in the dark. My mother’s head rested on Joanne’s lap and I wondered if she still remembered her.
“Were you able to get some rest, honey?” Joanne asked, concerned.
“Oh yes,” I said as I went into the kitchen and pulled out the pitcher of iced tea. “Anybody need a drink?”
“No, thank you,” Joanne said.
“I’ll take one,” Ethan said, pulling a chair out and dropping down into it.
I filled two glasses and joined Ethan at the table. The clock said it was a few minutes past eight o’clock.
“Gram is still upstairs. Your aunt and uncle went home to try to get some sleep,” Joanne said, absently running her fingers through my mother’s hair. “It’s been a long day for everyone.”
“Is there any of that pasta left?” Ethan said.
“Oh yes, plenty. Help yourself.”
Ethan heated two plates for us. Since I’d gotten some rest, I found I had quite the appetite. As I ate, I noticed a flower arrangement on the counter by the kitchen sink.
“Who are the flowers from?” I asked.
“Oh dear. Those are for you, honey. I forgot to mention that.”
“No problem,” I said, going over to see if there was a card. Even in the dark kitchen, I could make out the bright yellow lilies.
I pulled out the little rectangle and opened the envelope.
My deepest condolences. Please feel free to stop by when you’re feeling up to it.
Aodhan O’Donnell
I brought the card over and showed it to Ethan. It was such a kind gesture, a lump formed in my throat.
“Who’re they from?” Joanne asked from the couch.
“One of our neighbors, Aodhan,” I said, sniffing a little.
“Hmm, I haven’t met him. Is he nice?” she asked absently.
“Yes,” I whispered, overcome with guilt at what I still had to do. “He’s a wonderful person.”
Once we were done eating, I cleaned our dishes and asked Ethan if he’d take a walk next door with me to thank Aodhan for the flowers.
“Yeah, you okay here Ma?” he asked Joanne.
“I’m fine, you two go ahead. Beth is about ready to call it a night, I think.”
Before I turned to leave, I noticed the shine of my mother’s eyes reflected by the TV. She’d once told me that underneath her lifeless demeanor, she was fully aware of everything around her.
I went back into the living room and knelt in front of the couch, feeling more tears pooling in my eyes. She’d never gotten to say goodbye to her father. I should have killed Aoife and destroyed the amulet for my parents when I had the chance. Now I was under Aoife’s control and as much as I tried, I couldn’t think of a way to get out of it without causing more death and suffering.
“I love you, Mom,” I whispered. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but I told myself she’d heard me and she knew.
Ethan followed me through the path to Liam’s house. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees and we could see the house through the wooded area. The light from the living room in the back of the house shone on the small patio.
I knocked on the French door even though I knew Aodhan heard us coming.
“Come in.”
Ethan opened the door and we entered into the living room to find Aodhan leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed and his arms crossed.
“Thanks for the flowers,” I said, trying to smile.
He waved his hand and straightened. “You’re very welcome.”
“Any news?” I asked, walking over to perch on the arm of the big couch. Ethan stood by my side, our arms touching.
Aodhan shook his head. “No signs of Aoife or Tagdh.”
“Did Niamh give you any indication of what her plan is?” I said, hoping I looked curious.
He sighed. “Not really. She walks on tiptoe around me.”
“No kidding,” I said, seeing my opportunity. “I remember when we first met, you told me I couldn’t trust any of them, no matter what my instincts told me. I don’t think I’ve done a very good job taking that advice.”
He eyed me curiously. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Saoirse let Aoife out
“Were you able to get some rest, honey?” Joanne asked, concerned.
“Oh yes,” I said as I went into the kitchen and pulled out the pitcher of iced tea. “Anybody need a drink?”
“No, thank you,” Joanne said.
“I’ll take one,” Ethan said, pulling a chair out and dropping down into it.
I filled two glasses and joined Ethan at the table. The clock said it was a few minutes past eight o’clock.
“Gram is still upstairs. Your aunt and uncle went home to try to get some sleep,” Joanne said, absently running her fingers through my mother’s hair. “It’s been a long day for everyone.”
“Is there any of that pasta left?” Ethan said.
“Oh yes, plenty. Help yourself.”
Ethan heated two plates for us. Since I’d gotten some rest, I found I had quite the appetite. As I ate, I noticed a flower arrangement on the counter by the kitchen sink.
“Who are the flowers from?” I asked.
“Oh dear. Those are for you, honey. I forgot to mention that.”
“No problem,” I said, going over to see if there was a card. Even in the dark kitchen, I could make out the bright yellow lilies.
I pulled out the little rectangle and opened the envelope.
My deepest condolences. Please feel free to stop by when you’re feeling up to it.
Aodhan O’Donnell
I brought the card over and showed it to Ethan. It was such a kind gesture, a lump formed in my throat.
“Who’re they from?” Joanne asked from the couch.
“One of our neighbors, Aodhan,” I said, sniffing a little.
“Hmm, I haven’t met him. Is he nice?” she asked absently.
“Yes,” I whispered, overcome with guilt at what I still had to do. “He’s a wonderful person.”
Once we were done eating, I cleaned our dishes and asked Ethan if he’d take a walk next door with me to thank Aodhan for the flowers.
“Yeah, you okay here Ma?” he asked Joanne.
“I’m fine, you two go ahead. Beth is about ready to call it a night, I think.”
Before I turned to leave, I noticed the shine of my mother’s eyes reflected by the TV. She’d once told me that underneath her lifeless demeanor, she was fully aware of everything around her.
I went back into the living room and knelt in front of the couch, feeling more tears pooling in my eyes. She’d never gotten to say goodbye to her father. I should have killed Aoife and destroyed the amulet for my parents when I had the chance. Now I was under Aoife’s control and as much as I tried, I couldn’t think of a way to get out of it without causing more death and suffering.
“I love you, Mom,” I whispered. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but I told myself she’d heard me and she knew.
Ethan followed me through the path to Liam’s house. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees and we could see the house through the wooded area. The light from the living room in the back of the house shone on the small patio.
I knocked on the French door even though I knew Aodhan heard us coming.
“Come in.”
Ethan opened the door and we entered into the living room to find Aodhan leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed and his arms crossed.
“Thanks for the flowers,” I said, trying to smile.
He waved his hand and straightened. “You’re very welcome.”
“Any news?” I asked, walking over to perch on the arm of the big couch. Ethan stood by my side, our arms touching.
Aodhan shook his head. “No signs of Aoife or Tagdh.”
“Did Niamh give you any indication of what her plan is?” I said, hoping I looked curious.
He sighed. “Not really. She walks on tiptoe around me.”
“No kidding,” I said, seeing my opportunity. “I remember when we first met, you told me I couldn’t trust any of them, no matter what my instincts told me. I don’t think I’ve done a very good job taking that advice.”
He eyed me curiously. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Saoirse let Aoife out
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