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I’m proud of havin’ been able ta buy my mother a house. When she told me she wanted ta stay in Italy, ta live her last years in the sunshine, I wanted ta argue because I wanted her closer. But, she’s right, she is happier here. Even though she visits me in Belfast, from time ta time, I know there’s nowhere else she feels at peace.
The house has ocean views that stretch on fer miles. Even if there’s a shitty bout of weather, it’s still beautiful ta look at. Our old house was fallin’ apart, and it held too many memories of Da. They were everywhere, and I knew she needed a fresh start. We all need ta look forward. Lookin’ back only breaks ye down.
“She’s a lovely girl,” Ma says, nudgin’ her head in Callia’s direction. “I like her for you. I think she must challenge you. I can tell she has a strong mind.”
“Aye, she definitely has,” I tell Ma. “There’s always been somethin’ about her I could never shake. I wanted her ta find someone who’d give her the future she deserves, but fate brought us together, and I can’t deny my feelin’s fer her anymore.”
“You know, your father was a lot like you when we first met. He was a stubborn mule, but I loved him, and nothing was going to change how I felt.”
“And he ended up marryin’ ye.” I finish Ma’s thoughts, and she chuckles.
“He did. The thing is, there isn’t a wrong or right way of doing things. When the time comes, you know it in your heart.”
Ma looks at me with a soft smile on her face. She’s always had a way with advice, makin’ sure I didn’t doubt myself. I’ve trusted her ever since I was a child. I know she’ll always look out fer me, and even though we haven’t always seen eye ta eye on certain things, I know she loves me, no matter what.
“I love her,” I tell Ma then. It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever admitted that word out loud, about anyone.
“Then ye best make her yours, sweet boy. Don’t let her slip away.” Ma places her hand on mine and gives it a quick squeeze. “She’s a good one.”
When I was a youngen, I watched how my father doted on Ma. They were the perfect couple, and I thought I’d found that when I met Orla. Then she left me. I never believed I’d find someone else ta love until Callia came into my world and turned it upside down. And now I have a wee one ta take care of and make sure she turns out ta be a good person.
“Aine looks just like you,” Ma whispers in my ear, I can hear the amusement in her voice. “Going to be a little heartbreaker that one.”
“Like feck she is. I have a shotgun, I’ll make sure the boys don’t even glance her way until she’s at least thirty,” I tell my mother who only laughs at my outrage.
I look at my daughter. Her dark, wavy hair hangs down to the middle of her back, and her hazel eyes shimmer in the sunlight, makin’ it look as if she’s got gemstones in her gaze. She’s smilin’, which makes her dimples deepen in her cheeks.
I can see the resemblance ta me, but she also has some of her mother in her, even if Ma doesn’t want to admit it. She’s angry because of what Orla did ta me and ta Aine. I can’t blame her.
I spent a lot of time bein’ angry when I first got back from seein’ Orla that day. But the more time I spend with Aine, and the more I see her relationship with Callia grow, I know it’s not scarred her too badly. Perhaps when she’s older, she’ll be angry, or maybe she’ll forgive the woman who gave birth ta her, cared fer her, and then moved on without her. I pray fer the latter.
“Are you ever going to ask Callia to marry you?” Ma asks me then, and I snap my gaze ta hers.
It’s strange ta hear her say that. When I told her I was goin’ta ask Orla ta move ta Italy with me, she didn’t seem all that positive about it and tried ta sway my decision, but with Callia, it’s different.
“Maybe,” I tell her, but she swats me again on the arm, and it stings if I had ta be honest. Ma has a backhand I don’t want ta be on the other end of ever again. “I was plannin’ on doin’ it on our last night here. On the beach, where we can have a quiet moment if you’ll watch Aine.”
“You know I will, Ronan.” The surprise in Ma’s voice makes me laugh, and she shakes with the chuckle rumblin’ through her.
