7.
Shay
I could tell Maggie was nervous as she was introduced to everyone. I gently touched her elbow and motioned to the free seat next to mine. She shot me a grateful smile and went to sit.
Suddenly, Nigel stood, an odd expression on his face as he stared at Maggie, and then he pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket.
“I’m just going to step out for a smoke,” he said, then left the room.
“Have you not tried encouraging him to quit yet?” Dawn asked, and I signed back, It’s his life. His choice. My sister-in-law hated smoking because her father had died from lung disease, having smoked heavily his entire life.
Dawn wore an unhappy expression. I checked to make sure Maggie looked comfortable before I went to help Dad dish up the food. As expected, my family began asking Maggie all manner of questions about herself. I felt bad leaving her with them, but I couldn’t expect Dad to plate everything up by himself.
Besides, my family were good people. They wouldn’t ask anything untoward.
“So, Maggie, how did you and my brother meet?” Ross asked, and I shot him an aggravated look. He already knew how we met. I’d filled them all in before Maggie arrived. Dawn thought it was terribly romantic we’d taken the bus together for months before finally meeting properly. Rhys shot me a knowing glance and said he now understood why I hadn’t gotten a car yet, while Nigel wanted to know if we were just friends or “more than friends.” I told him we were just friends because that was all we were for now.
“We met on the bus. There was a drunk guy hassling me one night, and Shay helped me out,” she replied, and I grimaced because I hadn’t told them that part. I noticed her gaze flicker in the direction Nigel had gone for his cigarette before she returned her attention to my family members. I found it curious but quickly brushed it off. She was probably just nervous to have everyone’s attention on her.
“Really?” my brother said, eyebrows rising, while Rhys looked impressed.
Maggie nodded and glanced at me shyly. “It was very kind of him.”
“My boy is a knight in shining armour,” Dad exclaimed as he carried some plates heaving with roast beef, potatoes, and carrots over to the table. A large jug of his special gravy already sat in the middle.
Quit that, I signed at Dad, but he shook his head. “Don’t be so modest, son. It’s few people who would help strangers nowadays.”
Yeah, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t have gotten involved if it weren’t Maggie that arsehole was hassling.
Maggie shot me a small smile before continuing, “Anyway, the trouble didn’t last long because the bus driver pulled out a crowbar and threatened the group of drunks to get off.”
Rhys chuckled heartily. “That’s Dublin bus drivers for you. They don’t tolerate any shite.”
“Oh my goodness,” Dawn said, eyes going wide. “That’s crazy.”
“I think everyone on the bus was just glad they finally left,” Maggie replied, tucking some of her silky auburn hair behind her ear. She looked so pretty today, fresh faced and a little flushed. I set a plate down in front her, and she shot me a look of thanks. Dawn called for the kids, and they came running in. They took their seats at the smaller table in the corner after shyly introducing themselves to Maggie, who seemed surprisingly comfortable interacting with them. I remembered her mentioning her younger half-siblings and wondered if they were around the same ages as Ryan and Shauna.
“Go and tell Nigel the food’s ready, will you, Shay?” Dad asked. I nodded and headed outside, finding my friend leaning next to the front door, his cigarette almost finished.
Dinner’s ready, I signed at him, and he took the last drag before stubbing it out. I turned to go back inside when he touched me on the shoulder. “Hey, Shay, are you sure about this Maggie?”
What do you mean?
He shrugged and exhaled a heavy breath. “I don’t know. She just seems a little off to me.”
I frowned, an uncomfortable feeling in my chest. You literally just met her.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I know, and maybe I’m just being overprotective, but there’s something about her. I can’t put my finger on it.”
He was being irritatingly vague, but that wasn’t unusual for Nigel. I’d known him since we were five, and he was always talking about vibes and gut feelings. Normally, I didn’t pay much attention.
“Look, after what happened with Emer, I just don’t want you getting hurt again,” he went on, and I pressed my lips together, hating to be reminded of my ex.
