Down the Shore (29 page)

"Why didn't you tell me?” I asked, surprised.

"Don't know, really,” he said. “I guess I wanted to show you instead."

"Well, I guess I could eat.” I acknowledged, patting my belly.

"I hope it's a girl and as beautiful as you,” he whispered softly into my ear, guiding me down the stairs carefully.

I felt like all was right in the world, and it was amazing how calm I felt around him. I had the man I loved next to me, and he was thrilled about the news of our upcoming addition. I think I'd known deep down his reaction would be like this, but some part of me did worry. We walked into the pub early in the evening, and the place was crowded, loud, with people playing music in the corner. I heard someone yelling out to him.

"There they are, the happy couple, finally leaving the bedroom,” Patrick teased.

I looked up at Colin. He had his usual grin on his face, his hand on the small of my back leading me into the room. The entire place turned around to look at me, and he stood there proudly showing me off, like I was some kind of trophy.

His brother was the first one to come over.

"Thank God you came! I couldn't take another day with him, he was dreadful, really.” Patrick leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Welcome."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you.” I looked back to Colin.

He wrapped his arms around me in his usual way, holding on tightly and grinning from ear to ear.

His sister came flying around the bar.

"Abigail, it's so great to meet you. What a difference you truly make,” Maggie chuckled. “Look at that smile. We haven't seen it since he's been back,” Maggie said, pulling me away from him.

"Come, let's grab a pint, talk. I need to get to know my future sister,” she laughed.

She ran around the bar, pouring two beers and called me over to a table. I didn't know what to do, and I looked around for Colin to help me. I couldn't drink the beer. He peered up from his drink, cocking his head to the side before walking over.

"You're hogging her, Maggie.” He sat beside me, and grabbed the glass away from me.

She looked at him, noticing, but didn't saying anything.

"I ordered some food. It'll be out in a few minutes, okay?” He looked down at me. “Do you need anything?” he asked.

"No, I'm good,” I responded. “Well, maybe a glass of water."

I liked Maggie more and more as she filled me in on the family. She insisted we all go to their folks’ place the next day for dinner. She had already called them, making them aware of my arrival. His other sister, Mary Claire, would be in soon. When she came in, I couldn't help but notice how much they all looked alike, the same eyes, same coloring, one almost more beautiful than the other.

She had so many questions. She wanted to know about the wedding, asking if she could help plan. I had no problem with that, but I wasn't sure about my family at this point, as they had no idea. I was sure the letter had arrived or would tomorrow. I couldn't help but think of my parents briefly. I would call them first thing in the morning.

We stayed for a few hours, eating, dancing, having fun. Ireland was amazing.

I felt exhausted, and needed to go to bed. Colin noticed right away, saying goodbye, whisking me away from it all. As tired as I was, I felt his anxiety, not knowing if he was even allowed to touch me. Nervously he pulled me into his bed. I pulled his face down to meet mine, unbuttoned his shirt and let him take me back to our summer.

We woke to rain lightly tapping against the window. It was still early, but he was already out of bed, holding a phone in his hand.

"We need to make a call. I can't have them coming and stealing you again,” he reminded me.

I nodded, reluctantly.

"Would you like me to call for you?” he asked, with some hesitation.

"No, just stay close in case I need you."

After a few hours, I pulled myself together and dialed the number. My mother answered right away.

"Mom,” I paused. “It's me,” I mumbled.

"Abigail Hardy! You are in so much trouble! I can't even begin to tell you!” she yelled into the phone. “Your father is such a mess, he can't even go to work!” she screamed.

I started to cry. I couldn't speak. I just sat there in silence, listening to her yelling at me.

Colin grabbed the phone from my hand and walked away. I didn't know what was said. I didn't listen, I just lay there in bed crying, knowing how much I'd let them down. He came back a few minutes later, still on the phone. His brother was next to him.

Patrick came over and sat next to me. “It'll be grand, you'll see. This baby will bring a lot of joy to both sides,” he reassured me.

I heard Colin, still talking into the phone. “Here she is.” He handed the phone back to me.

