Page 16 of Johny
She beams, “Even the children?”
I nod.
“Yeah, we’re going to the beach for the day.”
“I’m so happy for you, love. If anyone deserves to find a good man, it’s you.”
“Oh, hang on,” I say, holding my hands up, “let’s not get too hasty. We’re just getting to know each other.”
Maggie stops what she’s doing and turns towards me, her face serious, “Maya, I get that you don’t trust easily, and you have every reason not to. It’s a big thing that you are letting him spend time with your children. Your heart’s already made your decision. It’s your head holding you back.”
She takes hold of my hands, “I promise that Johnny is not the type to mess you around and if he’s already wanting to spend time with Emy and Jackson, then he’s in this for the long haul. He’s no different from our men. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to him, much like the Crow men the O’Sheas are straight shooters. He won’t mess you around. But if you don’t want this to go further, then do me a favour and tell him now because he doesn’t deserve to be strung along.”
My lip trembled and my eyes filled with tears. “I’m scared,” I whispered. Maggie’s face softened, and she pulled me into her arms, wrapping them tight around me in a mothering embrace, “Oh, baby, I know,” she whispers before letting me go and wiping at the tears under my eyes. “You don’t have to be, not with him. Just relax and enjoy your day. It will all be okay, you’ll see.”
Nodding, I take a deep breath, conscious that we were in the kitchen, but when I glanced around, nobody was paying us any attention. “Okay,” I agree. “I’ll take it one day at a time. You’re not the first to tell me he’s a good man and you’re right. In my heart, I know this, it’s my head that I’m having a problem with.”
“That’s all any of us can do, sweetheart. Take things one day at a time. I’m here if you ever need anything,” Maggie assures me, squeezing my hand, then she lets go and offers me a paper towel to clean up my tears. It’s as I’m doing this that the back door opens and Johnny walks in; he’s dressed the most casual I’ve ever seen him in a dark green T-shirt, navy shorts, and trainers. It’s like he has a homing beacon on me because as soon as he sees me, he stops, and his eyes narrow when they take in my tear-stainedface.
It’s Emy that breaks the connection when she shouts out, “Daddy,” as soon as she sees him, holding up her arms as she demands, “up.” I can feel my face heat at her demand, but Johnny takes it in his stride as he unbuckles her from the highchair that she’s in and picks her up; she snuggles right in, little arms hugging around his neck. He continues to walk over to me, only stopping to rest his hand on Jackson’s shoulder as he passes and giving it a little press. With his finger under my chin, he tilts my head back so that I can meet his eyes.
“What’s wrong,milseán?”
“Nothing really. I was having a moment and Maggie was comforting me,” I reassure him. His eyes dart over to Maggie, who’s smiling wide at us.
“It’s true,” she assures him. “Sometimes a woman just has to have a little cry. It’s how we work.”
“I don’t like it,” Johnny grumbles.
Letting out a choked laugh, my head falls forward onto his chest. He wraps his free arm around me.
Maggie’s chuckle echoes my laugh, “It’ssomething you’ll have to get used to, Johnny, especially if you’re still around when Emy hits teenage years.”
“Oh, I’ll still be around,” Johnny assures her, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head, asking, “Are you finished with the tears though because if you’re not, I’m going to have to go and find one of the guys so I can hit something because you in tears is making me feel a little murdery.”
I can’t help the laugh that burbles out of me, and I lift my head up from his chest. “I’m just saying,” he continues.
Smiling wide at him, all traces of my tears vanished, I assure him, “I’m good now that you’re here.”
“Well, if that’s all it takes, consider me moved in,” he mutters softly, his eyes twinkling, laugh lines at the corners deepening with his amusement.
My attention is torn away from him when Jackson leans against my leg. My hand automatically cups the back of his head, and I look down into my little boy’s serious eyes. Eyes that are too serious for a four-year-old.
“Hi, baby.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Can you say hello to Johnny for me? He’s going to take us out for the day.”
Jackson turned assessing eyes to Johnny, but he did as I asked, “Hello Mr. Johnny.”
Johnny let go of my waist and held his hand out to Jackson, “Just Johnny, it’s good to see you again, Jackson.”
Jackson shakes Johnny’s hand but doesn’t say anything, just wraps an arm around my leg. I hate that he’s so uncomfortable around men. It would take time, but I hoped that he’d eventually be comfortable around Johnny.
Credit to Johnny he doesn’t make a big deal out of Jackson being slightly stand-offish. Emy, on the other hand, is the complete opposite; she’s snuggled into Johnny, thumb in mouth, head on his shoulder, twirling her fingers in his hair, and by the looks of her heavy eyes, she’s about ready to go to sleep. “Are you ready to go?” Johnny wants to know.
“I am,” I nod. “We just have to get their car seats from my car.”