She’s nothing like Emer, I signed at him.
“Right, but how do you know? Sure, they don’t look anything alike, but that doesn’t mean this Maggie isn’t going to cheat on you just like—”
I held my hand up, not wanting to hear anymore. Maggie’s a good person, and we’re not in a relationship, so cheating isn’t an issue. Just give her a chance, okay?
Nigel pushed up on the toes of his feet, then dropped back down again, hands still in his pockets. “Fine, I’ll give her a chance, but don’t blame me if it all blows up in your face.”
With that parting statement, he walked back into the house. I returned to the kitchen just as he was taking his seat, and I noticed his frown as he glanced at Maggie. She glanced at him briefly, too, and she must’ve sensed his misgivings about her because her shoulders grew tense. I was annoyed by his behaviour because, as I’d said, he’d only just met her, and already, he was making judgements. It really didn’t make any sense, and it pissed me off, to be honest.
I sat down next to Maggie, briefly touching her hand to check in and make sure she was okay. I knew it had to be strange. Having dinner with the family of the guy she rode the bus with every day but hadn’t yet been able to have a full conversation with. Our communication was patchy; though, I’d been touched when she’d asked me to teach her some sign language. Few people went out of their way to accommodate me like that.
“This is delicious, Eugene,” Maggie said to Dad, and he beamed at her. He was very proud of his cooking and always loved it when people complimented his food.
Conversation flowed, and I sensed Maggie relax a bit more. Then the topic of conversation turned to work as Rhys spoke about the new security software he wanted to install at the hotel. Nigel surprised me when he spoke up, directing his question at Maggie.
“And what do you do for a living, Maggie?”
I sensed her discomfort; though, I couldn’t tell if it was the question or my friend’s mildly hostile tone that was the cause. Probably both. I glowered at Nigel, but he just looked at me like it was a perfectly normal thing to ask.
“I’m a cleaner. I clean houses,” she replied.
“Oh,” Nigel said. “And you enjoy that?”
I didn’t like his attitude and signed at him to tone it down, but he ignored me.
“Yes, I enjoy it well enough,” Maggie said as she took a sip of water.
“It doesn’t seem like the sort of job someone would pick if they had another choice. You’re not hiding a criminal record or anything, are you?”
Maggie stilled, then seemed to deflate at his question. I’d never wanted to punch my friend more than I did at that moment.
“Nigel,” Rhys said in warning, a questioning frown on his face like he couldn’t understand why Nigel was being so rude. I couldn’t understand it either. It was times like those I wished I could speak, so I could tell him to quit being such a fucking dickhead. Maybe he was hung over. It was Sunday, after all, and he often went out drinking on Saturdays with his colleagues from the insurance firm.
“What has you in such a bad mood?” Dad questioned Nigel while I continued to glare at him.
My friend let out a sigh. “Sorry,” he said, glancing warily at Maggie before turning to the rest of us at the table. “I’ve been under a bit of pressure at work. It’s turning me into a right horrible bastard.”
“Ah, well, we all know about work stress,” my brother said, shooting him a commiserating look. I still wasn’t satisfied, though.
Apologise to her, I signed, and his eyebrows rose.
I just did, he signed back.
No, you didn’t. Do it properly.
Nigel ran a hand over the stubble on his jaw. “My apologies, Maggie. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. It was rude of me.”
I noticed her swallow, and there was still a certain wariness in her eyes as she looked at him, despite the apology. “It’s fine.” She paused and glanced around the table. “And just so you all know, I don’t have a criminal record. Unless you count the time I stole a packet of Starburst from the corner shop when I was seven.”
Everyone chuckled at that, and some of the tension eased as we all tucked into our food, but I was still pissed at my friend for making Maggie uncomfortable. I wanted her to come to dinner again, not just this once. But after how Nigel had behaved, I wasn’t sure it’d be easy to convince her. She was already skittish enough.
