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Dad frowned. “That’s vague as hell.”
“Her clock is ticking,” Colm said. “She’s sworn off the dating scene and made the decision to become a mother. On her own.”
“I see,” Dad said. “I have to admit that doesn’t surprise me. Kelli’s never had much luck in love, though I can’t figure out what’s wrong with the single men in this city. She’s definitely a catch.”
“She doesn’t suffer fools gladly,” Colm said.
Dad chuckled. “That’s true. She doesn’t. She also doesn’t make rash decisions, so if she’s decided she can handle being a mother on her own, she can.”
“Tell us the rest of it, lad.”
Pop Pop really didn’t need Colm to say the words. He already knew what he was going to say. But the old guy was canny, which meant he also knew Colm needed to come clean about everything.
“I’m in love with her.”
Dad blew out a long breath. “Damn. I was starting to worry we’d never see the day. You’ve changed girlfriends more than most people change underwear.”
“Very funny,” Colm replied, eyes narrowed, though there was no heat behind the phrase. “I think she’s the one.”
Pop Pop studied his face. “You don’t think, Colm. You know.”
“Yeah. I do know. But like I said, the timing on this…is tricky.”
“This isn’t a new relationship, Colm. I venture to guess you know Kelli better than any woman you’ve ever dated,” Dad said.
“I already know all the stuff about her that’s going to drive me crazy, and she knows the same about me.”
Dad laughed. “Well, that’s one way to look at it.”
“So you’re right. This isn’t the beginning, but…Kelli doesn’t consider this a beginning to anything. She thinks we’re just—” Colm stopped when he remembered who he was talking to.
Pop Pop winked at him. “Your father and I have been around long enough to fill in the rest of that statement. So am I to understand you haven’t spoken to her about wanting a commitment? A relationship?”
Colm shrugged. “It’s only been a couple of weeks, and given the fact she’s just sworn off men…that she’s seriously pursuing this single motherhood thing…”
“Let’s break it into pieces. She wants children, Colm,” Pop Pop said. “That desire isn’t going to go away. Having kids is a huge step, one that Kelli is obviously ready to take. What about you?”
“I want kids.” As soon as Colm said it, he realized he probably wanted them every bit as much as Kelli. “I’ve always wanted kids.”
“You’ll be a great father, lad,” Pop Pop said, gripping his shoulder. “At heart, you’re as peaceful and gentle as a dove. Wonderful attributes for a man with children.”
“Shit. You found a way to make me hate the meaning of my name less. How long have you been holding on to that gem?”
Pop Pop winked, even as he jokingly said, “Language.”
Colm smiled appreciatively at his grandfather, touched by his genuine belief in him. “If I could be half the father you and Dad were, I’d be happy. Not sure how either one of you did it.”
Pop Pop had lost Grandma Sunday when all of his kids were still living at home, Aunt Keira—the oldest, only eighteen at the time—all the way down to Uncle Sean, who’d still been in elementary school. Somehow he’d managed to run the pub and raise their seven kids on his own.
Pop Pop chuckled. “Well, I’m not going to say it was all sunshine and roses. God knows Riley and Sean tested me at times.”
Colm glanced at his dad, grinning. “And I know Paddy was a handful.”
Dad laughed. “Yeah. Paddy. Let’s go with that. So, you’ve been dating Kelli for a couple of weeks. That’s early in any relationship to be thinking about kids.”
“I know, but…” Colm didn’t want to say what he was really thinking because he figured he’d sound like an idiot. Two weeks was too early.
“But it hasn’t been two weeks,” Pop Pop finished for him. “Not really.”
