Caylin smiled up at him, but quickly moved away when he went to kiss her. "Um, let's see what the girls have made us huh?" She turned and bent over the table to uncover the dishes and Stephen moved behind her. His wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back to him. He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss to her neck. "Ah love yeh Caylie. Please stop running away from me."
She turned and looked into his dark blue eyes. For a moment, she forgot where she was. She was sixteen again, in the arms of her boyfriend at the dance. She shook those thoughts and slipped under his arms. She sat down at the table, and Stephen smiled lightly and sat down across from her. He took her hand and rubbed gently "Ah'm sorry for making ya uncomfortable love. Ah just miss ya."
"It's okay. I have missed you too" she confessed as she looked away. "I can't believe the girls did this."
"They did a good job yeah? Ah was shocked to see yer mum, and that she didn't slap me" he said with a chuckle.
"She always liked you Stephen. She told me a long time ago that one day I would marry you and be very happy with beautiful children, that had red hair. Well, part of that came true anyway. Remember when you told her and my dad that we were getting married? I think you were seven maybe? Mum told me then you would be a good husband."
Stephen laughed "Ah remember. Yer dad wasn't happy with me after that. He watched me like a hawk. Ah can't believe she told ya that though."
"Yeah, she was sure of it too. She said that we looked like a little married couple anyway the way we acted, especially in church. She thought it was cute that you gave me a ring."
"Ya know, Ah wouldn't mind giving yeh a real one."
"Stephen."
"What love? Ah haven't made any bones about how Ah feel and what Ah want. Ah want ya. Ah want our girls. Ah want my family back. Ah want to finally call ya me wife. Ah have never not loved yeh, not one day since Ah met ya all those years ago. Ah know yeh love me too. But Ah talked to me mum, and Ah am going to give ya time. Hell, Ah have waited this long. At least Ah am here with you and our daughters. Yeh have given me more than Ah could ever asked for already. Just think about it eh?"
"I will." She didn't want to tell him that was all she could think about. She woke up in a cold sweat after dreaming of him. Her body ached for him, the only man she burned for, the only one who ever could reach her heart. When she married Jesse, she did it more for the girls. She thought they needed a father. Her heart was never in it, probably why she wasn't too upset when it ended.
Meanwhile, her mom was telling the twins stories about their parents. "Yer dad was the sweetest and cutest little boy ever. He used to pick wildflowers and bring them to yer mum. They held hands everywhere they went, even mass. Yer grandfather wasn't too happy about it, of course. Especially when yer dad asked fer yer mum's hand in marriage when she was only six." The girls died laughing at that. "Yeah, he grabbed yer dad up by the arm and marched him home. He told Martin what he said, and Ah think he got a spanking as well. Yer mum was crying that she loved him and not to make him go home. She was always very protective of Stephen. We even got a call from school once that she had broken a little boy's nose for being mean to yer dad."
"Why were they mean to him Nana?" Alli asked.
"Well, his red hair, that ya girls got from him, but he was also a little chubby. He wasn't fat, just fluffy. His parents were poor, as we were, but worse, and he didn't have nice things. Yer mum went mental on this boy and hit him in the face repeatedly until the teacher pulled her off him."
"Go Mama!" Andi yelled.
"She got in trouble at home of course, and at school. Yer granddad got even madder when she said she didn't care. She was protecting Stephen and she loved him. She would do it again. Yer mum was a little firebrand back then. Ah think it made her and yer dad even closer though. Ya know, he always wanted to be a wrestler. Ah think from the first time he saw it. Caylin never really liked it, but she would sit with him and his gran and watch. People were just cruel to yer dad. Ah believe that is why he loved her so much. She loved him and supported him and always stood by him. And she did love him. So very much. Yeh know when yer mum was so sick in the hospital, he was the only one she wanted to see. She got upset and threw us out of her room, and only would talk to him. Her father was angry, but we just wanted her to get better, and she always was while he was there. Stephen would put the whole kit on and climb in her hospital bed with her. He put his arms around her and held her while they talked. Ah saw tears in his eyes every day when he left. He was worried sick about her, as we all were. When we went back to Ireland for holiday, it was for yer mum. She missed Stephen and at last she was well enough to go. The night yer dad took her on a date, there was a huge row between yer mum and grandfather. He was worried about her getting sick again, since her immune system was so weak. She told him she didn't care. If she had to live her life not being able to kiss her boyfriend and actually live, she would rather be dead."
"Wow. Mama really loved him didn't she?" Andi asked.
"Yes, she did. Ah believe she still does. They belong together, as Ah said. If ever two people do. When we found out she was pregnant, she was happy. Her father was livid, and wanted to kill Stephen, especially when we didn't hear from him. We know now why, but then, yer mum was devastated. She cried and cried. And she cried for him whle she was in labor. Yeh know that she had yeh a few days after her nineteenth birthday. Yer dad would only have been twenty. Ah am glad yeh have opened yer hearts to yer father. He is a good man. He won't let ya down, Ah know he won't. Now we just have to get ur mum to remember how much she loves him."
Back at the house, Caylin was trying to keep her composure as she sat there alone with Stephen. She watched the candlelight dance on his delicate features and flicker in his eyes. She couldn't deny how beautiful he still looked to her. She also couldn't believe how big he had gotten. She could see the outline of his huge biceps and tight pecs. She wanted to run her hands up his shirt, but tried to clear those thoughts from her mind.
Stephen was watching her every move intently. He wanted her to be at ease with him, like things used to be. He held her hand and played with her fingers. She smiled up at him, enjoying his gentle touch. She always thought his hands were so soft and comforting. He could calm her with just a touch. She went to stand up to clear the table, and he volunteered to help. When they were done, Caylin went and sat on the couch. Stephen turned off the lights except for the lamp before sitting down beside her. He placed his arm around her shoulder and invited her to snuggle against him. Caylin smiled and moved closer to him, her head resting on his chest. "You know Ste, I remember the last time we curled up on the couch like this all alone what happened. Do you?"
He chuckled lightly, "Ah do. Ya seduced me with yer feminine wiles."
Caylin laughed and smacked his leg. "It didn't take much seducing did it? You were so sweet Ste. And gentle. Your touch always was so gentle and reassuring."
"Ah was terrified. Particularly when Ah knew Ah was causing ya pain."
Caylin turned to look at him and placed her hand on his cheek. She gazed into his eyes and spoke from the heart "I have never regretted not one day I spent with you. There is nothing about that night I would change. Or the night we made our girls."
Stephen felt his heart glow at her words. "Ya don't know how relieved Ah am to hear ya say that."
"I couldn't imagine giving my virginity to any one else. You were the one. And I am grateful to you for giving me my children. They wouldn't be who they are if you weren't their father. They changed me, and my life for the better."
"Ah should thank yeh. Ah never felt love like Ah feel for them, and for yeh. My heart is so full it could burst. Ah love ya all so much."
Caylin couldn't stop herself any longer. She needs him, she loves him. She pressed her lips against his and wrapped her arms around him. When she pulled back, she told him "I love you Stephen. With all my heart. God help me but I do. I can't live without you anymore."
