Forever & Always

26. Aftermath

Isla POV

I watched on as Joe glared silently at Kacey. At this point I didn't know what to say or think other than she better have a damn good reason for ruining my wedding day. At the same time I knew my heart couldn't take being hurt by Joe again, and I absolutely did not want to lose him, not now, not after everything.

"I'm not your's Kacey I haven't been for a long time" he says "I belong to the woman standing beside me.....always"

"Please what has she ever done for you Joe besides hold you back?" She snaps "I was the one who encouraged and supported you chasing your dreams, all she wanted was to keep you here and ruin your career before it started"

"You must be confused becuase the only one who encouraged me chasing my dreams was Isla. Yes she needed me but she told me to go, she let me go becuase she wanted the best for me" he says "she's never lied to me, she's never cheated and certainly never claimed a child was mine when it wasn't, unlike you"

"When did I ever lie to Joe?" She asks "name one time"

"You told me you'd talked to Isla before we left, you said you wanted to know if she felt the same way about me as I did about her becuase if she did you didn't want to stand in our way" he says "you stood in my house and told me that she had said she only saw me as a friend, that she didn't want me that way. You lied! You never spoke to her, if you had she would have told you the exact opposite and on top of that you removed her number from my phone so I couldnt contact her"

"It was the best thing for you, you would be where you are now if I hadn't done it" she says "you deserve better than her"

"Can't do better when I already have the best" Joe says making me smile

"What about Liam Joe?" She asks "he wants you to come home, we both do"

"I told you I'm Isla's no one else's" he says "Liam doesn't even know me we were over before he was born, I ended it after I found out you lied, and cheated, leave and stay out of my life"

"I love you Joe, and I'm not prepared to give you up" she says.

I take a step forward and stand in front of Joe, Kacey looks me up and down taking in my bump as I smile softly at her.

"You say you love him but all I've heard you talk about is you, what you want, what you need. What about what Joe wants, what Joe needs?" I ask and she looks at me "if you loved him that would matter more, he would come first above all else. I let him go all those years ago becuase I loved him, becuase I wanted the best for him and I knew he wouldn't find that here. Yes I wanted him to stay, I needed him but I would never hold him back. Your focus should be on your son not chasing a man that doesn't want you"

"Calm down butterfly, the stress isn't good for you" Joe says wrapping an arm around me

"He calls you that too huh?" She smirks "how many butterflies do have Joe?"

"Just the one" he says "I have never called you that, that name is for Isla and Isla only, now I suggest you take your bullshitting ass out of here before you make yourself look like an even bigger fool"

"You know it's sad how you have to hide behind him" she laughs "not brave enough to handle things yourself"

"Now you listen here, you have no idea how far I will go to protect those I love" I snap "nothing would give me greater pleasure than knocking the smirk off your face, but our daughter is sat over there and I don't want her thinking it's ok to hit people"

"Fair enough, but ask yourself this would he do the same for you?" She smirks "I can guarantee the answer is no"

With that she turns on her heel and leaves closely followed by both our mothers, probably to make sure she does actually leave.
I turn to look at Joe and he has his head hung.

I reach out and lift his face so he looks at me and I can see the worry in his eyes

"Butterfly I swear I never used that name with her" he says "and I would absolutely do the same for you I swear I........"

"Shh it's ok, I know" I soothe "I know you better than anyone, that's why I love you so deeply" I say and he smiles

"So you believe me?" He asks "I need to know you do"

"Of course I do" I say leaning up to kiss his lips "I trust you completely Joe, I didn't believe a word she said"

"I love you butterfly so so much" he says wrapping his arms around me "I'm sorry she ruined our day"

"I wouldn't say she has, the day isn't over so there's still time to turn it around" I say and he smiles "come on let's have one last party before I become to busy being a human dairy to do so"

Joe laughs softly and kisses my lips lovingly, allowing the kiss to linger a while. No way in this world would I give this man up without a fight, especially not to her.