I wasn't pleased by the invitation to Grandpa Hugo and Grandma Allie's Easter brunch, but also knew that, as part of my regimen to play nice and act accordingly and appropriate as a new mother, that I should go along with my family. However, I was pleased to be given permission to drive both Hailey and myself, and I knew that that meant that, if at any time I wanted to leave with my daughter, I was permitted to do so. Hailey, at nearly three months old, was a vision in the new pink dress with white lace that my mother had picked out for her, and was even wearing white lacey socks and white buckled Mary Jane shoes. I myself wore a white pantsuit, and was careful to keep dribble guards on me at all times to ensure that Hailey didn't make a mess of herself, or of me, for I knew that my grandparents demanded perfection, and I was all too ready to give it to them.

Hailey and I left right on schedule, driving just behind my parents towards the freeway, which really was the most direct route to most places. I peeked in my rear-view mirror at my daughter, and my heart automatically warmed at what I saw. Hailey was chewing on the set of rainbow plastic keys that my mother had bought her, her little gums working at the red key, which was proving to be a favorite. I switched my gaze back to the road then, hearing little coos from the backseat, and pleased my daughter seemed all too happy to ride in the back of the car, chewing happily on her keys and amusing herself.

"We're on the freeway now, sweetheart," I told her, carefully keeping my voice light, despite my reservations about going to Grandpa Hugo and Grandma Allie's that day. "You remember when we drove on the freeway before, when I brought us home from the hospital? Well, we're not going there today, baby," I assured her, although I wasn't sure if it was a better alternative or not, given where we were going. "Today, you're going to meet Grandpa Hugo and Grandma Allie, your great-grandparents. I know that nobody can compare to Grandma Murphy and Grandpa Nicholas, or Papa Mickey or Great-Uncle Ian, but you'll see... Who knows? Maybe we'll be in for a surprise today..."

I continued chatting to Hailey, making my daughter feel at ease as much as possible, knowing that going to a new place would be nerve-wracking for anyone, but feeling better that I would be with her the entire time. I watched as my father's car signaled that they were getting off at the next exit, and I quickly moved into the lane behind him to keep up. Once off the freeway and onto the streets lined with trees, the stretches of sidewalk were filled with historical apartment buildings, which made way into houses as we arrived in the upscale suburban area that my grandparents' estate was. As we got deeper and deeper into it, the houses lots grew massive and, quite soon, they morphed from standard houses and into the mansions and, quite soon, we drove onto the cul de sac where they lived where, at the end of it, the house was. I remembered then, as we pulled up into the huge driveway, coming there when I was a little girl, back when Mom and Dad were still dating, and Grandma Allie and Grandpa Hugo couldn't find a thing about me or my mother to complain about.

I parked beside Dad's car, shutting off my engine and immediately exiting my vehicle, whereupon I fetched Hailey promptly from the back, pressing my lips to her forehead as I held her close, inhaling that sweet baby smell that always seemed to calm me down. I smiled at my mother as she approached me then, adjusting Hailey's Easter bonnet and my own white lace poncho that I wore over my pantsuit as I managed to lock my car and follow Dad, Clayton, Fionn, and Charlie up to the house, while Carla and Mom stayed behind with me, mostly to make sure that Hailey was all right as we followed the men in our family.

"What do you think Grandma Allie's gonna say?" Carla whispered.

My mother snorted. "God only knows," she muttered.

"It's not gonna be good, whatever it is," I told my little sister, before I playfully stuck my tongue out at her, and was quickly rewarded with the same expression back.

"Now, girls," Mom reprimanded gently as we completed the walk through the small front garden and up the wide porch steps, "best behavior, remember."

"Yeah, Mom, we know," Carla and I said in unison as Dad rang the doorbell, which seriously sounded like the chiming of some old-timey grandfather clock.

