Having Faith (31 page)

Kieran narrowed his eyes at his older brother.  “Mick...”

Michael put his hand on Kieran’s shoulder.  “Relax, Kier.  It’s perfectly natural for Faith to experience fatigue at this stage.  It should only last a couple of weeks, then she’ll get her second wind.  In the meantime, plenty of sleep and some good prenatal vitamins should help.”

Kieran blinked.  One minute he was standing next to Michael, the next he was on his knees, looking up at him.  All of the breath left his lungs in a single whoosh.  “Faith’s pregnant?”

Michael laughed.  “I’d bet my license on it.  Where the hell have you been the last seven years or so?  Congratulations, little brother.  You’re going to be a father.”

“I can’t believe I fell asleep at my own wedding,” Faith moaned later.  Kieran fluffed the designer accent pillows behind her back and held the glass of orange juice to her lips. 

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“Tell you what?” she asked innocently.

Kieran might have thought she was joking, but there was nothing but confusion in her soft gray eyes.  “I guess it just finally caught up to me,” she said.  “Working all day, running around in the evenings, making love half the night,” she said, her face coloring a lovely pink.  “Your family must think I’m a complete ingrate.”

She didn’t know
.  “Faith,” he said slowly.  “No one thinks any such thing.”

“Yeah, right.  I bet none of them fell asleep at their receptions, did they?”

“No,” he admitted, wondering how he was going to tell her.  If anyone but Michael had told him, he might have his doubts, but Mick was never wrong about that sort of thing (his own firstborn notwithstanding).  Faith groaned and leaned back onto the pillows. 

“Faith, have you been overly tired lately?”

“Yeah,” she sighed.  “But you know how busy things have been.” 

He nodded.  “How about your appetite?  You don’t seem to be eating much.”

“Nerves.  My stomach’s been full of butterflies lately, but I guess that’ll ease now that the wedding’s over.  Oh, boy.  I need to apologize to everyone before we leave tonight.”

“Trust me, they understand.”

“How could they possibly understand?”

Kieran took a deep breath.  “Because they’ve all been through it.”

Faith looked at him doubtfully.  “But you just said - ”

“Faith.  You’re pregnant.”

She froze.  Blinked once.  Twice.  “I’m pregnant?”

He nodded.

“But I can’t be pregnant.  I’d certainly know, wouldn’t I?  I mean, with Matt I was tired all the time, nauseous for the first three months, wildly emotional, ...”  She stopped, mid-sentence, clamping her mouth shut as the truth dawned.  Her eyes widened and filled with tears and she looked at Kieran, terrified.  He didn’t need their special connection to figure out what she was thinking.  It was all right there on her face.  She was terrified of his reaction.

“Faith,” he said, sliding onto the sofa with her and pulling her into his arms.  He sensed her fear keenly and wanted to reassure her as quickly as possible.  “You are my
croie
.  I’ve known from our first time together that this was a possibility.  And I couldn’t be happier.”

She sniffed against his chest.  “Really?”

“Really.”  He kissed the top of her head, and chuckled.  “Surely after having met my family you realized we tend to be a prolific bunch.  You didn’t doubt my virility, did you?”

“No,” she smiled weakly, sniffling.  “Maybe that’s one of the reasons I fought you so hard.  I was afraid of what might happen.  That history would repeat itself, and that you’d leave me, too.”

“Faith,” he crooned, holding her to him.  “My Faith.  Don’t you know that a child will only strengthen the bond between us?  I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, woman, and if I have to keep getting you pregnant to prove that, I will.”

Her lips twitched.  “Well,” she said, her little claws petting his chest, “you just might.  I’m kind of a cynic, you know.” 

“Are you now?” His hand rubbed possessively over her still flat stomach as he leaned in for another kiss.  “Because that sounds like a challenge...”

I
hope you enjoyed reading Kieran and Faith’s story – thank you! 

Writing the Callaghan Brothers series has been an amazing experience.  The characters have become very real to me, and from what you are telling me in your emails, posts, and reviews – you, too!

Before you worry that this is the end – don’t.  There is still more to come.

Aidan might not technically be a Callaghan, but he is close enough to the family to be considered an honorary brother.  Look for his story – Book 8 in the series – coming soon.

Also, you might have noticed that the Connelly cousins (Celina, Johnny, and Michael (yes, another Michael)) pop up occasionally.  They have their very own stories, too.

AND, if that wasn’t enough, I’m considering writing some more, too.  Many of you said you would like to read Jack’s, Nick’s, Taser’s, Brian’s, and Corinne’s stories.  As soon as they start whispering in my ear, you’ll be the first to know.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for coming along on this crazy, wonderful ride with me.  It’s not over yet 

Abbie

Y
ou didn’t have to pick this book, but you did.  Thank you!

If you liked this story, then please consider posting a review online!  It’s really easy, only takes a few minutes, and makes a huge difference to independent authors who don’t have the mega-budgets of the big-time publishers behind them. 

Log on to your favorite online retailer and just tell others what you thought, even if it’s just a line or two.  That’s it!  A good review is one of the nicest things you can do for any author.

As always, I welcome feedback.  Email me at
[email protected]
.  

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Thanks again, and may all of your ever-afters be happy ones!

Abbie

A
bbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really.  Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too.  Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true.  She promises her readers two things:  no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending.  Beyond that, you never know...

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Beyond Affection (Callaghan Brothers, Book 6)

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