The Liars

by Ida Linehan Young

  Erith felt a wave of sadness wash over her. “Maybe I can hope for that, too. In the meantime, I don’t know anything about this woman who could show up any day except for the fact that she could very well be my stepsister.”

  “Erith, you have a kind heart. Don’t forget that not everyone is the same. Trust yourself, but don’t be so trusting of others that you believe everyone will behave like you do.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Patsy. I appreciate you telling me what you knew.” Erith hugged the old woman and helped her back to the daybed. She took the cups and washed them, readied the teapot for the morning, filled the kettle, and threw some wood in the fire, all the while talking about the everyday happenings in the harbour.

  “It’s getting dark. I’d better get going,” Erith said as she reached for her jacket. “Thanks again, Mrs. Patsy.”

  “Mind yourself, you hear,” Mrs. Patsy said. “Mind my words.”

  “I will. I’ll send George and Tommy down tomorrow to fill the woodbox for you.”

  “They’re great boys, Erith.”

  “They are indeed,” Erith said. She closed the door and drew in the storm door so Mrs. Patsy wouldn’t have to do it later. Pulling her coat tight around her neck, she began to walk back toward home. She didn’t notice Danol waiting at the fence until she closed the gate.

  “This is a nice surprise,” she said as she reached for his hand.

  “I didn’t want you to walk home in the dark,” her husband said.

  Waves lapped on the shore as they strolled in silence toward the house. The moon was bright and the sky cloudless as the blue tinge of twilight brushed across the sky. Despite the worn path, the ground was uneven beneath them, so they watched where they were walking.

  When they had almost passed the graveyard, Erith stopped. “Are you going to ask me?”

  Danol turned to her and gently smoothed the hair from her face. “It’s getting long enough to do this again,” he said softly.

  “Well?” she asked.

  “You can tell me in your own time,” he said.

  Erith hugged him. “It’s true, Danol. Kathleen Ryan had a child when she was fifteen or sixteen. I thought it was my father’s, but it was long before they came here.”

  “Did Mrs. Patsy know anything about the child?”

  “No, nothing, really, only the fact that there was one.”

  “We can’t do anything until the woman gets here.”

  “Danol, I may have a stepsister, and the children a cousin.”

  They turned and walked toward the house. Danol squeezed her hand. “Erith, you may not like what I’m going to say, but I’m going to say it, anyway.”

  They stopped again. “If it is something like ‘not everyone is good,’ then don’t bother. Mrs. Patsy already talked to me about that. Don’t worry, Danol. I’ll be careful.”

  He breathed a heavy sigh. They both laughed. “Let’s get home,” he said. “I think Mrs. Patsy might have saved me some anguish.”

  “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you, too,” he said. He kissed her on the doorstep before going inside.

  38

  Erith was clearing away the dishes the next morning when Maggie came in. “I was hoping to spend the day with you,” she said. “Seems like you’ve been gone forever.”

  “Oh, Maggie!” Erith threw her arms around the woman. “Danol told you to come over, didn’t he?”

  “Of course not,” Maggie said, her toothless grin giving her away. “He told me what was going on. I had no idea. I don’t believe Dinn would have known, either. Old Hester kept that one pretty close to her chest.”

  “She may not be here today, Maggie. She may not come at all.”

  Danol poked his head in. “Why, Maggie, it’s good to see you.”

  “She knows,” Maggie said.

  Erith laughed at the complete look of innocence that crossed her husband’s face. She swiped at him with the dish towel.

  Danol came in and hugged her. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I’m glad that Maggie is here,” she said. She looked at Maggie. “You’re welcome here any time, Maggie. You never need an excuse.”

  Maggie crossed the room and hugged her. “You’re one of my own,” she said as tears welled in her eyes.

  “Knock that off, Maggie,” Erith said. They both laughed.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello,” Erith called. “We’re in here.”

  John and Alice came in. “Oh, we’re too early,” Alice said.

