Something Found (21 page)

Emily approached the stove to get a closer look at what he was making. “I didn’t get very far.” She felt the words forming in her mouth and couldn’t believe how much she really did push things sometimes. “I ran into Orla and her aunt, uhm, Martha I think her name was. Do you know her?” Emily kissed his cheek to avoid eye contact and then moved away to set the table.

“Of course I do. I know her whole family. I told you we were raised like cousins.”

“She’s nice isn’t she, Martha?”

“I haven’t seen her in ages but from what I remember yes, she was always very nice. Did you have a good time with them?”

“Yes,” Emily kept her answer simple, afraid to elaborate.

“Did you have a drink with them?” Collin asked with a mischievous smile.

“No I didn’t,” Emily said firmly, but she returned his smile. This was a safer subject. “I had a still water while they had coffee. I told you I’d wait ‘til the weekend. But Orla did ask me to go for a drink tomorrow and as it is my last day of work for the week it would kind of count as the beginning of my weekend.”

Collin laughed. “Now who sounds like the one with the drink problem?”

“I’m just being sociable,” Emily said with a laugh. “Besides she wants you to join us and since I’m going to have a drink it’s only fair you do too.”

Collin began dishing up their dinner. “I like the sound of this plan.”

“It’s going to come out of me. I’m no good at secrets like this.” They were the first words out of Emily’s lips when she walked into the shop to greet Orla on Thursday.

Orla covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the serious expression on Emily’s face. “Calm down Emily. It’s not like you have to keep it a secret forever.”

“I almost blew it on about three different occasions last night,” Emily said with serious frustration. “I can’t imagine how Joseph has kept it to himself this long.”

“Easy. He’s an Irish man. They don’t open up about anything.”

That at least got a smile out of Emily. “So what do you think of my idea. Of having Martha over for dinner. Would she really be up for it?”

“We were talking about it after you left yesterday and I think we came up with a better plan. One that might help keep you out of trouble.”

“Really?” Emily liked the sound of this already. When she’d gone to bed last night she’d had repeated visions of incurring the wrath of the whole Ryan family and they hadn’t been pretty.

“We’ll have it at my house. Just myself and Brendan, you and Collin, and Joseph and Martha.”

“That’s perfect.”

“Martha doesn’t want Joseph to know she’ll be there when he’s being invited but I think that’s just because she feels like being a little vindictive. He has hurt her feelings after all. But at my place she’ll feel more comfortable and Collin won’t dare put up too much of a fuss for fear of what I’ll do to him.”

“And I come out as being completely uninvolved.”

“Exactly.”

“Orla, have I told you before exactly how brilliant you are?”

“No but I’m sure you’ll find a few occasions throughout the course of the day.”

Emily admired Orla’s tact again later that evening when she invited them over for a Saturday dinner adding ever so casually that Collin should invite Joseph to come as well. “If he tries to refuse just tell him I’ll be personally insulted and he’ll bring down the anger of the Ahern women on his head.” Then she just as smoothly changed the subject.

Chapter 16

Robert answered the door dressed in a nice pair of pants and a button down shirt. He looked freshly shaven and smelled of cologne. “Come in. The monsters are waiting for you.”

“We brought a peace offering,” Collin said, holding up a Disney dvd.

“It might keep’em quiet for a bit.” Robert ushered them into the kitchen. “Joni made a dinner for you.”

“I told her we’d just order pizza,” Emily frowned.

Robert made a face at Collin. “She’s still so naive isn’t she?” Then back to Emily. “Like that was really going to stop her. Besides she got to do the cooking part, which she enjoys, and doesn’t have to worry about the feeding Leah the mess maker part. That’s your lot.”

“Exactly.” Joni’s voice could be heard as she descended the stairs.

When she came through the door all three of them stopped and stared.

“What? Do I have something on my face? Did Owen get his sticky fingers on-?”

“No. Joni,” Collin interrupted her, “you look beautiful.”

For just a second Joni looked embarrassed and an emotional look passed between her and her younger brother. Then her usual firmness settled back in. “Of course I do. Are you implying that I ever don’t look beautiful?!”

“Thanks again for doing this,” Robert said to Emily. “We could use it.”

“No problem.”

“You say that now. You’re not alone with the monsters yet.”

As if on cue Leah entered the room at a run heading straight for Collin. “Swing me! Swing me!” she cried delightedly, diving into his arms.

Collin lifted her high into the air and then swung her down, holding her protectively in his arms.

“In circles,” she squealed through her laughter.

Collin put her back down. “Not until your parents are gone. Now give them a hug and tell them to get lost.”

Leah did as she was told, smiling hugely as she told them to get lost.

“You promise not to break her, right?” Joni looked torn.

