Cailín's POV

After getting home from the restaurant, I flopped onto the couch. To say it had been a long day was an understatement. Between the doctor's appointment and the incident at the restaurant I was ready for the day to be over. I had all but forgotten about the letter from Don's father. I mean, I knew it was there but it was in the back of my head to read it. The incident at the restaurant happened about five minutes after I'd gotten there. I knew Don would want to spend time with his dad even after I got through at the doctor's. Sam had texted me to let me know that she would leave Don and their father alone to talk and that she would go back tomorrow to have one-on-one time with her dad.

"I think I'm going to take a shower." Don kissed the top of my head and then headed into the bedroom. Berlin laid in the hallway where she could see both of us. I took the letter out of my purse and started to read it.

Dearest Cailín,

First, welcome to the family (officially). I wasn't sure what to say when I first decided to write this. Honestly, I'm still not sure. You have been a part of this family for a long time. One of the only regrets I have in this life is not keeping in contact with your father. The car accident that killed your mother shook me to the core. Even some of my colleagues couldn't stomach the scene; it took a lot of us a long time to get past that accident. It hit me the worst because I personally knew one of the victims. I made sure I was the one to tell your father; I didn't want anyone else to tell him. When I first learned that you and Don were dating, it brought up a lot of emotions and memories. I was happy for you, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't sure how well things would go between us because of that accident. I have been to your parents' grave a few times since my heart attack. I had been the one to take care of your mother's grave after you and your family moved to Maryland. Anyways, enough about the past. You and Don deserve each other. I know you know the loss of losing someone you loved and I know Don knows that too – which makes you both understand the other. There are times when you know my son better than he knows himself. This journey that he has to go through now is one of those times. I don't plan on leaving this world in the next month, but I can't make any promises. Take care of him. He's going to need you in the coming days, weeks, and months. Cherish the life you have together. We all know that death is the only guarantee, and we also know that our time could be at any moment. Live today as though tomorrow won't come and cherish the time you have together. Take care of yourself as well. Don will be beside himself if anything happens to you. I am proud to call you my daughter, Cailín. I will be with you and Don, always. Be strong for him, he's going to need it.

Love always,

Pops

I folded the letter back up and stuck it in a memory book of the coffee table. I heard the water shut off and tried to compose myself enough before Don came out. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I was ready for the day to be over with. Like Don, I was hoping Aiden wouldn't be able to make dinner tonight. I was emotionally and mentally drained; which also drained me physically.

"Babe?" I opened my eyes to see Don standing over me. I sat up so he could sit down. I leaned against him and we sat in silence for a while.

"How are you holding up?" I looked over at him. He looked tired – no, he looked exhausted. He had his eyes closed and I wasn't sure if he was asleep or not. I ran a hand through his hair and he opened his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Today has been a long day. Not exactly relaxing and honeymoon-like." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes like it usually did. "How did it go at the doctor's?"

"He said that it's a standard procedure and there was nothing to worry about. He didn't say that, like any surgery, it carried risks but I was strong and healthy so he didn't foresee any issues. He said the surgery should take two to three hours. They want to admit me the night before with surgery scheduled at 6:00am." I dug around in my purse for the brochures that he gave me with all the information regarding the prep, surgery, and recovery. "Recovery is about four to six weeks at home for an abdominal hysterectomy. I may need to spend two to three days in the hospital after the surgery." He was flipping through the brochures.

"No sex for six weeks?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I don't know why I blushed. "I didn't realize I agreed to that." He teased.

"Our sex life may be better after – at least for me." I laughed. "It's going to be a long six weeks though. I'm am blessed that the department is allowing me to work from home so we're not losing that income."

"Samantha offered to stay with you while I'm at work. She also volunteered Eric to stay before he has practice since he's during the day right now." He looked at me squarely.

"I don't nee…" I started but he stopped me.

"Please, for my own peace of mind. At least for the first couple of weeks. I know you're aunt and uncle are usually downstairs; there's usually always someone here who can check on you, but it would give me peace of mind if you have someone up here with you for a least the first week or two." He looked really worried.

"Okay. I don't want you to worry about me. Your job needs your full focus. I don't need to worry about you on top of recovering from surgery. You will be there for the day of the surgery though, right?" I sat on my legs so I could face him.

"Yes. I asked Pops if he could be there. His caretaker said that it will depend on how he's feeling that day." His eyes grew dark. I put my forehead against his. "He seemed strong today. He said that he wasn't planning on going anytime soon."

"It will be good for you if he can be there, I know." I kissed his forehead and leaned back to look at him. "What?"

"About that money…" He looked at me with a sheepish expression. "Apparently the money was Mom's idea. She wanted to set money aside for their children for their weddings. When they had Samantha and me, she decided that $20,000 should be enough; $10,000 for each of us. Samantha used part of hers for her dress and they also used part of it for their honeymoon. What was left they put into savings. I told Pops that we would probably use about $5,000 for our honeymoon to cover airfare and spending money. I figured the other $5,000 we can put into savings for future trips." I nodded. "What?"

