I squinted when I saw someone with them who shouldn't be there. My eyes narrowed farther as I pushed away a flood of unwanted memories. What was she doing here?
“Frizzy?”
My eyes widened and shot around the gathered group at the Lower Mall promenade, he wasn't here was he? I felt my pulse quicken in minor panic. I would have been more panicked if it weren't for the reassuring solid strength of Hunter McGrath at my back.
“Lenny?”
I didn't see him anywhere, to my relief, but... oh good there's Bob and Tina.
Hunter almost yelled at me, “Lenore!" And she reached past me and slammed the engine into reverse.
I blinked and got out of my panicked thoughts as I realized my inattention had just about brought about the crashing into port and sinking which I had prophesied earlier. Hunter was spinning the wheel from behind, putting me into a cage of her arms. She sideslipped us broadside to the seawall as the laboring engine ate our forward momentum and brought the Deidre to rest mere feet from the wall and the wide eyed greeting party.
The Irish pain in the ass I was betrothed to, chastised, “Dear lord, darlin'. Where's yer head at? Ya drive the Deidre like ya drive the work truck.”
I gave her a sheepish look then pointed out the window to the woman I hadn't seen since dad's sentencing hearing, where I hid in the back of the gallery to watch justice being done. Not even McGrath knew I had snuck out that day to see him get his comeuppance. I had told everyone I just needed some time alone that day. I can be such a petty woman sometimes, but the man did beat me half to death.
I said in a faraway voice, “What is my mum doing here?" Then my eyes widened then narrowed again as I growled out, “And what's that bloke there doing holding Christine's hand?" My eyebrow twitched uncontrollably.
I looked back and up as she shut down the motor from behind me. I craned my neck up to watch her shrug, “Well there's only one way ta find out now, isn't there, Frizzy?”
I almost forgot about what had sparked my anxiety as I stared longingly at her lips as I shot back, “You're about as useful as a fork with no prongs, McGrath.”
She chuckled as we headed out to drop the bow and stern anchors as the barge started to inch downstream with the current. “That'd be a spoon, love.”
She was too funny sometimes, I loved her so much, which was surprising seeing how aggravating she could be when she teased like this. I paused at the door at an realization, “Dear lord.”
She glanced back with concern in her eyes, “What is it?”
I smiled at her and slipped past my well muscled wife, “I just realized that I'm a McGrath now. I'll never be able to wash that kind of stink off." In reality, I was actually happy to take her last name and get rid of my Elgin last name, which had marked me as related to my father.
I squeaked when a calloused hand reached out and turned me around to pull me into a kiss that had my toes curling and a raging desire igniting in all the right places in me. She whispered, “And don'cha forget it," to the cheers and whistles from the peanut gallery on shore.
I blushed, ignoring them as I scurried off to drop anchor as she went the other way, bowing and waving. She was so bloody sexy, and she was mine. I smiled as I pulled the release and the big metal drag anchor splashed into the water. A few seconds later, with both anchors down, the slight movement of the Deidre was arrested with the clink of chains going into tension.
Bobby was already pulling out the gangplank that Hunter kept hidden just under the railing of the seawall. I'm sure the Hammersmith borough council would have it reduced to toothpicks if they ever found it tucked away there under the promenade.
They hated McGrath... ummm... us McGrath's mooring here. But we followed the London waterway fair moorage rules and made sure to move the barge to a new location every few months. Usually to one of the two Flotilla properties along the river.
Paya lets us moor at the Flotilla Pier any time we like and the property on Narrow Street has an actual metal gangplank for the Flotilla barges when they move new tenants into the building.
I helped Hunter re-secure the ropes which held the banner that was stretched across the railing that read, “McGrath Handyman Service." She still did odd jobs here and there, mostly in the Hammersmith borough between the Flotilla renovation jobs that have her working almost all year round. Mostly, she says, to keep close to her roots.
My girl caught the end of the plank as Robert swung it over and I dropped the two pins to secure it on our end only. I chuckled about how natural this all seemed to me now. The Deidre was our home and I almost can't remember a time I wasn't on the water now. I found it hard to sleep ashore without the sounds and motion of the water around me.
She bowed and made an ushering motion to me. I blushed and gave her a heated smile as I walked across to shore, bouncing on the plank as it bowed, suspended eight feet above the river. My footing was sure and I barely thought anything of it anymore. The first few times were nerve wracking though.
