Kissing her temple, I whisper how much I love her and she just cries against me. I want to comfort her, but really what can I do? How do you mend that kind of loss? I just don’t see it happening. As much as I want to believe I do comfort her, I know that it can’t be enough. Time will heal, and hopefully, I’ll help a bit. When she pulls back, her eyes full of tears, she cups my face, running her thumbs along my jaw as her eyes search mine.

When her lips curve up in a shaky grin, it honestly guts me. She is so beautiful and so fuckin’ strong. It kills me. I wish I were a quarter of what she is. To go through so much pain but still love with all ya heart is saintlike almost. She is my angel. My sweet, gorgeous angel.

“I swear, Declan, you are my salvation,” she whispers, tears rolling fast along her cheeks. “I wouldn’t be as happy as I am without you. I try so hard to be happy, to make other people happy, and to just be the person everyone wants. But when I’m with you, I only have to be me. Sometimes that’s a hot mess of tears, but I know you’ll always love me.”

“I will,” I promise. “No matter what.”

Her lip starts to wobble, and when her eyes close, I want to gather her in my arms, but then she sucks in a deep breath before glancing at me. “I’m not saying this to hurt your feelings, but you’ll never be what my parents were—”

“I know that—” I say, but she shakes her head, cutting off any further words.

“And I know you don’t try to be. You are Declan, only Declan, for me, and that’s all I need. I miss my parents, I do, and I know that over the years, the pain will dull, but I just want you to know that I wouldn’t make it without you. I’d put on a front, I would, but I would never experience life the way I am now that you are in it.”

Smiling, I cover her hands with mine. “And to think, we have so much more to do. Our wedding, honeymoon, and then our life. No matter what, I’ll be beside you.”

“Good ’cause I don’t believe in divorce.”

“Nor do I. This is it. Me and you, mo stór.”

“That’s how I want it.”

We share a grin before pressing our lips together. Gathering her tightly in my arms, I deepen the kiss, hoping to portray how much love is in me for this woman. How my whole life is devoted to her. That is until a knock comes at the door.

Parting quickly, I let my legs hang over the bed as Amberlyn says, “Come in.”

In comes Mrs. Maclaster with a sullen look on her face. “Sorry to bother ya, but I just got the mail and this was in it.”

She crosses the room and hands the letter to Amberlyn. I want to mind my own business, but the look on Shelia’s face has me nervous. Glancing over, I see who the letter is from and soon my blood is boiling.

Casey Burke.

“How can he send this to me?” she asks as she tears it open.

“The inmates can send post if they like,” I answer as Shelia sits down in a chair by the bed. “Can I read it?”

She nods before clearing her throat. “I’ll read it out loud.”

My dearest Amberlyn,

I hope that all is fit with ya. That you are happy and healing well.

I first want to apologize for everything that I’ve done to you. I should have never touched you or hurt you in any way. I always felt like ya was seeing me and not what everyone said about me. It was intoxicating; you are intoxicating, that is. I can see why O’Callaghan is so in love with ya. You’re special. That being said, I never meant to shoot you. I know ya love him, but he has done nothing but hurt me over and over again. His family has run my name through the dirt. His sister broke my heart, his da tries to pay me off to leave, but I can’t. My ma is sick and needs me. She is dying, Amberlyn, and if you testify against me, she’ll die without my care. I have to be there. Please, don’t testify. I know you can turn this letter in and it’ll have me rotting in jail, but I’m hoping you’ll find it in yer heart to help me out. If not for me, then my ma. Please.

Find it in yer heart. Please.

Casey

As the words leave her lips, I hate them. I hate every single word, and I want nothing more than to stuff them all down that eejit’s throat. They are all lies. All of them. But when I go to tell Amberlyn that, her eyes are full of tears and she is shaking her head as she slowly folds up the letter.

“Well, then,” Mrs. Maclaster says.

She chews her lip before looking over at her aunt. “Do you know where his mom is? Is she still at home?”

Mrs. Maclaster nods. “Yeah, she was in a home, but there was no money coming in, so now she has a friend who comes in to care for her.”

Looking over at me, Amberlyn meets my gaze. “I’m still gonna testify against him, he has to pay for his crime, but his mom shouldn’t pay for his mistakes.”

“I mean, she did raise the gobshite,” I say, but she tsks me.

“Declan.”

I look away as I shake my head. “It’s true, though,” I say, and even Mrs. Maclaster agrees with me.

“This is true, but I can’t help put her son away knowing that she’ll die without proper care.”

Again I shake my head, knowing exactly what she is doing. “Ya have a heart of gold, Amberlyn.”

“And you love me for it,” she says and I nod, kissing the side of her mouth.

“I do and I’ll have my assistant call tomorrow to get her put back in the home, fully paid for.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’ll do it with my money. I don’t want to make your dad mad.”

Taking her hand, I kiss her palm before meeting her gaze. “Don’t ya worry about my da, I’ll deal with him. But, Amberlyn—”

Her eyes start to water again. “Yeah?”

“My money is your money, my love. Don’t ever forget that. And if doing this for that wanker’s ma will make you happy, then it’s done.”

When the brightest grin comes across her face, I remember that I may never love her the same way her family did, but I’m going to try my hardest to love her even more.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my whole life.

I feel I say those words at least a dozen times when Amberlyn is in the room.

But tonight, it can’t be because I’m biased and completely in love with her. No, it has to be because she is the sun, shining on us all. Blessing us all with her beauty. I mean, she’s fuckin’ sparkling.