  “Just in time to get something to eat,” Maggie said. “I’m starved.”

  “We’ve eaten already,” John said.

  “There can’t be much food left at the house,” Danol said.

  “I’m frying some ham,” Maggie said. “Do you want some?”

  Alice and John looked at each other. They nodded. “Sure.”

  “I have to make bread,” Erith said.

  Alice took off her coat. “I’ll do that.”

  “I’ve eaten,” said Erith. “The boys are gone to fill Mrs. Patsy’s woodbox, and the girls are upstairs making the beds. Fry some extra, because they’ll all be hungry.”

  “John, I could use your help with the wood,” Danol said. John nodded. “There’s an old coat in the shed if you want it.”

  They both left by the back door, and Erith went to the shop. She had some chores to do there and didn’t want to leave it all to Marie. She loved the sounds of a full house. The girls joined the women in the kitchen.

  George and Tommy came back a little while later. “Mail boat is coming, Mom,” Tommy said.

  “There’s ham frying in the kitchen,” Erith said.

  The boys whooped in delight as they headed for the back of the house. Erith tried to ease the mounting tension in her belly as she watched the boat through the windowpane. She didn’t hear Danol until she felt his arms encircle her from behind. She leaned back into his chest and let the steady beat of his heart quash the feelings that were rising in her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, and they both watched together.

  Mr. Johnson carried the mail to the dock, and Tommy and George ran to meet him. George grabbed the sack, and Mr. Johnson said something to them, so they waited. He brought out two more packages, which he gave to Tommy. Both boys turned and skipped in along the wharf.

  Erith let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Danol squeezed her tighter as she glanced out once more. Mr. Johnson was helping two people off the boat. One was a woman with long, dark hair partially hidden under an oversized hat. Her brown coat parted from the waist as she stepped onto the dock, showing a pale yellow dress beneath. The man with her wore a grey suit coat and pants that looked too big for him. He was unshaven and unkempt and seemed not to have enjoyed the boat ride.

  The woman linked arms with him as they stood on the wharf. She turned as Mr. Johnson spoke. He pointed toward the shop, and the pair walked up the path.

  Erith sucked in her breath and straightened her back. She squeezed Danol’s hands at her waist and then walked out of his embrace.

  “Remember, you’re not alone,” he whispered to her. She nodded slightly and strode toward the door. She greeted the two on the step.

  The woman held out her hand. “I’m Rose Ryan,” she said. “My friends call me Rosie.”

  “Welcome, Rose,” Erith said. “I’m Erith Cooper, and this is my husband, Danol.”

  Danol shook her hand, and Rose eyed him with a wide grin. “Pleasure indeed,” she said. Erith noticed she held Danol’s hand a little longer than necessary. Danol backed up and stood so close to Erith that she could feel his warmth.

  “This is my solicitor, Mr. Payton,” Rose said. “He hails from Halifax.”

  “Mr. Payton,” Erith said and nodded toward hi
m. Danol followed suit. “Please come in. We were just having some tea, if you’d like to join us.”

  Erith and Danol walked toward the kitchen. She wasn’t sure if the others had followed. No matter what happened, she was determined to be civil. The four children were sitting at the table with Maggie, and Alice was at the far end with her hands in the dough. They all stopped when the strangers came in.

  Rose saw the children, and her eyes lit up. She smiled as she made her way to the table and rested her hands on George’s shoulders. “These must be my dear, dear cousins,” she said. George stopped in mid-chew, while the others gaped at the woman.

  “Boys, would you mind going outside, please?” Erith asked them. George and Tommy obediently got up from the table and went toward the back door. They met John coming in. He looked at the two strangers, then turned and followed the boys.

  Danol stirred behind her, but Erith didn’t turn around. “Girls, could you go outside with the boys?” she asked. Beatrice looked at Alice, who made a motion with her head toward the door. Chairs skittered across the floor as the two girls silently left the room.

