"I have no words," Orla finally said.
"I understand," Arnold replied, his voice softer. "But Orla..." He paused, lowering his head before lifting it again to meet her eyes. "Orla, I..."
"It's not easy losing three daughters to jail. I hope you find peace. I never wanted this, but you were the one who sent them to jail." She cut him off, not wanting to hear more.
She knew what he wanted to say, but she wasn't ready to walk that road with him yet.
Some relationships, once broken, could never be mended. She saw her relationship with her father as one of those unfortunate ones.
"Mia killed your mother. I can't let her walk free knowing she killed my wife," Arnold countered, fury laced in his voice. "They had to pay for their sins. This isn't just about you, Orla."
"Alright then," she surrendered, feeling the guilt slip away but still not wanting to continue the conversation. "I hope to see you next time. I have a design to work on."
She stood up with Callan's support.
"Orla," Arnold called as she took a step forward. She halted, not looking back. "You can take your time, Orla. It might take years to forgive me, but I hope I get to know you've forgiven me before I die."
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't know if he was throwing a pity party, but she didn't care.
The emotional trauma of over a decade, the physical abuse, the deep pain she couldn't talk about—all of it overwhelmed her.
He had hidden her from the world, rejected her for years, loathed her passionately. She couldn't bear to think of it all. Whenever she tried to give in, she remembered everything she went through, making it tough to let go.
"I will go now," Arnold said, rising to his feet and quietly walking out of the house.
Once Orla noticed he was gone, she turned to Callan with tears streaming down her face. "Callan, I can't. I don't know what to do."
She collapsed into Callan's arms, and he held her tightly, his embrace warm and comforting.
Orla sobbed, each tear a painful reminder of her mother, her sisters, and the years lost with her family.
She desperately wished for things to be different, to forget it all, to have it hurt less than it did even now. Most of all, she wished her father had trusted her, had protected her from her sisters when she was young and innocent. She wished he had been there when she needed him the most.
"Mommy, where is Grandpa?" Leor scurried into the room, his small voice breaking the heavy silence. "Isla is taking Elmo away from me. I will tell Grandpa." He hugged his mother's legs, looking up at her. "Mommy, why are you crying?"
"Oh no, baby, I'm not crying. Grandpa had things to do. He will visit next time. Where is your sister?"
Isla ran towards them, holding out the Elmo toy to her brother. "Take," she muttered, handing it over. "Sorry."
Callan smiled, lifting Isla into his arms as Orla picked up Leor.
"Learn to share with your brother, okay?" he gently scolded, tweaking her soft cheeks.
"I will share with Leor, Daddy." She nodded, her eyes wide with sincerity and empathy for making her brother cry. "I'm sorry, Leor." She touched his head, kissing his cheeks as Orla brought him closer. "I love you."
The parents blushed at Isla's words, glancing at Leor to encourage him to respond. But he remained silent, still mad at his sister. They found it endearing. The twins always fought but couldn't live without each other.
"Mommy, did you cry?" Isla noticed the wetness on her mother's face. "Why did you cry?"
"Mommy is happy, Isla," Callan answered, anticipating her next question.
She furrowed her brow, thinking deeply before looking back at her dad.
"People don't cry when they are happy, Daddy." She tilted her head, trying to understand.
"They do, baby," Orla chimed in. "People cry when they are happy, when they look around and see they are surrounded by love." She gazed at her husband and children, her perfect definition of love. "They cry because that is what true happiness feels like." She smiled softly.
"I love you, baby," Callan said, his voice thick with emotion, his words melting Orla's heart all over again.
What would she have done if Callan hadn't shown up in her life?
Where would she be now? It wasn't enough that he made her the happiest woman alive. He also made her feel fulfilled, the best mother, and gave her a life beyond her dreams.
They have had their ups and downs, but that didn't change the fact that Callan was her savior.
Her knight in shining armor.
Her reason to live and fight through life. Her true love and her essence. She loved him deeply, and she was about to respond when Isla interrupted her thoughts.
"Daddy, Mommy is not a baby," Isla declared with a serious face.
"She is, Isla. Your mom is my baby," Callan replied, a twinkle in his eye.
"No, the baby in Mom's belly is a baby," Leor spoke up unexpectedly, causing everyone to turn toward him.
Orla and Callan laughed, their joy echoing through the room. Their children were growing, and each day brought new moments to cherish.
They loved these times, these precious snippets of family life, and they hoped to experience many more with the twins, their unborn baby, and their seven more children in the future.
Orla looked at Callan, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. No matter what challenges lay ahead, they had each other. They had built a life together, a life full of love and laughter, and they would continue to face whatever came their way hand in hand.
As the laughter subsided, Orla felt a deep sense of peace.
They would be with each other until the very end, through every joy and sorrow, every triumph and setback. Together, they had found a home in one another, a place where love always prevailed.
They embraced each other, their children giggling around them, and in that moment, everything felt perfectly right.
The future was theirs, filled with endless possibilities and boundless love.
With hearts full of hope and hands clasped tightly, they were ready to face the world, ready for whatever came next.
They always had each other, and that was more than enough.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE
This book took me a year and seven months to write. It wasn't an easy ride; I almost gave up at times, but your likes, comments, and votes kept me going. I loved writing about Orla and Callan, their unique love story. Now, their story has ended, but it will take time for me to let go of them.
Thank you for staying with me and encouraging me throughout this journey. Even when I had to delay updates due to my busy schedule, you never gave up on me and were always eager to read my book.
I have tears in my eyes as I write this last chapter. I hope to receive the same love and encouragement for my next book.
Thank you for sticking around. Please don't forget to like and leave your honest review of the entire book.
I love you all, and thank you for reading.