Certain Sure (16 page)

“I’m sorry.”

“I was too, but it’s all past now. When you stayed with us when you were three, it was like having Maura there, even James thought so. But you’re your own person, Katie, and we love you for yourself now. I’m sorry you and your dad are having problems.”

“Thanks, me too.”

“Fin would like you to work at the pub with him.”

“Did he say that?”

“Not exactly, but I know my son. He’s a lot like his father, though he won’t admit it. I worry about him. I don’t want him to make the safe choices, like James did.”

Katie’s stomach fell. Maybe she was Fin’s safe choice. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, marrying someone he doesn’t love because he thinks he can’t have the woman he really wants.”

“I didn’t know Fin was serious about anyone.” Katie fiddled with a throw pillow.

“He hasn’t said anything, but I can see in his looks…” Mary smiled. “I’m afraid I’m interfering again.”

“You?”

“Oh, yes, ask Fin and Fergus.” Mary laughed. “Or James, for that matter. But I know you won’t. Like Fergus and Rose, I’m quiet about it. Will you see Fin soon, at the pub?”

“No, my dad told me not to go back.”

“That’s too bad. I had hoped you might help convince Fin to come with us to brunch on Father’s Day. He says he won’t.”

“He wouldn’t listen to me.”

“I think he might.”

Katie shrugged. She couldn’t talk or she might cry.

“Are you well, Katie? There have been a lot of changes lately, for us all.”

Katie glanced at Mary and let out a sob. Mary hugged her and Katie leaned into her, letting herself cry, just cry and cry.

Chapter Thirteen

Katie calmed after her long cry. Mary and Maggie convinced her to stay the night and coddled her as if she was that three-year-old again. The next day, she went home, strengthened and refreshed. She knew she’d done the right thing at the pub. She glowed with pride, even if her dad and Fin didn’t. Still, she’d talk to Fergus tomorrow about a job. It would be rewarding to be appreciated for her skills.

“Enjoying summer vacation so far, Mom?” Katie said as she and her mom ate lunch together. Her dad had gone to the Drews’ to watch the ballgame, taking his first walk down the street since his accident.

“Yes, though your dad…it’s going to be a long summer at this rate.”

Katie laughed. “Sorry.”

“And you won’t be here much longer, will you?”

“I don’t know. I have to talk to Fergus tomorrow.”

“If you’d give your dad time, he’d come around. Fin’s on your side.”

“Is he? I’ve given Dad enough time already.”

“A month is enough time? Your father has owned the pub twenty years.”

“And Fin’s only been here three weeks. Dad’s already letting him do the books.”

“Fin has more experience than you do, Katie.”

“I’ve been working at the pub almost my whole life. It’s because Fin’s a man.”

“A man with more work experience than you and who understands your father has a hard time making changes. He wasn’t always like that. What you’re not remembering is your dad knows you want to get married and have children. Where will that leave him?”

“But Fin might too. He said as much the other day. Why is that any different?”

“Because until last week, you were going to marry Michael and move to San Francisco. One week, is that really enough time?”

Katie’s head hurt. Her mom was right. She shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter. Dad told me not to go back. We’re both better off.”

“Maybe,” her mom said as she rose and cleared the table. “Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Try to celebrate your father. You’re luckier than you know.”

“Am I? He’s been here, I guess.”

“He’s a good man who loves you and your sister.”

“And you.”

“Yes, and we’re all lucky to have each other.”

“Why don’t you and Dad ever talk about your fathers or your families?”

“Some people are best forgotten. Appreciate what you have. You have no idea where your father and I came from.”

“Because you won’t tell me.” Her mom gave her the look: put a lid on it. “Maybe someday? Or maybe I don’t want to know.”

“We’ve all got enough on our plates. Speaking of, I like the menu changes. Mike told me you worked with him on it. Your dad will love the pot roast and fish pie, but the green pizza…”

“It’s only on the kid’s menu,” Katie said.

Her mom laughed. “I know. You have good ideas. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks.” Katie hugged her.

Even Katie’s dad hugged her the next morning. It was Father’s Day, after all. During their quiet breakfast and church service, Katie thought about Fin, probably sitting in the cottage alone. Or maybe he wasn’t, maybe he was with some woman again. Katie frowned, knowing it shouldn’t matter, knowing she better get herself together since he, Fergus, Maureen, and Rose would be over later for an early dinner.

Katie made her dad’s favorite, pot roast. Maureen and Rose brought dessert. As usual, Rose being there relaxed tensions, though Fin acted unusually subdued. She hoped he felt sorry for how he acted on Thursday night, though she herself felt a little guilty for all the harsh words they’d exchanged as well as her spiteful feelings toward him. Rose entertained them during dinner with her exhaustive tale of brunch at Grandma Mary’s. Katie glanced at Fin as Rose spoke. He ate as if his plate was his only dinner companion, staring at it all the time.

“…and I saw Grandpa James kissing Aunt Aleen,” Rose rattled on, “but it’s okay because they love each other and they’re getting married. But only next summer! Grandma Mary said that’s when they would’ve gotten married a long time ago, but they had a mis…what was that, Daddy?”

“Misunderstanding,” Fergus said.

“A misunderstanding,” Rose said. Fin’s cheeks reddened. “We missed you, Uncle Fin. Is that what’s wrong? You had misunderstandings too?”

“Yes, Rose,” Fin replied, attempting to smile. “I’ll clear the table.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Katie’s mom said.

“I’m not a father. I don’t mind.” Fin rose and took a few plates off the table.

“Oh,” Rose continued, “and they said I can be flower girl. They might get married in Ireland. I hope so. I hope Uncle Fin will come too,” Rose said with a tiny frown.