The front door opened immediately thereafter then, and Grandma Allie smiled at each of us in turn, although my smile, as always, was fleeting. There was hardly any change to her, I noticed then as we were permitted to step inside the house, other than the subtle wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, from laughing far too much over the years. She ushered us quickly onto the veranda across the garden, only used for special occasions, which was kept warm much like a greenhouse was, and was mostly enclosed, apart from French doors on either side, which also boasted a set of six stairs beneath both of them. Inside the veranda was a large round table, and there were large windows all around the cylindrical building, each with massive white pillars on each side of the frames of glass.

Seated at the head of the table, as always, was Grandpa Hugo, who immediately got to his feet as Grandma Allie and Dad led the way inside the please, with Clayton, Fionn, Carla, and Charlie almost immediately rushing forward to greet him. They'd always had a soft spot for Grandpa Hugo; granted, they loved Grandma Allie very much, but Grandpa Hugo would often slip them twenty-dollar bills whenever nobody was looking. I remembered such a time when that was me, seated proudly on my grandfather's knee, listening to stories of his childhood and the lavish lifestyle he was always accustomed to. And yet, as I watched him embracing my four younger siblings, I resolved to keep my word and smile, but also stood by my mother's side, for the two of us were a united force against this couple who merely put up with us.

"So, where's the newest Blomqvist?" Grandpa Hugo suddenly asked then, his eyes suddenly latching onto me, as he positioned his reading glasses from around his neck and onto the bridge of his news. "Where's the new recruit?"

"Hugo, Nicholas and I mentioned this already," Mom said calmly then as Grandpa Hugo came over to look down at Hailey, and my arms automatically wound more tightly around her, "Iana has decided to take Mickey's last name, which is her right, as he is her biological father, and, as such, Hailey has the same surname as she does."

Grandpa Hugo narrowed his eyes briefly at Mom then, and I felt my hackles threatening to rise as he did so, before he peered openly at Hailey, who stared at him, transfixed, a wary expression on her face, for it was likely that she detected my anxiety. "Hailey?" he barked then, and I watched then as my daughter's lower lip trembled at the close proximity of the stranger, plus the apparent anger in his tone. "What kind of a name is that?"

I did my best not to bristle at the notion that he was not only insulting my daughter and her name, but me as well, for choosing it. "It's the name I chose for her, Grandpa," I replied levelly to him, and rose my chin up then. "It's short for Mikhaila."

"Mikhaila?" he sneered then, and I gritted my teeth. "For that father of yours? His name is short for something, isn't it?" he demanded.

"It's short for Mikhailo, yeah," I said, shooting daggers at him as he continued to negatively scrutinize my daughter. "Her full name is Mikhaila Nichole Milkovich. I named her after both of my fathers," I said then, unknowing how to get approval with him anymore.

"Should've called her Nichole instead," Grandpa Hugo barked as he moved back towards the table, apparently deciding when the conversation was over. "My son's done more for you better than that criminal father of yours, and don't you forget that!" he said, wagging a finger at me then, almost as if I was a small child.

"Well," Grandma Allie said then, her voice uneasy, "shall we carve the chicken?"

. . .

I could barely breathe then as I ran like the wind out of that godforsaken living room, and through the press of people. My heart was hammering in my throat as I walked over towards the front door and, with trembling hands, managed to yank it open and slam it behind me. As quickly as I could, I ran as quickly as I could, the tears blinding my vision with every step I could. I could vaguely hear a door opening from behind me then, but I wouldn't let my thoughts go there as I kept running, wondering where the closest place was that I could get on the L and get back to my own neighborhood, where I belonged.

"Iana!" came a shout then from down the block.

I ignored the voice as best I could, the tears streaming down my face as I continued running down the block, my breath catching in my throat a moment later when I felt pressure on my arm then, wanting more than anything to wretch my arm away from him. "Take your goddamn hands off of me!" I yelled, turning around and facing Axel.

Axel dropped my arm immediately, almost as if I'd burned him, and merely stared down at me for a moment, hesitating before he spoke. "Iana..."

