Having Faith: Callaghan Brothers, Book 7

by Zanders, Abbie

  Lexi laughed as they watched Kieran’s fast-retreating form disappear toward the stairs that led to their private living area.

  Kieran fired up one of the computers in Ian’s “office”, his fingers working magic across the keyboard as he logged into the secure FAA site. Ian might be the acclaimed digital genius, but Kieran had a few tricks of his own. Within minutes he’d located Faith and Matt booked on a red-eye to Atlanta on one of the economy airlines.

  He sat back and stared at the manifest as the strangest feeling came over him. It began somewhere in the middle of his chest and rippled outward from there, an icy, tingling fire that was uncomfortable as hell. Kieran shifted and rubbed at the spot right over his heart.

  What the hell was she thinking, going down there like that? If Lacie was right about the flight, then she was probably right about Faith meeting Nathan Longstreet as well.

  The sensation flared from uncomfortable to downright painful.

  Did Matt still want to meet his father? Is that why she was doing this? He could understand that. Faith would do anything for her son, and if the kid really needed the closure, then hell, he was onboard with that plan. Except he should be there, too. Protecting Faith and being there when Matt learned what a piece of shit his father was.

  No matter what Faith said.

  Oh, yeah, Kieran had done his research. He knew exactly the kind of man Nathan Longstreet was. High school superstar with a rich daddy, lauded college athlete until he graduated and came back for an instant and unearned partnership in Daddy’s law firm.

  But his privileged youth wasn’t what bothered Kieran. It was the fact that Nathan Longstreet was still every bit the smarmy bastard he used to be. Despite the fact that he was married, he had a long trail of mistresses. No more illegitimate kids, though. At least Nathan seemed to have learned the benefits of using a condom.

  Did Faith still have feelings for Longstreet, Kieran wondered? She’d obviously cared for him once. She’d said as much. Faith was no liar, nor was she the kind of woman that would give herself freely. He was willing to bet that Nathan Longstreet was the only one she’d ever given that particular gift to, and that alone was enough for Kieran to want to kill him.

  At least until him. Faith had offered herself to him, too, that night when he’d slid beside her in bed and held her in his arms. And he’d turned her down, thinking he was doing something honorable. He should have listened to his heart and accepted her gift. He should have spent the entire night making love to her, showing her exactly what she was to him and what he was to her, erasing every doubt, every fear she had.

  If he’d done that, the ring he’d purchased specifically for her would be comfortably ensconced on her finger instead of making time in his nightstand drawer. Hell, maybe they’d even be married by now, and he’d be spending every night wrapping his body around her, inside her. And – the pain reached a fever pitch at this point – a little brother or sister for Matt might already be growing inside her.

  Faith was his croie. He could try to deny it, bury it beneath layers of self-pity, but that didn’t change the truth.

  The sound that ripped out of him was of one of such power and torment that the desk lamp actually shook.

  Two floors below, heads tilted toward the ceiling. “Sounds like he’s finally ready,” Ian sighed. “Didn’t take him nearly as long to figure it out as it took me.”

  Lexi smiled.

  Fifteen minutes later Kieran was racing down the steps with an overnight pack slung over his shoulder. His hair was still wet from his shower, his face once again shaven boy-smooth.

  “Hey, Ian, I’m heading over to Sean’s to see if he can - ”

  He stopped, pulling up short when Sean stood up. He grabbed the bag from Kieran and gave him a hard shove toward the door. “About fucking time. Move it, man. Our flight plan says we leave in thirty, and I hate refiling flight plans.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was surreal; that was the thought that struck her as they were lifting into the air. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped Matt’s hand tightly. This was the first time either of them had been on a plane, but Matt was apparently handling it better than she was. Faith said a silent prayer for having the foresight to pass on the greasy burgers at the fast food place they’d stopped at on the way to the airport.

  “This is so cool,” she heard Matt remark from beside her. Inside, she felt the same way, but apparently she had a fear of flying that she’d never known about.