  Alice sprinkled flour on her hands to take the dough off. “I’ll be out of your way in just a moment,” she said. “If you don’t mind, we’d like to take the children to the other side with us for lunch.”

  “That would be nice,” Erith said. She smiled at Alice and nodded her thanks. Alice quickly finished cleaning her hands and left. Maggie took the pan of dough, covered it with a tablecloth, and laid it on the woodbox. She came back and sat down. Erith held the back of the chair as everyone looked around the room at each other.

  “Have a seat,” she said.

  Rose stared at the back door before Mr. Payton nudged her. “Oh, yes, I believe I will.”

  Erith fetched the teapot while Maggie set the table with cups, saucers, and utensils. Nobody said a word as they all sat down and she poured the tea.

  “So, Rose, tell me about yourself,” Erith began.

  “Not much to tell, really,” the woman replied. “I haven’t married. I live alone in a boarding house in St. John’s.”

  There was a long silence before Erith spoke again. “Why are you here, Rose?”

  Rose coughed and covered her mouth with a handkerchief before she spoke. “Obviously my mother thought more of you than she did of me,” she said. “We’re kin, aren’t we? I came to claim my relatives and share in some of the Ryan money.”

  “What do you mean ‘claim your relatives’?”

  “Why, the children, of course. My uncle does own them, doesn’t he? Imagine my surprise when I found out they were young and well-to-do.”

  “Those children were legally adopted by me,” Erith said. “You hold no claim to them.”

  Mr. Payton spoke. “If you were to gain from the adoption of the children without proper notification to any living relative, then the adoption can be dissolved.”

  “How did I gain?” Erith asked him. “Besides, I was unaware of any living relative.”

  “That doesn’t matter in the eyes of the law. Being ignorant of a law doesn’t mean you can break it.”

  “This can’t be right,” Erith argued. “I’ll have my solicitor look into it.”

  “I already spoke to Mr. Horwood. He is aware of the law.”

  Rose coughed again. “I plan to take the children to St. John’s and buy a house for us to live in,” she said. Her pallor went grey, and she gulped for air. She coughed incessantly. Erith got up from the chair and went to her. Suddenly, Rose grabbed for her throat and fell over against Mr. Payton. He moved back, and she slid to the floor. Danol shoved the table back and cleared away the chairs as he rushed to the prone woman.

  “I’ll get Mary and Peter,” he said as he rushed from the room.

  Erith knelt by the woman and saw the slight rise and fall of her chest. “What’s wrong with her?” she asked Mr. Payton.

  “I don’t know. She’s had a cough for a while now. Maybe the boat ride was too much for her.”

  “Maggie, get a blanket for her,” Erith said to her friend. Maggie hesitated at first, but Erith nodded for her to go.

  39

  Danol rushed to his house on the point at the other side of the harbour.

  “Where’s George?”

  “I’m here,” George said as he came from the kitchen.

  “Run to John’s Pond and get Mary Ro and Peter. Something’s wrong with the woman in our house.”

  George didn’t ask any questions. He just bolted from the house and up over the hill toward the next community. It was about two miles across, and Danol figured that George would get there faster than he could. He had something to attend to here as well.

  “John, can I see you outside?”

  “Of course,” John said. He grabbed his jacket from the post near the door and followed Danol.

  Danol waited by the fence, where he’d be out of earshot of the house. He saw Alice looking out as John approached him.

  “I know you know that woman. I saw the look you gave her when you came in. I want to know who she is,” Danol said. He tried to hide the impatience he felt, but he was worried for Erith and the children.

  “Her name is Rosie Ryan,” John said.

  “You’re sure that’s her name?” Danol asked.

  “That’s who I knew her as. I haven’t seen her in fifteen years or more.”

  “How did you know her?”

  “It’s not a time that I’m proud of, Danol,” John said. “I knew her from my street days. She had a mean streak in her then, but I didn’t blame her. It was hard enough being a boy on the street, but being a girl, that would have been so much harder.”