“Of course we do. Now go before we change our minds. I’ve babysat them before. We’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, but that was with dad and only for a few hours.”

“Go.”

Emily took a backseat to the brother and sister debate. Instead she turned her attention to a sleeping Owen.

“We fed him to make it easier on you,” Robert whispered. “His nappies are upstairs in the bedroom. He’ll need his bottle to fall asleep. But take it away as soon as he does fall asleep.”

“Call me if anything goes wrong.” Joni was inching back towards Owen instead of out towards the door.

Collin stepped in front of her blocking her path. “I’m not going to say it again.”

Robert put his arm around Joni and more pulled than led her to the door. “We’ll be back around twelve. Have fun.”

“You too,” Emily called after them.

As soon as they stepped outside Collin shut the door with a loud thud. Then he peaked through the door hole watching them make their way to the car.

“Now,” he said turning back to Leah, “where were we?” Collin lifted her over his shoulder and carried her out the sliding glass door into the back garden.

Emily took a seat beside Owen and watched them.

Collin was amazing with Leah, so natural and uninhibited. Emily had seen him talk her out of a crying tantrum and she’d seen him curl up on the couch to nap with her. It made Emily wonder what their own children would be like. Not that Emily was in any hurry to have kids. Still, it was comforting seeing Collin with them, to know he would be a good dad.

“It could’ve been that way for us.” Though Jeremy was with her in some new unobtrusive way, he wasn’t the one she was talking to. She was thinking of her mother. “We could have laughed together. We could have played together.” But she didn’t feel any bitterness, just regret. She looked down at Owen, this tiny little person entrusted to her care. It was intimidating and amazing all at once.

A few hours later Emily and Collin sat back on the couch completely worn out. The nice clean house they’d entered was all but destroyed. Emily’s top was spotted in baby drool and Collin had the dried remains of juice spilled down his pants. The dvd had failed to capture the kids attention for more than ten minutes at a time and trying to keep them entertained had become an exhausting experience. But Leah was finally asleep in her room after demanding four stories be read to her. And Owen was asleep in his.

“No wonder Joni and Robert don’t have romance in their lives. Where would you find the energy?” Emily had pulled a blanket over herself so she wouldn’t have to look at the state of her clothes.

“Can we just sleep here? I don’t think I can manage anything else?”

Emily forced out a laugh, finding even that tiring. “A Friday night with no drink Collin?”

“Hmmm.” That perked him up a little. With some effort he peeled himself off the couch. “They’re bound to have something,” he said, heading into the kitchen.

Emily thought about objecting but decided one drink might be just what they needed. They’d earned it after all.

Collin returned with two full glasses of white wine. “I’m afraid this is it.” He wrinkled his nose in distaste. He wasn’t a big fan of white wine.

“You don’t have to drink it,” Emily reminded him.

“Oh, I suppose it isn’t that bad. One should always be open to new things.”

“Uh-hu.”

He sat back down and they sipped at their wine quietly. The t.v. was still on showing an old episode of Cheers.

“You’re very good with them,” Emily said after a while, her eyes on Norm and Cliff.

“You weren’t so bad yourself.”

“Yeah, but you’re a natural.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I’m just used to them. I’ve known them since they were born remember. And my dad used to take them for Joni as much as he could at the house. If I was around I’d help.”

“But he doesn’t do that so much lately.” Emily said it softly, almost to herself.

“He’s out of town a lot more these days.”

“No.” She continued to stare at the television almost disbelieving the words were coming out of her mouth. “He’s not.” She had planned to leave it in Martha’s capable hands, to wait until Saturday when events would run their course naturally, but she was no good at hiding things from Collin and the words popped out as if of a will of their own.

“What’re you talking about? Of course he is. He’s down visiting his brother all the time.” Collin reached over to squeeze her thigh playfully. “You must be tired.”

But since the words were already out Emily decided she might as well stick to them. “No. He’s not.”

“Em?” Collin still looked more amused than confused.

Emily forced herself to turn away from Carla and commit to the conversation. Because she was so drained her expression was more serious than she intended. “He doesn’t go to visit his brother at all. And I know because for the last few weeks I’ve been meeting him in Kennedy’s.”

“What?!” The amusement was gone. His eyes explored her face taking in her expression then became dark with anger. “Are you saying my father’s lying about going to his brother’s to cover up a drinking problem? Is that what you’re saying? Jesus Christ Em. Just because I can be a little overindulgent doesn’t mean you can start accusing the whole family of it.”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” She was surprised that he’d jumped to such a conclusion and decided it was time to start explaining herself. “You’re father doesn’t have a drinking problem. In fact until Monday afternoon I’d never seen him look intoxicated at all.” Emily tried to remain calm. She knew this wasn’t going to go down well. It wasn’t a nice bit of news she was imparting and losing her own temper wasn’t going to help the situation.

