Chapter Twenty-Eight
Maureen
Watching Declan with his daughter made me miss my own something fierce. Needing to hear her voice, I slipped outside with Tucker and called her.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Hello, Daughter.”
“What’s wrong? You sound like you’ve been crying.”
“Happy tears, well, mostly. One of the girls at the clubhouse found out she’s having a boy, and she told her dad she was naming the baby after him. It just had me missing you.”
“Well, you could come home,” she said with a hopeful tone.
I barked out a laugh. “Not a chance. I love it here, Colleen. I want you to come visit as soon as spring hits.”
“I’d love that. So, are you making friends?”
“I am. I went to a book club earlier in the week with the mayor.”
“Is the mayor a woman?”
“She is.” I laughed.
“Oh good. I was wondering what kind of book club lets men in.”
“Colleen Darcy, are you being sexist?”
“No, it’s just that most book clubs are about smutty books these days. I can’t see my mother discussing a dirty book with a man.”
She was right. That wouldn’t interest me at all.
“Ok, you have a point. Hey, Uncle Duncan will probably be coming by in a few days. He asked about the stuff from your dad’s office. We don’t need any of that, so he’ll be by to pick up those boxes. They’re all labeled, so you won’t have to dig.”
“When did you talk to him?”
“Actually, he was here. Sal, Tyran, Duncan, Cian, and Mac were all here.”
“Mom, I didn’t tell him.”
“It’s ok, sweetheart. They were here for a different reason.”
“How did it go?”
Sitting down on the steps, Tucker laid down beside me.
“As good as expected. But he didn’t try to talk me into coming home, so I’m counting that as a win.”
“So you’re staying?”
“Yea.”
“I’m happy for you, Mom. I mean, it sucks you’re not here. But I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” I wiped at a tear that slipped down my cheek. “Hey, I got a dog.”
“Really?”
“Yea. A friend just brought him over and dropped him off. He’s amazing. He’s so sweet and gentle, but he’s protective. He’s just perfect.” Tucker had laid his head on my lap, and I stroked his fur while I talked to my daughter.
We finished our talk and said our goodbyes. I missed her terribly, but I was glad I made the move. I was happy I had chosen something for me.
I sat for a few minutes in the cold December night, when Tucker started to growl low in his throat. Suddenly, his head lifted and his ears pinned back. His growl got louder, and I sat frozen on the front step.
“Hey.”
I jumped, my hand going to my chest. Tucker stood, baring his teeth at the intruder. I turned my head, my hand still over my racing heart, and saw Declan.
“Easy, Tucker.” I ran my hand over his head, and he sat, but continued to growl softly.
Declan moved a little closer, and Tucker growled a little louder.
“Uh, you want to help me out here?”
With a heavy sigh, I held out my hand for his. “Friend,” I said, holding Declan’s hand for Tucker to sniff. When my heart rate settled down, so did Tucker. He laid back down at my side, his head in my lap.
“Dinner’s ready.”
“Ok.”
Neither of us moved until he sat down beside me.
“I’m sorry about the other day. I never should have compared you to Beck’s mom. You two couldn’t be more different.”
“Can you tell me about her?”
Shaking his head he said, “Not tonight. Tonight is for celebrating.”
He stood up and held his hand out to me.
“Come on. It’s freezing out here.”
Looking up at him, I hesitated. He lifted a brow, and I gave in. Placing my hand in his, I let him pull me to my feet. His eyes roamed over my face for a moment, before he let go of my hand and opened the door, letting me enter before him.
Tucker followed right behind me, and I looked around the room at the tables. Making a decision for myself, I walked away from Declan and sat next to Banshee. Tucker laid on the floor at my feet and went to sleep while we ate dinner.
Trying not to look was futile, and I noticed multiple times that Declan was watching me as I ate and talked with Banshee and the others sitting at our table.
When dinner was over, I helped the girls clean up the kitchen before saying my goodbyes. I loved being in my house at night. Sitting on the couch with my kindle, the only light coming from my screen and the fireplace.
It was quiet and cozy.
And it was mine.
Tucker began to growl, and I looked at the front door. The knock was loud, and it made Tucker jump from the couch and stand in front of the door.
Slowly, I made my way over. Peering through the curtain that hung over the window beside the door, I shook my head at the man standing there.
“Tucker, friend.” He immediately sat. His growl became a whine, and I knew he was still alert. I couldn’t thank Banshee enough for bringing him to me.
The first few nights alone in the house were hard. I heard every sound and sleep didn’t come easy. Now though, I slept peacefully with Tucker by my side.
Opening the door, I crossed my arms over my chest.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought we could talk.”
“It’s pretty late.”
Declan looked at his watch. “It’s only 8:30.”
“Fine,” I conceded. I opened the door wide so he could come in, and that was when I noticed the bag in his hand.
“What’s that?”
“Dessert,” he said, holding up the bag. “I stopped by The Diner for some pie.”
“What kind?” I tried to peek in the bag, but he held it away from me.
“What’s your favorite?”
“How can I answer that when I don’t know what you have in there?”
He held the bag behind his back. “I don’t want to know your favorite of what I have. I want to know your favorite.”