"No," I said, my voice harsh and broken as I stood there. "What the fuck is the matter with you that you would go so far as to fucking lie to me?!"

Axel dragged a hand over his face. "Iana, you don't understand..."

"Oh, I understand, you pathetic son of a bitch!" I shot back at him. "Couldn't stand up to daddy, huh? And all because he fucking pays your rent, doesn't he?"

Axel gritted his teeth then. "No, he doesn't pay my fucking rent..."

"Oh, my mistake!" I cried out then, throwing my hands up in the air. "Christ, what else could he possibly do? Oh, let me guess," I went on, interrupting any attempts Axel had to get a word in edgewise, "you've done this before. With your sister's clients, I mean. Children, like me."

"Iana, I already told you, I haven't done this..."

"Yeah, sure you told me," I said, my tone mocking. "You fucking told me a lot of things. Like in the bathroom, just moments before your little chit-chat with Humphrey," I went on, my voice scathing. "Like, you wanting me to be your girlfriend. Or, how about this—you telling me that you fucking loved me. This day has just been a gold mine of lies—just like our relationship, huh, Axel?" I asked him then, my voice breaking.

"I haven't lied to you, Iana..."

I shook my head at him, backing away from him. "You say that now, but how the fuck do I know if it's true or not?" I asked him, my voice raw from my sobbing. "How am I supposed to believe you, or trust you? And what about Cara?" I asked him.

"What about Cara?"

"How the hell am I supposed to trust her, when her own brother, the guy I've been fucking for the past two months, has been fucking lying to me?" I demanded of him then. Without waiting for an answer, I shook my head at him, like he was the lowest of the low, before I turned on my heel and just kept running.

. . .

I picked at my chicken, forcing myself to chew it and swallow as much as possible; last thing I needed was the stress eating away at my entire breast milk reserves. I was somewhat surprised that a highchair had been found for Hailey, and she sat quietly at the table beside me, while I noticed Grandpa Hugo giving her and me scaling looks, while Grandma Allie merely gave the two of us cursory glances. I bit my tongue and remained silent, while my mother was barely acknowledged at all, and I was virtually ignored, audibly, at the very least, by what was once an integral part of my family.

It came as a relief about fifteen minutes later, about an hour into the meal and conversation, when Hailey suddenly became fussy. Immediately, I got the tray of the highchair up and gathered her in my arms and put her bag over my shoulder, fully prepared to head out to my car and feed her if need be. As I got to my feet, quietly excusing myself, it was Grandma Allie's voice going into my ears that stopped me.

"Go ahead and go to the bedroom you slept in as a child, darling," she said then, and I turned and looked over my shoulder.

"You sure?" I asked, my eyes sliding over to Grandpa Hugo, who was deep in conversation with Clayton and Fionn.

"Go ahead, sweetie," Grandma Allie assured me.

I shrugged then, and nodded my head, bouncing Hailey gently in my arms to keep her calm in front of them. "Thanks," I replied, opening the French doors with my momentary free hand and went down the steps again.

I went through the French doors to the parlor of the house, making my way towards the front door and up the staircase. The first landing led to the children's bedrooms, while the next landing brought you up to the top floor, where my grandparents' respective studies were, along with their grand master suite. I took the right onto that first landing and went down the hallway, bouncing a now-mewling Hailey in my arms as I neared the correct door. Getting inside, I shut it behind me and walked towards the full-sized bed, sitting down upon it and digging into Hailey's bag, and managed to quickly find a cloth to put over my shoulder, as I laid her down on the bed for a moment to unbutton the blazer and then yank down the camisole and open up my nursing bra to get at my breasts.

I took Hailey into my arms again and, once she saw what was happening, latched on immediately to my nipple, and I felt relief as the strain inside my breast died down considerably. I stroked Hailey's head then, leaning down and kissing her as she ate, feeling complete with her in my arms, and the satisfying feeling that I wasn't alone in the us vs. them argument helped considerably. Of course, Mom was a part of it, too, and yet they always seemed to forget that I existed as well, but they took the time to torment me however possible.

