“Something smells amazing,” I said as I kissed the top of my mother’s head.
I looked at the two empty chairs. The same chairs Ethan and I had sat in just last night. I could be honest with him and tell him what we were up to this time. I knew he’d understand why I had to miss the party. Grabbing my phone off the sideboard, I sent him a quick text letting him know I needed to talk.
“There’s plenty here, just grab a plate sweetheart,” Gram said without turning around.
“First things first,” I said as I went over to the coffee pot.
After I added my cream and sugar I went to the stove and kissed her on the cheek. “Love you Gram.”
She looked up from the stove and smiled at me. “Well, I love you too, Allie-girl.”
“How about one of those smooches for the old man?” Pop said, looking at me from over his reading glasses.
“Of course,” I said as I pulled a plate down for myself. I walked over and planted a loud one right on his balding head. “You’re the best, Pop.”
My mother just watched me as she nibbled her toast. I gave her a tiny smile. Big gestures tended to set her off.
My phone beeped.
I’m ten minutes away. Be right over.
“Feeling sentimental today, are you?” Pop asked, his face buried in the newspaper again.
I shrugged. “Not really, just thinking you guys are pretty darn awesome. But I think that every day.”
“Uh-huh, we are pretty awesome,” Gram said, eyes twinkling as she carried the pan of eggs to the table. “Well, whatever it is, I’ll take it.”
I attempted to push down what-if thoughts as I ate my breakfast. What if I could never come back? What if something happened with my mother while I was gone? What if I failed completely and Liam became bound to Aoife forever? If I kept that line of thinking, I’d never leave.
Just then there was a knock at the back door. I looked over into the living room and saw Liam and Niamh standing outside.
“Oh, come on in you two,” Gram hollered.
They walked in and my eyes widened as I took in Niamh’s outfit. They were both in track pants and T-shirts.
“Good morning, everyone,” Liam said. “Sorry to interrupt breakfast, but we were going for a run and wondered if Allison would like to join us?”
I heard your decision, Allison.
So you thought that meant we should go for a run?
The sooner we leave, the better.
I looked at the faces seated around the kitchen table, a knot forming in my throat. They’d be fine. Ethan would make sure everything was okay while I was gone.
Liam cleared his throat and I jerked up. “Yeah, a run sounds good.” Normally I liked to get my run in before I had breakfast, so I crossed my fingers that my grandparents didn’t notice.
I stood and brought my half-eaten plate of eggs to the sink. Gram stood and grabbed the plate out of my hands. “Go on, I’ll take care of these.”
I swallowed. “Thanks Gram. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
I said goodbye to my family and followed Liam and Niamh out the back door, unsure when I’d see them all again.
Once we were off the back porch I turned to Niamh.
So, this is it?
We just need to go to Liam’s house to take care of one thing and we’ll head to Wheelwright.
I followed them next door. From the bottom of the driveway, I saw Samantha and Ciarán sitting on Liam’s front stoop, staring at each other. Samantha’s chin jutted out and I could tell they were having a silent conversation.
“Are they coming?” I asked Niamh under my breath.
She answered me in my head. Liam and I both came to get you so they could have a chance to talk. Ciarán doesn’t think Samantha should go to Tír na n’Óg.
“I take it she doesn’t like that idea?” I whispered as Samantha threw her arms up and stalked a few yards away from him.
I thought about whether Samantha going with us would be a good idea. What do you two think?
We both think she should come, as long as she removes all the steel from her body.
Confused, I turned to look at Niamh. Then I realized what she meant. Samantha had dozens of piercings on her ears and face. And if they were steel, they were made from iron.
“Good morning,” I said to Samantha, glancing over to where Ciarán sat scowling off into the distance.
“Hey,” she said, wiggling her fingers at me. On her hands were black fingerless gloves. She was wearing a crocheted black sweater over a black tank top and tight jeans. I glanced down at my faded jeans and T-shirt. She was so different from me. It was hard to believe we were related.
Samantha’s eyes darted behind me to Niamh. She shook her head and looked at Ciarán. In a flash he was beside us. I didn’t even see him move.