Chapter 7 #3
My eyes narrowed on my brother. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
His grin widened. “Yep.”
“Asshole,” I muttered.
His eyes slid back to the TV, and he repeated, “Yep.”
“There was me showing you nothing but support when we thought you were the daddy. You weren’t an asshole then, were ya?”
Cal lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. “It was your wayward dick that sidelined me in the first place. Maeve and I should be halfway to Belfast by now, sipping champagne in first class while fooling around like newlyweds.” He sniffed haughtily. “I’d even planned to join the Mile-High Club.”
Maeve let out a snort. “God certainly loves a trier, Callum O’Shea.”
I pushed out a chuckle.
“Laugh all you want, brother,” Cal drawled. “But you’ll be laughing on the other side of your face when Ma finds out about the newest member of the family.” He nodded toward the phone. “You’d better start the show. I can’t wait for this.”
His words made my gut churn, but I knew I had to bite the bullet because putting it off wouldn’t change what lay ahead.
I picked up the cell phone, found Ma’s number, and gingerly clicked the call button before putting it on speaker.
The sound of ringing filled the room, and then the call clicked in, and Mam’s voice demanded, “Where are you, Son? I went by the bar earlier, and Adam said you’d been called away. You’re supposed to be on a flight.”
“Mam,” I croaked, suddenly emotional at the sound of her voice. “It’s Donovan. We’re in Nebraska.”
“Well, what the feck are you doing in Nebraska?” she demanded.
“And why have you got your brother’s phone?
As God is my witness, you’re far too old to be flitting off here and there, Donovan O’Shea.
But I tell you what you’re not too old for.
.. the wooden spoon. Now get your arse back here; you’re supposed to be looking after the bar. ”
“I’m with Callum and Maeve,” I told her, my tone flat.
There was a brief silence, then mam quietly snarled, “What?”
“Hiya, Maureen,” Maeve sang.
“Oh, love, you’re there,” Ma murmured, relief evident in her tone. “Can you tell me what the hell’s going on? I’m getting no sense out of this fecker.”
“I had a phone call from Family Services in Nebraska earlier today looking for Callum,” I explained. “I caught him just before he and Maeve boarded their flight. He called the social worker back, but it turned out it wasn’t Callum they wanted; it was me.”
Another brief silence ensued, and Mam asked, “Son. Spit it out, will you?”
I took a deep breath and just blurted out, “Mam. I have a daughter.”
More silence, but that time it wasn’t brief. In fact, it went on so long that I began to worry that I’d finally done it and given my mam a stroke.
“Are you okay, Maureen?” Maeve asked, chewing her lip nervously.
That was when Ma began chuntering.
“Mary, mother of Jesus, won’t you deliver me? I swear to Jesus and all of the angels, I knew one day my boys would be the death of me.” Her voice went breathy. “I need to sit down.”
“Maureen,” Maeve said softly.
“Sweet baby Jesus,” Mam fretted. “Sweet, sweet baby Jesus.”
“Mammy,” Maeve said again. “Listen.”
Ma stopped chanting for sweet Jesus and in a small voice asked, “What is it, love?”
“She’s beautiful,” Maeve whispered. “Her name’s Imogen and she’s just darling. The poor angel lost her mother to drugs, so she’s got nobody left in the world except for us.”
I heard Mam suck in a deep breath, and then she let out a quiet sob.
Tears filled Maeve’s eyes. “She’s nine months old with pretty blonde hair and curls, and guess what else?”
“What?” Mam breathed.
“She’s got Donovan’s eyes.” Maeve smiled. “Maureen, she’s the most beautiful child in the world. She could be a baby model in the magazines.”
“Really?” Mam asked quietly.
“Yes, really,” my sister-in-law responded. “She’s just perfect. You’re going to fall in love with her just like we all have.”
After a pause, Ma declared, “Well, if I’m honest, it doesn’t surprise me whatsoever. Donovan was a beautiful child, and so was Aislynn. I used to get stopped in the street by people telling me I had gorgeous children. It drove their da batty.”
I stared at Maeve and grinned my thanks.
“Right!” Mam said, the steel apparent in her voice again. “There’s nothing else for it. I’ll have to get my arse to Nebraska and get this sorted; though at my age, I shouldn’t be driving all over the country bailing my boys out.”
My chest twisted. “You don’t have to come, Ma. Everything’s in hand. I can deal with it.”
“Well,” Ma snapped. “This is just typical of you, isn’t it?
Not only have you had a child out of wedlock, but now you’re telling me that I can’t even meet my own granddaughter, who’s called Imogen!
I swear to God, Donovan O’Shea, I don’t know where I went wrong with you.
How could you treat your own mother like that, and after everything I’ve done for you too? ”
“It’s a five-hour drive, Ma,” I protested.
“Well, I’d better get a move on then, hadn’t I?” she stated. “Waiting around here won’t get the baby bathed.”
Callum sat up and swung his feet off the bed.
“You’re not coming tonight, Ma. It’s nine o’clock already; you won’t get here until at least two.
Go get a few hours’ sleep and leave early in the morning.
We’re not due at Family Services to get the paternity test results until midday, so you’ll get here in plenty of time to come with us.
If you drive over tonight, we’ll just worry, and chances are, I’ll end up driving out to meet you, which wouldn’t be good because I hardly slept last night, and I’m exhausted.
Plus, after the wedding yesterday and everything that’s gone on today, we’re all drained. ”
“He’s right, Maureen,” Maeve added. “There’s nothing we can do tonight. We all need to get some rest so we’re fresh tomorrow when we meet baby Imogen.”
“Imogen,” Ma repeated, almost wondrously. “It’s a good Irish name.”
“It’s wonderful,” Maeve murmured, her eyes meeting mine. “She’s wonderful.”
My heart dipped low in my chest, and I brought a hand up to rub at the new sensations ravaging me.
Usually, I felt empty, but spending time with Rosie and her kids had gone a long way toward plugging the hole that had been there for as long as I could remember. And now, hearing Maeve speak about my kid that way filled me to the brim.
It was crazy how something I never even knew I needed could make me feel so complete.