And it was the beginning of my recovery.

Even though that would be promising in the case of Rhiannon, who clearly needed to be shaken out of her delusion, it was not something to take lightly.

“I would cautiously advise that’s a last resort, honey,” I told him.

“Yeah,” he agreed.

“So, what are you thinking of doing?” I asked.

“Only one real choice,” he answered. “Wait until she fucks up again. Keep track of shit. Keep an eye on my kids. I don’t, I keep ’em away from her, she’s gonna go at me and then they’ll be dragged in and there’ll be nothin’ I can do to stop it.”

Suddenly, I hated yet another person I’d never met.

I’d hated Martine before I even knew her name. I just knew my husband had fallen in love with someone else.

And now I hated Rhiannon.

“What do you need from me?” I asked.

“You, keepin’ an eye on my kids. Droppin’ by. Comin’ around more often. Givin’ Aisling a good woman to be with. Givin’ my kids healthy.”

I nodded. “I can do that.”

“And I want you in my bed tonight.”

My head jerked back and I blinked.

“But—”

He cut me off, “I’ll get you home before they get up. Not a fan of sneakin’ and won’t ask you to do it often. But I had a shit day. I’m gearin’ up to face a shit time I don’t know how long it’ll last or how bad it’ll get. Right now, I wanna go in there and sit on my couch with you, relax, drink a beer then go to sleep smellin’ your hair.”

“I can do that too,” I said immediately.

Then I held my breath as I watched Mickey close his eyes and turn to face the dark of his backyard.

I pushed closer, pressing my hand in his at his chest, and called, “Mickey.”

He opened his eyes but kept them to the yard.

It took time and I gave him that time before he looked at me. “What if she gets behind the wheel with my kids in the car and she’s shitfaced?”

“You talk to them,” I answered firmly. “Do it trying not to bring Rhiannon into it. But Ash is a freshman. High school kids, they do stuff. They party. You could couch it in a warning they have to be smart about that, tell Cillian you’re talking to him at the same time to save time or something, and you do this inflexibly so they get your meaning.”

“They’re not dumb. They’ll get my meaning. My whole meaning, Amy.”

Regrettably, I had a feeling they would.