Cathal Chapter 5
Here I was, back at her bedroom door. I couldn’t stay away. Last night, I hadn’t been able to go to bed without checking on her one last time. She’d been awake and allowed me inside.
We’d ended up talking, this time about her work. She thanked me for her laptop. Our conversation centered on her current work project and its due date. She was approaching a deadline, and she had to finish it soon.
An hour after I entered, I caught her drifting off. I insisted she scoot down in the bed and try to sleep. She did, and ten minutes later, she was out. I shut off her light and forced myself to leave her without kissing her or crawling into the bed with her.
I didn’t go home. Instead, I stayed in a room next to hers.
I told my family and myself it was in case she needed anything at night or felt afraid in a strange place.
Darragh gave me that look of his that screamed You’re not fooling me.
The rest of the family either pretended to believe me or were oblivious to my true motive.
It had been a restless sleep for me. I dreamed a lot about Bronagh. For a woman I’d known… I glanced at my watch... for one day, she occupied most of my mind. It was true I met her when we were young, but it wasn’t the same.
Hoping that I wasn’t waking her, I tapped lightly on the door twice. Her response was immediate. Then there was a long pause before she responded a second time.
“Yes, you can come in. It’s unlocked,” she said.
Opening her door, I walked in, smiling.
She wasn’t lying in bed. She was seated in the bed. Her smile lit up my chest.
“Good morning. You’re up early,” I remarked.
“It’s not that early. Besides, lying in bed doing nothing makes me stir crazy. I’ve been catching up on my reading.” Bronagh gestured toward her device, which I hadn’t noticed beside her on the table.
“I hope you rested well,” I added, coming to her.
“It was good. The bed is like a cloud. I need a mattress like that at home. How was your rest?”
“I got enough. I came to see if you’re up for breakfast?”
“I do believe I am. Is it back downstairs where we were yesterday?” Bronagh asked, rising to her feet.
She winced. I hurried closer, placing my arm around her, bringing her close.
I frowned down at her. At six feet four, I was a good eight inches taller than her.
I liked the way I could rest my chin on the top of her head, yet not break my back bending down to kiss her next time. None of us O’Sheeran men were short.
“Where does it hurt? Have you taken more pain medicine?” I inquired.
“It’s my chest and shoulder. I hit the steering wheel before the airbag deployed and hit me, and the seatbelt strap dug in.
I have a huge bruise. Should be quite something to see when it starts to change colors,” Bronagh admitted as she rubbed lightly over her chest, which was covered by a T-shirt. She wore that and leggings.
“Dr. Keim will be here later. He’ll check you over. Make sure to show him that. Until then, take something for the pain. When was your last dose?” I asked, looking around for the medicine bottle. I didn’t see it.
“Cathal, I don’t need to be seen by a doctor. I saw a couple at the hospital. They cleared me to go home and heal. As for my medicine, it’s not that bad. I took it when you were here last night, remember? I haven’t taken more.”
“Bronagh, that’s been ten hours. You can’t let the pain get ahead of you. At least take Tylenol or Motrin. I’ll get some. I know we have it somewhere in the house.”
The idea that she was hurting and I could do something about it nagged at me. She captured my free hand that I’d been gesturing with. My other was still around her back, resting just above her hip. I liked the feel of her hand on mine.
“Cathal, settle. I’m fine. If it gets worse, I’ll take something. Now, you mentioned breakfast. Is that still offered? Because if it is, I’m starved.”
Admitting momentary defeat, I nodded. “Alright, let’s go see what we have. The kitchen smells amazing. Whatever they’ve made, it’ll be delicious.” I guided her steps to the open door.
“They? How many staff do you have who cook? If you all eat here, it must be several of them. What we had yesterday was all great.”
“We have Agatha. She’s been with us for years.”
“Wait, one person cooks for all of you?” she asked in astonishment, maybe even outrage.
“Yes, but not all the time. A lot of the time, since our mams retired, they like to do it themselves, or they assist Agatha. Even mamó gets her hands in there. Plus, my sister, cousins, and the other wives cook. Massive family feasts, like at holidays, are a collective effort.” I informed her as we made our way to the elevator.
It would be easier on her than all the stairs.
“So the women do the work and the men sit around talking and reaping the benefits,” she said waspishly. The look she gave me was censorious.
“No, not only the women cook. Some of us cook; others are preppers; and a few we keep far from both. They’re allowed to fetch and set the table,” I winked.
