Page 59 of The Past

I followed him toward the kitchen, feeling like my legs were mired in molasses when all of a sudden, Tommy was there, impossibly handsome, scanning me from head to toe.

“Jesus, Fi,” he rasped, his breath unsteady before he pulled me into his arms.“Are you okay?”

I released a shaky breath, my fingers curling into the front of his jacket, and I watched as Kathleen walked through the door and shut it quietly.“He kicked me out.Wouldn’t let me take anything with me.”

Tommy pulled back and I saw the fury flicker in his eyes before he swallowed it.“I’ll kill him.”

A choked laugh slipped out before I could stop it.“Not if Rory gets to him first.”

Tommy exhaled hard, his forehead pressing against mine.“I’m sorry.I feel like this is my fault.”

“No,” I assured him, my palms going to his cheeks.“This was my decision alone.It’s mine to bear.”

“Fuck that,” he said in a rare display of vulgarity.“I’m bearing it with you.”

I breathed him in, noting that the vise grip on my heart loosened a bit.“Yer here.”

His fingers threaded into my hair.“Always.”

A fresh wave of emotion crashed over me, and before I could stop myself, I was crying again, burying my face against his chest.Tommy held me tight, murmuring soft reassurances against my hair, his hands rubbing slow circles over my back.

“I don’t even have clothes,” I whispered brokenly.“He wouldn’t let me take anything.”

Tommy pulled away slightly, his hands framing my face.“Then we’ll fix that.”

I sniffled.“Uncle Rory said he’d—”

“Rory,” Tommy said, turning toward my uncle, “can I borrow your Land Rover?”

Rory nodded immediately.“Keys are by the door.”

Tommy took my hand.“Come on, darlin’.We’re going shopping.”

I blinked up at him, disoriented.“Shopping?”

“That’s an excellent idea,” Kathleen said.“Nothing like pretty new clothes to bring a smile to yer face.Might I suggest ye go to Flaherty’s because yer da has a charge account there and charge every bit of it to that bastard.”

We all stared wide-eyed at Kathleen, who never had a cross word to say about anyone, before we burst out laughing.Rory put his arm around Kathleen’s waist, but his gaze stayed on Tommy with what I could only describe as a new fondness.“Don’t buy too much.I’ll get Fi’s clothes for her but take her out and get her mind off things.”

Tommy nodded, some type of silent message passing between the two men before he smiled down at me.“Let’s get you some things, sweetheart.Some clothes, some boots… maybe even somethin’ pretty just because.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and let him lead me to the door.My heart still ached for what I’d lost, but it did feel a little lighter.

I had lost one home tonight.

But at least I had another.

♦

The bell abovethe shop door jingled as we stepped inside.The small boutique wasn’t fancy—not like the grand shops in Dublin we had recently shopped—but it was cozy, and right now, it was exactly what I needed.

Tommy squeezed my hand before letting go, scanning the racks like he was preparing for battle.

He clapped his hands together and rubbed them.“All right, let’s get you sorted,” he declared.“Where do we start?”

I had no clue why, but I felt frozen, unable to move toward the closest grouping of clothes.

“I don’t know… just the basics, I suppose.”

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