Chapter 2 #3
“The boy don’t want to hear the particulars of our family.” Jack shot her a look that said he might be the one not interested in sharing the particulars of his family, but Dolly Finnegan didn’t seem bothered by the old man’s grumpiness. In fact, she laughed.
“Oh Jack, stop being such an old fuddy-duddy. Of course, he wants to hear about the family and who his kin are.” Her cheeks turned pink, her voice thrumming with excitement. “Isn’t that right, Ian? You want to know all about the Finnegans of Magdalena, don’t you?”
No. He already knew more than he wanted to know and didn’t need to hear more.
“Of course.” He managed a smile, put sound to his words that indicated sincerity.
“I’m not sure how many relatives I have, and which are real cousins or real aunts and uncles.
My father never talked about it much, but if you can fit them in over the next two weeks, then I’d like to meet one or two of them. ” That sounded believable, even to him.
There was no way he wanted to do that, but the woman seemed so eager to gush about family, how could he not listen?
Sure, why not? It would be a way to pass time.
Meet this aunt or uncle…this cousin. This baby or that one.
Somebody had a dog? Sure. A horse? A pig?
An old car that hasn’t run in fifteen years?
Now that would interest him. The rest of it?
It was just a way to get through the next fourteen days until he could get back to his real life.
However, Jack Finnegan had other ideas that did not include family or meeting kin—or a fourteen-day stay.
“You’re gonna have a bit longer than two weeks to meet your kin and get a feel for this place.” The man’s blue eyes homed in on him, narrowed the tiniest bit. “I say you’re gonna have a lot of time… like three-month’s worth.”
Ian’s fork clattered to the table. “What?” His stomach began to churn, made him worry he’d heave the forkful of chicken and gravy he’d just eaten.
Long sigh and a scowl. “Your father never could take the hard road, always hid behind somebody else and rewrote his own story, so it didn’t look as bad as it was.
Made it look like something other than the truth.
Always left others to clean up his mess.
” He forked a piece of chicken, pointed it at Ian.
“It don’t make it easy, and it don’t make it right, but no matter how hard your father tries, the truth ain’t gonna turn a parsnip into a petunia. ”
Tsk tsk. “What your Uncle Jack is trying to tell you is that you’ll be staying a bit longer than two weeks.
” The woman next to him drew in a quick breath, blew it out nice and slow before she continued in the softest voice, “We’re sorry you didn’t know, but it appears your parents thought this might be the only way to get you here. ”
Ian rubbed his temples, tried to make sense of the gibberish that made no sense at all.
Talk of parsnips and petunias and truth that needed to be said.
The only part he understood was that his father never wanted to make the tough choice.
Was Ian a tough choice? Was this trip a tough choice?
“I’m staying two weeks.” And then, because Jack and Dolly Finnegan just stared, he added, “Right?”
Jack shook his grizzled head. “No, you’ll be here right up until you have to head back to that fancy college of yours.” He scratched his stubbled jaw, and there was a flash of something that might be sympathy on his weathered face before it disappeared.
“The time will go quickly.” Dolly gave his hand a squeeze. “You’ll see.” One more squeeze before she released his hand.
“I’m not staying.” Ian placed his napkin on the table, pushed back his chair, and stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call my father and get the situation straightened out.” He hadn’t made it two steps from the dining room before Jack Finnegan’s words reached him
“He ain’t gonna answer. That was the deal. You’re here, and he can’t interfere. It was the only way I’d agree.”
Ian swung around, and this time, he did not miss the sympathy or the hint of annoyance on the old man’s face. His wife remained silent, eyes bright as though she were about to cry. “What am I supposed to do here for three months? Walk in circles?”
“Nope. In fact, you got somewhere to be, tomorrow morning 7 a.m. sharp.” Ian couldn’t find the words to ask what he didn’t want to know.
No worries, because his “uncle” provided the details.
“You’re gonna work with me at the manufacturing plant.
Got steel-toed shoes, jeans that don’t cost three hundred dollars, and a T-shirt with the company logo on it.
” Another jaw scratch, a scowl. “I even got you a baseball cap with ND Manufacturing stamped on it. Yup, you’re gonna be working in a factory so you can learn what it’s like to use your hands, be a part of making something.
And most of all learn there’s only one top dog and you ain’t it.
” Those blue eyes narrowed on him. “Don’t expect Dolly to pack your lunch either because that’s your job. ”