I saw the surprise before she asked. “Men actually help?”
“We do. I take it they don’t in your family.”
She laughed unhumorously. “Ah, that would be a no. Even Dad, whom I love, doesn’t.
Though, since I’ve gotten older, he tries when we’re together.
As for the rest, no way. My family is very much a believer in the gender roles conforming to the ones from the nineteen forties and fifties.
Even having a job outside of the home is barely tolerated, unless the children are older and the wife doesn’t let it interfere with her wifely household duties. Again, another reason I don’t fit.”
By then, we were on the first floor and had stepped out of the elevator. I heard the chatter of numerous voices. I glanced at Bronagh. She wore an uneasy expression.
“What is it?” I asked.
She hesitated several moments before she answered. I stopped us outside the elevator.
“It’s unusual to hear all this happiness. No one sounds angry or bitter. It’s quite the departure from what it was like at any of the family gatherings my family ever had. Those who would’ve been happy were drowned out by those who had axes to grind and anger to vent.
“Over these past few years, those times grew fewer because it was too much of a hassle to try to mediate. My uncle, Irial, had loved them and the chaos they caused, so he insisted on a monthly family get-together. After he was gone, Dad tried at first to keep them going and change the atmosphere. However, when he didn’t succeed, I told him to stop.
It wasn’t worth the stress it brought him and those who wanted to be close family. He agreed,” Bronagh confessed.
“I promise you, that’s not what’s happening here. Just come with me and watch,” I told her, hoping she’d try.
When she didn’t say no, I resumed walking.
I guided her into the huge kitchen-slash-breakfast area, where my entire family gathered, with a hand on her lower back.
When we were spotted, they smiled and offered pleasant greetings.
I knew none of them were fake. She looked as if her head were spinning.
Right after we entered and were greeted, Alexis, Darragh’s wife Ashlynn’s younger sister, came over to Bronagh. She took her hand as she grinned.
“I know, they’re a lot, but I swear they won’t bite. And they’re just as sweet as they’re acting. As long as you’re not out to harm the family, they are welcoming,” she said softly, so only Bronagh and I heard her.
I gave Alexis a grateful smile. I wanted Bronagh to be comfortable around my family.
If our marriage were to be successful, she would have to accept my family, and vice versa.
I would never marry or stay with someone who didn’t get along with my family.
They were too important to me. And my wife would be the same.
Yesterday and last night only convinced me more that marrying Bronagh was the right thing to do. Yes, there were potential issues to address, but not all at once. The first hurdle was to get her to say yes. Once I had that, the rest would come.
I felt a tad of the tension in Bronagh’s back decrease. She smiled at Alexis.
“Thank you. I’m not used to so many people getting along so well. In my family, there would be shouting and fighting,” she replied.
At that exact moment, my family had quieted, so they heard what Bronagh said. I saw Daid and the other parents’ mouths tighten, along with mamó’s. Bronagh realized it and gave everyone an apologetic look.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin the mood. I—”
She was cut off, not unkindly, by my mam, who walked over to us.
“You didn’t ruin anything. We hate hearing that families treat each other that way. We’re not angels, and we do argue at times and disagree, but we don’t allow it to wreck our family. We’re sorry you don’t have that,” Mam stated, taking Bronagh’s hand that Alexis let go of.
“Thank you, Mrs.—I mean Cyndi,” Bronagh corrected mid-sentence. Every parent had insisted she call them by their first names, the same way Mamó had.
“Leanbh, Child, come sit over here with me,” the still, strong voice of mamó called to her.
No one ignored Seerie O’Sheeran, not even her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Mam and I guided Bronagh over to where Mamó sat, watching her family finish preparing breakfast. Her hands came out to Bronagh, who slowly let go of Mam’s and took them.
She was drawn forward to the chair next to my mamó, where she sat.
“You and I are going to chat and get to know each other better, while this unruly bunch finishes preparing our meal,” Mamó stated.
Bronagh’s mouth opened as she glanced around the kitchen, but she was cut off nicely.
“Don’t offer to help. You’re healing. Once you’re well, you’ll be conscripted like the rest of the family,” Mamó said, chuckling.
Bronagh let a small laugh escape. Mamó looked up at me and made a shooing motion with her hand.
“Go, I have her. She’s safe with me, Cathal.” Mamó assured me.