“Where’s Stephanie today?” Dawn asked Rhys. I stiffened slightly at the mention of my cousin’s fiancée. She never came with him on Sundays, and a part of me had always been relieved about that. It was my time to spend around the people I was most at ease with. Stephanie was awkward with me at the best of times. If she started coming on Sundays, I’d just find myself going out of my way not to make her feel uncomfortable, which was never fun.
“She goes to see her parents on Sundays. I told you this already,” Rhys replied around a bite of roast potato.
“Well, I don’t see why she can’t take a Sunday off and come here,” Dawn continued. “And of course, we’d be happy to give you up every couple of weeks, so you can go with her to see her family.”
“We’re fine with the arrangement as it is,” Rhys told her, his voice a little gruff now. “Besides, you know her mother rubs me the wrong way.”
Dad chuckled. “I’ve met the woman a few times over the years. That Kerry Moran would grate on the patience of a saint.”
“So, you get why I’m content to continue as things are,” Rhys responded.
“Yes, but what about when you finally tie the knot? Will you just keep going on with two different Sunday routines even then?”
Rhys shrugged. “I don’t see any reason why our routine should change just because we’re married.”
“Leave him be, love,” my brother said, giving his wife a meaningful glance. I wasn’t quite sure what the glance meant, but I guessed it was their married couple silent communication.
“Well, did any of you see that film on the telly last night?” Dad asked, changing the subject in that easy way of his. “I can’t remember the title, but the main actor had his full wedding tackle out during the first five minutes. I said to myself, that’s not something you expect to see after innocently watching the nine o’clock news.”
Almost everyone burst out laughing. I glanced at Maggie and found her smiling around a forkful of carrots.
“Are you sure you can’t remember the title, Eugene?” Dawn asked with a grin as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “So, I can put it on my watch list.”
“It still escapes me,” Dad replied, his lips curving at the edges. “But I’ll text it to you if it comes back to me.”
The rest of the meal went better, with easy conversation and a much more relaxed atmosphere. Maggie sat next to me the whole time, and I savoured having her close.
What was it about her I liked so much? Sure, it wasn’t like I had packs of women knocking down my door, but if I wanted a girlfriend, I was certain I could find one. So, why was I so interested in the mysterious woman from the bus?
Nigel left earlier than usual, citing he had some work to catch up on before tomorrow. He said goodbye to everyone, including Maggie; though, I still noted a strain between the two of them. It irritated me he’d chosen that day of all days to be in a bad mood when I wanted him to make a good impression. I wanted Maggie to enjoy the company of my family and best friend.
We all chipped in with the cleaning up, as usual. Maggie tried to help, but I made sure she didn’t lift a finger because she was my guest. Soon enough, Rhys left, too, as well as Ross, Dawn and the kids. Dawn gave Maggie a quick hug, telling her it was great to meet her.
Well, at least someone knew how to be nice.
She’d just gone upstairs to use the bathroom, and I found myself alone with Dad as we put away the final few dishes. “That went well, I thought,” Dad said, and I arched an eyebrow at him.
“What? Are you still mad about how Nigel behaved?”
I nodded and frowned, then glanced out the window where Daniel was having a rip-roaring time with an old rugby ball he’d torn to shreds. It always amazed me how my dog could get so excited about the simplest of things.
“You know Nigel’s always been a little bit jealous when it comes to you,” Dad said. “You’ve been best friends since you were five years old, and he always hated if anyone else tried to befriend you.”
That’s not true. He was nice to Emer, I signed.
Dad wore an odd expression. “Yes, perhaps a bit too nice.”
My frown deepened. What do you mean?
Dad blew out a breath. “Oh, nothing. Don’t mind me. I don’t know why we’re talking about your ex-girlfriend when there’s a beautiful young woman upstairs who seems to really like you.”
That caught my attention, and I instantly forgot everything else. You think she likes me?
Dad’s smile was gentle. “Yes, son, I do.”
