LYDIA WOKE UP smiling until she noticed the bed was empty and cold next to her. Panic reared its ugly head as the previous day’s events rushed back in, until she heard Jax’s laughter coming from just outside the bedroom door.
Perfect timing. They walked in, Declan holding a food tray and Jax holding a flower, like a couple of troublemakers up to no good. But they were good, everything good.
Jax leaped into Lydia’s arms. “Well, good morning to you too, my handsome boy! You don’t feel warm anymore – your fever is gone. Feeling better?”
“All da way better, mama. We made you breakfast!” he giggled, proud of his contribution, which appeared to be the toast that had a thick dollop of butter and jam, right smack in the center only.
“I see that; thank you! Going to join me?” she asked.
Declan finally chimed in, “We already ate – right after our work out. Right dude?”
“Yep. We went on the elevator, then made our muscles stronger.” Jax spoke in a nonchalant manner before flexing his muscles, to show off all of his hard work.
Lydia gasped, and quickly covered her mouth with both hands, as if she were genuinely surprised. “Impressive!”
“So,” Declan interrupted, “You eat and soak in a nice long bath. We’re going to go catch his show and chill.”
“O…kay. Jax, be a good boy and listen to Dec,” she reminded the little boy of his manners.
“Don’t worry,” Dec said, leaning down to kiss her, “we got this.”
“Yap,” Jax said, as he leaned in to kiss her too, “we got dis.”
Jax grabbed Declan’s hand and led him out of the room. “Let’s go Buddy.”
As she listened to them make their way down the hallway, she could hear their conversation still.
Jax asked, with a disgusted tone, “Why’d you kiss my mama?”
“Because I like her,” he replied.
“So you wanna kiss her a lot?” Jax concluded.
“Dude, a lot,” Declan finished, leaving Lydia to giggle.
Taking advantage of the quiet time, Lydia gathered her clothes and started the bath. Lost in thought, she skimmed over the food tray her boys left and picked something to eat while the water filled and warmed. If she was going to be pampered and get time to herself, she may as well enjoy it to the fullest. She took her coffee and the bagel breakfast sandwich from the tray and ate it in the bathtub. It would likely be the only time, before Jax turned eighteen, that she would have this opportunity.
Her lightly scraped knees stung as she sunk into the soothing warm water. They were badly bruised and a bit swollen, but she would be fine. Her sore, wound-up muscles began to relax. She needed this. Dec knew she did, hence the morning surprise.
He had said he could get used this, and truth be told, so could she. Not just breakfast in bed and long, lazy, uninterrupted bath’s – though it was nice – but having someone. The one someone. If she ever needed proof, a sign from the universe or fate to spell it out for her, yesterday was her sign.
He came for her. He was her someone. When fear owned her every emotion, consumed her, and she was certain her time was up…he came for her. When she was defeated, he was her champion. When she wanted to give up and give in, he wouldn’t let her. He loved her, and she believed him when he said she was it for him.
If anything good could come from a bad situation, it was this…it was him. Her confidence grew ten-fold with him at her side. He was all of the good things in life that she wanted. He was her silver lining.
Voices could be heard coming from the kitchen – not just Jax and Dec – they had company. Standing behind the large kitchen island, facing several of her children and who had to be her spitting image grandchild, was an older, petite red headed woman. With hands on her hips and a sharp look, she had the three larger than life grown men across from her, hanging on her ever word – Colleen O’Reilly.
Felicity sat at the opposite end with a smirk on her face that matched that of the little red head next to her – she had to be Reagan O’Reilly – Liam’s daughter and the apple of each uncle’s eye.
“Now that’s all that I will say ‘bout that. Ya hear me, boyo?” Her Irish accent and dialect was as unmistakable as her hot temper as she scolded Dace. “You’ll not miss family dinner again, ’less yer bleedin’ and half dead somewhere. In that case, I’ll be bringing yer dinner ta you!”
“Yes, ma,” he said as his brothers snickered like teenaged boys.
Colleen raised her finger, shook it at her other two boys, and said, “Don’cha be startin’ too…”
Declan quickly bit his tongue and straightened his smirk. “Wouldn’t think of it, ma.”
She slid down the counter and leaned in, looking at Jax. “Now you, little handsome – I’m these big babies’ ma, Reagan’s Nana. You can call me Nana too – or Collie if you’d rather.”
“Just call her Nana,” Reagan chimed in, speaking sweetly to Jax. “She says it’s her favorite word – and she’ll give you candy.”
Jax giggled through his enormous smile, smitten with both redheads it seemed. “Okay.”
“Ah, you must be dear Lydia. Nice to meet you love – I’ve heard an earful,” Colleen said to Lydia, drawing all attention to her.
“Oh? Uh. Good I hope?” Lydia teased, feeling a little under the spotlight.
“Of course, love. Seems this one has finally caught the bug,” she said, referring to Declan. “He fancies you – I can see why.”
“Ma, seriously?” Declan interrupted like an embarrassed love struck teen.
“Yes! Seriously! ‘Bout time you settle down.” Declan started to say something, but Colleen just kept on talking, not interested in his defense. “Now, I brought you all some food from the pub. Be sure to eat it so I know you’re taken care of while you sort out whatever mess you’re workin’ on now.”
Colleen moved toward Lydia and gave her an unexpected hug and kiss to the cheek. “Welcome to the family, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you and the wee one. Be sure to eat.”
Stunned, she just smiled, unsure what she should say back. It seemed Colleen had her own way of thinking and doing things, and no one challenged her. Who was Lydia to start? Welcome to the family? She didn’t dare argue given the stern scolding she walked in on – she would let Declan handle it – she was his mother after all.
After making her rounds, giving everyone a hug and kiss to the cheek as she did with Lydia, Colleen stopped at Jax and rocked him as she squeezed him, giving him an extra kiss.
“And you, my handsome fella, I’ll be seeing you at Sunday dinner. Wait until Grandad gets a glimpse of you.” Colleen pinched his little cheeks in a grandmotherly way and turned to Lydia. “In case my boy forgot the manners I raised him with – family dinners are the last Sunday of every month at the Pub. We’re closed Sundays – the Lord’s day – so we gather there. We’ll see you there?”
Lydia assumed it was a real question, given how it was presented, and answered, maybe, but quickly realized it was a test to see if she had been paying attention. When Colleen gave her that stern scolding look, Lydia quickly changed her answer to okay, earning her a pleased smile from the woman who clearly didn’t take no or maybe for an answer.
“Enjoy your meal – love you all,” She said as she walked through the door, tossing a wave behind her.
Jax giggled. “I like Nana.”
The men escaped to the balcony to talk business while Lydia and City stayed inside and chatted and the kids played. For a brief moment, life felt normal again.