An Unplanned Lesson

by Beth Rinyu

  “I wanted to kill him, Nicole. I have never been that angry in my life.” He pulled me closer and hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes, feeling as if nothing could hurt me now. “I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you,” he said.

  He pushed my hair out of the way and caressed my face. “I thought you weren’t coming back until Tuesday,” I said.

  “I decided to come back early. I thought maybe you might need someone to talk to; I wanted to be here for you. Besides, no use in being there when I’ve decided to stay here.”

  I lifted my head from his shoulder, trying to decipher what he had just said. He saw the look of confusion on my face.

  “Nicole, I’m not going back to Dublin. That’s part of the reason that he was so angry, because he was up for the position that I decided to take.”

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “I don’t know. I thought about how it would affect Ryan and then there’s this girl who I’m crazy about.”

  “Oh, does this girl know how you feel?”

  “Don’t know; I acted like a real jerk. I really fucked things up with her and I just hope she can forgive me.”

  I smiled for the first time in days and stretched my neck up to kiss him on the cheek. “She does.”

  He smiled back and hugged me tightly. I leaned my head back on his shoulder. “This is my fault. I should have never taken him up on his drink offer. I just got so upset that day at your office, when I saw that girl there.”

  Dailan moved his shoulder forcing me to raise my head and look at him. “What girl?” he looked at me with pure confusion.

  “That red-headed girl, you know the one –” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. It hurt too much to even say it.

  “Nicole, I didn’t even see her that day. I have no idea why she showed up. But I told my secretary to tell her I was in a meeting.”

  “You mean, you didn’t –”

  He stopped me before I could finish. “No! Nicole, contrary to how I may have behaved toward you, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. You are the only girl that I’ve wanted since the day that I met you.”

  Relief and guilt simultaneously swept over me. I hugged him tightly upon hearing those words.

  “This wasn’t your fault, Nicole. He did this to you to get at me.”

  "Dailan, what happened with him? Why did the two of you hate each other so much, even before this happened with your job?"

  He sighed deeply. "He and my sister-in-law had an affair."

  "Oh," I sat up pushing my hair behind my ear. I suddenly remembered that day at the ice skating rink when Ryan had told me his mom had worked for the company.

  "She swore that it only happened once and then she realized how wrong it was, but who knows," he said with disgust.

  "Did your brother know?"

  He shook his head “no” and for a brief moment, I saw his eyes begin to fill up before catching himself and stopping it.

  "How did you find out?" I asked.

  "Because that sick bastard told me. I just figured he was lying, but when I confronted Connie, she confirmed it," he said sadly. "I wish she would have just lied. I didn't want to know the truth."

  "You never told your brother?"

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Connie was like my sister. What she did to my brother was pretty shitty, but she was a great mother. She loved Ryan more than anything in this world. She begged me not to say anything. I knew how my brother was and I knew he wouldn't be forgiving. I couldn't do that to Ryan - I couldn't tear apart his family like that. But then maybe if I did, his mom and dad would still be here right now."

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "The night that they got in the -" he had to stop himself to regain his composure. I placed my hand on his arm and rubbed it gently as he continued. "The night that they got into the accident, they were on their way home from a wedding. It was someone that we worked with. I wasn’t there; I was back home in Ireland. That asshole Kincaide was there, though. He became obsessed with Connie when she told him it was over. He blamed me for it, said that I had convinced her to end it. He told my brother everything that night, making sure that he knew that I was aware of the affair as well. When my brother confronted Connie, she confessed to everything. It was raining, they were fighting and..."

  "How do you know?"

  “Right before they crashed, my brother called me. I knew that there was always a chance that he would find out that I knew and I was prepared to deal with it. My brother could be a real nasty son of a bitch, but I always knew how to handle him.” He briefly paused, looked straight ahead, and ran his hand through his hair. "That night when he called me, I was in a dead sleep. I thought I was just dreaming when I answered the phone. But even being half asleep, I could hear the hurt in his voice. His last words to me were, 'I can't believe my own brother would have kept this from me.' I tried to explain myself to him, but the phone went dead. There was nothing I could do. I was an ocean away. I tried calling him back..." he took a deep breath as a tear rolled down his face.

  "Oh, Dailan, it's okay." I hugged him tightly. "You did what you thought was right for everyone involved.” It suddenly became clear to me why Dailan had gotten so upset with me for talking to Rick. He was harboring so much guilt and resentment that he wasn’t willing to share. Something I could relate to all too well. I was hoping that he had felt better about himself for finally clearing his mind. I rubbed his back lightly and kissed him on the cheek, wiping away the lone teardrop that was rolling down his face. I got up from the couch and took his hand. He looked at me in confusion.

  "Did you forget where my bedroom was?"

  "Nicole, are you up for this tonight?" he asked as he stood up and gently rubbed his thumb over my bruised eye.

  "I never wanted anything more.” Tonight, more than ever, I needed to feel his touch. I needed the security of being in the arms of the man I loved, feeling as if no one could hurt me as long as he was here.

  He flashed his crooked little smile at me and my heart dropped. I stood on my tippy toes and whispered in his ear, "I love you, Dailan O'Maley."

