“You fucking bitch.”
I jerked my head around to where Maureen stood in the doorway to the living room, her hands fisted at her side and her eyes blazing. Behind her, Meghan bit her lip, meeting my eyes helplessly. We’d agreed she would break the news to Maureen while I faced Flynn. Clearly it hadn’t gone well for either of us.
“How could you do that to him? How could you not tellus?My God, Ali, I was your best friend. We told each other everything, and you couldn’t tell me you were having my brother’s baby? What the hell’s wrong with you?”
Flynn stepped toward her, with his hands palm out. “Reenie, I’ve got this. It’s not your battle.”
“Bullshit. She was my friend, Flynn. For all these years I’ve been living in this town with her, while it turns out I have niece right here, going to school with Graham.” She swung back to face me. “You kept her from her family. My father died never knowing he had another grandchild. And you let it happen.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I never meant to keep her from you. But telling you would be the same as telling Flynn, and . . .” I gripped the arms of the chair, digging my fingers into the rough fabric. “As I told him, I didn’t know what to do. I was alone, except for Sam, and I just couldn’t lay that on him. He had so much weight on his shoulders already.”
“We would’ve been happy to share the burden.” Reenie’s mad had given way to hurt. “Mom and Dad, Iona and me . . . we would’ve been here for you.”
“I think maybe instead of rehashing what happened back then, we should let Ali and Flynn figure out what they’re going to do from here on out.” Meghan stood behind Maureen.
Flynn sat down again across from me, on the sofa. “I want to see her. Does she know about me? Does she think Craig is her father?”
I shook my head. “She doesn’t really know anything. Bridget never knew Craig, because he left when she was an infant. I’ve never mentioned him to her. She asked me about her father a few years back, and I told her . . .” I took a deep breath. “I told her that her father loved her very much, but that he couldn’t be with us. I never gave her anyone’s name.”
He nodded once, short and curt. “So you tell her now that I’m here. And I’ll come out to see her.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Today. I want this to happen now.”
“How do you think she’s going to take it?” Maureen glanced at me. “Should you have someone there? Like a professional?”
“Bridget is one of the most well-adjusted kids I’ve ever met.” Meghan dared a smile. “I think if you’re honest with her, and keep it simple, she’ll be fine.” She paused, as though debating whether or not to go on. “I understand it hurts you both that you didn’t know Bridget was part of you. But I want you to know that this child is loved, and she’s happy. Sam is an amazing uncle, and Ali . . . she’s like super-mom. Bridge is smart and funny and respectful . . . she’s already a talented artist.” Meghan turned to Maureen. “She probably got it from your dad, like you told me last summer. Didn’t you say he used to be a mason?”
Reenie nodded. “Yeah, when he first came over to this country, and then during the summers after he started teaching. He made the prettiest fireplaces and stone walls.” She sniffled, making me wonder if she was choking back sobs.
“Okay.” I stood up, looping my purse over my shoulder. “So the first step is telling Bridget.” I twisted the strap of the bag around my fingers. “I’ll call you when we’re ready for you to come over.”
“Don’t drag your feet on this.” If there was a subtle threat in Flynn’s words, I chose to ignore it. “I’ve already been robbed of eight years with my daughter. I don’t want to miss anymore.” He dug into the back pocket of his jeans and pulling out a brown leather wallet, slid out a white business card. “My number’s on there.”
“I don’t want you to miss any more, either. Believe it or not, Flynn, I want my daughter to know her father.” I was surprised to realize it was true. Now that the hardest part was over, I was relieved and ready to move on.
For a moment, we all stood awkwardly, staring at each other. There wasn’t anything to say, and yet just walking out the door felt wrong. I could tell Meghan was itching to go; she’d missed another day of classes today in order to come here with me, and now she wanted to get back to Sam.
I glanced at Flynn. “I know this is going to take a while to digest. I understand that you’re angry and hurt. I hope that we can get past it and . . .” I tried to think of what I wanted to say. “Parent our child together. If that’s what you want.”
I didn’t know what I expected from him. Maybe on some level I hoped he’d take two steps closer and pull me into his arms. Not anything lusty or leading to a declaration of life-long love, but maybe just comfort. Understanding.
Instead he raised one eyebrow. “I’ll be waiting for that call.”
Sam was sitting on the front porch when we got home. Meghan and I pulled around to the back door and walked through the house to find him.
Meghan opened the screen door and went straight for the swing, sitting down next to my brother and curling her body into him. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, glancing up at me. “So how’d it go?”
I dropped into a wicker chair. “It went. I told him. He hates me. So does Maureen.” I leaned my forehead into my hand and massaged. I had a wicked headache brewing there. “I have to talk to Bridge when she gets home, then he’s coming over to see her.”
“That’s fast.” Sam rubbed the side of Meghan’s arm and then tilted her chin up with one finger. “You okay?”
“Maureen is so mad at me.” Her voice was muffled against his arm. “She asked me how I could keep something like that from her.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” I was so tired, so completely exhausted. And the fun wasn’t quite over yet today. “If I hadn’t told you last year, you wouldn’t have known either. All of this comes down to me, and the decisions I made.” I nudged Meghan’s knee with the tip of my shoe. “Don’t sweat it, kiddo. Reenie’ll come around. She gets mad fast but never holds a grudge. It’s the Irish, I think.”
“That’s why she didn’t talk to you for almost nine years?”
Ouch.“That was as much me as her. I think she started to thaw toward me after Craig left town, but I never let her. I was afraid if I did, I’d end up telling her the truth.” A loud whoosh of air brakes signaled the arrival of Bridget’s bus. My stomach tumbled. “Guess it’s time to face the music. Again.”
“Ali, do you want to talk to her alone? Sam and I can go upstairs.”
