“I don’t know, Ma. That could be part of it, but I think a lot of it has to do with the tossers she’s been hangin’ with over the years. They dug their claws in pretty deep.”
A hand lands gently on my shoulder and I turn with a start. Norah’s eyes are filled with concern as she rounds the couch. Before she can sit, I grip her waist and pull her into my lap, burying my head against her chest. She strokes her fingers through my hair, providing me with a sense of peace in all of the chaos. I let Ma go on about Caity’s friends and how she should have known those girls were no good. How she should have sent her to boarding school, or at least a Catholic school.
“I don’t think sending her to either of those would have helped, honestly. She would have rebelled even more. I guess you could have locked her in the cellar,” I say in jest.
“Ach, Eamon Kennedy!” she chastises but then huffs a laugh. “You’re a good lad, my boy. I miss the devil out of you.”
“I know, Ma. I miss you too,” I pause, looking into Norah’s deep blue eyes. She’s looking at me with such compassion and steadfastness that it bolsters me to make my decision. Releasing a shaky breath and never breaking eye contact, I say, “Sit tight, Mam. I’m coming home.”
“You’re what?” she screeches from the other end of the line, loud enough for Norah to hear. “Oh, Eamon! I won’t lie and say that isn’t the best thing I’ve heard in the last five years, but are you sure, lad?”
I look back to Norah who cups the side of my face and nods.
“Yeah, I’ll grab the first flight I can find and let you know the details,” I say, then add, “Oh, and Ma?”
“What is it, my love?”
“I’m bringing someone with me.”
Chapter Thirty
Eamon
The sun is just beginning to rise by the time I finish telling Norah about my sister. Naturally, she has so many questions since I’ve only briefly mentioned Caity before in our conversations about family. I’d spoken more of my Mam, but even that was minimal.
“Oh my god, Eamon,” she says quietly. “I’m so sorry. This is awful. I bet your Mom is beside herself.”
I nod solemnly. “I knew I’d have to go back to Ireland at some point, I just wasn’t planning on it for a while, and certainly not for this reason. But I can’t leave her alone to deal with Caity.”
Although that’s exactly what I did when I left, wasn’t it? The thought chokes me with guilt.
“You’re a good man, Eamon Kennedy,” Norah says, brushing a strandof hair from my forehead, making the guilt fester even more. I don’t feel like a good man right now. “I imagine your Mom feels so relieved to know you’re going to be there.”
“Weare going to be there, Acushla,” I correct her. “I’m sorry we have to cancel our getaway though. Maybe we can reschedule it soon.”
“Are you kidding?” She scoffs. “You’re taking me to Ireland with you. I know it’s not for fun, but I get to be with you inIreland.”
She’s trying so hard to be reserved for me, but I can see the absolute delight shining through her eyes and I never want to see it dull.
Pulling her into the crook of my arm, I kiss her temple and say, “A trip to my hometown to take care of my Ma and drug addict sister is not nearly as enticing as spending a week alone with you on the beach. Especially when I envisioned you naked or mostly naked for the week.”
She lets out a snort of amusement. “Do I need to remind you that even though it’s a beach, it isDecember? I’m not sure how often I’d be in a bikini.”
“Ah, but the rental has a hot tub, remember? The things I want to do with you in any body of water…,” I trail off.
She leans in to kiss me before saying, “Surely there’s a body of watersomewherein Ireland that you could make good on your threats.”
“December in Ireland is much colder than December in North Carolina, love. I wouldn’t be able to do anything with you because my cock would shrivel up and die from the freezing water,” I pout at her. “Surely you wouldn’t wish that on me?”
“Hmm. Good point. Well, you’ll have to find a way to make it up to me then,” she says, then gets up and heads to the coffee pot.
I watch her for a minute. “Acushla?”
She looks over her shoulder at me. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
A small smile forms on her lips, “I love you too.”