I swallowed then and, after about twenty minutes, Hailey's eyes grew heavy and her mouth finally went slack around my breast. I lifted her up against me then, running my hand in little circles upon her back, and patted it slowly, so as to get the necessary burp she needed. It was a long time coming, but I certainly didn't mind; I could easily make something else to eat at home, and there was no reason why I should have to prolong either of our sufferings. When my daughter finally expelled gas from her mouth, I quickly checked to make sure that her diaper was clean, and was relieved when it wasn't.

I lay her out on the bed, one of her blankets underneath her, and cleaned her up quickly, before taking her into the en suite bathroom and washing my hands. Finally, I was able to pick her up again and hold her close, momentary tears springing to my eyes as I considered this division of what was my family. I shook my head then as I stared into my reflection, knowing that things deserved to be different, if not for me, than for her, and wondered what could make people despise their grandchildren so much. And that hatred seemed to immediately pass onto Hailey, and I felt so badly that my daughter had to put up with it, even for brief periods, which was the most unfair thing I could imagine.

I left the bathroom soon thereafter, making my way out into the hallway from the bedroom and over towards the staircase. I went down it carefully, keeping a good grip on Hailey, and when I came to the base of the stairs, decided it was best to go out into the veranda and say goodbye. I'd only been there with my daughter for a little over an hour, but I officially couldn't take the disapproval anymore from my grandparents, as if they thought they got a vote. They literally threw me to the wolves ages ago, taking the words of a five-year-old seriously; now, they held onto Clayton, Fionn, Carla, and Charlie for dear life, likely thinking I'd turn them against them, too, or would simply disappear with them.

I moved towards the hallway then, planning on walking through the parlor and back out to the veranda, but something stopped me. I stood there in the hallway then, my heart hammering in my chest as Hailey nuzzled closer to me, the only thing that seemed to keep my calm. The words that I heard spoken in those moments are ones that I would never forget, and two-thirds that I would never permit myself to forgive.

"We just think she acted rash," came Grandma Allie's voice; it was pleading, like it always was, whenever she wanted to get her point across. Maybe it was good for the courtroom, but not in a family dynamic, especially when the person you were talking to was your grown son. "Don't you agree that it wasn't in her best interests?"

"Mom, really. Iana's young, sure, but she's wise beyond her years..."

"Wise?" Grandpa Hugo snorted. "If she was wise, she would've used protection. If she was wiser, she wouldn't be opening her legs at all."

"Dad, don't speak about her that way."

"Why not, son? She's stripped away the last of her allegiance to the family. Always preferring to be around her real father and that uncle of hers..."

"Mickey and Ian. They have names, you know..."

"He knows that, sweetheart, he does," Grandma Allie assured him.

"And she hasn't stripped away allegiance to anyone, Dad! For god sakes, she just wanted to take Mickey's last name. Sure, Murphy and I would've appreciated a heads-up, but it was her choice to make, and we don't fault her for it in any way."

"Can't you just see what we see, son?" Grandpa Hugo asked. "She's the daughter of that crazy wife of yours and a common criminal."

"Murphy is not crazy, Dad, and I won't hear of you talking to her that way!"

"That's right, Hugo. We don't say 'crazy'. It's not the fucking Civil War," Grandma Allie told her husband gently. "Murphy is mentally ill..."

"Just like that daughter of hers!" Grandpa Hugo shot back. "Son, we think it would be best if you washed your hands entirely of it."

"Excuse me?!"

"He means Murphy, Iana, and the baby," Grandma Allie said softly.

"What about my other children?"

"Oh, they're all right. Brilliant, even," Grandpa Hugo said, chuckling. "They look like Blomqvists, all of them, and we're very proud of them, aren't we, honey?"

"So proud," Grandma Allie assured him.

"Murphy, Iana, and Hailey are just as much my family as the rest of them..."