  Or maybe it wasn’t the flying at all. Maybe it was the thought of where they were going and why that had her stomach feeling like it was filled with little squirmy creatures.

  A small smile graced her lips as she heard Kieran’s voice in her head, as clearly as if he was sitting beside her. “Breathe, Faith,” he would command softly, not realizing that whenever he spoke to her like that it would take the rest of her breath away. Then he would lace those long, sexy fingers through hers, giving her an anchor and a whole head full of nothing but Kieran Callaghan and fantasies of what it would be like to have the rest of their bodies as intertwined as their hands...

  She missed him so much, more than she thought possible. Missed seeing his boyish face and that cockeyed grin that never failed to make her weak in the knees. Hearing his deep, rumbling laughter when she invariably did something that amused him. Feeling the heat of his hard body when he was nearby. Smelling that delicious scent that was uniquely his.

  It had been hard to keep her distance from him in Pine Ridge, but at least she had always known he was close, even if he wasn’t right there with her. Now she was acutely aware of each mile between them as their flight headed into the unknown, making her feel increasingly alone and vulnerable and downright twitchy.

  The plane leveled out and Faith relaxed a little, allowing her to take in her surroundings. The seating was comfortable enough for her, but she felt bad for Matt when she saw how his long legs were scrunched up. She tried to imagine Kieran or one of his brothers on a plane like this, and couldn’t. Maybe that’s why they had one of their own.

  And just how much money did you have to have to own your own plane, she wondered?

  She shook her head, stopping herself before she went down that road. Again. The bottom line was that Faith O’Connell and Kieran Callaghan came from completely different worlds.

  So? her subconscious piped up. She told it, in no uncertain terms, to shut the hell up, thank you very much. She’d been over this same argument so many times even she was bored by it. Kieran deserved more than she could give him. Period. End of story.

  * * *

  “What the hell is she thinking?” Kieran muttered to himself, sitting in the copilot’s seat next to Sean. “She shouldn’t be doing this alone. The guy’s a complete poser, and he’s a lawyer. That makes him doubly untrustworthy.”

  “Don’t let Shane hear you say that,” Sean chuckled.

  “You know what I mean,” Kieran said, shooting a disgusted look at Sean. Sure, it was easy for him. He had his croie. He’d already been through his trial of fire.

  Kieran sighed. That’s what this was, he realized. The test he and every other Callaghan man had to pass before they could claim their true life mates. It was a complete pain in the ass and scary as hell, but the rewards were phenomenal.

  “Yeah, I do. And I know a fuck of a lot more than that, too.”

  Kieran’s lips thinned as he braced himself. With six older brothers, he knew the signs of a lecture coming on and braced himself for the torrent soon coming his way.

  “Don’t fuck this up.”

  Kieran sat quietly, waiting for more. It didn’t come. He felt strangely cheated.

  “That’s it? That’s all you got?”

  Sean smirked. “Do I look like Dr. Phil to you? That’s all you’ve got to know. She’s your croie. Your life is shit without her. Don’t fuck this up.”

  Well, duh.

  One of the many benefits to having your own plane and standing privileges at
every U. S. military base was that you didn’t have to go through all the bullshit associated with a commercial flight. It also meant that they arrived well before Faith and Matt did.

  “You cool?” Sean asked, stepping out only long enough to talk to a couple of the guys and refuel.

  “Yeah.” There was no need to say thanks. It was understood.

  “I’ll be back for you in two days. And I’d better be picking up three, feel me? ‘Cause if you think I’m coming all the way back down here just for your sorry ass, you’ll find yourself keeping a couple of gators fat and happy in the swamp.” Sean punctuated that statement with an unnecessarily heavy hand to the shoulder.

  Ah. The joy of big brothers knew no bounds.

  * * *

  After two layovers, they arrived in Atlanta just before dawn. With only their carry-ons, they were able to bypass the baggage claim and head out into the hustle and bustle of the busy area. A wall of warm, humid air filled with the fumes of the city hit them hard the moment they did. Faith choked back a cough, thinking longingly of the cool, clean air of Pine Ridge. And just when had she managed to become such a Yank, she wondered?