"Nothing, Babe, it sounds good to me, but I do have something to tell you." I actually just remembered some of the information in my mother's will – and my father's will. "Seeing Aiden reminded me of something that was in both of my parents' wills." I walked into the dark room. I rummaged through the safe and pulled out the wills.

"Why do you have the wills? I thought Jason did." Don asked when I sat back down on the couch.

"He has a notarized copy of them." I skimmed through the assets until I came to what I was looking for. "Here." I pointed to the section as I handed to him. He read over it while I looked through the same type of information in my father's will.

"'In the event that Cailín Star McClanahan gets married, she is entitled to access the savings account set aside for her in the base amount of $10,000. She is entitled to use the base amount and any interest that has accumulated in any way she sees fit. She can, if she wishes, to move that money into her own account and close the existing account.'" Don read the clause out loud. He looked at me with eyes wide. The bank account information was included.

"The same is in my father's will. I remember him telling me about the account he and my mother set up, but that he told to bank that there would be no more deposits into it after her death – per here request in her will. Da continued the tradition but in a separate account. He put $25 a pay check into that account every pay day, even after he retired. He stopped putting money into the account he set up for Jason when Jason and Lacey got married. Jason had about $15,000 from Mom's account plus about another $12,000 from Da's." Don looked at me with eyes wide. "Yeah, my thoughts exactly."

"So between the $10,000 from Pops, and the at least $15,000 from each of your parents, we're looking at about $50,000?" I could only nod. "What are we going to do with all that money?"

"We need to figure that out, don't we?" I flopped back on the couch. We sat there in silence for a while. "I guess we need to go to the bank tomorrow and see exactly how much we're looking at. I could use some new photography equipment. We could probably make some upgrades in the apartment if we're going to continue living here." I didn't see why we would move, but it could be an option. "Then there's the big ceremony in December and the honeymoon. I'd like to donate to some charities too." I looked over at Don. "What?"

"You amaze me." He pulled me into him and kissed the top of my head. "You can just think of all of that on the spot. We definitely need to go to the bank tomorrow and see what we're dealing with. We'll probably need our marriage license for proof that we are married." I nodded. "Although I think we should leave that money in the accounts for now – at least until we figure out what we're going to do with it all."

"What do you want to do with the check from Pops?" I asked and then my phone rang. It was a number I didn't recognize but it could have been Aiden so I answered. "Hello?"

"Cailín, it's Aiden. I'm just leaving work. I need to stop by home and change but I can meet you and your husband – that sounds weird to me – for dinner in say about an hour?" He said.

"Sounds good to me. Yeah, 'your husband' is still a little weird to me, too. Same with being called 'wife'." I replied. "We can meet you at the pub in an hour. We live in the little apartment above the pub so we don't have to go far." I laughed.

"Sounds good, I see you then. Bye." He said and then hung up. Actually seeing anyone from my mom's side of the family was a little weird. It had been a long time, especially seeing Aiden. He was the oldest out of the kids on my mom's side (Jason being the oldest of the kids on my dad's side) and had moved back to Ireland with his parents after my mom died, but then had moved back to the states after he graduated from university.

"That was Aiden?" Don asked.

"Yes, I figure you gathered that we're meeting him for dinner in an hour?" He nodded and then stood and stretched. "I guess that means you need to get ready?"

"I guess so. I should probably take a shower." I stood up and headed for the bedroom.

"Would you like something company?" He teased. He followed me into the bedroom but then went to his closet while I headed into the bathroom.

"Not this time." I laughed. In all honesty, we hadn't had a proper wedding night. With all the news yesterday and the stress and worry about my doctor's appointment this morning we just weren't in the mood.

"Before the surgery though right?" He poked his head into the shower. "I mean, I'm going to have to do without for at least six weeks." I knew he was teasing me but at the same time he was serious. I held his face between my hands and kissed him lightly.

"We'll just have to wait and see." I teased back. I laughed at the pouty expression on his face. He left and I finished my shower. He was sitting on the bed and looked like he was deep in thought. I got dressed and then sat on his lap. I rested my cheek against the top of his head. He wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed tight. I knew he was struggling. We stayed like that until it was time to head downstairs. We slid into our normal booth and waited for Aiden.

"Flack?" Aiden looked confused when he sat down across from Don and me.

"I didn't mention that, did I?" I looked between Aiden and Don. "I mean, I thought it was pretty obvious back at the restaurant, but I guess maybe not with everything that was going on."

"Cailín and Don? Married?" Aiden chewed the idea around in his head. "How long have you two been together?"

"Not quite a year." Don looked at me and then back at Aiden. "We've known each other since we were kids, but dating will be a year this November."

"That was quick. How'd that go with Jason?" I was waiting for that question.

"Considering he hasn't spoken to me since, what, Christmas?" I looked at Don. He nodded.

"Something like that. Not even when they came up for Samantha's wedding in June." Don looked at Aiden.

