Page 107 of Sins of Innocence

Does what he would have felt matter? No.

He's dead because he betrayed the mob he'd sworn his allegiance to. He left me and our girls to fend for ourselves.

For the first time I don't feel any anger over that, but it doesn't make that truth any less real.

So, I say what should be true, not what might have been. "No. Your daddy loved you girls. He wanted the best for you."

Those two things are absolutely true. That Troy defined what was best for them differently than I did is not the point.

"Kieran is strong," Sadie says, against my shoulder.

"He is."

"He'll protect us."

And right now, after what happened to her, Sadie needs that knowledge more than anything.

"He will," I promise her. "So will I." I'll never stop watching out for my girls. No matter what I have to do to keep them safe.

"I know, but having backup is good. That's what Fitz says." Sadie steps back from me, wiping at her face again. "He says it's okay to need help sometimes."

"It is," I agree.

"It is." Kieran's arm slides over my shoulder. "Are you okay with this, Sadie?"

Sadie nods. "I am. I want a dad too."

Then her lips wobble and Kieran proves he is the white knight in tarnished armor he's so intent on being, because he pulls her into a hug and they share a whispered conversation that has her smiling again.

Mom catches my eye. Hers are bright. She presses her lips together and nods, a single decisive dip of her chin that means more coming from Maureen Dougal than a standing ovation from anyone else.

Ellie materializes at my elbow and pulls me into a sideways hug. "Congratulations, sister."

"You knew," I accuse.

"Obviously." She is extremely smug about it. "Why do you think I came along on this trip?"

I thought it was to sell the we're-already-a-couple story for me and Kieran with my mom and kids. "You could have warned me."

"And miss that face?" She shakes her head. "No chance, but watch out, because Kieran has more up his sleeve than a surprise proposal."

I stare at my sister-from-another-mister. She cannot mean what I think she means. I quickly glance around the grotto, looking for more surprises. A priest maybe.

He wouldn't do that, would he? Spring a wedding on me.

A willowy woman about mom's age and at least four inches taller than her, is looking at us all with peaceful benevolence. Silver-gray hair tinted lavender hangs over her left shoulder in a long braid and at least three inches of her right forearm is covered in thin bangles.

She's holding a briefcase in that hand and it hits a discordant note with her long tunic top, the chain of crystals and thin gold links she's wearing at her hips, with ends that dangle down until they're lost in her many layered kerchief style skirt.

Nothing about this woman screams, "I'm here for a wedding." But something about the expectant way she looks at me tells me she's here for something related to us.

"Ah, good, you're here!" Ellie crows from beside me, before rushing forward to greet the older woman. "Is all the paperwork ready?"

Paperwork?

I whip my head sideways to catch my new fiancé's eye. "Kieran?" My voice cracks on the second syllable of his name.

"That's Celeste."