she would know.” Hannah took a sip of wine before continuing, “It took Ryan ten years to finally hook Samantha.”
“Yes, but we were lucky.” Samantha placed the mug down and then looked directly at Angel. “Some people never have the opportunity for a second chance.”
Angel’s gaze fell to Hannah’s baby, Maxine. Hadn’t Angel seen her pregnancy as a second chance with Billy? And even as that hope died, she still dreamed of him walking through the door of O’Malley’s in an Officer and Gentleman type of fashion. In way he had, minus the whole carrying her out in his arms thing. Life wasn’t like the movies. She remembered Hoss’ warning, ‘Don’t believe in fairy tales’.
“Do you want to hold her?”
Angel nodded. Had Hannah noticed the longing in Angel’s eyes? When Hannah slid the warm bundle into Angel’s arms she snuggled, cheek to cheek, inhaling the comforting scent babies naturally exuded. Angel had been so scared the first year of Gabby’s life she barely enjoyed a moment of it. Believing she’d be a single parent all her life, she never thought of having another baby. Gabby deserved all her mom’s love to replace an absent father. Holding Maxine stirred up Angel’s hormones. Maybe in a couple of years she’d ask Billy to be a sperm donor so Gabby could have a sibling. Maybe she’d even ask him to donate the old fashion way. Then a hope so small it only had a chance to flicker as a fleeting thought, them as a real family. Perhaps, this was their second chance. Was she going to squander it away because she was afraid?
Gabby pirouetted back into the room. Upon noticing that her mom was now holding the baby, she stopped playing ballerina and ran over. “My turn,” she ordered.
Angel shook her head. “She’s not a toy.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll put Maxine on a pillow and help Gabby hold her.”
“Pleazeeeeeeeeeee, Mommy.”
“Ok, but you have to sit still. And not the sit in church still and then you fidget like a monkey.”
“I’ll be as still as a church mouse.”
Babies are cute, but five-year-olds are cuter. Then again Angel thought that about every stage of Gabby’s life. Still, she wished she could keep Gabby five forever. No matter, she’d always be her little girl, always be that girl full of life and wonder. Perhaps Samantha was right. Had Angel really changed from that sixteen-year-old girl who fell so hopelessly in love with Billy? Her heart answered, no you haven’t.
Thrilled with the chance to hold the baby, Gabby buzzed with excitement. As promised when Hannah placed the pillow with Maxine on Gabby’s lap she sat rooted to her spot on the couch. That didn’t stop the talking of course, but Gabby’s sing song voice seemed to soothe the baby.
At that moment she heard the door open and close. Billy strode in. “Where’s my girl—what the hell?”
Before Angel could say anything Samantha came to the rescue. “Hannah and I thought we’d welcome Angel and Gabby to the family.”
Heat bloomed on Angel’s cheeks. Would Billy think she’d given them the wrong impression? Being tongue-tied seemed to be a perpetual state when she was with Billy, except for when she was bitching at him.
“Look Daddy, I’m holding a baby.” Gabby smiled proudly.
Angel frowned, disturbed by Gabby seeking Billy’s approval. How many times over the years had Angel tried to win O’Malley’s affections? She’d move heaven and hell before she’d let her little girl be disappointed like that.
“You’re such a big girl,” said Billy.
Gabby beamed with pride. How did he know the exact right thing to say? Angel really needed a chill pill or another glass of wine. We bring our past hurts. Samantha’s words echoed in Angel’s mind. Billy wasn’t O’Malley. The sooner she got that through her thick skull the better off they’d all be.
“Daddy, when can I have a baby sister?”
Chapter 11
A s soon as I can get your mom in my bed, he thought. His gaze
“Yes, but we were lucky.” Samantha placed the mug down and then looked directly at Angel. “Some people never have the opportunity for a second chance.”
Angel’s gaze fell to Hannah’s baby, Maxine. Hadn’t Angel seen her pregnancy as a second chance with Billy? And even as that hope died, she still dreamed of him walking through the door of O’Malley’s in an Officer and Gentleman type of fashion. In way he had, minus the whole carrying her out in his arms thing. Life wasn’t like the movies. She remembered Hoss’ warning, ‘Don’t believe in fairy tales’.
“Do you want to hold her?”
Angel nodded. Had Hannah noticed the longing in Angel’s eyes? When Hannah slid the warm bundle into Angel’s arms she snuggled, cheek to cheek, inhaling the comforting scent babies naturally exuded. Angel had been so scared the first year of Gabby’s life she barely enjoyed a moment of it. Believing she’d be a single parent all her life, she never thought of having another baby. Gabby deserved all her mom’s love to replace an absent father. Holding Maxine stirred up Angel’s hormones. Maybe in a couple of years she’d ask Billy to be a sperm donor so Gabby could have a sibling. Maybe she’d even ask him to donate the old fashion way. Then a hope so small it only had a chance to flicker as a fleeting thought, them as a real family. Perhaps, this was their second chance. Was she going to squander it away because she was afraid?
Gabby pirouetted back into the room. Upon noticing that her mom was now holding the baby, she stopped playing ballerina and ran over. “My turn,” she ordered.
Angel shook her head. “She’s not a toy.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll put Maxine on a pillow and help Gabby hold her.”
“Pleazeeeeeeeeeee, Mommy.”
“Ok, but you have to sit still. And not the sit in church still and then you fidget like a monkey.”
“I’ll be as still as a church mouse.”
Babies are cute, but five-year-olds are cuter. Then again Angel thought that about every stage of Gabby’s life. Still, she wished she could keep Gabby five forever. No matter, she’d always be her little girl, always be that girl full of life and wonder. Perhaps Samantha was right. Had Angel really changed from that sixteen-year-old girl who fell so hopelessly in love with Billy? Her heart answered, no you haven’t.
Thrilled with the chance to hold the baby, Gabby buzzed with excitement. As promised when Hannah placed the pillow with Maxine on Gabby’s lap she sat rooted to her spot on the couch. That didn’t stop the talking of course, but Gabby’s sing song voice seemed to soothe the baby.
At that moment she heard the door open and close. Billy strode in. “Where’s my girl—what the hell?”
Before Angel could say anything Samantha came to the rescue. “Hannah and I thought we’d welcome Angel and Gabby to the family.”
Heat bloomed on Angel’s cheeks. Would Billy think she’d given them the wrong impression? Being tongue-tied seemed to be a perpetual state when she was with Billy, except for when she was bitching at him.
“Look Daddy, I’m holding a baby.” Gabby smiled proudly.
Angel frowned, disturbed by Gabby seeking Billy’s approval. How many times over the years had Angel tried to win O’Malley’s affections? She’d move heaven and hell before she’d let her little girl be disappointed like that.
“You’re such a big girl,” said Billy.
Gabby beamed with pride. How did he know the exact right thing to say? Angel really needed a chill pill or another glass of wine. We bring our past hurts. Samantha’s words echoed in Angel’s mind. Billy wasn’t O’Malley. The sooner she got that through her thick skull the better off they’d all be.
“Daddy, when can I have a baby sister?”
Chapter 11
A s soon as I can get your mom in my bed, he thought. His gaze
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