"What's his problem? That doesn't sound like Jason at all – at least not the Jason I remember." Aiden looked at the photos on the wall next to the booth. "I heard about Uncle Andrew. I'm sorry, Cailín." Aiden reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

"I honestly don't understand my brother. He seemed fine and accepting when Don was down for Thanksgiving and all through their visit at Christmas, but then all of sudden everything changed. He says he's accepted it, but he's not happy about it. I have a hard time believing he's even accepted it." I shook my head. Jason and I had always been close; it was weird not talking to him at least once a week. "I'm done with him at this point though. We've tried talking to him; Don's dad has tried talking to him – everyone has tried talking to him. It's up to him now. I'm done. With everything I've got going on with my health, I don't need that from him."

"What do you mean?" Aiden looked between Don and me.

"Did you happen to hear about that shooting that took place last summer at Central Park?" Don asked. It was not a memory either one of us liked to relive.

"The officer involved shooting? One the architects from one of the big firms was killed after shooting a woman and an off duty police officer. It was at a wedding, right?" I was actually surprised Aiden had heard about that. He even had some of the details right.

"Yeah, that's the one." I said. I looked at Don as I fidgeted in my seat. I hated reliving that day. He squeezed my hand. I knew it was hard for him too. Even though we weren't together at that point, I knew it was difficult for him to go through that after Jessica.

"Wait, you're the woman?" Aiden looked at me wide-eyed. I nodded.

"The shot to the abdomen didn't leave any extensive damage, but the scar tissue from the bullet and subsequent surgery has caused some issues with my uterus. I'm scheduled to have a total abdominal hysterectomy next Friday." I took a deep breath.

"Come again?" Uncle Rick had just walked past at that moment. "Aiden Donovan?" He recognized my cousin. Both sides of my family had been close growing up. The families had both come from the same county in Ireland but hadn't really known each other – just known of each other. It wasn't until my grandparents, on both sides, immigrated to the United States with their children that the two families became close and my parents married.

"Rick, how are you?" Aiden asked. He recognized my father's brother. Of course, my father and Uncle Rick looked a lot alike even though Uncle Rick was quite a few years younger than my father.

"I'm doing well. How long have you been in New York? How are your parents?" Rick seemed to forget about the mention of me having surgery… which was fine with me.

"I've been in New York for about two and a half months. I transferred from Los Angeles. I haven't been able to talk to my parents since transferring as there has been a lot of things needing done at work to overall the department. Last I heard, they were doing well – my sister emailed me the other week and has been relaying messages since my parents refuse to get into all this technology. Now, Cailín, about this surgery…" Aiden and Rick both turned to look at me. I shrunk in my seat on instinct. Don laughed at my reaction.

"There's not much to say. It's scheduled for next Friday at 6:00am. They want to admit me to the hospital the night before. It's scheduled to take two to three hours and I may need to spend two to three days in the hospital after the surgery. Recovery time is roughly six weeks. I'll be working from home at least until my doctor clears me to go back to work. Don put in to have Friday off but insists that I have been with me for at least the first two weeks while he's at work." I looked at Don.

"Mary and I are always down here, but I'm sure Mary wouldn't mind hanging out with you upstairs from time to time." Rick had called his wife over.

"Anything for you, dear." Aunt Mary smiled. Rick had married well. All of my aunts and uncles had, actually. Mary was also Irish but her family had been in the United States for a lot longer than ours.

"Samantha said she'd stay with her and volunteered Eric to stay with her before practices." Don said. I looked over at Aiden. He looked confused. "What'd I say that confused you?" Don had noticed too.

"Samantha is…?"

"My sister. She married Eric McClanahan this past June." Don answered. That seemed to clear things up for Aiden. "You thought Cailín and I got married quickly, you have no idea…" He laughed and so did the rest of us. Rick and Mary went back to managing the pub while Don, Aiden, and I talked of unimportant things while we ate dinner.

"If there's anything I can do, let me know." Aiden, Don, and I were standing outside after dinner. "You have my number and, Flack, you know where to find me." Don nodded and shook his hand. We said goodnight and then Don and I headed up to the apartment.

"What's wrong?" I looked at Don. He was sitting on the couch staring off into space.

"Nothing. I need to make a phone call real quick and I'm debating on what to say." He looked at me. There was something he wasn't telling me. "I read Pops' letter and I decided that, even though I had agreed to back off, I need to call Jason one last time. I also asked Samantha if she would call him to. After this, I promise I won't call him anymore and I won't ask anyone else to call him. Everything going on with Pops and with you, I just can't not do something. I just have a few things left to say to him and then that's it. I promise."

"Okay." I sighed. I understood what he was saying. I wasn't mad or upset that he decided to do this. I knew that he'd been in Jason's shoes – well, not his exact shoes – with Sam before. And Sam would be able to give Jason the sister's perspective. I walked over to the couch and bent down to kiss him. "I'm going to get ready for bed. Take all the time you need."