Read Online Primary Colors by Kathryn Shay - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kathryn Shay
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blue gaze to Rafe. “And who is this strapping young lad?”
Rafe had stood,too. “Rafael Castle, ma’am.”
“This is Mary Kate O’Neil. The matriarch of the family and a good friend of
Matka’s
.”
“Ah, like the painter.”
“He paints, too.”
“I’ll have to research your work.” Her smile encompassed the two of them. “Have the stew. I made the bread to go with it myself.”
After she’d left and they’d sat again, Rafe shook his head. “You’re all the most interestingpeople.”
“The O’Neils are.”
“No, you’re family, too.”
Nia gazed where Mary Kate had gone. “When the guys were killed, she came out to the house once a week, cooked, helped take care of the grandkids. More important, she spent time with
Matka
. My mother needed someone outside the family to confide in.”
“How kind of her.”
Liam came over to the table. “Hi, again. Mama says tobring you the stew and her bread. Want a pint to go with it?”
Rafe raised his brows. “What do you think, Nia? Shall we live dangerously?”
“Sounds great to me.”
oOo
An hour later, Rafe said, “Tell me about them.”
“The guys?” They’d made small talk over lunch but had been talking about Pettrone and Ludzecky Builders. She knew he was asking for something more personal.
“Uh-huh.”
“They were wonderful men. Kind, sensitive, smart.” She grinned. “Sexy as hell.”
“You said you knew them from high school.”
“Paulie and I were fifteen when we met them. Sophomores. They were seniors. We thought we were the luckiest girls in the school.” God, those were halcyon days. “We were.”
“When did you marry?”
“After Paulina and I graduated. We’d just turnedeighteen.” She let out a sigh, remembering. “We had a double wedding.”
“Wow.”
“We all knew it was meant to be. And
Matka
and Pa couldn’t object. She was only sixteen when they got married.”
“I can’t imagine what you went through when they were killed.”
“Besides the unfathomable hole it left in our hearts, you know what was the worst thing? The ambush. Here we were one day, twohappy families. Then we became a headline.”
Again, he took her hand. She liked it. Held on. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’re better. And Paulina’s gone on with her life. But me…I flounder along, still missing Peter like crazy.”
“You’ll find your way. It might take a little longer.”
“Most people push me.”
“No, that’s not right. When the time comes, you’ll find happiness again.
Staringat Rafe, she wondered if he could be a part of that future.
oOo
“Tell me your secrets, Rafe.”
He took a deep breath. “I know something about ambushes. They’re my worst nightmare.” He often still felt sick about those times.
“How?”
“My mother was…not well. She was clinically depressed, and her mood swings were frightening. We’d go for days when I was the best littleboy in the world, and then boom…some imagined slight, some small mistake and she wouldn’t talk to me for a week.” He heard his voice go hoarse. “I couldn’t stand the…abrupt changes. I always thought if she’d been consistently mean, it would have been easier.”
“I can’t imagine a mother like that.”
“Because of it, when she kicked me out of the house, which she did often, I’d go to Jonas’sgallery and hang around.”
“I’m glad you had him.”
“And you had your family.”
Liam O’Neil once again approached them. “You guys want more coffee?”
“No, not for me.” Rafe glanced around. “I didn’t realize your customers left. What time is it?”
“Three.”
“Oh, no, I have to call
Matka
.”
“And we should leave,” Rafe said politely. “Sorry if we held you up.”
Liam shookhis head. “No worries. We lock up between two and five, though one of us is here then. Today it’s me. You’re family, though, so stay as long as you like.”
Taking out her phone, Nia speed-dialed her home number. “
Matka
,
Rafe had stood,too. “Rafael Castle, ma’am.”
“This is Mary Kate O’Neil. The matriarch of the family and a good friend of
Matka’s
.”
“Ah, like the painter.”
“He paints, too.”
“I’ll have to research your work.” Her smile encompassed the two of them. “Have the stew. I made the bread to go with it myself.”
After she’d left and they’d sat again, Rafe shook his head. “You’re all the most interestingpeople.”
“The O’Neils are.”
“No, you’re family, too.”
Nia gazed where Mary Kate had gone. “When the guys were killed, she came out to the house once a week, cooked, helped take care of the grandkids. More important, she spent time with
Matka
. My mother needed someone outside the family to confide in.”
“How kind of her.”
Liam came over to the table. “Hi, again. Mama says tobring you the stew and her bread. Want a pint to go with it?”
Rafe raised his brows. “What do you think, Nia? Shall we live dangerously?”
“Sounds great to me.”
oOo
An hour later, Rafe said, “Tell me about them.”
“The guys?” They’d made small talk over lunch but had been talking about Pettrone and Ludzecky Builders. She knew he was asking for something more personal.
“Uh-huh.”
“They were wonderful men. Kind, sensitive, smart.” She grinned. “Sexy as hell.”
“You said you knew them from high school.”
“Paulie and I were fifteen when we met them. Sophomores. They were seniors. We thought we were the luckiest girls in the school.” God, those were halcyon days. “We were.”
“When did you marry?”
“After Paulina and I graduated. We’d just turnedeighteen.” She let out a sigh, remembering. “We had a double wedding.”
“Wow.”
“We all knew it was meant to be. And
Matka
and Pa couldn’t object. She was only sixteen when they got married.”
“I can’t imagine what you went through when they were killed.”
“Besides the unfathomable hole it left in our hearts, you know what was the worst thing? The ambush. Here we were one day, twohappy families. Then we became a headline.”
Again, he took her hand. She liked it. Held on. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’re better. And Paulina’s gone on with her life. But me…I flounder along, still missing Peter like crazy.”
“You’ll find your way. It might take a little longer.”
“Most people push me.”
“No, that’s not right. When the time comes, you’ll find happiness again.
Staringat Rafe, she wondered if he could be a part of that future.
oOo
“Tell me your secrets, Rafe.”
He took a deep breath. “I know something about ambushes. They’re my worst nightmare.” He often still felt sick about those times.
“How?”
“My mother was…not well. She was clinically depressed, and her mood swings were frightening. We’d go for days when I was the best littleboy in the world, and then boom…some imagined slight, some small mistake and she wouldn’t talk to me for a week.” He heard his voice go hoarse. “I couldn’t stand the…abrupt changes. I always thought if she’d been consistently mean, it would have been easier.”
“I can’t imagine a mother like that.”
“Because of it, when she kicked me out of the house, which she did often, I’d go to Jonas’sgallery and hang around.”
“I’m glad you had him.”
“And you had your family.”
Liam O’Neil once again approached them. “You guys want more coffee?”
“No, not for me.” Rafe glanced around. “I didn’t realize your customers left. What time is it?”
“Three.”
“Oh, no, I have to call
Matka
.”
“And we should leave,” Rafe said politely. “Sorry if we held you up.”
Liam shookhis head. “No worries. We lock up between two and five, though one of us is here then. Today it’s me. You’re family, though, so stay as long as you like.”
Taking out her phone, Nia speed-dialed her home number. “
Matka
,
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