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A man with dark brown hair enters with a photo album, flicking through the pages, so he’s yet to see me. But when he lifts those familiar blue eyes and notices he has company, he almost trips over the edge of the rug.
“Boys a dear,” he gasps, shook to the core. “Yer the spit of yer ma.”
I am?
An uncomfortable silence fills the room. But that soon turns to a deadly silence when a woman’s joyful titter can be heard before she enters, and who she enters the room with rouses the devil inside me.
“Puck,” Sean happily says, carrying a silver tray filled with nibbles. “It’s good to see ye, lad.”
I advance, ready to tear out his throat, but Babydoll pulls me back as she’s still holding my hand.
Everyone is watching one another, a mixture of happiness, astonishment, and confusion filling the room. But Sean, Cami, and I are the only people who know what’s really going on.
Sean places the tray onto the coffee table before stealing a cube of cheese and casually popping it into his mouth like we are having a fucking tea party. He is baiting me as he knows I won’t act in haste until I know what his angle is.
But time is ticking.
“Hello, Puck. I’m yer aunt Siobhan. And this is yer uncle Charlie. We’re so happy yer here.”
I wish I could share the sentiment, but I can’t take my eyes off Sean and the smug way he’s eating that fucking piece of cheese.
Again, I spring forward, but Babydoll stops me. I know this is what Sean wants, but I want to rip his arrogant head from his shoulders.
“Thank you for inviting us into your home. I’m Camilla. Puck’s fiancée.”
Sean pauses from chewing as this is something he didn’t know. “Ach, congratulations,” he says, wiping his hands on a napkin. “It upsets me yer fathers can’t be here to celebrate with us.”
This fucker is going down, and going down now.
I don’t get a chance to act, however, because Keegan stands. Even though he wronged my ma, I won’t disrespect him.
“Congratulations,” he says, and it surprises me to see he now needs a frame to walk. He was a tough aul’ lad when we first met. My head still hurts from when he drove his shotgun into it. But to see him this frail, it does something to me I can’t explain.
“Thank you,” I reply, shaking his trembling hand as he extends it.
Imogen huddles into his side, her broad smile expressing how happy she is that we’re all together.
It’s still fucking awkward, but something has shifted with Keegan’s peace offering.
“I’m sorry,” Charlie says. “I don’t mean to stare, but ye look just like Cara.”
Imogen sniffles, clutching at the small gold crucifix around her neck. Keegan averts his eyes, no doubt not wanting anyone to see his tears. Sean stands indifferent, but the spasm of his jaw, which one would miss if they weren’t looking for a response, tells a different story.
When he looks at me…all he sees is my mum too…and what he did to her. No wonder he wants me dead.
“I wouldn’t know,” I reply. “Her memory is fadin’.”
It takes all my willpower not to glare at Sean.
Charlie smiles, but it’s bittersweet. “I thought as much, which is why—” He holds up the photo album. “I found some old family photos. Would ye like to see?”
Julia looks like she’s about to burst into tears because this would be a first for her too.
“Sure, why not.” Looking at family photos is not what I came here for, but Sean is where I want him.
So, I sit near Charlie as he sits on the couch. Babydoll sits beside me.
Imogen, Keegan, and Julia also sit on the opposite couch and recliner, eager to take a look as well. However, Sean chooses to stand. Auntie Siobhan ducks back into the kitchen to tend to whatever is in the oven.
