The St Patrick Series Book #1: The St Patrick Bride

Chapter Fifty Three: Blows

Courtney's POV
The waiting game...

It's like looking at a ticking clock and counting down every second to the day Chris will know. For the last few days, I have been thinking about Aubrey. I have been thinking about her never knowing her father and I really don't care. It's not my fault she exists. It's not my fault Allegra didn't have the balls to tell Chris. It's not my fault she's stuck with Tommy. It's not my responsibility to tell my husband about his other child.

"I can't wait for him to walk. My arms are cramping up." Bruce keeps getting heavier by the day.

"Don't you have a nannies?" Freya asked me.

"I have a nanny to help out. I prefer to be hands-on."

"That's why your arms are cramping up. I have two nannies. I can't manage on my own." She laughed. "Both of them have a separate nanny."

"I can't leave him with a nanny and be at peace." I gazed into the calm green eyes. They are not the same green as mine. They are more like my mother's. I pressed a soft kiss on his forehead. "I love you mi wee bairn. But you have to stop putting on weight or I'll drop you in one of these fine days."

"You two are cute. Is he an early riser? Cole is always awake at three. I'm not sure how he knew to be consistent but at three he was up and wailing. Leen is a wonderful sleeper. No issues. She eats and sleeps."

"He is not consistent. I am trying out a routine but we can't stick to it if Chris comes home at inconsistent times and wakes him." I laughed. "You should see them together."

"I'm happy for you. You were so terrified of doing this all by yourself but now you have Chris. He's staying I presume?"

"He took a desk job. I'm happy he's home. Have you spoken to Marianna?"

"No, I haven't. But by now she must have had the baby."

"I'm thinking of going to Italy. I want to see her."

"Maybe you should call first. Maybe she's not in a good place."

"What do you know?"

Freya looked around. She even crossed the living room to sit with me. "I hear... Rumours have it that Wayne took the baby."

"What do you mean?" The last thing I heard and it was from Gio when I was looking for Maria is that Nate took Nicko. I held Bruce a little closer.

"Marianna is childless. That's why I think you should call first. Her emotions must be raw."

If anyone takes Bruce from me I'll lose my mind.

"I can't imagine. Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything. Drink some more tea." She added tea to my cup. I'm becoming an expert at holding a baby with one arm and using the other for whatever.

"Dis you know Christopher's ex girlfriend?"

"No. I didn't."

"Do you know Tommy is supposedly a dad?"

"That I heard. I was at a soiree not so long ago and the women on my table were talking about it. They were calling it scandalous!"

"Why?"

"She was dating Chris and that didn't work out so she moved on to his brother and even had the nerve to get pregnant. That is what they were saying."

"It's not Tommy's." I informed her. "It's Christopher's but he doesn't know."

Freya's jaw nearly dropped. "Who doesn't know?" She's tight lipped so I can tell her anything and it won't be repeated.

"Chris doesn't know. That is what I'm assuming. Tommy knows that Aubrey is not his daughter but he's holding on so that he can get a bigger chunk of the St Patrick Group."