Promise Me

“Thanks Gramps.”

“I’m heading inside now. You coming.”

“Sure, just a minute.”

Dad’s anger at me was tearing me to pieces. I watched my grandfather go up the stairs and I turned to Skylar. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” She was looking at me oddly unsure of why I asked.

“Because when Dad hit me I staggered back into you. I wasn’t sure if I hurt you or Luke.”

Skylar walked to me and placed her hands on my cheeks after I bent over a little so she could reach me. “I’m fine Ronan.”

I pulled her into my arms and held her close. “Are you okay?” She asked me.

“No, I’m not. I’m coming apart.”

“Is there a meeting you can go to? I wish I could help you Ronan but this is out of my league. All I can do is tell you that I’m here for you and I support you. I believe in you. You can’t listen to what Declan said. You have to not let it affect you. You’ve come too far.”

I shook my head no. There was no meeting I could go to tonight. “What about Sam?” She asked.

“I could call him,” I agreed.

“I think you should Ronan.”

I released her and stepped back. I kissed her forehead. “Go in the house. I’ll be in a minute.”

“Okay.” She sounded reluctant to leave me. “I’ll be fine. I just want to call Sam.”

She nodded then she turned and went inside the house. I reached in my pocket. My hand trembled. I really wanted something to calm the turmoil inside. The craving was bad when the shit was bad in my head. I dialed Sam’s number. “Hey Ronan.”

“Sam,” I said his name and then the words flowed out of my mouth without hesitation. I told him what had happened with my dad. He knew I was upset and desperate.

“Meet me in town for coffee?” He suggested. “At the diner?”

“I think that is a good idea,” I replied.

I went inside and told Skylar I was meeting Sam for coffee. She nodded. “If I get tired I’ll have Fionn take me home.”

“Okay. Thank you,” I told her.

“For what?”

“For being smarter than me. For understanding what I needed when I didn’t. For believing in me.” I was grateful for her.

“That’s easy. I’ll walk you to the door.”

She did. She stood there at the door with me. I stared down at her for a moment. Then I kissed her. Later, at home. I needed to evaluate what I was feeling. Something more? More than I ever felt for any woman. The mother of my child. I held her close and my heart beat heard against my chest. Tears welled in my eyes. I was lucky. This whole situation could have turned out badly. Later, Skylar and I needed to talk when my thoughts weren’t dark and filled with need for escape.

Chapter 14

Daddy was on his way home when I called him I asked him to pick me up at the farm. I didn’t know how long Ronan was going to be with Sam. I needed to talk with him and Mom about what happened between Ronan and Declan. He texted me when he arrived at the farm. I said goodbye to my family there and went outside. He was driving Mom’s car tonight.

I hopped inside when he leaned across and opened the door for me. “Where’s Ronan?” I hadn’t told him yet what happened. “You two have a fight already?”

“Not us,” I explained. “Declan and Ronan. He hit Ronan.”

“Oh no. Where’s Ronan?”