Chapter Thirty-Three
Rowan
The line rings and rings until it finally goes to voicemail.
Hi, you’ve reached Alicia. Leave a message.
That shouldn’t concern me since I know she’s spending the evening with her sister, but unease coils in my gut for some unknown reason. I’m being ridiculous. If there was a problem, she would call me.
“Everything okay, Ro?” Eamon asks from across the table.
Eamon, Teagan, and I hadn’t hung out in what feels like ages, so we met up at O’ Nelly’s. It’s always odd being here when Alicia is off. Paddy is great, but not as pretty to look at.
“Yeah, mate. It’s grand.” I answer automatically.
“You sure?” Teagan inquires, looking at me strangely. “You seem a little worried.”
Looking up, I give him a cheery smile. “All’s good. Just thought I’d see if Li and Bridget needed anything, but she’s not answering. I’m sure they’re just busy.”
Eamon smirks before taking a gulp of his beer.
“What?” I narrow my eyes at him.
“Nothing.” He shrugs. “Just not used to seeing you lose your head over a lass.”
“Fuck off.” I smirk. “A man can change, can’t he?”
“‘Course he can. I’m not getting down on ya. It’s a good change, just…different.”
“Yeah, Ro,” Teag cuts in. “Never thought we’d see the day when you’d actually settle down. I always knew you had it bad for Alicia, but never thought you were this gone for her.”
Grinning, I take a drink from my glass—I only drink spirits when Alicia isn’t pouring. “I think I always have been. I was just too much of a dumb fuck to realize it. Sort of makes a fella realize he doesn’t enjoy travelin’ as much when he’s on his own.”
My mates share a look.
“What was that?” I ask, pointing between the two of them.
They both shrug. I’m about to start tossing coasters at them when Eamon speaks up. “Think you’d ever leave CFC and find a way to be here more?”
He doesn’t know that the thought has been in my head more often than not, lately.
I love football and playing for the League has been the dream since I was a boy.
The thought of not playing in some capacity makes me feel hollow inside, but surprisingly, when I think of not playing professionally, it doesn’t sting as much as I thought it would.
But the thought of leaving my girls behind so much? That’s another story.
“Not sure what other options I have at this point,” I tell him instead. “My contract is for a year, so I couldn’t leave until after the season anyway.”
“True,” he muses. “That could give you time to research other options though if you’re considering changing up.”
I nod, considering. Eamon didn’t have a problem saying no to playing professionally when the scouts approached him.
He told them he needed time to think about it, but he’ll say that he knew his answer immediately.
He wasn’t going to leave Norah. Even though she was supportive and encouraged him not to turn it down if even a small part of him wanted it, he’d already made up his mind.
“I’ll think it over,” I told him. “One more round, boyos? It’s on me.”
They consent happily, so I make my way to the bar, pulling my phone out and dialing Alicia again. Still no answer. I’m about to text her, when the phone buzzes with an incoming call. The unease from earlier stirs again.
“Bridget?” I answer. “Is everything okay?”
* * *
She looks so lost, so young, sitting huddled on the park bench.
This wee lass has been through more in her short lifetime than many adults.
Being a parent is not something I ever considered.
My mind was always focused singularly on football.
Then I met Bridget, and something about her pulled at my heartstrings.
She’s Alicia’s sister, yes, but I think even if she weren’t, I’d still feel this way.
We haven’t known each other long, but I want nothing more than to watch her thrive.
I want to keep her safe while also showing her that there are adults out there who stick around because they want to. I want her to know that she’s wanted.
Alicia loves her sister without a doubt, but she’s pouring from an empty glass. She gives and gives, works and works, to make sure that they can simply survive. She was a kid herself when she started caring for Bridget. She’s never had the chance to just be Alicia. They both need relief.
“Hey, mo stóirín,” I call softly as I approach her.
Bridget lifts her head from where it’s resting on her knees, and the moment her eyes meet mine, her face scrunches up, and she bursts into tears. My heart breaks.
When she called me, I knew something had to have happened, and I was right.
She didn’t give me many details, just that she and Alicia got into it and she ran away.
I told her to stay where she was, and I’d be right there.
I didn’t hesitate—just rushed for the door, thanking the blessed virgin that I’d only had one drink and was okay to drive.
I called Eamon once I started the car and explained the situation, promising to update him when I could.
Sitting down beside her, I gently put an arm over her shoulders, tugging her to my side. “Shhh, it’s okay, love,” I coo, stroking her hair.
“It’s not okay,” she chokes out through her sobs. “I ruined everything!”
What could a child possibly have ruined?
