AOIFE

“OH, THANK GOD,” I strangled out when Joey’s name flashed across the screen of my phone a little after nine that night. “Joe?” Trembling, I pressed my phone to my ear and bit back a sob. “Are you okay?”

“Molloy,” his voice came down the line and I collapsed in a heap on my bed, body flooding with gratitude. “Are you good? Did you get checked out at the hospital? Did they scan you? Is the baby okay?”

“Yeah, they did and everything’s fine,” I told him, heart thumping hard in my chest. “It’s all good, Joe. Our baby’s healthy as a horse.”

“Oh Jesus.” I heard him release a huge sigh of relief. “Thank fuck for that.”

“Joe, where the hell are you?”

“I’m on my way to your place,” he replied. “It might take me a while.” The sound of traffic whizzing past filled my ears. “I’m walking back into town from the Kavanagh’s place.”

“Johnny Kavanagh?” I frowned in confusion. “What were you doing there? What happened with the Gards?”

“It’s a really long story, queen,” he replied. “I’ll explain everything when I get to you.”

“I’ll come and get you,” I hurried to say, searching my room for my keys. “Just wait there, and I’ll drive—”

“No, baby, stay where you are,” he instructed. “I’m like twenty minutes away tops. Just relax and rest up, okay? I won’t be long.”

“Joe.” Instantly suspicious, I demanded, “Tell me you haven’t?” “I haven’t.”

“Promise me.”

“I haven’t, I swear.”

I sagged in relief, wary, but needing to believe him. “Come straight here, okay? Don’t get sidetracked.” Don’t fuck up. “I’ll be waiting for you, okay?”

“I love you, Molloy.” “I love you, too.”

“See you in twenty.”