Redeeming 6 (Boys of Tommen, #4)

by Chloe Walsh

“Tadhg…” My breath caught in my throat, and I sucked in a shaky breath, wondering just how much he knew. He was turning twelve in a couple of days, and knowing that he had this level of intuition and awareness about his family was heartbreaking. “I’m not giving up on your brother.” Swallowing harshly, I offered him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “I never will.” “He’s going to make it hard.” “Nothing worth having comes easy.” “And it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” “I’m well aware.” He watched me for a long beat, clearly taking my measure, before nodding his blond head. “Good. Because you won’t get better than him.” “I know.” “I mean it,” he pushed, tone defensive. “Joe’s the only parent I remember having, so trust me when I tell you that your kid…” He paused to gesture to my stomach before adding, “Is going to have one hell of a father.” I absorbed his words like an addict would crack cocaine because in this moment, whether he meant it or not, Tadhg Lynch was giving me everything I needed. He believed in his brother in the same way I did. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t yet a boy of twelve; the fact of the matter was that he got it. He saw the same person I did and was prepared to fight for him. It gave me hope. It gave me comfort.