CHAPTER ONE [SMILE]

“It’s just a simple question, son. Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Emma and your son or not? I mean, most men who are truly in love don’t go and try to sleep with other women.”

Hot, bitter tears stung Aidan’s eyes. “I do love her, Pop. That’s the God’s honest truth.” He ground the tears out of his eyes with his fists. Sinking down in a chair across from Patrick, he related all the details of the day on the dock. “Even though I couldn’t say it to her then or even tonight when she wanted me to, I do love Emma.”

“So the year you tried to get Amy back that was all about—”

Aidan closed his eyes in pain. “Guilt, not love. She managed to kill the love I had for her by deceiving me. But because of the baby, I was going to stand by her.”

“Does Emma know any of this?”

Snapping open his eyelids, Aidan replied, “I only told her about the cheating. I didn’t think she could handle the rest.”

“I think you need to tell her.”

Aidan grimaced. “I will. If she ever speaks to me again.”

“I have a feeling she’ll come around.”

“Don’t tell me it’s because of your damn Irish intuition,” Aidan said, quirking his eyebrows.

“No, it’s because Becky got a hold of her leaving here tonight.”

Groaning, Aidan rubbed his hands over his face. “Great. I’m sure they’ll be leading a charge over here at any moment to roast my manhood over an open flame!”

Patrick chuckled. “Don’t sell your sister short. She and the rest of the girls may want to castrate you for your actions, but they do love you and want to see you happy.” He leaned forward and patted Aidan’s hand. “And they know how you’ve screwed up in the past and sabotaged your own happiness.”

Aidan’s nostrils flared in anger. “They don’t know the whole story, Pop. They don’t know what Amy did!”

“I know that. It’s a secret that stayed firmly between you, Amy, and myself.”

Clenching his fists, Aidan said, “Don’t you know how many times I wanted to scream at Mom when she was singing Amy’s praises, throwing it in my face about how she was married and happy? If she had only known it was Amy who f**ked me up in the head for any other woman.”

“That was your choice not to tell her, son. I didn’t like keeping it from her. Your mother and I had so few secrets, but I kept yours.”

Aidan softened his furious expression. “I appreciated it, Pop.”

Patrick smiled. “You’re welcome.” He got up and poured out the remainder of his coffee in the sink. “So, you’re going to talk to Emma and tell her the truth about Amy?”

“Yeah. Just as soon as she’ll speak to me.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Patrick glanced at his watch. “Well, I guess I better be hitting the road.”

Aidan’s chest clenched at the prospect of being alone. “It’s awfully late for you to be out driving. Maybe you should stay here for the night.”

He met his father’s gaze. With his eyes, Aidan tried saying what he was too embarrassed to admit: He didn’t want to be alone.

Patrick gave a brief nod of his head. “I guess you’re right. You don’t mind putting your old man up for the night?”

Aidan gave a half smile. “I’d be happy to.”

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