  His smile became wider upon hearing those words. "I love you too,” he said as he effortlessly scooped me up in his arms and carried me to my bedroom.

  Chapter 49

  The birds were singing outside my bedroom window as the bright sunlight peeked through my half-opened blinds. I looked over at the clock, not even caring that it was almost 10 a.m. and I had slept most of the morning away. I could spend the rest of the day in bed as long as I was wrapped up in the arms of the man lying beside me. I kissed him softly on his chest. His smile was a mile wide when he opened his eyes and looked at me, sending warmth throughout my body.

  “Good morning,” I said, this time kissing him on the cheek.

  “I love waking up with you,” he said as he caressed my swollen face. It was feeling much more tender this morning. He pulled me closer and gently grazed the bruise with his lips. He softly ran his fingers up and down my back. I closed my eyes, never feeling as content as I had right now. “Lisa’s dropping Ryan off at noon; he’s probably wondering what happened to me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was on my way home from the airport to pick him up when I called you last night. I texted Lisa last night and told her that there was an emergency and I wouldn’t be able to pick him up.”

  “Okay, so why don’t you get your bag from the car and take a shower, while I make you breakfast before you go.”

  “You don’t have to make me breakfast and you’re coming with me. I’m not leaving you here alone.”

  “Yes I am making you breakfast, and really - I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Nicole, I’m not leaving you.”

  I got out of bed and slipped on sweats and a tank top, knowing that I wasn’t going to win that battle. Dailan went outside to get his bag while I went into the bathroom and examined my face in the mirror
for the very first time since last night. It was bruised and swollen. Shivers went through my spine when I flashed back to the terror I had felt last night. I began to cry, thinking about what could have happened. I knew that the physical marks would heal; it was the emotional ones that wouldn’t have if Dailan hadn’t gotten there in time to stop it. I quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped my eyes when I heard Dalian coming back inside.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked as he entered the bathroom.

  “I was just thinking about last night. I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself if he – ”

  He tilted my chin and bent down to kiss me, stopping me from saying what I was about to say. He was seemingly just as pained by the thought of it as I was. “You’re okay, Nicole. I promise I will never let anything happen to you.” I stood on my tippy-toes and kissed him softly on the lips. I reached my hand into the shower, turned on the water, and lifted my shirt over my head. My stomach tingled, seeing the smile that appeared on his face. I smiled back as I lifted his shirt over his head and unbuttoned his pants. We quickly removed the rest of our clothing, stepping into the shower, and let the warm water envelop us.

  * * *

  I broke down in tears once again over breakfast when I began to tell Dailan about my brother’s funeral. He comforted me and listened closely. I knew if anyone could relate to the pain I was feeling it was he.

  “Thank you so much for everything,” I said as I reached over and ran my hand through his damp wavy hair. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “Did I ever tell you that I love you?” I asked.

  His smile was a mile wide. “I think you did – but you can say it again.”

  “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

  “Oh, I think I do know,” he said. He got up and stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He moved my hair away from my ear, bent down, and whispered, “But I think I love you more.” I couldn’t contain my smile. The wall was finally broken. I was allowing Dailan to enter my heart completely; erasing all the pain and guilt that had been weighing me down for all of these years. My self-imprisonment had ended. I had finally come to the realization that I deserved to be happy.

  “We have to get going,” he said as he kissed my neck.

  I turned around to face him. “Dailan, I just want to throw a load of laundry in and blow-dry my hair, and then I promise I will be over.”

  “Nicole, I don’t want you staying here alone.”

  “I will be fine. You can call me every five minutes if you’d like. I promise I will be over in one hour.”

  He looked at me reluctantly. “Nicole-”

  “I will be fine.”

  “Okay, but pack a bag because you’re staying over. You’re not sleeping here alone.”

  “Okay.” I wasn’t putting up a fight. I was actually glad. Daytime I could handle, but nighttime was going to be hard for me for a while.

  “Call me as soon as you step foot out of this door and walk to your car,” Dailan said as I walked him to the door.

  “I will, I promise.”

  I kissed him softly on the lips, nearly jumping out of my skin at the sound of someone knocking at my door. I looked out my window and cringed at the sight of my dad’s car in my driveway.

  “Shit, shit, shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” Dailan asked.

  “It’s my dad. I can’t do this, I can’t deal with him right now,” I said with desperation in my voice.

  Dailan took my hand in his and looked directly in my eyes “Nicole, you will be fine; you can do it.”

  I took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. So much for his friend Don abiding by my wishes, I thought. My dad had a look of alarm stretched across his face as he focused in on the bruising on my face.

  “Oh my God, Nicole!” He took me off guard when he pulled me toward him and embraced me tightly. I didn’t know how to react; it had been so long since my dad had hugged me or showed any type of affection at all. I finally wrapped my arms around him and awkwardly hugged him back. He took my face in his hands. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  He shifted his attention to Dailan. “Dad, you remember Dailan – right?”

  “Yes, of course. Thank you, thank you so much,” he said as he extended his hand to Dailan.

  Dailan nodded. “I’m very sorry for your loss, Mr. Morgan.”

