Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
L ucky had chosen Rowdy Roost as the best spot for making the phone call, which suited Kieran fine. He had good memories of the place — his dart game with Lucky and dancing with Sara.
He hadn’t heard from her but hadn’t expected to. She might still be asleep. He would be, too, if his host hadn’t made sure he didn’t miss this critical appointment with Lucky.
Rance parked by the side doors and they both climbed out. Lucky was already inside working on his pool game judging from the sound of balls smacking against each other.
“I didn’t get that lesson, did I, mate?”
“No worries.” Rance opened the door and ushered him inside. “Get Lucky to give you a lesson.” He raised his voice. “He’s almost as good as I am.”
Lucky straightened, pool cue in hand. “Pay no attention to him, Kieran. He thinks I can’t beat him anymore now that he has his own table.”
“I don’t just think, bro. It’s a fact. Last time we played?—”
“I was rusty. I’ll admit it. But unlike you, Oksana and I have our evenings free. She does writing sprints with Mom and I work on my game.”
“Then I look forward to our next match. Either of you want coffee?”
Kieran shook his head. “No, thanks.”
“None for me, either,” Lucky said. “I’m wired enough as it is.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.” He paused next to Lucky. “You’re gonna make that lady’s day.”
“Hope so. She’s definitely gonna make mine.”
Rance lifted his hand and Lucky grasped it as they exchanged a glance of solidarity gained through a shared life in the family trenches.
Kieran’s throat tightened. He had mates he’d known for years, but it wasn’t the same.
Rance left and Lucky snapped his cue back into its holder on the wall. “Did last night work out?”
“It did.” He would have revealed more. After all, this was his brother, even if they hadn’t spent years together. But now wasn’t the time.
“Glad to hear it.” Lucky distributed the balls among the table’s pockets and stepped away. “I’m thinking you’ll want to tell her about our mom first, and I’ll just sit quietly and listen to that part.”
“That makes sense.” He pulled out his mobile. “Her story leads right into the part of you coming into the world. At that point, I’ll hand it over to you. You can tell her about yourself.”
“What sort of stuff should I tell her?”
“Don’t worry. She’ll ask questions. Where should we sit?”
“I like the bar.”
“Me, too.” He followed Lucky and took the stool next to his. “I texted her on the way over and told her I’d call at four her time.”
“Did she answer?”
“She did. I want to show you the way she texts. It’s gas.”
“Meaning funny, right?”
He nodded as he called up the thread. “She loves emojis but they hardly ever match what she’s texting. She pretends she doesn’t need her glasses, and even when she knows she tapped the wrong thing, she won’t use the delete button. She’s afraid it’ll all disappear.”
“Which, to be fair, can happen if you hold it down too long.”
“I think she did that once, lost a long message and had to start over. She’s never touched that button again.” He handed over his mobile. “That’s the most recent. The one that starts I’LL BE HERE. ”
“Does she always use caps?”
“Only when she’s in a hurry.”
“The rose is nice, and the hearts.”
“I personally like the hammer paired with the T-rex.”
Lucky grinned. “If I met a T-rex, I wouldn’t mind having a hammer.”
“Scroll up and you’ll see the ones she sent earlier.”
He started reading and chuckled. “She’s clearly worried about you getting enough food. The volcano’s an interesting choice. And the barber’s pole. Hey, she found a bowl of ice cream. That works.”
“And a tooth. I think that counts.”
Peering closer, Lucky’s grin widened. “Technically, so does a pile of poo.”
“Don’t ever tell her she sent that, mate. I’m sure she doesn’t know what it is. She’d be scarlet.”
“I promise.” Still smiling, he handed back the mobile. “I love her already. Would she text me some emojis if I give her my number?”
“I’m sure she’d want to, but you’ll have to text her first and then she can just reply. Once I get home I’ll put you in her contacts with your picture. She’ll love that. Right now I’m the only contact she has.”
“Got it.”
“It’s time.” Pulling up his contacts, he tapped on Granny’s listing and set his mobile on speaker mode.
She answered right away, breathless with excitement. “Ah, Kieran, my boy, I miss ya so!”
“I miss you, too, oul dear. And I have news about my mother.”
“Do ya?” Her voice trembled. “She’s gone, yeah?”
“She is.” He said it gently. “Not long after she mailed that postcard, but?—”
“I knew it, knew it in my bones.” She sniffed. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll be after a tissue. Be right back.”
His chest ached. If only he could be there.
“It’s back, I am.” Her voice was stronger. “So. My Freya is gone from this world. But d’ya know where she is?”
“I’m sure she’s in heaven, Granny. I know she had her faults, but?—”
“I don’t mean that. A’course she’s in heaven. And if she’s not, she’s down there givin’ the Devil what for. I meant, d’ya know…” Her voice faltered. “Where is she… I hope someone….”
“Oh.” He sucked in a breath. “She’s in the Wagon Train cemetery. She had a proper burial.” He looked over at Lucky. “And a headstone with… her name on it.”
“Truly? You’ve seen it?”
“Not yet. I’ll go there today.”
“And you’ll send me a picture?”
“I will.” Why had he promised to do that today? The headstone would still be wrong. Well, he’d figure out something.
“How’d… how’d it happen?”
“She died in childbirth, Granny.”
She gasped. “A wee baby? Oh, no! Did they both?—”
“The baby lived, and?—”
“ Lived ? Are you sayin’ I have a grandchild there?” And now she was crying.
So was he. Tears dribbled down his cheeks. He didn’t dare look at Lucky in case he was in the same condition. He cleared his throat. “You do. And?—”
“Holy Mother of God.” She continued to weep. “A grandchild. All this time. Freya gave me another grandchild. I can’t believe it.”
He did his best to hold it together for her sake and Lucky’s. “A grand son . You have a grandson. And I have a—” He swallowed. “He’s right here. I’ll let you—” He passed the mobile to his half-brother, who was mopping his face with a bandana. He grabbed a napkin from a holder on the bar.
Shoving the bandana in his back pocket, Lucky sniffed and dragged in a breath. “Hi, Granny.” His chest heaved. “I’m your grandson. I’m Lucky.”
“Oh, my boy,” she choked out between sobs, “’Tis not luck you’re havin’. You’re a fecking miracle!”