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“Don’t be.” I kiss the top of her head before letting her go. “Let’s get ready.”
It’s not even a question of her not coming. We are in this together. But I do need someone to look after Shay, and there is only one person who I trust.
We walk inside, and I’m surprised to see Shay sitting at the counter, eating a bowl of cereal. I’ve not told Cami about the paternity results. But she always knew, results or not. And I did too.
“Hi, mate,” I say, not wanting to make a fuss. “Ya sleep all right?”
He nods, eating from his oversized bowl.
“Grand. My wee brother and sister and Cami’s sister are goin’ to come over and look after ye. Maybe they can take ya to the zoo? I’ll ask them to bring some clothes over for ye too. And maybe some toys?”
I sound away in the head, but I have a lot of learning and catching up to do.
“Where’s Mummy?”
I look at Cami, not sure how I’m supposed to tackle this. A part of me is relieved he doesn’t know or didn’t see what happened, but how am I meant to tell him his ma is dead?
I know what that does to a chile, and I hate that my son and I share this experience. I hate that our innocence was stolen. But unlike my childhood, I’ll never hide who Aoife was. Shay needs to know who his mother was because I won’t have him chasing ghosts his entire life—like me.
However, Cami steps in because now is not the time to tell him the truth. “She’s got something really important to do. But she’s thinking of you and loves you. So much.”
Not a lie as Aoife, God bless her soul, wherever she is, is most definitely hoping her son is safe.
I’ll make sure of it, which is why I send Ethan a text. He replies a moment later. I knew I could count on him.
I leave Shay to finish his breakfast while I have a quick shower and dress in my best clothes. I’m knotting my navy tie when Babydoll enters. She’s in a lovely green dress.
She watches closely but doesn’t say a word. Instead, I notice she has something in her hand.
My face paints.
“One last time,” she whispers, offering them to me. And she’s right. It ends with Sean, as he is the reason I needed these paints to escape the demons trapped within my soul.
It’s time to set them free.
My uncle’s gaff is in the Republic.
I suppose he wanted to get as far away from the neighborhood where his old house was, the house I burned to the ground.
Babydoll has been quiet. I know that’s because she’s nervous. Coming face to face with the man who kidnapped her must be playing with her emotions. As for me, I don’t know how I’m going to stop myself from stabbing Sean in the jugular.
But he is here for a reason, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was curious to know what that is.
I knock on the front door firmly as there is no point in drawing out the inevitable. Babydoll doesn’t release my hand, and when the door opens, her grip only tightens.
“I’m so happy yer here.” Julia opens the door wider, permitting us entry.
I never let go of Babydoll’s hand because I still don’t know what we’re walking into. However, I haven’t called for backup because I believe Julia is who she says she is. And when we walk into the living room and see my grandparents sitting on the couch, it seems my gut intuition was right.
Imogen comes to a shaky stand while Keegan remains seated. We hardly left things on the best of terms as I pretty much told my grandparents I never wanted to see them again.
“Puck,” Imogen says, hobbling over to me. “It’s good of ye to come.”
She leans in for a hug which I loosely reciprocate.
“Hi, Camilla. Good to see ye again.”
Cami nods but stays close to me. Being here is dredging up memories she wishes to forget because the last time she saw my grandma was when she left with Rory. I don’t believe in ghosts, but Rory sure as shit is one that continues to haunt me every single day.
