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“I don’t know why your mother failed you, but I knew she mourned you for the rest of her days, and I also know you’re right—that did nothing for you. That didn’t take away from what she let happen to you.”
I squeezed her, shoving my face against her shoulder so that I could hug her harder.
“Would you feel better knowing she did something to hurt your stepfather? Even though he was already dead?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.” My tone wooden, I closed my eyes. “I need you to promise me something, Aoife.”
Her hand slipped around me and cupped the back of my neck. “What, baby?”
“To always put our children first.”
She shuddered. “Oh, sweetheart.” I heard the tears in her voice, didn’t need to move to see them in her eyes. “I promise,” she said thickly.
I nodded.
That had to be enough.
For tonight, that had to be enough.
“Who knows about Conor?” she questioned.
“Brennan, Declan, and Eoghan don’t know. Conor doesn’t know that his parents are in the loop now.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“I know you won’t.” I hesitated a second before grating out, “Junior and I, we burned down St. Patrick’s Church.”
“That means we don’t have to go toanyservices now? Yay!” she cheered.
“Well, that’s a novel way of looking at arson."
Her laughter bubbled free. “I’m not the Catholic here.”
"Didn't you wonder why we didn't go to church last night?"
"Since when do I look gift horses in the mouth? I was just glad I didn’t have to go out into the cold.”
Aoife made me look devout so I wasn’t totally surprised by her reaction, even if it was further proof of the life changing her.
My lips curved. “Big baby.”
She shoved me in the side before she released a soft whistle. “Father Doyle is probably rolling around in his grave even though he isn’t dead.”
“He called Senior today. Demanding the villains suffer.”
“I’ll bet he did. Look at him turning the other cheek,” she sneered. “Does Aidan Sr. know you and Junior were behind it?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.” I pulled back to look into her eyes. “I watched it burn, and it was like the ties that bound Junior and me to that place burned with them.”
“Do you feel lighter?”
“I do.”
“Who knew arson was good for the soul? Not sure Father Doyle would like that news to spread.”
At her jovial response, all I could think to say was, “I changed you.”
“I grew up. I know the world is mean and nasty, and I know that we can’t do anything to change that.