“I doubt that,” I assure her. “Whatever happened, we can fix it, yeah?”
Her head shakes back and forth rapidly. “No, this can’t be fixed.”
“Do you want to tell me about it? Maybe I can help. I may not look it, but I’m actually a pretty decent problem solver.”
I let her cry until it subsides, and she raises her head to wipe at her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. After another moment, she takes a deep breath and releases it.
“I gave him all of her money.”
My mind flits through memories of conversations, trying to think of anything she or Alicia has told me that I can connect to this, but I draw a blank.
“What do you mean? Who did you give whose money to?”
Bridget sniffles. “I gave all of the money in Alicia’s safe to our dad.”
“Wha…what? When? Why?” I stammer in shock.
“Last night. He showed up at our house while you two were gone. I was stupid and let him in. I was so excited to see him. I thought he was coming to be with us, that maybe jail changed him.” Her shoulders cave inward.
“He told me that he wanted to be with us, but he didn’t have any money, and that without money for rent and stuff, he’d have to leave again. ”
She hiccups, lips quivering.
“Oh, Bridget, love,” I murmur. “That was…”
“I know! It was stupid. I get that now. Alicia was so mad when I told her. I’ve never seen her like that.”
Fuck. I need to check on Alicia.
“Okay,” I flounder for something to say that will be helpful. “Here’s what we’re going to do. First, let’s call your neighbor and see if you can stay there for the night, then I’ll go and talk to Li, okay?”
“She hates me,” Bridget whispers sadly.
“No,” I argue, grasping her shoulders to turn her in my direction.
“Listen to me, mo stóirín. Your sister loves you more than anything in the whole world, I can promise you that. There’s not a single person on this planet that she cherishes more than you.
Right now she’s probably feeling scared, and yes, angry, but I promise that who she’s really mad at is your father.
Frankly, I am too. If I were to see him now, I’d likely knock a few teeth out of him.
You didn’t hear me say that though. Violence is never the answer. ”
She huffs a small a laugh, and that’s enough for me to know she’ll be okay. Pulling her in for a hug, I rest my chin on top of her head.
“Thanks, Ro,” she murmurs.
“Anything for you.” I tell her, and I mean it.
* * *
Once Bridget is safely stashed at the neighbor’s, I pull the spare key from my pocket and let myself inside. It’s dark, save for a lamp in the living room. I’ve barely closed the door behind me when a meow sounds at my feet.
“Ah, hello Lou,” I greet the cat quietly, reaching down to scratch his chin. “Where’s your mum?”
Meow.
“Not helpful, mate. Think you could learn to talk like that cat from Sabrina?” I look at him hopefully, but he just blinks his big green eyes at me then lunges for my leg, sinking his teeth into fabric of my athletic pants.
“Oy!” I whisper-yell. “Bleedin’ menace is what you are.”
Lou meows again then saunters to his food bowl, spins in a circle, then sits primly next to it.
“Yeah, alright. Don’t get your whiskers in a knot.”
Quickly, I fill his bowl with a scoop of food then head toward Li’s room. There’s a light on in the bathroom and black hair pooling across the floor. My heart sinks and I rush over, dropping to my knees to shake her.
“Alicia. Alicia, love, wake up.” I’m trying to stay calm, to assess the situation, but inside I’m in a fucking panic.
Rolling her to her back, she groans, and I finally see the beer bottle next to the toilet. That’s when I register the sour scent of alcohol and vomit lingering in the air.
“Fucking hell, hen. What all did you drink?”
Rotating, I find a washcloth in a drawer of the vanity and run it under cold water. I ring it out, then fold it before wiping her face. Her skin is so pale, and the circles under her eye are a mix of exhaustion and smeared makeup. She’s still beautiful, even like this.
Once I have her cleaned up, I carefully slide my arms under her, lifting and cradling her body against mine before standing and moving to her bed.
Before pulling the covers over her, I strip off her pants, followed by her stained shirt.
Pulling mine off, I swiftly thread her arms through the sleeves and tuck it over her head.
When I pull the blanket over her limp body, her eyes flutter.
“Rowan?” She croaks, voice hoarse from throwing up, most likely.
Brushing the hair from her face, I murmur, “Shh. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right here.”
“Where’s Bridget?” She asks weakly.
“She’s safe, love. At Kat’s for the night. Don’t worry.”
Alicia slips back into sleep and I watch her for a while, just to make sure she doesn’t aspirate. Once I’m sure she’s fine, I kick my shoes and pants off, then slide into bed next to her. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I snuggle in close, knowing that tomorrow is going to be rough.