Epilogue
CORMACK
A YEAR LATER
I hold my son tightly as we travel back to America.
He’s three months old and my beautiful wife is sleeping on the plane.
Our trip to Ireland had been an intense one since Siobhan and the baby had died eight months earlier.
Gloria had been too sick to travel for the funeral or so I told my brother, not trusting him around my pregnant wife, but this time we traveled together, and Gloria played her role well.
We stayed in Dublin for a month, but I need to get my family to where we belong. Being around Peter for any length of time sends me into defensive mode which upsets Gloria.
She wanted to stab him on more than one occasion especially when it came to his lack of love for his wife.
Apparently my brother had been busy with his mistress and Siobhan had been driving alone, crashing as the labor pains kicked in.
It was a tragic accident although my brother didn’t seem to mourn her death.
The family name is in shambles as rumors spread about him bringing his mistress to the funeral.
The man is a dog, and I’m tempted to put him down, but I’ll save that for one of his enemies.
For now, he has to believe his wife and child died in the crash, but several of us faked her death.
We snuck her out of the country, getting medical treatment in the States.
So far the ruse worked just as expected and she now resides in Texas.
She’s raising the baby, managing cattle, and hoping to live a good, quiet life.
As long as Peter never learns of it, they will remain happy.
My brother deserves to lose everything, but I did manage to pull some strings and ensure he could never get a passport or VISA to visit or work in the United States. I want him as far as possible away from me and my family.
During the funeral he asked about Aria, but instead of being crass, he mentioned a teen boy that would be perfect for her. I’m glad that he’s left thoughts of hooking up with her to the wind because there is no way he’ll get anywhere near her.
Aria’s growing up fast, looking like a woman which makes me not want daughters. Gloria looked older at sixteen too, so I’m grateful that I didn’t meet her then. Waiting would have been bloody torture.
I could have sworn that I saw Domani Bianchi lurking outside of her school once or twice this past week.
I’ve asked her father about it and all he would say is that he has a vested interest in her safety, but that it wasn’t to be discussed again.
I drop the matter because if she’s still crazy about him then it’s for the best that he watches over her.
Maybe he’s got it as bad as the rest of us poor souls madly in love with our women.
We arrive at the house and settle the baby down after a nice bath and a bottle.
“Are you ready for bed, my love?”
“I just woke up,” she says while letting out a yawn.
“You’re tired.”
“Well, maybe it’s all the travel.”
“True or maybe…do you think I’m pregnant again?”
“There’s a good chance, but we’ve only been fucking for a month, so you wouldn’t be far along.”
“Okay. I’ll check in the morning. Are you well?” Gloria presses her hand to my jaw, and I turn my head and kiss her palm.
“Yes, being home feels good with you and our boy.”
“Even though it’s not back in Dublin or Kilkenny?”
My heart will always be for my homeland, but it’s marred with the past whereas I have a sense of happiness here that can’t compare. “Yes. I’d rather be here than there for now.”
“Peter.” She answers the unspoken question.
“I can’t trust him around my family. You and Aidan are my world. The thought of him being near you is never a pleasant one.”
“Well, let’s forget him and sleep. We have a big day tomorrow. My mama wants to have a gathering for the holidays.” Yes, Christmas is just a week away and there are plenty of gatherings to attend.
“It’s our son’s first Christmas.”
“I can’t wait until he realizes it next year, but this one is special as well. My parents are anxious to spoil him.”
“We’re not much better, but we will raise our kids to remember to keep their humanity.”
“Always.”