"Abby, I can only say that I'm in complete and utter shock, but we need to see you. I'm calling to make plans to come visit some time soon.” She just kept talking softly. “Colin assures us you're fine, he has everything under control. So I guess we'll talk later, when you feel up to it” The tone of her voice changed abruptly. “I have to say, Abby, I'm very disappointed. I can't believe you let this happen. What were you thinking? First, pregnant at eighteen for God's sakes, then not only running away, but getting on an airplane and leaving the country. Seriously what the hell were you thinking?"

There was dead silence, and since I didn't even know how to answer her, I just nodded. She couldn't hear me, of course, so Colin grabbed the phone from my hand once more.

"That'll be fine. She'll call tomorrow.” He hung up and turned my cell off.

"Abigail, it's over, they know. They'll be okay. I tried to make them understand. It'll be fine, really. No worries.” He kissed me, pulling me up from the bed.

"Look at me,” he insisted. “It
will
be fine, I promise."

I couldn't look up. I just sat there, knowing that my parents were devastated. This was definitely not in their plans for me.

He lifted my chin to look him in the eyes, “I hate doing this, but I have to go, love. Patrick is going to stay with you, and I'll be back in a few hours. I have to go to a lecture. I can't miss it again."

I nodded my head in acceptance, and managed to put a small smile on my face.

"I'm gonna grab you some breakfast and bring it up before I go, okay?” he asked.

I nodded my head again, and feeling dizzy, I lay back down.

I ate my breakfast as soon as he brought it up to me. Later, feeling better, I decided to go for a walk, and Patrick showed me all around town, insisting on buying me lunch. We were to meet his parents tonight, and he didn't want me to get too tired so he brought me back to the flat, and insisted that I go to Colin's room and lie down.

He assured me Colin would be home soon and then closed the door behind him.

I fell asleep in seconds.

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I awoke later to voices in the next room. Colin's two sisters were there, talking about the wedding and the baby. I pulled my hair back and walked out to find them all looking straight at me, waiting for the pregnant girl to make an appearance.

Colin jumped to his feet when he heard my footsteps.

"There you are. I was beginning to think you weren't going to wake. You sleep like the dead,” he teased, kissing my nose.

"Ah, leave her alone, she's carrying my niece or nephew,” Mary Claire yelled at him.

I threw her a quick smile and sat down on the sofa.

He never let go of me; he was always by my side, and I could see that pleased them all. We talked for a little while, getting acquainted. Then I was instructed to make myself beautiful, as we would be leaving soon.

I was nervous about meeting his parents. I had fallen in love with his siblings so far, but there were a few more to meet. He had two more brothers at home, still too young to leave the house. He came from a big family. Colin and his sisters kept making jokes about how the Irish didn't believe in birth control, that's why the family was so big. His father's name was James, his mother's Mary. I kept reminding myself over and over on the ride. It took us just about forty-five minutes to reach their house. I thought I was going to get sick, with the twisting and the turning of the roads. I let out a gasp when we finally drew up to the house. Their family home was beautiful. It was the same house where they all had grown up, not too big, not too small. There was an amazing stone wall surrounding the exterior. It had to be at least a hundred years old. We barely pulled onto the cobblestone driveway when his parents opened the door and came out, waving us on.

I took a deep breath. We were sitting in the back with Mary Claire. Patrick and Maggie occupied the front, chatting away.

She patted my hand, “They are going to love you, no worries,” said Mary Claire.

I laughed at her expression. Colin quickly leaned in, rubbed my stomach and kissed me. “Ya ready?” he asked, his hand still resting on my stomach.

I wrinkled up my nose, wanting to run the other way. “I guess."

He helped me out from the back seat, whispering in my ear. “They don't know yet.” He let me in on the secret. I had assumed they all knew. I finally figured out the banter back and forth in the car. His father was so handsome, an older version of Colin, his mother graceful, elegant, and she reminded of my mother in a way. They embraced me with open arms, ecstatic at finally meeting me. They had all said the same thing, how miserable Colin had been without me. As sad as that made me feel, I couldn't help but feel incredibly loved.

