While I Breathe: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book One

Seventeen

A few weeks after she left and cut contact with them, Declan showed up at her new apartment with his bags while she was getting the baby’s room ready. He said he was moving in to help her out, but she knew he worried and wanted to be as close to her as possible.

With her brother's help, they hit up auction houses and second hand stores to purchase what they could without breaking the bank. While the loft was scantily furnished, they were getting by just fine with the basic necessities. Not once in the six months they lived together did Declan leave her to do much of anything on her own except study.

Ambrosia, having wrote an entry thesis that got her a full ride through medical school, only took days off for appointments and when she gave birth. Since most of her book learning had been done while she was still in high school, there was only the practical and hands-on training left for the most part. Shortly after she got in, Declan wrote the entry tests for the Bachelor of Education degree that he wanted. He got in, and was ecstatic to learn there was an on-campus daycare.

Declan grinned as the baby started to whine. Reaching in, he plucked his nephew from the infant seat Seth had purchased when the boy was born. “I think Nix is getting hungry, sis.”

Guiding the baby to her breast, Ambrosia smiled at her twin. She was truly appreciative for all the help and support he’d been giving her since they struck out on their own. “Thanks for all your help, Declan.”

He rolled his eyes as he grabbed the rest of groceries from the back of the Jeep, “You're my sister. I can't leave you to handle everything on your own just because you think you can. I know you're strong, but everyone has a breaking point regardless of how capable they are.”

She grinned, "You're starting to sound like Dad."

“Is that supposed to be a bad thing? I'm looking out for my little sister and nephew,” He nodded to the baby still latched to his mother’s breast.

Since the first time he attended a pre-natal appointment with her and found out that the baby was a boy, he’d gone slightly overboard with toys and plans of what he was going to teach the baby as he grew. She was not expecting him to remain living with her long after the baby was born, either.

The unshakable trust and mental prowess that made them difficult to handle while in grade school carried over into their young adult years. It made them secretly a danger to everyone around them if crossed the right way.

“Hey, where’s my chocolate? I need my fix,” Declan muttered as he moved to search the bags for the treat. His thoughts were shifting more and more toward wondering if Callum’s father would come back for them. On one hand, he would like to see his sister happy and back with her man. On the other, he knew that his life could very well end at the hands of the Kingpin if he wasn’t careful.

His sister arched a brow, fighting a laugh as she watched him put away the groceries while looking for the Peanut Butter cups she already hid in her purse. “Little sister? Seriously? You’re only two minutes older than me.”

"I was still born first," he laughed.

Rolling her eyes, she went to put the now sleeping infant in his crib.

“We need to get you a kitchen table,” Declan said when she got back. “You might want to look into some cheap internet connections, too.”

Ambrosia chuckled, “I've been doing most of my work at school, and the teachers don’t mind helping determined students. Professor Cross even said that I was one of the brightest pupils he’d met in thirty years of teaching. Besides, the landlord said that internet and cable are included with the rent. I just need to get a computer and a television along with a few other things and we’re all set.”

Declan ran the water for a few minutes as he fished a glass out of the dish rack. Nodding, he thought over what she said and had trouble finding anything wrong with her explanation. “We can take a trip to the next town over this weekend. There’s another auction we can hit up if you want. Dad misses you, but he’s glad that you’re keeping in touch. On the flip side, I wouldn’t trust Mom alone with the baby if she can’t treat you with a bit more respect.”

She frowned, “Explain that to me.”

“I know you’re tired, but think about it, Amber. She was trying to get a redo by living her life through you. She was controlling everything you did, ate, said, wore, and I get that it’s why you went to live with our bio-b***h of a father. I missed you like crazy, but I could see right through him from day one. With Mom, it was like watching her slowly kill you from the inside out. I hated it, and I won’t move home if you’re not there. I missed you way too damn much to just let my twin sister slip away into the unknown.”

Watching her brother root through the cupboards, Ambrosia bit her lip. She knew what he was looking for. She just didn't want to give it to him yet. “I see where you’re coming from. You’re right about Justin, too, but I met the most amazing guy while I was there. God, I miss Callum.”

Declan groaned, “Where did you hide the chocolate? I’m serious. I need my sugar fix. Besides, I’m sure your paths will cross again if what you guys had was Fate. There’s no escaping that s**t if your future with Callum is written in stone.”

“True,” she laughed as she pulled the hidden treat out of her bag. “Here, but don't expect me to keep you going.”

“You’re a God-sent angel,” He sighed happily.

Fighting the urge to laugh at her brother, Ambrosia scowled at the contents of the freezer. "Pizza for supper?"

"Sounds good to me," Declan replied as he licked the chocolate from his fingers.

Turning his gaze to the window, he inhaled sharply before telling Ambrosia their mother and step-father were outside.

Her head shot up from putting the carrots in the crisper. “What? No! I’m not ready for that. I’m not ready to hear what a disappointment I am for choosing to keep my baby and go through college anyway. I may need help sometimes, but I can do it. I will hold my promise to Callum and become a doctor.”

Pulling her into his arms, he rubbed her back soothingly. “That’s why I’m here, right? To help you keep all those promises you made to your man. If Mom get’s out of hand, I’ll help you throw her out. I refuse to let you face this alone.”

Ambrosia forced a smile, hugging him back tightly, “You don’t know how grateful I am to you, Declan. Can you get the door while I get supper started?”

She hoped her mother was going to play nice for once. She was too exhausted to deal with other people's issues when she had enough of her own at the moment. As she pushed the pizza into the oven, her brother led their visitors into the kitchen.

Their mother wrung her hands as she took in her daughter's appearance, seemingly shocked by Ambrosia’s appearance. She wanted to be angry with the girl in front of her, but her husband had threatened divorce if she didn’t play nice. “Ambrosia, I-”

Seth hugged the young woman close, cutting his wife off before she said anything hurtful. “Baby girl, you look great. How’s my grandson doing?”

Ambrosia’s eyes fell to the woman by the door. Not wanting to give her mother a chance to say anything to upset her, Ambrosia said, “I don’t want a repeat of the last time we were together, so don't ruin a good thing. Keep your mouth off my kid, and we won’t have a problem. Don’t talk to me about anything unless it’s to ask how I’m doing because the minute you say anything to me that I find offensive, I’ll show you the damn door. For good. Don’t piss me off, Mother.”

Hannah paused, paling at the strength of the conviction in her daughter’s voice. “Declan, why don’t you come home now?”

“My sister needs me more than you do, Mother. Besides, I just started my courses, too.” The young man replied.

Her eyes wide, she looked between the twins. “Then what about your college courses, Amber? Surely they don’t allow babies in the classrooms?”

“Actually, Declan and I go to the same college, and they have a daycare for parents who are trying to better themselves free of charge. We take turns checking on him between classes, and I pump milk so that it doesn’t take from my studies. Phoenix is not the burden you assumed he would be," Ambrosia snapped as she made her way down the hall.

“Phoenix?” Their mother scoffed. “What kind of a name is that for a child?”

“Strike one,” Declan snapped with a scowl. “You’re screwing up already, Mom.”

Seth grinned, “I think it’s a beautiful name. Did you know that it means rebirth?”

Hannah quietly seethed while she kept her opinions to herself. Besides, there was plenty of time for that after the boy grew up a little.