  Faith checked the bus schedule posted outside the terminal and did a few mental calculations as she worked out the best way to get to where they needed to be. It was an hour or so later when she finally worked up the courage to pull out her Go phone and make the call that just might change their lives forever.

  With slightly trembling fingers, Faith punched in the number from the legal letterhead. It took several attempts for her to press the buttons in the proper sequence and remain on the line while it rang. A woman answered, her voice crisp and very business-like.

  “Longstreet and Son. This is Pamela. How may I assist you?”

  For several long moments, Faith forgot to breathe. This was it. She could still hang up right now and pretend they had just used up all of her savings and flown to Georgia for some other reason.

  “Hello?” the woman said, efficiency now laced with annoyance.

  Faith looked at Matt and summoned her courage. “Uh, hello. I would, um, like to speak with Nathan Longstreet, please.”

  “Do you have an appointment?” The question, crisp and efficient, came before Faith had even finished speaking.

  “Uh, no, but - ”

  “Then I would be happy to make one for you,” the woman said, cutting her off, sounding not very happy at all. There was a brief pause with only the clicking sound of long nails on a keyboard audible over the connection. “His first opening is a week from next Wednesday. If you would give me the reason for your call, please.”

  “That is not acceptable,” Faith heard herself saying, wondering where in the hell the confidence in her voice was coming from. “My name is Faith O’Connell. I am in town for one day only – today. And as for what it regards? Tell Mr. Longstreet that it concerns his son.”

  Silence.

  Faith’s entire body was shaking now. Matt looked at her, pride etched across his beautiful, youthful face, and he gave her a two-thumbs up – a well-timed reminder that this was not about her.

  “Hello.” Faith recognized Nathan’s voice immediately. Even that single word held the command of a quarterback calling out a play to his team mates, the smooth Southern drawl so familiar. “Hello? If this is some kind of prank - ”

  “Nathan,” she finally managed. She heard him pause on the other end. “Who is this?” he asked, his voice a little less authoritative.

  Faith took a deep breath for strength. “Nathan, it’s Faith. I – I got your letter.”

  The silence on the other end of the line stretched for so long Faith thought he might have hung up, at least until she heard him sigh. She looked at Matt, who gave her a smile of encouragement. When she spoke again, her voice sounded more confident.

  “I thought maybe you and I could talk for a few minutes.”

  Another long stretch of silence. “Alright. Come to my office and - ”

  “No, Nathan,” Faith said before she lost her nerve. “Neutral ground.”

  “Neutral ground?” Nathan asked, sounding surprised. “Are we at war?”

  Faith ignored that. Nathan Longstreet might have been able to charm her once before, but no longer. She wasn’t a scared, naïve fourteen year old anymore.

  “How about Pappy’s Diner, ten a.m.?” Pappy’s was a twenty-four hour place right off the interstate. A very busy, very public location that would hopefully keep the drama to a minimum.

  “I’d prefer to do this in a more private setting.”

  This was not about what Nathan preferred. Faith didn’t give a damn about that. “That’s a no, then?”

  Again, she sensed his surprise. He wasn’t used to her having a spine, she realized.

  “You aren’t going to be reasonable about this, are you?”

  “I am trying to be reasonable, Nathan,” she said, just a hint of annoyance staining her otherwise even tone. “But if you prefer to handle this in court - ”

  It was a bluff, of course. Faith had already decided she would not have Matt submit to a paternity test. One million dollars was a hell of a lot of money to someone who’d been eking out a living day to day, but things were finally starting to look up. She and Matt were happy (broken heart notwithstanding). She had a decent job, and Matt was doing phenomenally well in school, making lots of friends. They had their own home. It might not be much in most people’s eyes, but it was theirs. She liked her new life. And she wouldn’t give it up for anything.