“Then what exactly are you saying Emily?!”

There it was, her full name being used again. She wondered if he’d ever say it nicely.

“You’re father has a girlfriend. Or he did until Monday. She broke up with him.”

“Of all the-.” It was obvious Collin was upset but he didn’t know what to say to this. He struggled for words.

“It’s true Collin. And she seems like a very nice woman. Only, because you all freaked out the last time Joseph had a girlfriend, he didn’t want to tell any of you.”

Collin wanted to protest again but something about Emily’s look and the information she had stopped him.

“I know I’m budding in again and it will probably come back to bite me in the ass, but after all your shit about treating my mom like a person I really can’t believe you’ve treated your dad so badly.” As much as she was trying to keep it in Emily’s frustration with the situation was leaking out. “I mean, how could you? He only wanted something that’s perfectly natural for any human being.”

“But I didn’t-.” Collin struggled. His face was beginning to turn a light shade of red. “I didn’t even know!”

“Well now you do.”

“But how is this possible? How-.”

The key rattled in the door and Joni pushed it open. But Collin was too wrapped up in emotion to notice. “How could my father be dating some woman without any of us knowing?!”

Emily felt the blood drain from her face.

Joni continued into the room. Emily caught the smile on her face just before it transformed into a tight-lipped frown. “What’re you two talking about?”

Emily stared with wide eyes, for the first time fully understanding the expression: a deer caught in headlights, and waited for Collin to speak. She prayed silently but fervently for him to help her, to protect her, to drop the subject.

“Did you know anything about this Joni?!” Collin turned his angry look on his sister.

“What’re you two talking about?” Joni repeated.

“Dad having a girlfriend.” Collin’s voice contained all the sullenness of an insolent teenager.

“Dad doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“According to Emily he does.”

“Well she obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

Emily wished she’d never brought the subject up. She wished she could turn back time and swallow her words. But as her prayers and wishes weren’t coming true she had to say something. “Yes. I do.” Her voice quavered. It was one thing to deal with Collin’s anger. It was quite another to have Joni’s directed at her.

“Where would he have the time? He’s down visiting his brother constantly.”

“No. He’s not.” Emily repeated the words that had started the whole mess.

“So you’re saying our father has a girlfriend that he hasn’t mentioned to any of us.”

“Well according to him you weren’t exactly wonderful about the last woman he dated so why would he tell you this time?” Emily couldn’t help it. She felt she was under attack and the urge to fight back kicked in.

“You don’t know anything about that. She was completely wrong for him,” Joni’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“Why? Because she wasn’t your mother.”

“You-.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway because she broke up with him because he wouldn’t tell any of you.”

“Martha broke up with him?” The words were out of Robert’s mouth before he could stop them.

Joni turned, redirecting her anger. “You knew?!”

Robert shrugged accepting the fact that the mood from their date was gone. “Well, yeah. It wasn’t like he tried that hard to hide it. He just never told any of you and none of you wanted to see it.”

Joni’s hand flew to her head as if she’d suddenly come down with a severe headache. With her other hand she reached for an empty chair and slowly seated herself.

To her left Emily could hear Sam talking on the t.v. She thought of how she could still be peacefully watching Cheers if she’d only kept her mouth shut.

Joni looked up again. “Get out.” Her eyes bore down on Emily and though her voice was soft it was full of venom. “Just get out.”

Collin started to rise.

“No,” Robert said forcefully. “You stay here and talk to your sister. I’ll take Emily home. I’m sure I won’t be wanted around for a while anyway.” Robert gestured for Emily to follow him and quickly ushered her out the door.

Emily grabbed her things and took the escape offered. It felt weird following Robert out the door instead of Collin, but it also felt safer. Still, she was hurt when Collin sat back down so quickly.

Robert closed the door firmly behind them, locking it. He rolled his eyes skyward and shook his head but said nothing.

Emily fell in awkwardly walking beside him, her head hung in shame. She couldn’t believe she’d been so stupid as to absolutely ruin everything. Every bit of trust she’d worked to get from Joni was no doubt destroyed. Collin was mad at her and she’d even managed to wreck Joni and Robert’s date. And now she was tired and cold and out in the dark. Robert had probably been drinking while he was out and didn’t want to drive. She wasn’t sure if that meant they were walking the whole way home or not and didn’t really feel it was an appropriate question to ask.

“I’m sorry,” she said lamely as they turned the corner leaving the housing estate and heading onto a main road.

Robert was obviously caught up in his own thoughts and looked down at her as if he’d forgotten she was there.