Page 108 of Irish Betrayal

“Different.”

“…My girl.”

Peter’s voice inundated her mind, her body, her soul. It had wrecked Daniel to know that he had hurt her with two such simple, everyday words.

Blair was mortified that she had broken down so quickly—that she had so easily caved to Peter’s mind games—crushing.

What began as an easy, fun morning turned into, she didn’t know, a therapy session minus her therapist. She didn’t want Daniel, her fiancé, to worry about her, to walk on eggshells.

Blair hated it.

Hated her insecurities.

Mostly, she hated Peter. Hated with such vast vitriol that Blair dared not tell her therapist. She went days without thinking about that sonofabitch, and then one movement, one moment, one word…or two, my girl, and she was a worthless pile of slop.

Gray lightly punched Blair’s arm to get her wondering attention. “Are you ever going to tell us what the newest baby O is? Boy? Girl? Plant?” she teased, but her friend’s eyes were watching her closely.

Her friends weren’t buying that Blair was okay. Hell, Blair wasn’t buying that she was okay.

She shook her head, trying to get back in the game of life and out of Peter’s toxic wasteland.

“Sorry guys. I was…thinking, and you know Dan and I are telling you today. When we sit down for lunch,” Blair reminded. “I’m happy you’re here, and I’m so thankful for all the help making this place into a home.”

“Be honest, babe. You only gave a shit about your precious greenhouses,” Mags sniped, always ready and willing to lighten the mood with shit talk.

It worked because Blair shrugged and grinned.

“You’re talking out loud more. What changed?” Bébhinn asked before inhaling a handful of grapes.

Blair felt herself stiffen for the tenth time in as many minutes. Comments that shouldn’t remind her of Peter did, but that one definitely had to do with him. He always told her how off-putting her “deaf” voice was. He liked her silence.

Blair felt her face burn as her friends focused all their attention on her, waiting for an answer. Continuing to speak out loud was her therapist’s idea when Daniel told her that after Tulsa, she’d gone back to signing only.

Daniel went to therapy with Blair, but not for the whole session. Dr. Jenny said it was important for Daniel to understand how Blair was feeling but equally important for Blair to understand how her trauma made him feel.

“I um…I…I’m practicing more, I guess.” Blair gave a lame shrug to go with her equally lame answer.

“Ahh, okay,” was all Bébhinn said.

Gray added, “You have a lovely voice, Blair. You always have. I’m glad you’re using it instead of hoarding it for your family and us.” Her smile was forced.

“Oh,” Mags started, patting Blair’s baby bump, “I figured you were practicing for the new baby O. He’ll want to hear Mommy’s voice.”

“Nice try, Mags. I won’t give up the baby’s sex until Daniel says we can.” Thankful for the change of subject, she said, “I figured you would be announcing that you’re pregnant too. You know we always wanted our kids to grow up together like we did.”

“One thing at a time for the love of God. At least, I’m engaged,” Mags snapped back, tossing her hair for good measure.

“Well, so am I,” Blair laughed, pulling her wedding band from her pocket and slipping it on her ring finger.

“You horrible person!” Mags yelled, grabbing her hand. “We’ve been here an hour and you’re just telling us.”

The four women discussed the engagement, babies, work, and gossiped about their men, until said men joined them. Daniel had whisked the guys away to see his fishing pond, so this was the first time she’d spoken to any of them that day.

Blair tried to pretend like she wasn’t dying a little bit inside. The girls were hard enough to pretend like she wasn’t completely horrified about what she had allowed to happen with Peter, up to and including Tulsa.

All of her friends were strong women who were partnered with equally strong men. Blair couldn’t help but feel like Daniel had gotten cheated and that maybe his friends thought so too.

Despite Blair’s anxiety, lunch was great. The conversation was lively and fun. It was time for everyone to go home, and she and Daniel were walking them out.