  Another sigh, but this one was definitely forced. “Alright, Faith. I’ll meet you at Pappy’s. But if you think for one minute that I am going to - ”

  “I don’t,” she said, cutting him off. “Ten a.m., then. Goodbye, Nathan.”

  Her hands were still shaking even after she flipped the mobile closed. “Well?” Matt asked.

  “We’re meeting him at a diner just outside of town. I was thinking we could stop by Ethan’s grave on the way, pay our respects.”

  Matt nodded soberly. “I’d like that. And Mom? Thanks.”

  * * *

  Kieran sat in the rented sedan, waiting impatiently. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he saw her. Well, to be truthful, he saw Matt first - the kid literally towered over his mother – but had he not, Kieran would have had difficulty picking her out of the constant ebb and flow around the airport.

  He stepped out of the car, ready to pull an intercept. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to say. “What the hell were you thinking?” probably wasn’t the best opener. Neither was, “You belong to me,” or “Get in the fucking car, we’re going home.” It seemed all of the things in the forefront of his mind weren’t suitable. After much thought, he decided to wing it based on her reaction to seeing him.

  By the time he got to the cab waiting area, they were gone. He knew she didn’t have a rental lined up; the reservation would have appeared in the searches he’d done. And there hadn’t been time to grab one once their flight landed.

  He very nearly smacked his palm on his forehead. Of course she wouldn’t get a rental! Just like she wouldn’t get a cab. Maybe he was every bit as insensitive to her situation as she’d accused him of being. Even as the thoughts found purchase, he spotted the bus pulling away. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Ian with the number of the bus as he sprinted back toward his rental.

  “Lost her already, did you?” Ian chuckled into the phone. Kieran let loose with a few colorful expletives. He was so not in the mood for Ian’s shit.

  “Relax, little bro. Just activate the GPS in your phone. I chipped Matt’s cell. As long as it’s on, you’ll be able to find him.”

  “You couldn’t have told me this earlier?” Kieran grumbled into the phone.

  Ian’s laughter was rich. “And miss the groveling? Not a chance in hell.”

  Sometimes being the youngest sucked.

  * * *

  It wasn’t hard to find Ethan Longstreet’s final resting place. The abo
veground vault bearing the Longstreet name was noticeably larger than anything else around it, and there were still plenty of greens and flowers placed around the exterior. Faith kneeled just before the structure, placing the small bouquet they’d purchased in front. She murmured a few soft words, a prayer maybe, as she and Matt held hands and bowed their heads together.

  Pappy’s was just close enough to the interstate to be filled with tourists and travelers, but not a lot of locals. It was for primarily that reason that Faith had chosen it. She had been gone a long time, but Faith didn’t want to take the chance of being recognized. An added benefit was that Nathan wouldn’t be on his home turf. Faith would take any advantage, no matter how slight.

  After some consideration, Faith thought it might be better for her to speak with Nathan alone first before introducing Matt. That way she could feel him out and decide whether or not to move forward. As much as she wanted to fulfill Matt’s wish to meet his father, she wouldn’t hesitate to leave if Nathan was acting particularly nasty.

  She explained this to Matt. He agreed, reluctantly, but only on the condition that he remain close enough to intervene if necessary. Faith didn’t think it would come to that, and tried to convince him otherwise. If this meeting went anything like the last time she saw Nathan, he might have some less than kind things to say, and she didn’t want Matt to hear those kinds of things about his mother.

  But Matt was adamant (a trait he seemed to develop after spending several months around a certain willful Irishman) and assured her that he knew the truth, no matter what he would hear. Sighing, Faith agreed to the compromise. Sometimes it was hard for her to remember that her little boy was growing up, and that he had one heck of a protective streak in him.

  With that in mind, Matt took a seat at the counter, while Faith slid into a nearby booth. Faith ordered a cup of coffee and a muffin, though she doubted she could eat anything. She was so nervous her stomach churned. She alternated her glances between the front door and where Matt sat. Matt’s face was shadowed by the brim of the ball cap he wore, but he was close enough to hear every word.