Bébhinn: See everyone in two weeks.
five
BÉBHINN
Bébhinn triedto relax into the curve of an ultra-hard plastic chair in one of the ferry’s lounges, having already left her white 2-door Jeep Wrangler on the parking deck. She exhaled a deep breath, relieved that her friends had, if not quite smoothed things over, at least begun communicating again.
Well, not Blair. That girl would internalize her feelings until she exploded. Bébhinn and her friends called each other on their crap, but they also knew when to pull back. They all went to Trinity and lived together—moods could get volatile quickly, which was why she didn’t message Blair, and was the reason her best friends finally relented and stopped trying to talk her out of this trip.
Smiling, she knew that Mags would only last a day, two at the most, before she nosed into Blair’s feelings. By the time Bébhinn got home, all would be squared away.
She’d wanted to say goodbye to her family last night and avoid doing so this morning, arguing that it would be too early to make everyone see her off. Her suggestion was ignored. It wrungher out emotionally to walk into the O’Faolain Building, as the family called the gorgeous, remodeled, four-story monster in downtown Dublin that Dad and her brothers had remodeled for the six of them to live in and raise their children. It sat next door to Triskelion Territory Designs, where all three of their wives happened to work.
Bébhinn tried to hide her flinch when she walked through the front door, still expecting to see her father leaning against the bar, waiting with his typical stern expression. He’d always had a smile for Mom and her, though.
That missing smile felt like a phantom limb. Painful.
Mom, her aunts, Bran, and Patrick were waiting inside the door. Bébhinn should have known it wouldn’t be only her mother seeing her off. One would think she was leaving the continent for a year, not a nine-to-ten-day hike in Wales.
Bran and Pat explained how to message Mom on the sat phone, ending the class with bear hugs.
“I’ll miss you, sister,” Patrick admitted, while smashing her face into his chest and patting her back hard enough to rattle her teeth.
Bébhinn didn’t complain, all too aware how lucky she was. Bran pulled her into his arms next, performing an almost identical smash and pat.
“See you soon.” Bran cleared his throat but didn’t say another word, fighting his emotions.
Patrick announced, “We’ll leave you ladies to it. Bran and I have a conference call with our financial team in thirty.”
As soon as the men started jogging up the stairs, Raven gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I won’t maul you like your brothers,” she laughed. “Have so much fun, Bébhinn. Take pictures so we can enjoy them once you’re home.”
“I have a great waist pack to hold my phone for easy access. There should be some spectacular views on the mountain trail I’m taking.”
River bussed her cheek loudly and gave a quick squeeze. “Have fun. Love you. Remember to bury your poop.”
Raven gagged. “You’re disgusting, Riv. It’s way too early for that…crap.”
Her aunts and even Mom snickered at Raven’s joke. Bébhinn shook her head at their antics, turning to her mom. One last goodbye, and she could finally hit the road.
“Alright, Mom, I’d best get going.” Bébhinn tried to ignore how quiet her mom was since Dad passed. Normally, she would have been ribbing her family and telling jokes. Dirty jokes used to be Rowan O’Faolain’s forte.
She was getting better but hadn’t quite found her footing, where she stood, without her husband. Before Bébhinn had lost her father, she couldn’t have imagined how the death of a loved one impacted the ones left behind.
She didn’t have to imagine anything now. It was a cruel lesson.
Mom wrapped her arms around Bébhinn’s waist and held tight for several seconds before leaning back. The smallest of smiles lifted her lips.
“Have fun, sweet girl. Since you’re so brave, I’ve decided that it’s time I was again, too. Raven and River are going to help me pack up Dad’s things while you’re gone. I might even redecorate. Perhaps you might consider,” Mom hesitated once more, “visiting the fourth floor again once you’re back.”
Bébhinn was sufficiently stunned to make her momentarily speechless. Mom’s news was huge. It also made her feel like a selfish brat that her mom knew she had been avoiding their flat since her dad’s death.
Rolling her lips in, she took a moment to compose herself before nodding. “I’m proud of you, Mom. Of course, I’ll come over. It’ll be my first stop when I get back.”
“I should have already packed some things away,” Mom whispered.
Bébhinn clasped her mom’s hands. “No, you shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have pushed. You are doing exactly what works for you, when it works for you. I just… I wanted to get past my pain and thought if you were strong enough to try, then surely, I could.”
Mom brought their hands to her mouth and kissed their entwined fingers. “The truth is, Hugh, your dad,” her voice wobbled, “would kick both our asses if he saw how miserable we’ve been. It would hurt him to see us like this, and neither of us would want to hurt him even now.”