  My dad looked down at the ground. “Thank you,” he said sadly. “Please call me ‘Nick.’”

  Dailan reached for the doorknob. “Well, I was just leaving. Nicole, I’ll see you in a little while. Please just call me when you leave.”

  “I promise.” I gave him a kiss and watched him walk out the door, leaving me all alone to face my biggest critic - my dad.

  Chapter 50

  “Come in and sit down,” I said, leading my dad over to the couch. “Do you want some coffee?”

  “No,” my dad replied. He stared at my face again as if it pained him to look at it.

  “It looks worse than it feels,” I said, trying to put his mind at ease.

  “Nicole, I’m so sorry for the way I’ve behaved all these years to you. You didn’t deserve it. You’re a good girl and I really am proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  I felt a lump in my throat as I tried my best to fight the tears. My dad looked broken, almost vulnerable. Not the same strong, impassive man that I was always so used to seeing. I was quite certain that the events that had transpired this past week had a lot to do with it. I didn’t know what to say. I sat quietly as he continued talking.

  “I was just too worried about myself and what other people would think that I shut out my own daughter. I realize now that life is too short. I want us to have a relationship again. I want to put the past behind us and move on.”

  “I’m sorry if I disappointed you, Dad, but I can’t punish myself over it any longer. I know that I made the right choice.”

  I watched in disbelief as the tears began to fill my dad’s eyes and roll down his face. “I love you, Nicole, and I should have been there for you when you needed me.”

  “I love you too, Dad.” I wrapped my arms around him, unable to contain my own tears now.

  We began to talk, something we hadn’t done in a long while. We exchanged different stories about Justin over the years, which seemed to provide some healing for both of us. After some time, he looked down at his watch.

  “Well, I better go. I know you probably got plans and I don’t want to hold you up.” He paused for a brief second. “He seems like a really good guy.”

  A smile stretched across my face. “He’s the best.”

  My dad smiled back as he got up from the couch. “You’re mother and I are staying at Ted’s and Amelia’s until Wednesday. I think she would really like to see you. I didn’t tell her what happened yet. I didn’t want to get her upset again today.”

  “Sure, I will definitely come by before you guys head home.”

  “We’re renting a house down here for the summer; your mother wants to be closer to –” he paused for a brief second to regain his composure – “Justin,” he finished. I really hope that you come by a lot. You’re mother’s going to need you and I would really like to get to know this special guy in your life a little better.”

  “I will.” I got up from the couch and walked him to the door. I gave him a hug as we reached the door.

  He kissed me on the head and smiled. “I love you, Nicole.”

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  I stood in the doorway, watching as he walked down the stairs and got in his car. I closed the door behind me, making sure that I put the deadbolt on. A sense of serenity was overtaking my normally crazy life. I had gotten Dailan back and I had gotten my dad back. I closed my eyes and smiled. The hole in my heart was finally beginning to close.

  * * *

  I was immediately greeted by Dailan’s smiling face at the front door. I had filled him i
n on what had happened with my dad during the phone call on the way over. He took my hand and walked me back to the great room.

  Ryan was sitting on the couch with Jack O’Maley, Lisa, and some other man whom I had never met. Ryan’s face lit up when I appeared in the doorway. He jumped up from the couch to give me a hug that melted my heart.

  “Miss Morgan, what happened?” he asked sadly, looking at the bruising on my face.

  “Oh, it’s nothing, Ryan,” I said, trying to alleviate his concern.

  “Were you playing Rugby with my uncle?” he asked.

  I smiled and shook my head.

  “Nicole, I’m so very sorry about your brother,” Lisa said as she grabbed my hand.

  “Thank you, Lisa.” I was quite sure that Dailan had filled her in on what had happened last night, since she didn't question why my face was all marked up.

  "Oh, Nicole, this is my husband, Warren," she said as a short balding man stood up to shake my hand.

  "It's so nice to finally meet you, Nicole. I've heard all about you from Ryan," he said. I gave him a warm smile.

  Jack O’Maley had a smile stretched across his face, making it very hard for me to contain mine. He got up from the couch and gave me a hug, whispering in my ear, “I’m glad to see my son made the right choice.”

  I walked over to the pile of Ryan's birthday presents as he began to show me each one. "This is the second level to the race track that you got me for Christmas," he said excitedly as he picked up one of the boxes. "Uncle Dailan, can we please connect it?"

  "Sure," Dailan said.

  Ryan jumped up and grabbed my hand "Come on, Miss Morgan – I mean Nicole,” he giggled. “Let’s go get the other race track so he could put it together!” Ryan led me up the steps to his bedroom. He pulled a chair over to his closet to reach the racetrack that was on the top shelf. I stood by the chair, waiting to grab it from him once he reached it.

  "Ahh!" he exclaimed as an array of stuffed animals began to fall down on his head.

  I laughed as I bent down to pick them up. My stomach clenched and my hands began to tremble when I looked down and saw the little blue plaid elephant in my hand. The room began to spin and I couldn't breathe. I quickly turned it over to find the initials JM written in permanent magic marker on the bottom.