Page 16 of Sam's Forever
“Thanks, honey,” Ally smiles at me and turns to help Moira up from the chair she’s been sitting in.
I turn to Andy as the ladies make their way across the patio and into the hotel. “They’re here,” I tell him. “It’s up to you. I can take you to meet them here, or I can arrange for you to meet in our ring at the gym, and you can take your pound of flesh if that’s what you want. Either is good with me.”
Andy looks at me, and the shock on his face is priceless. Then he surprises me by booming out a laugh and picking his daughter up, settling her on his arm.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll be okay. I’ve grown and toughened up since I was asked to leave my home. I’ve also learned to control my temper.” He hesitates before telling me for a second time, “I’ll be okay.” As if he’s reassuring himself before he continues, “But I appreciate you having my back. We have options if they don’t want us to stay. I’ve got friends not far from here. You probably know them. The Queens Wraiths?”
“I know them,” I nod. “My biological dad’s one of them. He’s in the US chapter.”
“No shit,” he says, striding towards the hotel with me. “Small world.”
“Yeah,” I respond. “Small world.”
I lead him towards the small dining room where I can hear our women talking.
“Ally’s Adam’s daughter, right?” he confirms with me.
I nod, “Yeah, she is. He adopted her not long after he and Tilly got married. But the way he loves her, you’d never say she’s not from his blood.”
He smiles before saying softly, “Us O’Sheas don’t really care about blood. Mikayla’s mine regardless of who her father is.”
“I get it now,” I say with a nod. “She called you Butch earlier, not Dad.”
His gaze softens as he looks down at the sleeping toddler in his arms. “She’s my girl, always has been ever since they moved into the house next to mine.”
“No need to explain to me,” I assure him. “My parents have five kids, and only one is theirs biologically. Same with Johnny and Maya’s kids, they have three, but only Ronan is biologically Johnny’s.”
His face softens, “Him too, huh? Seems I’ve missed out on a lot.”
“Not all your fault, though,” I remind him. “Your brothers and father have as much to answer for.”
“Maybe,” he agrees. “I guess it’s time to make amends. My mam would have hated how long we’ve been apart, and I’d like to visit her grave.”
“We’ll make it happen,” I assure him as we walk into the dining room.
We’ve hardly closed the door when it opens again behind us, and we turn. The silence is ominous as the O’Sheas filter in with Colm in the lead. He comes to a stop as he stares at his youngest son. His eyes fill with tears, and his voice is shaky when he says his name, “Andy!” as if he couldn’t believe he’s here.
He stumbles slowly over to us. Andy walks over and meets him halfway, wrapping his free arm around his father and hugging him tight. Behind me, there are sniffles, and I know the minute that an arm wraps around my waist that it’s Ally. We watch the emotional reunion, none of us daring to breathe. Looking down, I see Ally has tears streaming down her face as she watches hergrandad hug his youngest son like he didn’t want to let go, and I imagine he didn’t.
As for the rest of the O’Sheas, including Tommy, they look gutted, and guilt fills their faces as they watch them. Eventually, Colm takes a shaky step back, “Welcome home, son.”
“It’s good to be home, Da. I’d like to introduce you to my wife and daughter, and then I’d like to greet my brothers and their wives. We’ve got time to catch up.”
“I’m so sorry, son,” Colm tells Andy.
Andy sighs heavily before replying, “I know. I’m sorry too. We’ll talk and put it all to rest. But not this weekend. This weekend is for Sam and Ally. I’m not the same man that left here.”
Colm doesn’t take his eyes from his son, and he doesn’t look happy with all he sees, but he nods, “I can see that, and I’m sorry if I was the cause for it.”
Andy shakes his head, “You weren’t. This was all me. Now, let me introduce you to Moira.” He turns towards his wife and holds out an arm for Moira. Mikayla is still fast asleep against his shoulder. Moira wastes no time in walking up to Colm and wrapping her arms around the old man. “It’s wonderful to meet you,” she tells him before stepping back and into Andy’s side. He instantly wraps a protective arm around her waist.
Liam’s the first one to step forward. He’s the oldest, so I expected it. Sera steps up with him. He hesitates, then reaches for his youngest brother. His actions may be hesitant, but his words are firm when he says, “It’s good to have you home, Andy. I’m sorry it’s taken so long.” Liam steps back and says, “This is my wife, Sera. We’ve left all the kids at home because it would have been mental with all of them here.”
Andy chuckles in understanding before saying to Sera, “Good to meet you.”
Sera considers him for a minute before she nods, “Welcome home, Andy.”
And so it goes until all the brothers and wives have met him. It takes time, but conversation starts up, and soon there’s food being passed around, along with laughter and talking.
