Forever Mine: Callaghan Brothers, Book 9(53)
“Like a chain reaction,” she whispered in childlike awe. She stood on Kane’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Can you feel it, Grandpa?”
“Aye, but since it’s not a direct hug, you have to squeeze a little harder and really put your heart into it.”
Aislinn closed her eyes and squeezed her father as hard as she could. Over her shoulder, Jack could see Kane’s eyes. They were still focused on the game, but for a moment, Kane’s icy blue eyes were shimmering. Then he blinked and the moisture was gone, but Jack knew he had remembered.
––––––––
March 1977
Pine Ridge
“But I want to hug Mom,” two-year old Kane protested as he peered over the hospital bed railing. Kathleen had just given birth to their second son, Jake, via Caesarean section. Kane pointed a pudgy finger toward the squirming infant in Jack’s arms. “He hurt her,” Kane accused. “Mom always hugs me when I’m hurt and makes me feel better.”
“Jake didn’t hurt me,” Kathleen explained gently. “Having a baby is a painful process, but purely natural. It won’t last long.”
“How long?” he asked.
“Not long,” she smiled. “In the meantime, you can give your father a hug and I’ll feel it.”
He cast a doubtful gaze her way. “How?”
“We’re a family, so we’re all connected. When you show love to one of us, we all feel it.”
Kane considered this. His eyes went to the baby and narrowed. “So... if I hug my new brother really, really hard, you’ll feel that too?”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Kane wasn’t exactly thrilled with his new brother just yet, and it was understandable. For those two years, he’d been an only child, the sole recipient of their time and attention. Jack was just about to warn him against doing anything that might hurt the baby, but Kathleen, as usual, was one step ahead of him.
“Yes, but it won’t feel good because you’re much bigger and stronger than he is.”
“Oh.” Kane looked disappointed that his not-so-subtle plan was not going to work out.
“But you know what you can do?”
“What?”
“After you give your father a hug, you can come up here and sit beside me so we can make a new story together.”
Kathleen loved reading to Kane, but he quickly grew bored by hearing the same stories over and over, so sometimes, they made up their own.
“What kind of story?”
“Hmmm,” she hummed. “What do you think? What do you feel like today?”
“A dragon,” Kane said immediately. “A big, strong, fire-breathing dragon.”
“Excellent! I love dragons. Especially big black dragons with icy blue eyes. You start.”
––––––––
September 2015
Pine Ridge
Kathleen had a special gift for reaching into the hearts of those she loved. Kane had been especially devastated by her death. He’d been sixteen at the time, on the cusp of full manhood. Jack’s serious son became even more so, retreating into himself, internalizing everything.
Kane earned the nickname “Iceman” for his seemingly cold, calculating persona, but far beneath that frozen exterior lay the boy he had once been. After Kathleen died, no one had been able to draw him out, and Jack feared a part of him had been broken forever. Thankfully, Rebecca had come along and proven him wrong. The woman had the gentle nature and inner fortitude of a saint. Nothing less could have coaxed Kane’s heart to open.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Rebecca appeared in the doorway. Jack put his finger to his lips and glanced meaningfully over to where Aislinn was sound asleep, tucked securely in the safety of her father’s arms.
Rebecca followed his gaze, meeting Kane’s. The connection between them was almost tangible; such was the way of true croies. Her features softened, her eyes reflecting the love she had for her husband and child so much that even he felt it.
“How are you doing, Dad?” Rebecca asked softly, leaning down to gift him with a kiss on the cheek.
“Good,” Jack answered. It wasn’t a total lie. Physically, he was getting stronger every day. Her golden brown eyes glimmered knowingly, but angel that she was, accepted it for what it was. A partial truth.
“Jake’s here. He brought Riley.”
Jack nodded. He was expecting them. Taryn had stopped by the day before and filled him in. Riley hadn’t been by to see him since the day of his heart attack. They hadn’t pressed the issue. Riley was a spitfire, but, like her mother, felt things very deeply. The girl needed time to process what had happened in her own way. After nearly a week of moping silence, it became clear that there was more to it than that. Riley finally admitted to believing she had somehow caused (or at least contributed to) his attack. Of course Jake and Taryn had tried to talk to her, but it wasn’t until Michael sat her down and explained things from a medical point of view that she’d really started listening.
Kane rose, his big hand spanning the back of his sleeping daughter and greeted his brother with a nod.
“Jake.”
“Kane.”
Of all of his sons, Kane and Jake were probably the most alike. Both were born leaders, and were extremely competitive. Growing up, the two of them butted heads more often than not, which had led to some full-blown brawls over the years.