Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Callum
My mam is only here for three more days.
It’s amazing how fast time flies when you don’t want it to.
I wish she could move here and be with us.
I’ve asked her and I’ve even told her that I would sell the cafe so that she could move here.
But she said she’s not ready. But when she is ready, she will.
I bet when Moira and I get married and have babies, my mam will decide that’s the time.
Francesco and Sebastiano have asked all of us to meet in the clubhouse. I’m hoping they found something.
“Is this the house you’re going to be living in from now on?” my mam asks as we’re heading out the door.
“I think so. Giacomo said we could pick another house, but we like this one. And it’s big enough for us to grow in.”
“Grow in? Do you want to tell me something?” she smiles as she looks at the two of us.
“Um…not that I know of.” Moira chuckles. “Not yet anyway. One day.”
“Okay. But I expect to be the first person to know.”
We all laugh as we head to the clubhouse, we get inside and sit down. Francesco seems really excited.
“So we found him. At least we think we did. We’re going to show you both a picture, to us, he looks like the guy and the information we’ve found on him? Seems to match the timelines.”
Sebastiano pulls out a picture and hands one to each of our mam’s.
“That’s him.” They both say.
Holy shit. They found our faither. Our mams hand the pictures over to Cillian and me. We both have the same shaped face as him and our noses are the same. But everything else is from each of our mam’s.
“What is his real name? Is he even a McGregor?” Teagan asks.
“He is a McGregor. And this is the part that’s going to be a lot for you all to deal with. He’s part of the McGregor Mafia, he’s the youngest son of Hamish McGregor. His real name is Colin, which makes sense as to him wanting Cillian and Callum named with a C.”
“Ah fuck me.” Teagan sighs. “I asked him if he was and he said no. I can’t believe I fell for him.”
“Well we both did. So where is he now? Is he dead?” Fiona asks.
“No he’s not dead. He’s in Northern Scotland, town called Gairloch.”
“I’ve been there. Not with Gord—I mean Colin. Arsehole that he is. Sorry. So I do know the town. It’s a gorgeous town. And it makes sense as to why he didn’t want to take me. I always wanted to go there and he kept making excuses as to why he couldn’t take me.” Fiona frowns.
“Does he have another family?” Teagan asks.
Francesco and Sebastiano look at each other.
“He does. He’s been married to Ainsley for thirty years. And they have nine children.”
“Holy fuck. What is he a fucking rabbit?” I blurt out.
“How did he do all of this? He was with me every two weeks…holy shit. He spent a week with each of us. And he was already married to his wife when I met him.” Teagan frowns.
“And I was the third woman.” Fiona says softly.
“So he stayed with us through our pregnancies and then just decided to leave? Is there a way we can talk to him? To face him?” Teagan asks.
“Of course. I can talk to my papà and see if he’d be willing to reach out to Hamish and talk to him about Colin. Give me a few minutes to see if he can come down. I know he’s working from home today.” Sebastiano says to us.
“This means that we have nine other siblings. Who may not even want to know who we are.” I sigh.
“And a shit bad father who kept this from everyone.” Cillian adds.
“What if they know?” I say to him.
“If they know and haven’t tried to contact us, fuck them.”
I nod as Sebastiano comes back into the room.
“So my papà said he’ll make the phone call and come down.” Sebastiano says as he joins us again.
“Why don’t we have lunch while we wait.” My mam says.
We all get up and help make lunch, sliced corned beef and cabbage sandwiches. They’re delicious and moist, definitely something I could eat everyday. After about an hour, Enea joins us in the room.
“Are there anymore sandwiches?” he asks as Fiorella hands one to him and he takes a bite.. “Grazie. I think we’re going to need these at least once a week.” He chuckles as he finishes his sandwich.
“I’m sorry it took me so long. I got a hold of Hamish McGregor.
After explaining who I was and who my family is, he agreed to talk to me.
I asked him if he knew of either of you and he said no.
