Angel Academy

Chapter Thirty-four

Niamh's POV

I watched as Heath and Dean ran around the play ground at the park. Corbin sat beside me watching them. The only time Corbin was allowed to see Heath was when I was with him. I hated doing that to him, but after what Addaline and him pulled last time, I was not about to let him near my son without me knowing about it.

"So, where's Addaline," I asked casually.

Corbin sighed. "She's in the hospital. They're doing everything they can to keep her from going into labor, but nothing seems to be working." I looked over at him, and my heart broke. He had bags under his eyes, and his face seemed to be permanently haggard looking. Even his hair looked crazy, like he hadn't brushed it in a while.

"Why aren't you with her?" I asked. "It's none of my business, but when I was giving birth all I could think of is how much I wanted you there." He looked hurt by my comment, and I instantly felt bad. It wasn't his fault that he wasn't able to be there for Heath's birth, and I could tell it hurt him. "I'm sorry," I murmured, taking his hand and squeezing it. "I just meant-"

"I know what you meant, and you're right. I should be there. I've been there for days, Niamh," he said, his voice wobbling a little. "I just needed a break. It's so stressful." He sounded and looked like a tired little boy. "They say that if they're born now, they probably won't survive, and if they do, they'll have disabilities, and Niamh," he looked at me with tears in his eyes, "I can't handle that."

I sighed. "Here, why don't you go home and get some sleep? I'll see if Caleb can watch the boys, and then I'll go sit with Addaline for a couple hours."

"Really?"

Stupid, I thought to myself angrily as I nodded. I hated Addaline, but if Corbin needed a break, I'd go sit with her for him.

"I just have to stop at Caleb's house and one more place."

"I can watch the boys for you," Corbin offered.

My smile was tight. "It's fine. Caleb won't mind."

"Niamh," Corbin grabbed my hand as I got up to call Caleb, "please. You can trust me. I'll take them to your house, and I'll sleep in the guest bedroom. Please. You can trust me."

I glared at him. "Promise?" He nodded, holding his hands up to show that he wasn't lying. I sighed. "Fine. I'm trusting you. If you steal my boys from me, I will kill you."

Corbin smiled. "I know." He stood up and hugged me before gathering the boys.

"Dean," I murmured, kneeling down in front of him and taking his hands in mine, "I promise that Corbin is a good guy. I'll see you in a couple hours. Okay?"

His eyes filled with tears, and his bottom lip trembled. He hugged me, his arms wrapping around my neck tightly. "Don't go mommy," he murmured, and I froze. His voice was so low that I could barely hear him. "Please don't go. You won't come back." I could hear the tears in his voice and feel them running down his cheeks and into my neck.