"We hear you're supporting Iana and the baby," Grandpa Hugo said, tutting slightly. "We don't think that's a very good idea..."

"What are you saying?!"

"She's not your daughter, honey, and she's made it abundantly clear that she doesn't want to be your daughter by her constant rejection of you," Grandma Allie said. "We merely suggest that you make good on filing for divorce, like you tried to do when Murphy was shaking up with that Tommy person, and take the twins, plus Carla and Charlie, and come back home where you really belong..."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this right now..."

"It's for the best, son," Grandpa Hugo assured him.

I inhaled then, fully prepared to march around the corner and demand answers, especially about this rumor of divorce. How could they? People who had known me from the time I was a baby, essentially branding me an outlier from the family?! It was enough to imply it; it was enough to act like it; it was a whole other thing to flat-out say it. Now that my fears were confirmed, I knew something needed to be said, and it had to be said now, before...

"I think it's despicable what you're insinuating," Dad said then, and I stopped in my tracks, my mouth falling open. "Murphy is my wife, and the love of my life. I would never leave her side and do you know why? She told me to run, to be safe. The only reason why I left her here was so that she could keep the kids safe, too. Sure, she refused to come with me, but it was for the sake of our children. Notice how I don't just say 'the twins' when I talk about them. That's because Iana is my child, too! And Hailey is my granddaughter! I hate how you've been treating Murphy and Iana for years, when they've done nothing to you! Do you know what Murphy had to do, in order to get my name cleared?!"

"Shack up with Tommy and spread her legs like a slut..."

I heard a crack of something then, followed by Grandma Allie's gasp. "That's a lie! She worked undercover with Mason to clear my name and to expose Tommy for who he really was—a fucking dirty cop!"

"Nicholas, we didn't..."

"No, I'm talking now!" Dad shouted. "She endured over two years of beatings, rapes, and near-death experiences, just to get my name cleared! And even when she found me out in that desert, she still loved me, wanted me, but expected nothing. She told me that we were still married, sure, but told me she would sign the goddamn papers, if that's what I wanted. We came to the decision together to reform our family, because we love each other!"

"Son, you don't..."

"Still talking!" Dad screamed. "You don't know Iana like I know Iana. Despite what it says on her birth certificate, I was there, too. She's just as much my daughter as she is Murphy's, Mickey's, or Ian's. We shared the load, and I'm fucking grateful for it. Mickey may understand Iana in ways I never will, but Iana knows that I'll be in her corner no matter what, because I'm her father, too, and that'll never change."

"It won't," I said then, and it was in that moment that I found myself standing in the doorway of Grandpa Hugo and Grandma Allie's kitchen. "It won't change, Dad."

"Iana..."

"Dad, it's fine," I said, determined to keep my voice strong as I handed Hailey over to him, and turned to face my grandparents head-on. "You don't know the shit I went through, either—it wasn't all sunshine and roses in my childhood. After Dad left, it was a fucking miserable few years. Tommy threw us out of Mom's house, and I became Clayton and Fionn's mother. Their fucking mother, when I was only five-years-old. And you think we had it easy over at Uncle Ian's house? Well, think again. Up all night, comforting them in the darkness of our borrowed bedroom, which we all shared, by the way. Learning to cook, clean, do laundry, make lunches, and forge signatures to make sure they got every little thing they needed. All at five-years-old. It wasn't even the worst part," I spat at both of their shocked expressions, "the worst part out of all of this was Tommy. Sure, he beat my mother and raped her, plus tried to kill her on numerous occasions, but he didn't stop there. Didn't stop him from going after me, even after Mom had us sent across the street to Uncle Ian's place. Easy access that way, you know? He... He..." I felt my voice breaking then as the hot tears streamed down my face then, and I began to breathe heavily, my eyes widening as I finally allowed myself to remember...

. . .

