Chapter Forty-Two
Alicia
“Wait, how many people is she making you invite?” Norah’s voice rises an octave in alarm.
I’m working behind the bar tonight, thankful that it’s slower than it has been.
The past couple of weeks have been complete chaos between Ro’s physical therapy, shifts at work, and just the day in and day out grind of adulthood.
By the time I get home from work most nights, I’m exhausted to the point where I’m crashing as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Ro has learned that if he wants to get his hands on me, he needs to do it before I get under the covers.
Most nights he waits up for me, ready to pounce the moment I walk through the door, which usually isn’t an issue since Bridget is already asleep, but other nights, I come home to find him passed out on the couch, ESPN illuminating the room.
The pub hasn’t had any new customers in over an hour, so I’ve actually been able to catch up with the Kennedys and soon to be O’Briens.
Teagan finally proposed to Layla, and the two are planning a huge wedding, at her mother’s command.
Her family is Mexican, so there’s no such thing as a small, quiet celebration.
Especially when Layla is the first of her siblings to get married.
“Way too fucking many,” Teagan answers for Layla as she downs another shot of Tequila.
“You should elope out of spite,” Norah suggests after throwing back her own drink.
Layla whips her head toward our friend, onyx hair flying out behind her. “Ohmygodwetotallyshould.”
She’s been drinking at a rapid pace for the last hour, claiming she needed to unwind, and Norah said she’s there for moral support. Eamon and Teagan have been sipping their beers, knowing they’ll likely be carrying their gals out of here later.
“Lovely,” Teagan begins softly, using the nickname he gave her before they even became a couple, then cups her face in his hands.
“We talked about this. Even if we eloped, your ma would still make us proceed with the ceremony and then roast us on a spit and serve us to the guests. I’ll confront your mother about a lot of things, but that’s one area I’m afraid to tread. ”
“Ugh. Why are you always so reasonable?” Layla whines, letting her forehead drop to his chest. I chuckle and pour her one more shot, telling her it’s the last one for the night. Teagan mouths a thank you at me over her head.
Norah slides from the bar stool and stumbles a step, but Eamon, the ever-watchful and protective husband, winds a muscled arm around her middle.
She giggles then grabs the back of his neck and pulls him down for a passionate kiss.
His eyes widen in shock, but soon turn heated, his hands snaking down to cup her ass.
He squeezes, then pulls back. “Behave, Acushla. We’re in public. ”
Norah looks around wildly at the empty pub. “We’re literally the only ones here.”
She attempts to pull his mouth back to hers, but he spins her so his chest is pressed against her back and secures both arms around her.
“Fire sprite, I think it’s time to go home, yeah?”
Giggling again, she nods her head vigorously, auburn strands falling into her face.
“Aye,” Teagan agrees, running a hand over Layla’s hair. She’s still slumped against his chest. “It’s time to get this one home, too. Tell Ro we’ll come by and see him this weekend.”
“Will do,” I reply. “He’ll like having the company.”
Not that he hasn’t had social interaction, but apparently Isaac is not the company he wants to keep right now.
No matter how many times I assure him that he has nothing to worry about, it doesn’t change how possessive he becomes whenever he sees me chatting with the man.
I’d be annoyed if not for the way he fucks me when we get home.
After today’s therapy session, he was surly over Isaac giving me a side hug before we left, so he took out his frustration by bending me over the back of the sofa and railing me until I came twice on his cock, then once more when he insisted I sit on his face.
I’m considering paying Isaac to keep putting moves on me just to see what Ro comes up with next.
“Li!” Norah’s drunken screech pulls me back to the present.
“Norie!” I respond with the same level of enthusiasm, earning chuckles from the guys.
“You know what we should do?”
“What’s that?” I rest my elbows on the bar top and fold my hands under my chin.
She pulls away from Eamon—though he still keeps his hands on her—and mirrors my pose. “We should all do a triple date! Not here, obviously, but the three of us—”
“Six, love,” Eamon corrects her gently.
“Six, right! Anyway, the six of us should all do dinner and some kind of activity!”
Grinning, I reach out to stroke her hair, like I would my cat. “Norie, I love you.”
She beams. “I love you, too! So are we going on a date now?”
I look to Eamon and Teagan, who are shaking with silent laughter, then back to Norah. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
“Yay!” She throws her hands into the air and squeals happily. Since she’s unsteady on her feet, she begins to topple to the side, but Eamon catches her quickly and scoops her into his arms. When he cradles her to his chest, she burrows his face into his neck, sighing happily.
“Get those girls home,” I order, pointing back and forth between the two Irishmen. “We’ll plan something when they’re sober.”
They nod their agreement and say their goodbyes. I watch as Layla takes a clumsy step, clutching Teag’s left shoulder, and without missing a beat, he bends, swoops his right arm under her legs and hauls her into the same position Norah is with Eamon.
Wow. That was hot.
“Damn, O’Brien!” I call out before they reach the door. “Smooth!”
He turns, grinning broadly, and winks before carrying his soon to be bride over the threshold.
* * *
“Alicia, love, would ye mind comin’ in here for a moment?” Paddy calls from his office.
It’s not unusual for him to stop me the moment I arrive at work and talk my ear off before I’m able to actually do my job, so I don’t think much of it.
“Yep, be right there,” I answer as I hang my jacket on the hook by the back door and check my reflection in the mirror.
