Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“I’m not letting you and the baby live in Hunts Point.” He stared at me like I was insane. “Living above a pub…it’s no place for a new mother and a child.”
“But you love Hunts Point.”
“There are things I love more. One of them happens to sit right in front of me.”
“You don’t have to choose.”
“I do, and I am. I’ll be in New York daily, for work. You’ll be close to your parents and have all the assistance you need.”
I was going to argue, but it seemed his mind was set. I started signing something, but he ignored me, slipping out of the driver’s seat and opening the door for me.
Hesitantly, I stepped out and allowed myself a good look at the house.
It wasn’t as grand and flashy as my parents’, but ten times prettier. It looked like something out of the historical books I read about England, where soirees took place and people fell in love.
I got a little choked up as the soles of our shoes slapped the bricked trail toward the dramatic black door.
“Don’t you dare cry, Gealach.” Tiernan squeezed my hand in his, his expression stone-cold and oddly focused, like he was in the middle of an important mission. “We haven’t even reached the best part yet.”
The best part?
What could be better than gifting me an entire freaking house for my baby shower?
We walked into the foyer, and the scent hit me immediately. Fresh paint. This must’ve been in the works for a while now. A small tremor danced behind my sternum. Dark hardwood floors and crown moldings greeted us. The hallway was vast and newly remodeled. The house was empty, but still felt somehow full. Of promise and character and memories just waiting to be created between these walls.
My husband tugged me toward the kitchen.
The island and woodwork were painted navy, the backsplash a crème, veiny marble accented in blue. The parquet flooring still emitted the pleasant scent of freshly sawed wood.
Tiernan turned to spear me with a look. “I can already see Imma standing here, yelling at me not to leave crumbs in her kitchen.”
A giddy giggle escaped me.
We went up the wide-set stairway and onto the second floor. First, we checked the residential wing of the house. The master was luxuriously sparse, with separate bathrooms for both of us and a walk-in closet I could easily get lost in. The nursery was painted baby blue, one wall already wallpapered with teddy bears hanging from balloons. It was big enough to fit everything we were gifted, and more.
“Tiernan…” I choked out, breathless.
“Shh. There are two more surprises.” He yanked me to the other wing of the house. This feeling, of unrestrained happiness, was foreign to me. I felt like I could burst any minute with all the glee brimming inside me.
Tiernan stopped in front of a closed door, only a few feet away from a set of double doors down the hallway.
He opened the door.
It was an art room.
With huge windows to let the place air, a heavy wooden easel, a desktop, and portable drawers with supplies. There were canvases and brushes and pencils and paints. Inspiration boards and palettes and different shade lamps.
Tiernan knew nothing about art, and yet he took the time and the effort.
He did this for me.
He did all of this for me.
I cupped my mouth, overcome with emotions.
“This is perfect. Is it okay to cry now?” I signed. “Because I’m dangerously close.”
“Almost.” He put his finger in the air, motioning for me to hold. “Give me about…” He scowled at his watch. “Eight more minutes.”
I couldn’t imagine anything better than what he’d already shown me. But I nodded my agreement, letting him lead me back into the hallway, and in front of the double doors.
He stopped, turning to me fully. He shoved his hand into his front pocket, producing something small in his hand.
“What’s this?”
“I know that Tate Blackthorn gave you your first dance. I can’t take that away from him. Truth be told, I’m not sure I want to. It’s your fondest memory, and as much as I hate him, I love that you have something that pleased you so much.”
My heart accelerated. My breath hitched. Tiernan’s fierce gaze bore into me, scorching through all of my protective layers.
He was wrong. It wasn’t my fondest memory at all. Every single moment with him was better than my first dance. Even the bad times, when we fought and drove each other to the brink of madness. Because we still did it together.
“But I wanted you to know that next to me, you’ll dance every night until your feet hurt. You will hear music and enjoy it.”
He raised his hands, unveiling a small hearing aid in his palm. It was a clear small tube attached to something that looked like a USB.