Chapter Eighteen #2
I didn’t have a credit card so I couldn’t use the app. But I had some cash from the unspeakable event in Sodom, so I could call a cab.
“I can’t let you leave,” Maeve said with an embarrassed smile. “Seamus told me to keep you here until Lorcan picks you up. We’ll both get in trouble if you leave.”
“Damn, that arse. He knew I didn’t care if I got in trouble, but with you in the mix I’m forced to stay put.”
“I’m sorry,” Maeve whispered, and her hand moved to her belly.
It was the signature move of moms-to-be. “You’re pregnant?”
She pulled her hand away with a sheepish smile. “Only ten weeks along.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. And you?”
“I’m not pregnant!”
“I mean, are you trying to get pregnant?”
“No, it’s too soon.”
Maeve nodded. After that she told me about her younger sisters, stories of mischief that had me laughing out loud, but every so often my mind returned to Laurence and what he knew.
If Lorcan didn’t take me to him tomorrow, I’d go alone.
I didn’t care if that made him furious. I wasn’t here to make him happy.
Lorcan picked me up around six. “I’m glad you obeyed.”
I didn’t react as I followed him to his car. “So tomorrow we’ll go to Laurence?”
Lorcan sent me an annoyed look as he opened my door for me.
“If it gets you off my back. But I’m telling you, everything I’ve heard so far makes me believe your sister doesn’t want to be saved.
She found a rich guy who pays for everything, and she figured it’s better than working her pretty ass off as a model. ”
I shook my head as I got into the car. “It was her dream. Becoming a model was all she ever wanted. The only reason why she’d be with a rich guy was to get closer to that goal. ”
Lorcan rounded the car and sat behind the steering wheel. “She uses men for her own gain. Seems to run in the family.”
My eyes grew wide with indignation.
“Don’t give me that look. Your mother seduced your father so he’d impregnate her and she could evade a marriage. You married me so I’d help you find your sister. And your sister uses men for money and their connections.”
My cheeks burned. He made it sound as if it were true. Was it? Were we Killeen women manipulative? “You blackmailed me into marrying you.”
“And now you’re using me to get what you want.”
“I doubt you’re suffering.”
“I’m not.”
On the way home, Lorcan grabbed burgers and fries for us. “It’s a burger on the sofa kind of day.”
We settled on the sofa with our food, close but not touching. Lorcan ripped open the paper bag and spilled the fries on a napkin for easy access. I leaned forward and snatched one up. “I always crave food like this on stressful days and then regret it afterward.”
Lorcan smirked. “Fries aren’t the only thing you crave and regret afterward.”
I rolled my eyes at him, feeling my cheeks heat. I wished my body’s desire for Lorcan wasn’t so obvious to him.
My phone rang. I picked it up where it lay on the table. It was home. I answered with a sinking feeling. “Mum?”
“Aislinn?” said Finn’s small voice.
“Finn! Is Mum with you?”
Lorcan watched me as he bit into his burger.
“No. Sinead makes me lunch. I want to talk to you. I miss you.” His words came out in a bad stutter, but I gathered what he said.
“I miss you too, Finn. I’ll be back soon.”
Lorcan’s face tightened but he continued eating his burger. I couldn’t really return to Dublin as Lorcan’s wife. I was expected to stay here. But I didn’t intend on being Lorcan’s wife for long. Lorcan didn’t know that though. Or maybe he did.
“I miss you so much,” Finn whispered. “Can I come visit?”
“It’s a long flight, Finn. I don’t think Mum can take off time from work that long. We’ll see each other soon. I promise.”
He told me about his last horse therapy session and then our neighbor took the phone and hung up.
I closed my eyes, feeling homesick and guilty for leaving Finn.
Lorcan put down the burger wrapper and leaned back against the sofa with a pensive look on his gruff face. “Why don’t you bring Finn here? We can figure it out. It won’t take long to find a new place to live with an extra bedroom.”
I stared at Lorcan in surprise. Was he being serious?
“Ireland is his home. He should stay with Mum, and Mum won’t leave Ireland.”
“Your mother seems busy keeping her head afloat. You don’t have to work. You would have time to take care of Finn, and he could get better treatment over here. Money isn’t an issue. He’s still young. New York could become his home.”
Was Lorcan being kind? Or was this his way of keeping me in New York? Keeping me with him? “Did it for you?”
“No, but I was twenty when I came here. My roots are in Kenmare, in Ireland. Finn is still small. Memories won’t bind him to Ireland.”
I could feel myself seriously considering his offer.
I missed Finn and he missed me. I knew Lorcan was right.
Mum was probably working overtime to make up for my missing money.
Finn liked our neighbor, but she wasn’t family and she was old.
I wanted Finn safe. But was he really safe in Dublin?
Everyone who was connected to the Five-Leaf-Clover gang knew about my marriage to Lorcan by now.
That meant people would find out about Mum and Finn.
I wasn’t sure if Balor would make sure my mother and Finn were safe.
If Finn was here, I could protect him, and for some reason I didn’t think Lorcan posed a danger for him.
It all depended on how much longer my search for Imogen would take.
Weeks? Months? And once I found Imogen, would I be able to return right away?
Probably not. So more time could pass. Maybe more weeks or months.
What if that meant a year without Finn? He was closest to me, always had been, and I had time to take care of him, like Lorcan had said.
Could I really drag Finn into this?
“You should fly him over. If things don’t work out, he can return to Dublin. No harm done. I don’t care about a few thousand dollars for airfare. Even your mother can return to her old turf for all I care.”
I nodded absent-mindedly and grabbed a couple of fries, which were cold by now. “I’ll talk to her, and Finn.”