Annabelle stared out of the window, waiting anxiously for Jacob. She couldn't wait for the man to come striding through the gate and back to his family. Lily was just as anxious. She kept walking from one room to the other, biting her lip and playing with the ends of her hair, a habit it seemed, that she'd inherited from her mother. Joseph, on the other hand was no where to be found. He'd disappeared that morning after breakfast, mumbling something about going with Danny O'Brien down to the stream at the back of the Montel property.
"Boy's up to some kinda trouble, mark my words," Mary said jokingly while clearing the dishes from the table.
Annabelle's heart was pounding with anticipation. Despite what'd happened with Jack, she still missed her husband. Her strong, dependable husband, who'd loved a child that wasn't his. Jack had loved and left, Jacob loved and stood there for her like a rock in the waves. She prayed he could love Lily as well as he had Joseph. Lily entered the room for the fifth time, accompanied by her brother, who'd become quite dirty in his adventure with the O'Brien boy.
"Ugh, Joseph! Go clean up before your father comes home!" Annabelle cried, shooing him to his room.
"Too late," he replied, a little smugly, looking out of the window.
Annabelle whipped around, looking in the same direction as her son. Sure enough, Jacob Montel, rifle in hand, pack on his back, was trekking slowly through the front gate. He looked quite weary, but inexplicably happy as he looked upon his home.
Joseph sprinted to the door, wrenching it open and running to his father. He wrapped his arms around the man's neck, holding tightly. Jacob dropped his gun, falling to his knees as he embraced his son.
Annabelle took Lily's hand, leading her to the front door to meet the man that was, to everyone's knowledge, her father. She heard Roisin and Mary walking to meet them from the kitchen. They stood in the doorway together. Lily stood shyly behind Annabelle's skirts, staring at the man hugging her brother. Annabelle nudged her forward, but she shook her head, unwilling to meet Jacob.
Jacob looked up, laying his green eyes on his wife for the first time in eight years. He looked to Roisin, and his eyes widened.
"I don't remember you being that big…" he said softly.
Roisin giggled. "Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it?"
He looked to Mary next, smiling widely. Mary's light green eyes filled with tears as she looked upon the man who she'd considered to be an older son since she'd worked for him. She walked out and quickly embraced him.
"Welcome home," she whispered, walking back to her daughter.
Jacob's eyes strayed to the small figure standing just behind Annabelle. His daughter. As Joseph released him, he reached his arms out to the girl, beckoning to her.
"Come, little one," he called softly, looking lovingly at Lily. "I've waited a long time to meet you."
Lily grudgingly walked out from behind her mother, approaching the man carefully. She looked at him appraisingly, taking him in. He'd grown a stubble along his jaw, and he looked a little thinner than he'd left. Lily slowly reached out a small hand, placing it in Jacob's large one.
"Papa," she said softly.
Jacob nodded, his eyes filling with tears. In an attempt to hide them, he pulled the girl into a tight embrace, holding on for dear life. He stroked the girl's dark brown hair, kissing her cheek. When he released Lily, it was clear that now he only had eyes for his wife. He walked toward Annabelle at a fast pace, and Annabelle went to meet him. He swept her up into his arms, twirling her around. He kissed her passionately, putting all of his love into it. Lily giggled at her parents' affection. They all walked into their home together, a family for the first time.
That night, as they undressed for bed, Jacob seemed restless. He kept looking at Annabelle, and she could not put a name down on his expression. Finally, she knew what he was feeling when he spoke. Betrayal.
"She looks just like him. When did he come?" he asked simply, sitting on the edge of the bed in only his trousers.
Annabelle sighed, ashamed and sorry. "A week after you left. Jacob, I'm so sorry. I just…I.." she faltered as Jacob held his head in his hands, a defeated man.
"Do you love him?" he asked, not bothering to look at her.
Annabelle didn't answer, only turned away, tears filling her eyes.
"Answer me," his voice was angry, hurt.
"Yes," she whispered, unable to look at him.
"Why? How could you love a man like him? What about me? Do you love me?"
"Yes! I do! I love you!" Annabelle said pleadingly. "But Jack will always hold a part of me with him. Do you understand?"
Jacob nodded, his eyes resting on her. "I should've known the rumours were true," his voice was bitter now. "But I wanted to think otherwise…"
"Jacob, look at me," Annabelle dropped to her knees in front of her husband, begging. "I love you. Know this. I love you. And your children love you. Make no mistake-they are your children, Jacob. You're raising them. You love them. Don't let my mistakes punish them. They love you. You're the only father they've known. The only father they will ever know. Please."
She reached out her hands, gripping his tightly. He tensed for a moment, but did not pull away. They locked eyes, and Annabelle could see all the pain he held inside of him. She felt the utmost guilt for her actions. She embraced her husband tightly. He gripped her just as tightly against his bare chest.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"Shhh," Jacob quieted her gently.
He pulled away from her, taking in every inch of her face. He kissed her gently. Annabelle responded strongly, feeling for the first time almost the same kind of passion she felt for Jack. They laid down on the bed together, and Annabelle felt for a moment that somehow she could make up for her infidelity, though in her subconscious she knew there was no way.
They lay in each other's arms afterwards, unknowing of the surprise that was coming ever steadily their way.