I glanced up just as I heard her coming back down the stairs, and I went into the hallway to meet her at the bottom. “Hey,” she said, then glanced at where her jacket hung on the coat rack. “It’s getting late. I should go.”
I held my hand up for her to wait, then went to grab Daniel’s lead from the hook by the back door. His head whipped up as soon as he saw me holding it, and he ran straight for me before sitting and waiting for me to clip it to his collar. I led him back out where I found Maggie waiting by the front door.
“Oh,” she breathed, her eyes going from Daniel to me. “Are you walking me home?”
I nodded, then quickly signed the question, If that’s okay?
I hoped she remembered the signs I’d taught her during our bus journeys that week. I saw her thinking about it for a moment, as though trying to remember, before she bobbed her head, her eyes returning to mine. “It’s okay.”
Momentarily dropping Daniel’s lead, I went to grab Maggie’s jacket for her. I motioned for her to turn around, so I could help her on with it, and she did so quietly. Then she was facing away from me, and I found myself gathering her soft, silky hair in my hand, so I could slide the jacket over her shoulders. My knuckles unintentionally brushed the back of her neck, and I thought I heard a faint inhale. Something tightened in my gut at the sound of her surprised breath as she slid her arms into the jacket. I reluctantly released her hair. It cascaded down her back as she turned, looking up at me with bright eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, and I nodded, doing my best to ignore how much I enjoyed touching her. I grabbed my coat and shrugged it on, then picked up Daniel’s lead again.
I approached the door and opened it, gesturing for her to go ahead of me. She stepped out, and I followed with Daniel walking at my heel. He’d always been a good dog like that, naturally staying by my side instead of pulling on the leash. Maggie’s floral perfume wafted by my nose as she walked on the other side of me. It was a mild evening, with lots of people out walking or cycling. A chill touched the back of my neck and the tips of my ears, a sign of approaching winter.
“Your family is very nice,” Maggie said, then paused, her eyebrows furrowing. “How long have you and Nigel been friends?”
I softened my gaze, sending her a look of apology for his behaviour, then held up five fingers.
“Five?” she said. “Five years?”
I shook my head. She bit her lip, thinking on it. “Okay, definitely not five decades. You’re not that old yet, I presume?” She shot me a smile, and I grinned. “Oh, since you were five, you mean?” I nodded, and her eyes widened. “Wow, that’s a long time. I haven’t kept in touch with anyone I knew at that age.”
I shrugged, wishing I could explain to her Nigel was a better bloke than how he’d come across. All through school, he’d had my back. He stuck up for me when anyone tried to bully me for being mute. Then I grew big and tall, and less people tried to mess with me. I didn’t need him to defend me anymore, but we still remained the best of friends.
“So, he definitely doesn’t like me,” she continued, then shot me a curious glance as her gaze wandered over me. “He’s not secretly in love with you, is he?”
I smiled wide and shook my head. Nigel wasn’t gay or even bisexual. He was a ladies’ man through and through. He’d always had a string of girlfriends, though, that had ended about a year ago, and he’d been single ever since. I think he decided to take a break from the dating scene.
Maggie grimaced. “Sorry. I had to ask. I guess he just generally doesn’t like me, then. Well, that and—” She stopped mid-sentence like she’d been about to say something before she caught herself.
I paused walking and gently caught her hand in mine. She inhaled sharply at my touch, and I tried not to fixate on how soft and right her palm felt against mine. I stared at her intently, and she grew flustered. Her cheeks reddened, and her eyes flickered away nervously. There was something she wasn’t telling me.
“Shay?” she asked.
I dropped her hand and signed, What aren’t you telling me?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t understand that. Do you want to write it down? It’ll take me a minute, but I’ll be able to read it.”
Frustrated, I pulled out my phone and typed the same question I’d just signed at her. She took the phone, a concentrated expression on her face as she started to read it. Daniel sniffed at another dog that walked by with its owner. Maggie finally handed me back the phone and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
I shot her a glower.
