Sadly, despite Finn's promises, he died two months later, and Calum held Jenny tightly as she sobbed in his arms, her body shaking as she clung to him. Mrs Doyle watched silently, radiating nothing but sympathy as Calum consoled his best friends' widow, her eyes smouldering nevertheless. She knew Roisin would be descending on her grief-stricken daughter before Finn was in the ground, and she made a silent vow to stop the crazy woman at the pass. "Right," she said, as Jenny's tears slowed. "Mrs Kelly, it's to bed with you. You need sleep now, and your future husband and I have to talk business. You don't need to be fretting yourself any further; I will not let that nasty woman anywhere near you, even if I have to stand guard at the door myself."
Jenny managed a weak smile. "Thank you," she said.
Once her maid had seen her to bed, Mrs Doyle and Calum sat in the office to discuss things going forward. "Mrs Kelly will need to have you named as father on the certificate," Mrs Doyle said briskly. "I'll also arrange for the two of you to be wed as soon as can be managed. I know it's improper to have a widow remarry so soon, but Mrs Byrne will be even more improper in her attempts to seize her daughter and unborn grandchild. You know as well as I she will not settle for taking the wee one from his or her mother when they're born."
Calum's face firmed. "I've no intentions of letting that happen," he said. "Jenny and her child - our child, I should say - need not fear for bein' separated against their will. 'Tis firm I am they stay with me, and I'll pull all the legal strings necessary to ensure they stay where they belong."
Mrs Doyle smiled. "I believe this is the start of a most rewarding friendship," she said.
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Early spring sunshine dappled the surface of the lake as Calum and Jenny took a swim. They'd been duly married that morning, over Roisin's renewed objections, and once Calum had made it clear he'd take all threats against his wife and unborn child seriously, Roisin had been forced to back off for the time being. She had hinted she intended to be at the hospital when Jenny gave birth, but Mrs Doyle had put a stop to that by advising the couple to do a home birth to prevent unwanted guests. Jenny and Calum had agreed to the idea wholeheartedly, both relishing the prospect of seeing Roisin stew when she camped out at the hospital to no avail.
Calum admitted to a few nerves as he sat on the dock, watching his wife swim. Jenny was more relaxed now that her immediate future was secured, but even she was slighlty on edge, and Calum worried for what the stress might do to their unborn child. He'd turned the squidding business over to Jesse for the interim, citing his need to stay close to his home, and Jesse had promised to turn all profits to his cousin until such time as Calum was ready to take up the squidding business again. Fergus had lent full endorsement to the plan, telling his nephew to take all the time he needed, much to Calum's relief.
A light tap on the foot brought him out of his reverie, and he smiled when he saw Jenny in the water at his feet. "Why the long face?" she asked, brushing damp ginger hair out of her eyes. The sight was both endearing and alluring, and old feelings came to life in Calum's breast, displacing some of his worry.
"I was worried about out future," he confessed, "but you've gone and taken some of that strain away, you bold brass of a woman."
Jenny smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's a grand day, I've married the second best man in the world, and now he's frettin' himself into an early grave," she teased. "Shall I be made a widow twice over then?" Despite her teasing, worry came into her eyes, and Calum felt his heart ache.
"No," he assured her, slipping into the water and putting his arms around her. His hands moved under the water to cradle her belly, and she relaxed as he kissed her on the ear. "You need not fret for me, dove. I've no intentions of leavin' you this side of the hereafter; my sainted mother-in-law would have you incarcerated in a heartbeat."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG6czMMz7F
Jenny relaxed against him, the warmth of her body contrasting pleasantly with the cool water cradling them. "Good," she said. "You know I don't, but in a way, I do."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfFRCkaLTv
Calum kissed her again. "I know," he said. "I've not got the mad flutterings Finn had for you, but I do care for you dearly. And our child won't ever lack for anything. If I can turn this squiddin' business into an empire, he or she will be the richest young man, woman, or person in all the land."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGN2lGpTac
"Will you really turn it into an empire?" Jenny asked.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx6hA0PVBT
"I will," Calum told her. He turned her in his arms and kissed her forehead. "But I've got all a man could want right here in my arms. And I don't intend on ever lettin' that go. The squiddin' business can wait; I've my own personal empire here, and securin' our future comes before all the squid in all the oceans of the world."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkIvOal0NU
Jenny kissed his cheek. "I think we're goin' to get along wonderfully," she said softly. Then, with an arch twinkle in her eye, she gently pulled free and tapped her husband on the shoulder. "You're it," she said, grinning now before dunking underwater. Calum blinked, then laughed and dived below the surface in pursuit of his wife, feeling more lighthearted than he had for quite some time. 98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4B4SNbKrx
