Maeve
I knew the knock at the door had to be my newest potential client. One of my most grateful ones had contacted me and told me she had a referral for me. I’d been more than willing to see this woman. I hadn’t set out to become a healer. I was just someone who’d been fortunate since almost birth to be taught the wonderful world of herbs and plants and how they could be used to heal the human body of many of our maladies. I felt it was my duty to help others.
The women in my family had been passing this kind of knowledge down for generations since the time of the Druids. It was something the maternal side of my family had always done, even in the days when we still lived in Ireland. The immigration to the US over a hundred years ago hadn’t changed that. It was an irresistible impulse to heal others.
So, with that in mind, I smiled and greeted the three people standing on my doorstep like I would anyone else. Thank God for all those years of training. They held me in good standing as I greeted them and tried not to swallow my tongue. Why? Because standing with the older woman and a tough-looking young man was a man who literally made me feel like my brain was exploding and my heart had been seized and synched to a new rhythm.
He was tall with dark, almost pitch-black hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. I had to look up at him from my five- foot-five stature. He was the one to take over the conversation since my brain couldn’t think of what to say after my greeting.
He stood tall and looked down his nose as he gruffly stated, “I’m Patrick O’Sheeran, and this is my mother, Saoirse O’Sheeran, Ms. Kelly.”
“Mr. O’Sheeran, it’s nice to meet you both. Who’s your friend?”
“This is Brian. He’s our driver.”
I showed them into my living room and somehow was able to serve them tea. Once they had a glass and we exchanged a few niceties, I got to work. I couldn’t let this mouthwatering man, who made me want to gaze into his eyes for hours and strip every bit of clothing from his impressive body, make me act less than professional.
I spent the next thirty minutes ignoring Patrick's intense stare as I asked his mam a variety of probing questions. Ones that would hopefully help me figure out what ailed her and how I could best help her. It became quickly apparent she suffered from a disease that doctors couldn’t agree was even a real one called fibrositis, or its newest name was fibromyalgia. Most thought it was all in the sufferer's head. I knew it wasn’t. It was very real and extremely debilitating.
I patted Saoirse’s hand. She had insisted I call her that rather than Mrs. O’Sheeran. “Saoirse, I have something I want you to try. I think it’ll help with your pain. I want you to follow the directions exactly as I have them written, then come see me in two weeks. We’ll see how you’re doing, and I can add others to it as needed.”
“Oh, go raibh maith agat , thank you, my dear.” She said, with the biggest smile on her face. I knew she’d probably been to numerous doctors and others in search of someone who could help her. I knew I could do it. I’d dealt successfully with this disease in others.
After I’d given her the herbal concoction I wanted her to try and a handout on how to use it, they got up to leave. She discreetly handed me my payment, which I thanked her for. Brian held open the door for her. She left first, and he was a step behind her, which placed Patrick in the back. He turned to me as he stepped over the threshold of my front door.
“As much as it kills me to say this to someone deceiving people into thinking they’re a real healer, I need to see you alone. Tell me when and where.”
My mouth fell open at his rudeness and arrogance. He thought he could insult me, and I’d agree to meet him. He was an arrogant ass. I curled up my lip and narrowed my eyes at him. “Mr. O’Sheeran, you and I will only ever meet when I see your mother if she brings you again. I don’t spend time with those who think I’m a deceiver. Good day.”
His eyes widened in shock. Then his eyes narrowed on me. “I don’t think you know who I am.”
“Oh, I know who you are. You’re the head of the O’Sheeran family in the States. That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another arrogant asshole who thinks his name, money, and power gets him whatever he wants. Well, I hate to tell you, it won’t get you anything from me.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. I slammed and locked the door. The fury running through me erased the attraction I’d been fighting for almost an hour. Disappointment made my eyes tear up. The one man I saw myself getting lost in was a crushing disappointment. I’d have to forget the temptation of him. I had too much pride to put up with insults and disdain.