It is the creak on the stairs that sends me to the edge, and I make sure that Clayton and Fionn are all tucked up in their beds before I put my feet on the floor. Carefully, even though I know that Uncle Ian is working a double, I know that my brothers are very light sleepers, and I have to do this quickly. I open the door and step through the smallest crack that I can fit through, before going out into the hallway and towards the stairs.

I climb down then quickly, spotting Tommy in the living room waiting for me, just like he always is, and likely always will be. I continue down the stairs and make my way over to him, keeping my eyes lowered. He doesn't like it when I stare at him, and the lump rises in my throat as I wait for him to tell me what he wants.

"Down," he says, and flattens his hand for me.

When I drop to my knees, however, he grows impatient and grabs ahold of me by my thin and weak shoulders. I know better than to cry out; I know better than to show fear; I know better than to allow tears to escape my eyes. I keep quiet then, my anxiety increasing twofold as he lays me down on my back, and I raise my eyes to look at the ceiling.

"Stay," he orders.

I don't scream or protest when he yanks down my pajama bottoms, knowing that it would be no use to do so. I can hear him unzip his pants, and I remain still, gripping onto the old carpet in an effort to distract myself for what I've known has been coming for the longest time. The hair makes my palms itch, but it is a welcoming itch, as I suddenly stiffen with pain, and Tommy puts a hand over my mouth to prevent my yelp from escaping my lips.

"Keep quiet," he tells me then, his breath hot on my neck. "Remember," he continues, the cold metal of the barrel of his gun making contact with my head, "I blow your brothers brains out, then your uncle, then your mom, and then you. Got it?"

I know better than to answer. I just jerk my head up and down, and attempt to force myself not to cry in front of him. The crying can come later, when I'm waiting for the next time.

. . .

"No..." I whispered then, the memory suddenly overtaking my mind then as I feel the scream bubbling forth from within me. "He... No..."

"Iana?"

I feel my knees buckle then at the sound of my mother's voice from behind me. "Dad... Take Hailey out of the room," I ordered then, and I heard his feet retreating, while my grandparents continued to stare at me. My knees buckled completely then, and I felt the scream leaving my lips before I could call it back, and I covered my entire face with my hands, as my mother caught me, holding onto me, for now, after all this time, she was in a position to protect me, when before she was not.

. . .

I was pleased that I wasn't required to go to any functions at Grandpa Hugo's and Grandma Allie's anytime soon, and vowed not to do so for a very long time. I spent the rest of the month of April getting used to motherhood, and bonding with Hailey whenever possible. When May arrived, and with my birthday just a few weeks away, I was quite content to plan a family dinner at my parent's house.

"Anyone you want to invite, sweetheart?" Mom asked.

I leaned back on the couch, Hailey in my lap as my mother carefully went over the accounts for the diner. "Pops and Uncle Ian, Uncle Lip and Aunt Mandy, Aunt Debbie, Franny, Ezra, Jay, Liam, Penny and Lacey, and Rose, I guess," I replied with a shrug, and my mother looked up at me. "Be nice," I said. "Liam came to see me after Hailey was born, and I've been to see Penny several times when her mom or Liam have been there..."

She raised an eyebrow. "He keeping his hands to himself?"

I smirked. "He holds Hailey," I reply.

She rolled her eyes. "I meant with you, sweetie."

I laughed. "Yeah," I replied. "Don't worry."

"Glad to see you're acknowledging Mandy as your aunt now, sweetheart," Mom put in with a smile before going back to the paperwork.

We agreed to hold my birthday four days after the day itself, as it would be a Saturday that day and everyone would have the energy to party, Gallagher-style. I was perfectly happy to share my guest-of-honor spot with Hailey, and as we milled through the crowd, each of us wearing a tiara as sportsmanship, I got the chance to greet everyone in turn.

"Seventeen," Liam joked. "One more year."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right, Kennedy. We agreed. That ship has sailed."

"Hey, let me have a little fun with the birthday girl," he joked again, kissing me on the cheek before looking down at Hailey. "She really is beautiful..."

