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“Listen, Ro. I’ve been part of the club fer years now, and ye’ve all been there fer me when I needed it. I’m not goin’ta let ye down.” It’s a promise from one of my brothers, and I believe him. He’s a good lad, and I know he’ll do anythin’ he can ta help me.
“I just don’t want it ta be a burden,” I tell him as I hold my hands up.
“It’s no burden,” he says. “It’s what I do, and I’m thankful it’s somethin’ I can continue ta do while bein’ a part of the club. And if it saves someone innocent, then I’ll gladly keep doin’ it. If it helps put some bastards in jail, or gets them ta pay fer what they’ve done, then it’s no bother fer me at all.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “You don’t know how much this means ta me.”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Probably as much as it meant ta me when ye boyos helped me get Einin back.”
“Touché,” I reply with a smile. Then I tip my head and offer him a goodbye before I head out of the office, leavin’ him ta his work.
When I get back to the kitchen, I find my girls workin’ on packin’ a basket that’s slowly bein’ filled with snacks and sandwiches.
“Hey,” Callia greets me as she helps Aine add a few small bags of potato crisps to the basket.
The girls are laughin’ and happy, which helps to ease the worry in my chest. Now I know I have a daughter, I can’t be sure of what the plan is, goin’ forward, but I’m thankful I’ve a good woman by my side, supportin’ my new feckin’ journey into the unknown.
We finish up packin’ the basket, and I carry it outside. Aine brings her colourin’ books and pencils, along with her teddy bear that reminds me of one I had as a child. It was an old brown bear that had one ear almost fallin’ off, but he was always on my bed. Even now when I go home ta see Ma, he’s still there in my old room.
“Do ye think it will rain?” Callia asks me as we set the blanket down and get the food out.
“Not sure,” I tell her while I hand Aine half a cheese and tomato sandwich. “The sun seems ta be fightin’ its way out, so I think we’re safe.”
“Will we spin in circles in the rain?” Aine asks as she chews her food.
Her mouth is filled with bread and cheese, and the slice of tomato that’s tryin’ ta escape as she talks makes me chuckle.
“Don’t talk with food in yer mouth,” I say gently. “Once ye swallow all that ye’re chewin’, then ye’re welcome ta say anythin’ ye want.”
She giggles and nods, offerin’ me a playful mock salute. It’s what Racer does when I’m tellin’ him somethin’.
“With everythin’ that’s happened, I’m glad we’re still here and together,” Callia whispers in my ear as she takes a sandwich. Then she sits back with a grin on her beautiful face.
“I am too. It’s all on ye fer acceptin’ me and my past.”
After learnin’ I had a daughter, I was worried I would lose everythin’ I’d built here. Mostly, I thought I would lose Callia. But with her settled beside me and Aine, I realise the sinkin’ feelin’ that’s been followin’ me around has gone.
“I want ta take Aine ta see my ma,” I tell Callia.
She smiles at me. “That will be nice fer her. And I’m pretty sure yer ma will love that. Knowin’ she has a granddaughter will give her somethin’ ta look forward ta.”
“Da,” Aine says before I can ask Callia ta go with me ta Italy. “I want an apple, but I can’t use a knife. I need someone ta cut it up fer me,” she says in a playful tone.
Pickin’ up an apple, I throw it into the air before catchin’ it again, causin’ her ta giggle. “I’ll do it fer ye.”
“Do ye like eatin’ fruit?” Callia asks Aine, who nods enthusiastically.
“Mammie told me it’s good fer my teeth,” she informs Callia with a large grin. Even though she’s missin’ a front tooth, I’m certain she’ll enjoy the crunchy apple.
I set down the segments fer her and say, “When I was a youngen, I didn’t like fruit. My ma used ta have ta bribe me ta eat some.”
Aine giggles again, her laugh so happy, carefree. “But it makes ye big and strong,” she explains with an animated expression that has me grinnin’. “And when ye’re big and strong, ye can do anythin’ ye want.”
“And what do ye want ta do?” Callia asks her.
With a mischievous expression, Aine purses her lips and taps her chin with her index finger as if she’s ponderin’ the question seriously. There’s no doubt in my mind, the older she gets, the more of a handful she’s goin’ta be.
