AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey,” I said softly, reaching out to touch her hand. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She hesitated, and then her voice was barely above a whisper. “My father... he told me Malachy killed all his wives. Is it true?” Her eyes sought mine, looking for confirmation or maybe denial.
I took a deep breath. This wasn’t the kind of conversation I want to have, especially not now when we should be finding solace in each other. But she deserved the truth, even the ugly bits.
“Malachy...my father...he was not a saint,” I admitted, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “But what exactly do you know about the Callahan brothers? Be honest with me.”
“Only rumors,” she took another bite from her fork, her shoulders slumped. “I know you don’t all share the same mothers. That’s about it.”
“Right,” I sighed, feeling the weight of my family’s history pressing down on me. “There’s a lot to unpack there, more than just rumors and whispers in the dark. It’s a long story, filled with mistakes and regrets.”
“Tell me,” she insists, her grip tightening on my hand. “I need to know who I’m...who we’re dealing with.”
“I thought you said I wasn’t my father.”
“You’re not,” she replied. “But I still deserve to know the kind of family I’m bringing children into.”
“Fair enough,” I replied. The truth was always going to come out, one way or another. Might as well be from my own lips. And so, with the quiet crackle of the fire our only audience, I began to unravel the twisted tale of the Callahan legacy, piece by sordid piece.
“Malachy and Catherine, my mother, they were the first,” I started, my voice steady despite the churn of emotions inside me. “Their marriage, it was...complicated. A lot of ups and downs, you know? But they had something that looked like love, at least to a kid.”
I took a bite of the potato, its warm simplicity grounding me as I delve into a past marred by complexity and pain.
“Then there’s Kieran,” I continued, stealing a glance at Adriana. Her eyes were attentive, reflecting the orange glow of the fire. “He was born when I was six, to Angela—my father’s mistress.”
Adriana tilted her head slightly, considering this. “Did your mom know?”
“Everyone knew,” I said with a humorless laugh. “It wasn’t exactly a secret. Did your father ever have mistresses?”
She shrugged, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “If he did, he made sure we never found out. But honestly, Tristan, after everything that’s happened, I’m starting to realize I didn’t really know my father at all.”
I nodded, understanding more than I let on. Family secrets had a way of distorting the image we hold of those closest to us.
“Anyway, we’re getting sidetracked,” she said quickly, waving her hand dismissively. “Keep going. Don’t leave anything out, even if it hurts.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I need to hear this.”
“Alright.” I exhaled slowly, my chest tight. This wasn’t easy for me, laying bare the skeletons in our family closet. She squeezed my hand, a silent gesture of solidarity.
God, I loved her.
“Growing up in the midst of my father’s infidelities, it was...it was a mess. And the thing is, I get it, Ade. I understand what it’s like to have a father who’s less than perfect, who’s downright fucked up.”
“Tell me everything,” she urged.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Here goes nothing.”
She continued eating her potato as she watched me. “This is so good,” she said.
I smiled at her, letting out a slow breath and sinking into the sofa next to her. “The thing with Angela, Kieran’s mom, it put a strain on my parents’ marriage,” I began, the words feeling like lead on my tongue. “But Dad, he wouldn’t give up his son. No matter what, he wouldn’t let Kieran go.”
Adriana nodded slightly, silently encouraging me to continue.
“Mom, well, she had a heart too big for her own good. She took Kieran in like he was her own flesh and blood.” I paused, remembering the sight of my younger brother, always trailing behind my mother as if he knew she was his safe harbor in the chaos we called family. “Angela was allowed to see him, but not often. It was...complicated.”
“Complicated seems to be a theme with the Callahans,” she remarked softly, a faint smile touching her lips even as her gaze remained sympathetic.