“You’re very expressive.”
Yes, I was aware of that. I had to be when often my face was the only way to get my point across. I continued glowering at her, and she let out a heavy breath. “Okay, fine. Today isn’t the first time I’ve met your friend Nigel,” she said and began walking again.
As soon as the words left her mouth, my stomach dropped as I fell into step beside her. My initial instinct was something happened between them, and I was filled with jealousy. Nigel went out with his work friends all the time. What if he and Maggie met at pub or a club and slept together? The very thought made me feel ill. I was possessive over Maggie, whatever it was we shared, and I hated the idea of her being with my best friend.
“It was a couple of weeks ago now,” Maggie continued, and I braced myself to hear the story of her meeting Nigel at a pub, him chatting her up at the bar. But that wasn’t the story. Far from it.
“I was in my flat after work one night, and there were a bunch of people outside making a racket. There’s a pub just down the road, so we often get rowdy groups passing by. Anyway, I ignored them, hoping they’d move on, but after half an hour, they were still out there.” She paused to swallow. “Your friend Nigel was among them. My upstairs neighbour, Siobhan, she’s in her sixties. When she opened her window asking the group to stop making so much noise, Nigel was particularly rude to her. Then my other neighbour, Bob, who’s seventy, went outside to have a word with them. Everyone moved on by then, but Nigel remained. He stole Bob’s walking stick and began intimidating him with it. Even when I came out and told him the Gardaí had been called, he still didn’t leave. It was only when he heard sirens he finally fled. Poor Bob was shaken by the incident. And I know Nigel was drunk, but that’s still no excuse.”
I stared at her, my stomach turning for a whole other reason now. I couldn’t believe Nigel would act in such a way, but then, I wasn’t around him a lot when he drank, and from the emotion in Maggie’s voice as she recounted the incident, I knew she wasn’t lying. My expression hardened as I pulled out my phone. I needed to have a word with my friend.
“What are you doing?” Maggie asked, watching as I typed. “Are you messaging him?”
Me: You’re an arsehole.
His response was almost instantaneous.
Nigel: Fuck. She told you, didn’t she?
Me: Yep.
Nigel: Look, I was really drunk that night.
Me: I don’t want to hear it. You’re a dick. I can’t believe you tried acting like there was something off about Maggie just because she saw you making a drunken arse of yourself.
I put my phone back in my pocket. It vibrated with another message, but I’d check it later. I was too furious to keep texting with him.
“I don’t mean to cause trouble between the two of you,” Maggie said quietly as we reached a row of houses.
I sent her a look that said I was glad she’d told me the truth. If my friend was out there bullying older people outside their homes, then I needed to set him straight that it was shitty behaviour. If that was the way Nigel wanted to behave, then I didn’t want his friendship, even if we’d known one another for going on twenty-eight years.
Maggie paused in front of a blue door, the paint peeling away from the wood.
“This is me,” she said, pulling her keys from her bag. She hesitated, glancing from me to the door. “Um, I’d invite you in, but your house is so lovely, and my flat is …” she trailed off, and I recognised the look on her face. Shame. “My flat isn’t the best.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder and held her gaze, hoping she could see in my eyes I’d never judge her for where she lived. My house was nice, sure, but it was my dad’s house, not mine. He made a decent living working as a manager at the Cadbury factory for thirty years, which allowed him to buy our house. I knew how difficult buying property and renting was nowadays. My brother and Dawn had gone through hell bidding on houses before they finally found a place within their budget. I imagined it was even more hellish being a renter like Maggie.
She exhaled shakily, her grip on her keys tightening. “Okay, well, if you want to come in for a cup of tea, I don’t mind, but as I said, it’s not a great flat, and it’s really small.”
I motioned to my dog, and she smiled, bending down to pet his head. “And of course, Daniel is very welcome to come in, too.”
She turned and slotted her key in the door before stepping inside, and I followed her in. I couldn’t remember ever being so curious to see where someone lived.