And before you ask, sì, I do believe him.
I then asked him about his son, Colin. He said Colin has the North-West Highlands territory and the North Ayrshire territory.
When he was with you, Teagan, he had the County Clare Territory.
In 2000, he lost the County Clare territory to his brother, Wallace. ”
“So that’s why he left us? That was the year Cillian turned one.” Teagan says.
“I think that’s why and he wouldn’t have been able to just come back to see you.
According to Hamish, Wallace forbade Colin from coming into his territory.
To this day they’re still not talking. And if Hamish knows why?
He’s not going to tell me. As for Fiona and Callum?
I don’t have a reason he left. Except that maybe his wife found out and threatened to leave him. ”
“But that would mean that she knew about me and Callum. And he chose to leave us.”
I can see that my mam is struggling with all of this. Moira nods at me and we both sit with my mam.
“He’s a coward.” Teagan says softly as she sniffles.
Cillian and Fiorella sit with her.
“If you want, I can arrange for you all to meet with Hamish. I didn’t tell him about any of you because I didn’t know what you wanted to do. If you want me to talk to him again, I will. I can even call him now and put it on speaker so you can all talk to him. You tell me what it is you want.”
“What do you think could happen if Hamish finds out about us?” my mam asks.
“He’ll probably want a DNA test first. Which is easy enough, we’ve already done one on Callum and Cillian so we just need Colin’s DNA. And the boys aren’t children, so he can’t touch any of you legally. The rest will be up to you and what you want.”
“I think I’d like it if you’d call him.” Teagan says.
My mam nods. “I don’t mind that. I’d like him to know what his son did. Even if it turns out that they don’t care.”
Enea nods and calls Hamish. He explains about putting him on speaker and that there are people here that want to talk to him. After a few minutes, Hamish agrees.
“Hello Hamish. My name is Fiona Campbell. I know—knew your son, Colin.”
“And I’m Teagan McNamee. I also knew your son, Colin.”
“And how did you both know my son?”
“I met Colin in 1998 in Ennis. I spent two years with your son and one day he left and I never saw him again.”
“So you’re telling me this because you’re angry twenty-five years later about a man you spent time with?”
“No. I’m telling you this because we had a son.”
Hamish is quiet.
“I met your son in 1999 in Saltcoats. In 2001, he left like he always did after spending a week with me and I never saw him again.”
“Fuck’s sake. Are you trying to tell me that you have a kid too?”
“Aye.”
“And how do I know you’re both not just looking for money?”
“First of all, I’ve never needed money. I’ve raised my son alone his whole life. There’s nothing I need from you or Colin. Teagan and I just thought you should know what your son did.”
“Well to be honest, I don’t really care what he did. It’s your fault you opened your legs, not mine. But I will give you Colin’s number so you can complain to him.”
“Do you really not care that you have two more grandsons?” Enea asks him.
Hamish sighs and rattles off a phone number.
“It’s not that I don’t care. I just don’t know that I believe them. Do you know how many women have tried to get money from my family with the ruse of having one of my grandchildren?”
“Again, we don’t need your money. We just wanted our sons to have some closure.”
“Fine. I need a DNA test. And you’re welcome to call Colin. I know for a fact that he’s home today. But if you want me to get involved at all? I need proof that they’re my blood. No one has come to me and passed this test. I don’t have high hopes for either of you.”
“Where do you want us to send the test? We had one done on the boys here in Lake Renegade. Could you send your blood to us?” Enea asks.
“You have family in Ireland, Liam O’Connor?”
“Yes. He is my father in law.”
“I know Liam and I trust him. I’ll have someone deliver the package to him and he can send it to you.”
“Okay, I’ll let him know. Thank you.”
“We’ll talk soon, Enea.”
Hamish hangs up without even acknowledging my mam or Teagan. What a fucking arsehole. My mam and Teagan decide to wait to call Colin. They said they can only handle one arsehole a day. So we’ll tackle that one tomorrow.