“Why? If you don’t have it, you’re just gonna feel bad.”
I grinned at the look on his face. I don’t think he had thought of that. He shook his head, as though he were clearing his thoughts.
“Doesn’t matter. I still wanna know.”
“Blueberry.”
“Ha! You’re in luck.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a to-go container and a plastic fork. Handing them both to me, he walked to the couch and stopped so quickly I bumped into his back.
“Um, is he planning on staying there?”
I laughed at the tremor in his voice. You would think after they all saw what a sweetheart he was with the girls, they wouldn’t be afraid.
“Tucker, chair.”
Tucker jumped off the couch and moseyed over to the chair. Climbing into it lazily, he spun a few times then curled himself up, closing his eyes.
“How long have you had him?”
“I think you know exactly when I got him. Seeing as you were sitting up the street, watching us.”
He had the courtesy to look sheepish.
“You could have just knocked on my door.”
Placing his pie on the coffee table, he leaned his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together between them.
“That was the plan. When I got here, I saw a truck in your driveway and didn’t know who it was at first. Then, I saw you kiss him.”
Leaning forward to set my plate down, I settled my hand on his arm.
“It was a kiss on his cheek. A thank you for the dog.”
“Doesn’t matter what it was. I hated seeing it.”
I watched him for a moment before I picked my plate back up. Leaning back on the couch, I changed the subject.
“Can you tell me about Beck’s mom?”
He blew out a breath and leaned back against the couch. His head resting along the top. I ate my pie while I waited for him to decide what to say.
“I met Connie when I was twenty-four. I was a beat cop, barely out of the academy. On patrol one night, I saw a guy harassing her, and I stepped in. We started seeing each other, and after three months, she told me she was pregnant. She also told me she was having an abortion. She wasn’t ready to be a mother to a baby, let alone a thirteen-year-old kid. She left Arkansas, and I didn’t see her again until earlier this year, when I learned she had lied to me.”
“Is that why you killed her?”
“Jesus Christ, Maureen!” Declan yelled, and Tucker lifted his head, emitting a low growl.
Turning to the dog, Declan let out his own growl. “Enough out of you!”
The dog huffed and laid his head back down on his paws. His eyes stayed open for a few minutes and he and Declan eyed each other.
Turning back to me, he continued, “I’m not a cold-blooded killer, Maureen. I killed Connie because she tried to kill my daughter. When I walked into Beck’s house, I found her curled up in the corner of her couch, while Connie stood over her with a knife. When I made myself known, she turned and rushed at me with the knife. It was self-defense. But I won’t say I’m not glad she’s dead.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just—”
“It’s just where you come from, Sal kills someone if he gets a fucking paper cut.”
Returning my plate to the coffee table, I moved closer to Declan.
“You have to understand. It’s not just Sal. It’s everyone. Sal, my father, Duane, the cops. Killing has always been a part of my life. Though, I was happy to learn Sal had nothing to do with Kara’s death.”
“So he says.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“I don’t know him. The kid in me, the one who idolized his big brother, had no problem believing he wouldn’t hurt a woman. But the cop, the one who hasn’t seen him in nearly forty years and who knows what the mafia is capable of? He can’t reconcile the brother he knew with the Mob boss he became.”
Declan stood up and walked to the fireplace. Throwing some more logs on the fire, he stoked the flames. When he was done, he laid a hand on the mantle, staring into the fire.
“I knew he would take over from Eamon one day. But as a kid, one who was on the outskirts of the family, I never really knew what the Mob was about. No one talked to me. Duane didn’t even tell me much, other than his dad was a captain.
“When my parents died, I thought about contacting him. I talked to a detective in major crimes. Someone I trusted. I asked about Sal. He wasn’t the boss yet, but he had a record. I’d considered telling him about King until that point. I quickly realized why my mother did what she did. If Sal had a record already, it would only get worse once he took over. So instead, I sent him the information about my parents’ death. He had a right to know his mother was gone. I figured he would have come down. Checked on us.”
I watched as he inhaled deep, only to let it out slowly. He was struggling with everything that had happened over the last few days.
“He came by my office today before he left. Told me he’s been watching over us ever since. He knew where we were this whole time, but he never once reached out.”
“What would you have done if he had?”
“Hell if I know.”
Declan looked over his shoulder at me. His eyes traveled over me, reading me. Biting my lip, I prayed he saw no judgment.
“I won’t apologize for not telling King. I won’t apologize for keeping him safe, for not letting him be a part of the Mob. But I realized when I was talking to Sal today...” Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned back to the fire. “That maybe it was time to let go a little. I’ve lived my whole life for that kid. I’m not sure I know how to live for myself.”
I stood from the couch and made my way to him. Standing behind him, I wrapped my arms around him. Laying my head against his back, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. He laid one hand over mine.
“I’ve lived my whole life for everyone but myself. First, for my parents, then for Duane, and then Colleen. I don’t know how to live for myself either, but I want to figure it out. It’s not easy to give up nearly half a century of taking care of others and then put myself first, but I will learn. I’m starting over. Making a new life for myself. A life I’ve realized that I want you to be a part of.”