“Don’t be.” I kiss the top of her head before letting her go. “Let’s get ready.”
It’s not even a question of her not coming. We are in this together. But I do need someone to look after Shay, and there is only one person who I trust.
We walk inside, and I’m surprised to see Shay sitting at the counter, eating a bowl of cereal. I’ve not told Cami about the paternity results. But she always knew, results or not. And I did too.
“Hi, mate,” I say, not wanting to make a fuss. “Ya sleep all right?”
He nods, eating from his oversized bowl.
“Grand. My wee brother and sister and Cami’s sister are goin’ to come over and look after ye. Maybe they can take ya to the zoo? I’ll ask them to bring some clothes over for ye too. And maybe some toys?”
I sound away in the head, but I have a lot of learning and catching up to do.
“Where’s Mummy?”
I look at Cami, not sure how I’m supposed to tackle this. A part of me is relieved he doesn’t know or didn’t see what happened, but how am I meant to tell him his ma is dead?
I know what that does to a chile, and I hate that my son and I share this experience. I hate that our innocence was stolen. But unlike my childhood, I’ll never hide who Aoife was. Shay needs to know who his mother was because I won’t have him chasing ghosts his entire life—like me.
However, Cami steps in because now is not the time to tell him the truth. “She’s got something really important to do. But she’s thinking of you and loves you. So much.”
Not a lie as Aoife, God bless her soul, wherever she is, is most definitely hoping her son is safe.
I’ll make sure of it, which is why I send Ethan a text. He replies a moment later. I knew I could count on him.
I leave Shay to finish his breakfast while I have a quick shower and dress in my best clothes. I’m knotting my navy tie when Babydoll enters. She’s in a lovely green dress.
She watches closely but doesn’t say a word. Instead, I notice she has something in her hand.
My face paints.
“One last time,” she whispers, offering them to me. And she’s right. It ends with Sean, as he is the reason I needed these paints to escape the demons trapped within my soul.
It’s time to set them free.
My uncle’s gaff is in the Republic.
I suppose he wanted to get as far away from the neighborhood where his old house was, the house I burned to the ground.
Babydoll has been quiet. I know that’s because she’s nervous. Coming face to face with the man who kidnapped her must be playing with her emotions. As for me, I don’t know how I’m going to stop myself from stabbing Sean in the jugular.
But he is here for a reason, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was curious to know what that is.
I knock on the front door firmly as there is no point in drawing out the inevitable. Babydoll doesn’t release my hand, and when the door opens, her grip only tightens.
“I’m so happy yer here.” Julia opens the door wider, permitting us entry.
I never let go of Babydoll’s hand because I still don’t know what we’re walking into. However, I haven’t called for backup because I believe Julia is who she says she is. And when we walk into the living room and see my grandparents sitting on the couch, it seems my gut intuition was right.
Imogen comes to a shaky stand while Keegan remains seated. We hardly left things on the best of terms as I pretty much told my grandparents I never wanted to see them again.
“Puck,” Imogen says, hobbling over to me. “It’s good of ye to come.”
She leans in for a hug which I loosely reciprocate.
“Hi, Camilla. Good to see ye again.”
Cami nods but stays close to me. Being here is dredging up memories she wishes to forget because the last time she saw my grandma was when she left with Rory. I don’t believe in ghosts, but Rory sure as shit is one that continues to haunt me every single day.
A man with dark brown hair enters with a photo album, flicking through the pages, so he’s yet to see me. But when he lifts those familiar blue eyes and notices he has company, he almost trips over the edge of the rug.
“Boys a dear,” he gasps, shook to the core. “Yer the spit of yer ma.”
I am?
An uncomfortable silence fills the room. But that soon turns to a deadly silence when a woman’s joyful titter can be heard before she enters, and who she enters the room with rouses the devil inside me.
“Puck,” Sean happily says, carrying a silver tray filled with nibbles. “It’s good to see ye, lad.”
I advance, ready to tear out his throat, but Babydoll pulls me back as she’s still holding my hand.
Everyone is watching one another, a mixture of happiness, astonishment, and confusion filling the room. But Sean, Cami, and I are the only people who know what’s really going on.
Sean places the tray onto the coffee table before stealing a cube of cheese and casually popping it into his mouth like we are having a fucking tea party. He is baiting me as he knows I won’t act in haste until I know what his angle is.
But time is ticking.
“Hello, Puck. I’m yer aunt Siobhan. And this is yer uncle Charlie. We’re so happy yer here.”
I wish I could share the sentiment, but I can’t take my eyes off Sean and the smug way he’s eating that fucking piece of cheese.
Again, I spring forward, but Babydoll stops me. I know this is what Sean wants, but I want to rip his arrogant head from his shoulders.
“Thank you for inviting us into your home. I’m Camilla. Puck’s fiancée.”
Sean pauses from chewing as this is something he didn’t know. “Ach, congratulations,” he says, wiping his hands on a napkin. “It upsets me yer fathers can’t be here to celebrate with us.”
This fucker is going down, and going down now.
I don’t get a chance to act, however, because Keegan stands. Even though he wronged my ma, I won’t disrespect him.
“Congratulations,” he says, and it surprises me to see he now needs a frame to walk. He was a tough aul’ lad when we first met. My head still hurts from when he drove his shotgun into it. But to see him this frail, it does something to me I can’t explain.
“Thank you,” I reply, shaking his trembling hand as he extends it.
Imogen huddles into his side, her broad smile expressing how happy she is that we’re all together.
It’s still fucking awkward, but something has shifted with Keegan’s peace offering.
“I’m sorry,” Charlie says. “I don’t mean to stare, but ye look just like Cara.”
Imogen sniffles, clutching at the small gold crucifix around her neck. Keegan averts his eyes, no doubt not wanting anyone to see his tears. Sean stands indifferent, but the spasm of his jaw, which one would miss if they weren’t looking for a response, tells a different story.
When he looks at me…all he sees is my mum too…and what he did to her. No wonder he wants me dead.
“I wouldn’t know,” I reply. “Her memory is fadin’.”
It takes all my willpower not to glare at Sean.
Charlie smiles, but it’s bittersweet. “I thought as much, which is why—” He holds up the photo album. “I found some old family photos. Would ye like to see?”