  “Where did she come from?”

  “That’s the thing about the street, Danol. Nobody talks about anything other than how they’re going to eat on any given day.” John lowered his head. “I wish I had been kinder to her, but I was only young and doing what I could to stay alive.”

  “Why did you run when you saw her?” Danol asked.

  “I can only say that it was instinct. I have it good now with Alice. I’ve asked her to marry me,” John said. “Rosie knew me as Teddy White, and we just buried him. If she makes the connection, then everything we did will be gone.”

  “She definitely recognized you,” Danol said. “I’m certain of that.”

  “I’ll try talking to her,” said John. “Maybe she can be reasoned with.”

  “We don’t know what she wants yet. I’m sure it’s not the children.”

  “I believe she ended up in a brothel. At least, that’s the way she was talking the last time I saw her,” John continued. “I had just met Lavinia then, and not too long after that, John MacDonald and his father. I fared off pretty good. I doubt it was the same for Rosie.”

  “I’m confused,” said Danol. “In order for Rosie Ryan to be Kathleen’s daughter, she’d have to be in her mid-forties.”

  “No, sir, she can’t be,” John said. “She’s closer to my age. For sure, she can’t be more than thirty-five.”

  “So, we know she is not after the children because of some maternal need, and she’s not a relation.”

  “Like the rest of us, Rosie didn’t end up on the street of her own accord. She survived there long after we thought she wouldn’t. Whatever she left had to be worse, so that would have been pretty bad.”

  “Understood,” Danol said. He’d seen some pretty bad living situations during his policing days in Boston. However, he wasn’t naive enough to think that a cornered animal wouldn’t do whatever it took to get clear. He’d be careful how he cornered Rosie Ryan.

  Danol looked up the hill toward John’s Pond. “I’ll head back. Mary and Peter should be along pretty soon. Keep the children on this side of the harbour until I come back for them.”


  “They’ll be all right with me and Alice,” John said.

  “I know,” Danol said. He turned and headed for the dory.

  By the time he reached the house, he could see the small rowboat crossing the gut. The doctors weren’t far behind him. He rushed into the house just as Rosie was opening her eyes.

  “Stay there,” Erith said. “The doctor is coming.”

  “Doctors? Way out here,” Rose mumbled. She tried to sit up. Erith shoved a pillow under her head and used her hand to keep the woman on the floor.

  “They’re right behind me,” Danol said. “Crossing when I was coming in.” Erith looked at him with knitted brow. “I sent George.” She nodded.

  Maggie was tending to the dough in the corner. “No need to let a good batch of bread go to waste,” she said as she worked the pan with her fists. Danol turned up the corner of his mouth, and she punched the dough harder. She mumbled something he couldn’t understand but guessed she was in a sour mood after meeting Rosie.

  40

  Mary Ro rushed in just ahead of Peter. She knelt by the woman, and Erith got up to stand by Danol. He put his arms around her, and they both watched Mary and Peter go to work. “Everything is going to be all right,” he said to Erith.

  He saw the shadow in the doorway before he saw John. John glanced at Danol and nodded.

  Erith squeezed Danol’s hand, and he tightened his arms around her.

  Mary stood up. “Can we move her somewhere off the floor?”

  “The cot is still set up in the storeroom,” Erith said. “We’ve been meaning to take it down.”

  “You sure?” Danol asked. “We can take her to the Walshes. I’m sure they’d welcome a boarder.”

  “She came here, she’ll stay here,” Erith said. “Mr. Payton can stay at the Walshes’ when he’s ready.”

  “Help us move her,” Mary ordered.

  “I got her,” John said. He scooped Rosie up and brought her to the storeroom. Mary followed him, and Danol came to speak to Erith.

  “She’s frail,” Danol said. “I don’t think she’s eaten in days, by the look of her.”