His mother held my hand and walked me through the house, showing me Colin's room that he had shared with Patrick and Eamon. She showed me his baby pictures, his awards from school, she showed me everything she could think of. His father handed me a glass of Guinness, not knowing about the baby, to toast our upcoming nuptials. I quickly pretended to take a sip. She'd made a wonderful shepherd's pie casserole, and a fabulous dessert. I was slightly embarrassed eating two slices of her pie, but I couldn't help myself. I noticed Colin looking at me with the greatest admiration in his eyes. I shrugged. Colin pulled out the champagne he brought from my bag, poured everyone a glass, and raised his hand.

"Da, ma. Abigail and I have something to share with you."

I could barely move, knowing what was coming next.

He pulled me in closer, “We're expecting a baby in the spring, in May, and we hope you'll be excited for us."

He lifted his glass, his brothers and sisters all cheering together.

"Slainte',” they all yelled in unison. His parents looked as though they might be a little in shock, staring into their glasses. Then they looked at me. His mother came over, pulling me away from Colin and sat me down next to her. It was the strangest thing, the weirdest reaction. They completely doted on me, and they were truly happy. They were going to be grandparents, and the whole world, or at least all of Ireland, would know.

I sat there watching them all and thought that they were an amazing family. I secretly wished my parents would be so accepting of Colin and our child. They wouldn't let us drive back, insisting the brothers and sisters had all had too much to drink and realized that I was wiped out from the long day. They all stayed downstairs, but his mother insisted on bringing me up to his room.

She handed me a nightgown and asked to talk to me. She started to cry softly. “Abigail.” She hesitated, “I can't tell you how joyful I am today. My son is finally happy, and I can't thank you enough,” she muttered.

I looked at her, feeling unsure.

"He wasn't happy before me?” I was curious.

"He was a little lost,” she said. “He's a good boy, just needed some guidance. I'm glad he listened and went to the states. He truly loves you. We've never seen him like this, so thank you from the bottom of me heart.” She sounded truly appreciative.

"Can I ask you something?” I wondered nervously, not knowing what to expect.

"Anything, sweetheart."

"I was wondering, why?” I paused trying to think of a way to ask her.

She looked back at me, trying to decipher my expression. I went on, “Colin's twenty years old, most guys wouldn't be so happy that their lives were changing so drastically, so young, why is he...so happy?"

"It's like I said, he is happy, truly happy. Sure he had other girls come through his life over the years, but there was never anything there. It was like he was walking about only a half a person. He was always looking for something else. He smiled, he played jokes, he went about his life, but it wasn't until he met you that he truly came to life. He seems whole now. He was horribly sad when he had to leave you, y'know, but in the end he knew you'd be together...he had faith.” She held my hands, “Now get some sleep.” She kissed me on the forehead. “He'll be up soon,” she assured me.

I was so content. My new family was great. I had an amazing journey ahead of me. Colin had promised to register me for university the following year. It was all planned. I would attend school, his family would watch the baby, he would continue helping run the pub. I fell asleep quickly, and I wasn't even aware that he had joined me until I woke up with his arm flung around me.

It looked dreary outside the window. Gray clouds filled the sky, the pattering of rain was hitting the windowsill. There was a chill in the air, and I didn't want to get out of bed when I was warm under the soft blankets. I had to get up. I was starving and could smell the food downstairs cooking. I tried to move, and I lifted his arm gently not to wake him. He always knew; he always pulled me in closer resting my head under his chin, afraid to let go of me. I heard his deep breaths as he inhaled against the skin of my neck.

"I'm sorry, but I am so hungry,” I laughed.

He chuckled and sighed. “Go, but come back straightaway,” he told me.

I had so much energy. I had slept wonderfully and couldn't wait to see his parents.

"Morning,” I said as I bounced downstairs into the kitchen.

"Good mornin', Abby.” His father pulled out a chair for me. “Irish breakfast?” he asked.