“We’ll see,” said Fergus. “That’s a whole year away.”

Rose smiled and watched as Fin came back for the rest of the plates.

“Go help Fin,” her mom whispered to Katie.

“But…” Katie started to say, stopping when her mom gave her the schoolteacher “you heard what I said” look. “Excuse me,” Katie said, taking the remaining dishes into the kitchen. Fin had everything stacked in the sink. He measured coffee into the filter and glanced at Katie.

“My mom said I should help.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I don’t mind,” she said, picking up a dish from the sink to wash. After Fin turned on the coffeemaker, he took a dishtowel and started drying and stacking plates on the counter.

“Rose is a smart one,” he said.

“Yes, she is,” Katie said. She watched herself moving the soapy sponge and listened to the clank of the plates. After a few minutes, she glanced at Fin. “She knows you and your dad don’t understand each other.”

“Why should we?” The air sparked between them.

“Because--”

“It was a rhetorical question,” Fin snapped at her with the Dunbar look.

Her throat stung. “You brought it up,” she said in a nasty tone.

Rose ran in. “We’re going to give Grandpa his presents now!”

Katie dried her hands and followed Rose, who pulled Fin along, into the living room. Katie’s mom and dad sat on the sofa while Fergus and Maureen occupied the chairs. Only the little padded bench was left.

“You and Aunt Katie sit here,” Rose directed, seating Fin on the bench. Katie stood. Rose grabbed her hand, pulling her over. “Come on, Aunt Katie, I need to give Grandpa his presents.”

Katie sat next to Fin, their sides almost touching. She pinched her thigh, wanting to stop the tingle that went through her. When that didn’t work, she thought about the busty blonde coming out of Fin’s cottage. That helped.

Rose handed her grandpa his gifts with great ceremony. First came the handmade card from Rose, then the ubiquitous silk tie from Maureen, though her father only wore them a few times a year, and an Irish sweater. Maureen nearly always bought people clothes. Katie gripped her hands together as Rose handed Katie’s dad her gift. Katie itched to grab Fin’s hand.

“What’s this?” her dad said, holding the black binder. He read the spine and frowned. He opened it and leafed through it, glancing up at Katie with a raised eyebrow. She stared at him steadily, reminding herself of all the work she’d put in. “Rose, will you and your mom and grandma go get dessert?”

“Yes!” Rose bounced up, pulling Maureen, who frowned a little, so prettily.

“Mavis,” Katie’s dad said in a hushed voice, “I need to talk to Katie and Fin.”

Her mom nodded and left. Fergus stood. “Should I go?”

“No, you sit down, son. Well, girl, and what’s all this?”

“I’ve put all the accounts on my computer. That has the current book, as well as a new business plan, vendor lists, sample menus, and graphs showing previous years’ highs and lows and projections for my plans.”

“Your plans? Didn’t I tell you I don’t want your plans? You have no respect for me, do you?”

“Yes, I do,” Katie said. “I know you’ve been a good father and you built the pub yourself. I guess there’s a lot more you’ve done. They’re only my ideas. You can throw it all away if you want. I only wanted to show you I love the pub too and I want it to be around for a long time.”

“Fin and I will see to that,” her dad said, throwing the binder onto the table. Fin rose and picked it up. He turned and read each page while her dad crossed his arms and shook his head. “Go in the kitchen, girl. I have nothing else to say to you.”

Katie stood and walked out, not looking at Fergus or Fin, though she felt their eyes following her out. She didn’t want to see their pity or disappointment.

“Is Grandpa ready yet?” Rose asked in an impatient tone when she saw Katie.

“No, not yet,” Katie said. “I think he wants to talk to your uncle Fin.”

“Look how much cake we have, Rose,” Maureen said. “Wouldn’t Mrs. Knight like a piece?”

“Yes, and you can meet Lancelot!” Rose said as Maureen wrapped up a piece of cake. She followed Rose as she skipped out the side door.

“Well, Katie?” her mom said, shutting the door behind Maureen.

“He’s angry, as I expected.”

“You expected to make your father angry today?” Her mom shook her head. “You two are going to have to work this out, or not. I’ve always tried to smooth things between you, but you’re twenty-four now. It’s time you stood on your own. It’s time your father and I enjoy each other again. Now Katie, don’t look at me like that. We love you. I guess you’ve never really been

in love, have you?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“It has to do with understanding.”

“Maybe I’d understand you better if you both told me more.”

“Do you tell us everything?”

Katie darted her eyes around the bright kitchen. Of course she didn’t. Fergus walked in.

“I’m sorry, Katie,” he said. Katie shrugged. She wouldn’t cry. “But maybe Dunbar and Son can scoop you up? We can offer you a position in Cork, if you’re willing. We’ve had to do a bit of reorganizing and I can’t promise the job will last longer than a year or two. My dad is seriously considering selling the facility there.”

“Sounds great. When can I leave?” Katie’s limbs ached.

“In a couple weeks, maybe. I’ll make some calls tomorrow.”

Maureen and Rose opened the door. Rose hung her head, disappointed.

“Mrs. Knight wasn’t home,” Maureen said. “Everything okay?”

“Good news,” Fergus said. “Katie’s accepted a job at Dunbar and Son.”

“Working with you, Daddy?” Rose said. She brightened as she lifted her face to them.

“Sort of. She’ll be working where Uncle Fin used to.”

“She can’t go. It’ll ruin everything,” Rose whined.

“Mind your tone,” Maureen said.

“Don’t worry.” Fergus picked Rose up in his arms. “Everything will be fine, I promise.”