Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
Fiona
A week had passed, and Rory’s absence weighed heavy over Glenhaven.
When I walked the property, through the barns and watched training sessions, it was quiet.
No boisterous laughing, no raucous ribbing.
Heads down and work was done.
It felt thick and blinding like the mist that clung to the hills in the early morning.
Siobhan told me, “It’s like the land is mourning Uncle Rory.”
The house had also settled into an unnatural stillness, but I think that had more to do with the fractured family living within than Rory’s death.
I don’t think my father was sad at all he’d lost a brother.
He had jumped right into the training center, taking over management.
On the outside, some would think that was just his way of grieving—by being busy.
I felt it was more distraction by the golden opportunity that was laid at his feet, because with Rory gone, my dad owned all of Glenhaven now.
Of course, that was probably my own bitterness projecting onto my da, because I was so angry at him—nearly to the point of hate—for making me come home.
For sending Tommy away.
For ruining my happily ever after.
Siobhan and I sat cross-legged on my bed.
She’d barely left my side since I’d moved back in, knowing that I wasn’t bearing just the weight of Rory’s loss but of Tommy’s as well.
Our voices were hushed, though there was no real reason to be.
The house was silent save for the occasional creak of the old wooden beams, the distant whisper of wind sneaking in through the windowpane.
“Da invited the Kavanaghs to dinner,” I murmured, my fingers twisting a loose thread on my sleeve.
Siobhan sighed, flopping back onto the mattress, her red hair spilling over my pillow.
“It was inevitable.”
“I told him I’m still in mourning and didn’t want to attend.”
She snorted, turning her head to look at me.
“And how long do ye think he’ll let ye use that excuse?”
I sighed, rubbing at my temple, exhaustion creeping into my bones.
“He didn’t let me use it this time. I was ordered to attend.”
Siobhan propped herself up on her elbows, her brow furrowed, frustration simmering in her green eyes.
“Ye’re not actually considering it, are ye? I mean… I get ye came back home to save Tommy from getting in trouble… but Fi… ye can’t marry Brian.”
If only Siobhan knew the real truth.
I really came home to save her.
Sure, I didn’t want Tommy to get in trouble, but if it weren’t for Siobhan, I would have made a run for it.
Of course, I could never tell her that.
She’d be riddled with guilt and I wasn’t about to put that on her.
“Of course I’m not marrying Brian.” I sat up straighter, but my stomach twisted as I spoke.
“But for now, I have to play Da’s game.”
Siobhan’s expression darkened.
“I’m sorry yer going through this. It’s not fair.”
My heart ached with love for my little sister, sharing space with the fear I held for her future.
I was at a loss on how to save us both and that was my ultimate goal, but I couldn’t afford to be reckless.
“I’ll figure something out,” I said, though I had no clue what that something was.
Siobhan smirked.
“Maybe we should make ye as unappealing as possible at dinner.”
I quirked an eyebrow.
“What? Like do my makeup all wrong? Talk with my mouth full? Belch and fart at the table?”
She cackled, rolling onto her side.
“Oh, absolutely. Maybe spill wine on Brian’s lap too.”
I shook my head, laughing despite the sick feeling in my stomach.
“If only it were that easy.”
A beat of silence passed between us before she asked softly, “Do ye miss Tommy?”
My throat tightened, my fingers curling into the blanket beneath me.
“With every breath I take.”
I knew he’d made it home safely because Kathleen passed on the message after he called her.
He hadn’t asked to speak with me.
I didn’t know if that was because he didn’t want to make things harder for me or because he was hurting too much himself.
Either way, the ache in my chest hadn’t faded—it had settled, becoming a dull, constant throb that would never let me forget what I’d lost.
A knock at the door made us jump.
“Fiona,” my mother’s voice called from the other side.
Siobhan and I exchanged glances before I rose, smoothing my skirt and opening the door.
My mother stood there, her expression unreadable, her hands folded in front of her like she was trying to keep them from shaking.
“There’s someone here to see ye,” she said.
I frowned.
“Who?”
“Come down to the sitting room,” she instructed and turned away from me.
I glanced back at Siobhan who scrambled off my bed.
“Could it be Tommy?” she asked with glee.
I refused to let my heart hope for that much.
“Let’s go see.”
We demurely went downstairs, although I was so curious I wanted to go stampeding.
When we entered the sitting room, I saw a tall, middle-aged man standing just beyond my mam.
He was dressed in a dark suit and carrying a leather satchel and his presence alone made me uneasy.
He smiled at me and inclined his head.
“Ms. Conlan, my name is Mr. Keane. I’m a solicitor handling Rory Conlan’s estate.”
My gaze darted to my mother as I wondered why a solicitor would want to talk to me.
