at the blankets.

“That wasn’t your fault baby girl. Sometimes grown ups fight but it’s never your fault.” Laura promised.

“Do you want to hear a song that Jack taught me?” Penelope asked. Laura looked up at Abigail questioningly.

“It’s clean, I promise.” she said with a laugh. Laura laughed as well and nodded.

“Why don’t you teach it to all of us Penny.” Laura said and Penny was happy to do just that.

Ronan was just in time to hear Laura, Helen, Bruce, Abigail and Penelope all finish up singing a song. He slid the shopping bag onto his arm and clapped his hands.

“That sounded wonderful.” he said.

“Daddy!” Penelope said jumping off the bed and running to him. He wrapped her tight in a hug and then scooped her up in his arm. He carried her over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it.

“Sweetpea, I want to talk to you about something.” he said.

“What?” Penelope asked as she pulled some of the yogurt out of the bag. Ronan opened a cup for both Penelope and Laura and handed each of them a plastic spoon.

“What do you think about daddy and Laura getting married?” he asked ignoring the gasp from Abigail who was clearly hearing about it for the first time.

“Would that make her like my new mommy?” Penelope asked as she stuck a bite of yogurt in her mouth.

“I would never try to replace your mommy.” Laura said quickly. “But I could be like a mommy to you and we could be friends.” she added. Penelope seemed to think hard about this for several long minutes and then she shrugged.

“Okay.” she said simply. “She makes really good chocolate chip cookies.” she added and this earned a laugh from everyone in the room.