AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t understand any of this. Why would he report me missing?”
My mother returns to the table with the two cups of coffee. “I don’t know.”
“Does he hate Daniel that much?”
My mother tightens her hand around her mug, and it’s the first time I see some regret in her eyes.
“Do you?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t hate him at all, Lily.” She slides my phone closer to me, but I don’t pick it up.
“I was taken to the Gardai station and questioned. I was just dropped home in a gardai car.” I want her to know the significance of what her brother did. I can’t even tell her about being found tied up. My cheeks heat up.
“No one saw.” My mother reaches across the table to pat my hand, but I extract it before she can make contact.
“I always thought you sent me away to England in hopes I would make a better life for myself. But when I came back, I was confused at how much you seemed to hate the life I was living.”
My mother shakes her head. “I don't hate the life you have, Lily. I just want you to be happy.”
I don’t answer her. We have never spoken about how she shipped me off, and I had no choice. It was done so quickly. Mike had driven me to the Ferry and waited until the ship had left port. It was like he couldn’t take a chance that I would get back off.
My stomach twists. “Was I sent away because of Daniel?” I’m whispering because I’m afraid of the answer, but I need to know.
My mother shakes her head. “We wanted a better life for you.”
“We? As in, you and Mike?”
My mother won’t meet my gaze, and that frustrates me. “Does Mike want a better life for me now? Is that why he’s reporting that I was kidnapped?” My anger continues to heighten. “He’s sick. I want nothing to do with him.”
My mother rises. “Lily, he has your best interests at heart.” She gathers up the mugs that neither of us have touched and takes them to the sink.
“I wish you would be honest with me. I know you know more. What aren’t you telling me? A normal person does not report someone missing for no reason. Is Daniel a danger?” It’s a stupid question. Considering the line of work Daniel is in, I know he would never hurt me.
“Okay.” My mother turns with the dishcloth in her hand. “We sent you to England to keep you away from Daniel. It was for your own good.”
My stomach hollows out. “You took me from the one good thing I had.” I swallow the saliva. “What has Daniel ever done to you?”
My mother picks up her cigarettes and lighter. “Nothing. It’s not what he has done; it’s who he is.” She lights her cigarette.
“You mean an O’Reagan?”
My mother turns to me and nods, blowing smoke from the corner of her mouth. “It’s complicated.”
“It still doesn’t make sense to me. So he’s an O’Reagan, what does that even mean?”
The doorbell rings, and my mother’s gaze shifts to the front door, her gaze tightening. I have no idea what’s going on, but she’s nervous.
The doorbell rings again. “Are you not going to get that?” I ask.
My mother turns on the tap and puts out her cigarette, leaving the stub on the sink counter before going to the door as whoever is there continues to ring the bell.
They sent me away to keep me from Daniel. All these years abroad were just to keep a divide between me and the boy I loved. I never stopped loving him.
Pain and regret come hard and fast but are washed away as my mother re-enters the kitchen with Daniel, who looks worse for wear. I’m ready to ask him how he is, but I’m reliving being left tied to the bed.
In a few strides, he’s beside me and squats down by my legs. “I got arrested for kidnapping and couldn’t come back to the room.” He’s letting me know why he left me.
“I’m so sorry.” I blurt, thinking about how much my mother and uncle have done. Shame burns my cheeks.