My mam stood at the window, looking out of it, her arms folded over her chest.
She was listening but by giving us her back, she was telling me that she was not a part of whatever this was.
“Please… have a seat, Mr. Keane,” I said, motioning to one of the chairs.
I perched on the edge of the sofa, Siobhan sitting right next to me as if she were my own attorney there to protect my interests.
The man sat down, placing his satchel on his lap.
“I’ll get straight to it. Rory Conlan’s will has been settled, and I’ve come to inform ye of its contents.” He pulled a document from his bag, setting it on the table between us.
“He left his half of Glenhaven to ye, Ms. Conlan.”
The air was sucked straight out of my lungs, and apparently Siobhan’s too, for she wheezed as if she were dying.
I stared at him, the words struggling to take root in my brain.
“He left the training center to me?”
My mother didn’t flinch, and I guessed she knew exactly why this man was here.
I wondered if Da did.
Mr.
Keane nodded firmly.
“He did. Specifically, Rory left ye his portion of the farm, which includes the training center.”
My head spun.
This didn’t make sense.
I had assumed Rory’s share would pass back to my father, that Seamus would simply absorb it into his holdings.
That’s how it had always worked, hadn’t it?
My father had always taken.
He had never expected Rory to have a say in how things ended.
I turned to my mother, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Did Da know about this?”
She shook her head, her face pale.
“I don’t think so. We assumed… we all assumed it would go to Seamus.”
I didn’t miss the flicker of worry.
She knew what this meant.
She knew how my father would react.
My hands trembled as I looked back at Mr.
Keane.
“What about Kathleen?”
His expression softened.
“Rory ensured that Kathleen has the right to remain in the cottage for as long as she wishes.”
A knot loosened in my chest.
At least he had taken care of her, not that she needed it.
She was well off on her own since her pub was very successful.
I took a slow breath, trying to process everything.
“Are ye going to tell my father?”
Mr.
Keane shook his head.
“My duty is to Rory and ye. It’s not up to me to tell him, although I certainly will if ye’d like me to.”
“No,” I said hastily, shaking my head.
“I need time to think.”
Mr.
Keane inclined his head.
“Of course. My card is with the copy of the will. Please call me if ye have any questions. I am at yer service.”
I nodded, my pulse pounding in my ears.
“Thank ye.”
He stood, offering his hand once more, and I shook it absentmindedly before watching him leave.
Silence lingered and I stared at Rory’s will on the table.
I’d read it at some point, but I had a more pressing issue.
I stood from the couch.
“Mother.”
She turned to face me, her expression a mix of worry and regret, but she didn’t say anything.
“Please don’t tell Da yet. I want to be the one, but I have to…”
I didn’t know what I needed.
This felt monumental, but I wasn’t sure what it all meant.
I didn’t understand the consequences.
My mother’s hands on my shoulders jolted me from my thoughts and she peered into my eyes.
“This is yer ticket out,” she said.
I blinked at her in surprise.
Not for the actual words, which I didn’t quite understand, but by the tone of her voice.
It was…
apologetic?
I didn’t have a chance to ask her what she meant because she turned and left the sitting room.
Siobhan grabbed my arm, fingers digging down.
“Fiona… what are ye going to do?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
“I don’t know yet.”
But I did know one thing.
This changed everything.
I needed air, needed space.
“I have to go see Kathleen.”
The walk to the cottage was a blur and I ignored the sky shifting into an iron gray.
When I stepped inside, Kathleen was by the fireplace, a cup of tea cradled in her hands.
She looked up, and her face softened when she saw me.
“Ah, love.” She stood, wrapping me in a warm hug, and suddenly, the tears I had been holding back spilled over.
“I miss him,” I whispered against her shoulder.
“I know, sweetheart,” she murmured, rubbing my back.
“I miss him too.”
We held each other for a long moment before finally pulling apart.
She wiped a tear from my cheek and gave me a small, sad smile.
“But we carry on, don’t we?”
I nodded, clearing my throat.
“An attorney came to see me.”
Kathleen frowned.
“About Rory’s will?”
I nodded.
“He left me his half of the farm.”
Kathleen didn’t look shocked.
In fact, she nodded as if she’d expected it.
“Of course, he did. He loved ye like his own.”
Tears pricked, but I blinked them away.
“He made sure ye could stay here for as long as ye want.”
A small, genuine smile touched her lips.
“That doesn’t surprise me either.”
She studied me closely.
“So, what are ye going to do?”
I took a deep breath, my spine straightening, the first real sense of control settling into my bones.
Something had taken root in my head as I’d walked to Kathleen’s cottage, past the training center, which was now all mine.
“I have a plan, and I want to know what ye think about it.”