"Don't you be getting any ideas," I shot back playfully, shoving his shoulder as I continued milling through the party.

"Hey, birthday bestie!" Penny said, wrapping her arms around me then and holding me against her for a moment, careful not to smash Hailey.

"Hey, you two," I said, looking at her and Lacey as soon as Penny had pulled back from me. "So, how is everything with you guys?"

"Amazing," Lacey said, kissing Penny, who giggled immediately thereafter. "Five months in eleven days. Still can't believe it."

"Honeymoon phase, Lacey Bug," Penny said with a grin.

"Oh, why thank you, Penny Thought," Lacey shot back with a smile. "But, anyway, I hope you enjoy our gift!"

"A weekend of babysitting for Hailey and the opportunity to spend the night at your suite in the apartment where my aunt and uncle live," I said with a smile.

"And it doesn't expire!" Penny said quickly. "So, if you want to wait until Hailey's a little older, maybe..."

"Or want to get to know us a little better first. You know where to find us," Lacey told me with a sweet smile. "We know you'll want it eventually."

"I think I just may take you up on it," I said, giving them both a small wave before I continued on through the party. "Aunt Mandy!" I said, and was immediately cut off when she pulled me into the backyard, where we were alone. "Jesus, careful," I said, keeping on good grip on Hailey, who was nearly four-months-old, but still couldn't be tampered with.

"Sorry, sorry," Aunt Mandy said. "Still gotta get used to the whole aunt thing..."

"You'll have to, if you're marrying Uncle Lip."

Aunt Mandy smiled. "That," she said. "I actually had a question for you, Iana, about the upcoming wedding..."

I nodded, leaning down and kissing Hailey's forehead to keep her calm. "Shoot."

"Well, you got me and Lip back together, so I was hoping that you'd be willing to be my Maid of Honor, and that Hailey could be my flower girl," she said, smiling.

I grinned back at her. "Yeah, we will!" I cried out then, hugging her. "Oh, that's so amazing! Do you know when it'll be?"

Aunt Mandy nodded. "Yeah, we've cleared it with your mom. Lip and I are getting married in eighteen days!"

I blinked. "Eighteen days?"

She nodded again. "Yeah. We're getting married at Patsy's. Your mom arranged to close it early and we're gonna party it up there, Gallagher-style."

I shook my head then, confused. "Why so quick?" I asked her. "You just so in love that you want to be Mrs. Phillip Gallagher so fast?"

She smiled. "I found the perfect wedding dress, and I just want to be able to fit into it, and god knows I won't be able to much longer..."

"Won't be able...?" I raised my eyebrows then, shaking my head. "Are you...?"

"Yeah," she said. "Three months as of earlier this week. We wanted to get married before I popped, so it doesn't look like a shotgun wedding in the pictures," she joked.

"Oh, my god!" I cried out then, hugging her again. "I'm so happy for you!"

"So are we," she said with a smile. "Lip could just go on for another ten years, but my clock was running out. It might be our only chance, so we've gotta make it count."

I smiled at her, pulling back completely then. "Well, in my nearly five months of doing this, I know that I've never wanted anything more."

"Nothing more?" Aunt Mandy asked, looking through the kitchen window, where Liam was talking to Pops and Uncle Ian. "You sure?"

I turned completely around then, seeing their interaction. "My main priority is Hailey," I said firmly, turning back to face my aunt. "And nothing and nobody is about to change that."

Aunt Mandy blinked. "Sorry. Just thought I saw sparks..."

"Aftershocks," I joked, and she smiled back at me. "Little firecrackers that just won't get the hint and burn out. Trust me, that's all it is."

"Maybe from your side of things, but I think there's still a candle in his window for you," Aunt Mandy said quietly and, almost as if to return her theory, Liam looked through the window at us, and when his eyes locked with mine, I couldn't deny that there was something lurking just beneath them, but what it was, as of yet, I did not know.

TO BE CONTINUED