After determining that my eyeliner isn’t smudged and I don’t have any random strands of hair sticking out of my braid, I stroll into the office and perch on the edge of the chair across from him.
He doesn’t look up from whatever paperwork is in front of him right away, so I wait a few seconds before clearing my throat. His bespectacled eyes slowly rise to meet mine and I can tell that something is…off. He looks like he’s stuck somewhere between concerned and…excited?
“Pat,” I start, going on high alert. “What’s going on?”
Sighing heavily, he leans forward, resting his forearms on the desk and interlacing his fingers. “I have some news.”
My heart jumps into my throat, blocking off my oxygen. I can feel a burning sensation behind my eyes, my brain preparing me for the worst. Fighting to swallow the lump that’s keeping me from speaking, I square my shoulders.
Finally, I choke out the words. “What, uh…what kind of news?”
Paddy glances down at his hands then back up, and a slow grin spreads across his face, cheeks turning rosy and eyes sparkling.
“Sondra and I are getting married!”
I blink, then blink again. Then narrow my eyes at him. “Pat, you son of a…ugh! Why would you do that?!”
He rears back like I slapped him, and honestly, I kind of want to.
“What do you mean?” He asks dumbfounded. “I thought you’d be happy for me!”
“I am, you crazy old man,” I yell. “But I thought you were going to tell me you were dying! You never start a conversation off like that! Especially when you’re old enough to be my grandfather! Jesus, Pat.”
There’s a pause then he starts chuckling. I’m certainly not amused, but as his low laugh transforms into a full belly laugh, my lips twitch, and when he starts wiping tears from his eyes, I grin. God, I love this man.
Eventually, he gains control of himself enough to say, “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t even think about how that might come across, but your reaction was priceless, so it was.”
“Glad you find my suffering so entertaining.” I shake my head in mock disappointment.
“You know, that’s what I loved most about you from the moment you applied here?” He asks, giving me a fond smile.
“What? That I’ll yell at you for doing shit like that?”
“Aye,” he says, nodding. “I knew as soon as you walked through my doors that you’d not only be a hard worker, but wouldn’t put up with any shenanigans from me or the patrons. This building may bear my name, but you’re the one that keeps everything going strong.”
I duck my head to hide the emotions swirling in my gut. “Thanks, Paddy. I appreciate you saying that. This has basically been my home, and I’ve loved watching it flourish over the years.”
“I know. Which is why I want to give it to you,” he announces confidently.
My head snaps up, and I’m positive my eyes are bugging out of my head. “Wha…what?”
“I’m retiring, Alicia. Like you implied, I’m not a young man anymore.
” He winks. “Sondra and I are very much in love and want to spend what’s left of our lives together, enjoying each other.
My Ellie and I,” he says, then pauses, closing his eyes and taking a shuddering breath.
When he opens his eyes, they’re lined with tears.
“Ellie and I spent our married lives working and taking care of our lads. We were always saying we’d explore the world and go on grand adventures when the boys were grown, but even when they were, we still worked.
Don’t get me wrong, now. We loved every minute of making O’Nelly’s into what it was back in Ireland.
We rarely argued and found many a reason to laugh.
I never thought I’d love again after she left this world.
Sondra took me by complete surprise, and I don’t want to waste a single minute on anything other than loving her. ”
Tears are pouring down my cheeks, my makeup surely ruined, but I can’t bring myself to care after Paddy’s declaration.
Not only am I moved by his love for his late wife, and now Sondra, but the idea of him not being a part of O’Nelly’s guts me.
He never thought of me as less than, never hassled me if I had to leave to take care of Bridget.
He put up with my mood swings and snarky retorts, found ways for me to put in extra hours when I was short on money, often times giving me the tips he earned.
I simply would not have survived without him. And now he’s giving me the pub?
“Pat,” I sniffle. “I don’t know the first thing about owning a business.”
“Ach, don’t be thick, lass!” He scolds, removing the glasses from his face and setting them on the desk. “What did I just tell ya? You’ve kept this place in tip top shape and managed me, when I’m the one who’s supposed to manage you.”
“But…”
“No, listen. There’s no debt on the building or the business.
Every expense will be just to keep this place going, and everything leftover is profit.
You already know how to do all that needs to be done as far as bills, inventory, and payroll, and anything else?
I’m certain that fella of yours, who has a business degree, can help.
You deserve this, Alicia. You’ve spent too much of your life believing you’re unworthy of the good life has to offer, and it just isn’t true, love.
I’ve watched you raise your wee sister and work yourself to the bone, never once thinking about what you’re missing out on.
Aye, running a business comes with its share of difficulties, but compared to the storms you’ve faced, it will be nothing but a blip on the radar. You deserve to live a beautiful life.”
Completely floored, I bury my face in my hands and sob.
It’s all too much. Never did I think that I’d have my own business, but it’s more than that.
It’s more than Pat just thinking I’m capable and wanting to run off into the sunset.
This is a fresh start, a new life. It doesn’t erase the past or hide the scars, but it’s a chance.
A chance to prove to myself that I’m more than the broken and calloused woman who’s never let herself dare to hope for anything better.
I hear Pat rise from his chair and move to stand beside me, his warm hand gently rubbing my back. Blindly, I stand and throw my arms around him.
“Thank you.” The words come out garbled because I can’t stop crying. “I love you.”
“Well, now,” he clears his throat as he holds me. “I love you too, lass. You’re the only one I’d entrust this place to.”