I hopped ashore and then a moment later, with a solid thud, McGrath joined me as our friends and family cheered us. Holy crap, there must have been thirty people there. Was there a party that we weren't told about? My heart swelled that my pool of loved ones had grown exponentially since Angie had found me on the streets and took me under her wing at the Flotilla.
I gave Bobby and Angie hugs and then was constricted from behind by one of Zilrita's patented squid hugs that left me giggling. She repeated the process with my stalwart wife, who stiffened up, not knowing what to do. Then I swung toward Christine, my eyes narrowing as I glared at her hand in the grasp of that effeminate looking bloke I saw from the water.
Even though I had to admit, if I were into guys, this one was cute as hell. But he was holding my sister's hand. Don't look at me like that. I know she's an adult... but... she was still my responsibility to protect. Whatever. Shut up.
I stepped past mum, I was still trying to process her presence there, and up to this boy who thought he was good enough for... oh... she's a girl. How had I thought she was a bloke? Maybe because she was trying to dress butch? But the nervous smile and those huge blue eyes were anything but male. I hadn't known that Tina was into girls.
I kept my eyes locked on the newcomers, taking her measure as I opened my arms and Christine released her hand and hugged me as I asked, “And who, is this?”
She ignored the question intending to deflect as she said brightly, “Welcome home sis, welcome home McGrath.”
I slowly looked away from the girl to my sister, cocking an eyebrow at her total fail at looking innocent. I glanced back at the group and asked, “Anyone?”
They had that same failed innocent look, so I exhaled and disentangled myself from Tina, who was playing on my happiness to see her to try to keep me engaged, “How was your honeymoon? Anything in the Deidre I need to disinfect before preparing supper tonight?”
This caused a nervous chuckle through the group, with mum chastising, “Tina!" My personal muscle seemed amused at their antics. A fat lot of good it does to be married if she just joins in on whatever this conspiracy against me was.
I windmilled Christine's arms away in a pattycake and turned my attention on the girl beside her who was fascinated with the sky. I took a single step in front of her and into her personal space, mum warning, “Now Lenore." I waved her off. I'd get around to her once I figured out just who this was.
I cocked my head as someone giggled out, “Squirrel fight!" I'd get to Paya later too.
I offered a hand from my hip in our close quarters, cocking my head, “Lenore Elg... umm... McGrath. Christine's sister. Her OLDER sister. And just who might you be?”
I gotta say, when the girl, who looked nervous as hell, turned her eyes to me, I was impressed. Though she was nervous, I didn't intimidate her as she locked gazes with me. She took my hand in a firm grip, one worthy of Hunter or Bea, and shook.
She opened her mouth and Paya interrupted. “Lenore, this is the temp we hired
to do the running and chauffeuring while you were out, ummm, doing whatever Tina is gonna have to sterilize." I'm sure she was giving one of those melt your heart smiles of hers, but I was busy just then, taking that girl's measure.
God, how is Paya not taken yet?
The girl waved everyone's favorite Indian-Brit off with her other hand and said to me with a disarming smile, which was congruous to a Paya Category Four smile, that impressed the hell out of me that someone could get up the cute scale that high. The rich, low voice that came from her had me questioning if I had misjudged her gender, “Reid. Reid Masterson. It is truly a pleasure to meet you Lenore. Everyone has told me nothing but good things about you.”
Ok, my gaydar couldn't make heads nor tails of this person, I wasn't so sure she was a girl now. I went with my first impression as I let his hand go and he rubbed it with his other as he offered, “That's some grip you have there." That almost made me snort. Before meeting the women at the Flotilla, I probably had one of those wimpy grips. But a couple years of working with my hands helping out in the renovation of various Flotilla properties with my new wife, has strengthened my grip significantly.
I approved of the way this boy moved slightly between Christine and me protectively as my sis reached out and laced her fingers with Reid's. I grinned internally as I realized that this must be the mystery person filling her room with fluffy cat paintings. We could never get her to talk about who she had been sneaking around with. All we knew is that she always returned home with that silly smitten look on her face.
Ange said, “This is the person that Tina has been running around with the past months. She brought Reid by when we needed someone to drive the truck on deliveries and supply runs.”
I was glad to meet the person who had made my sister so happy, who had changed her from simply making it day to day out of the shadow of the abuse at our old home, to actually living in the real world and daring to to actually be happy. It was almost as satisfying as it was humorous that everyone seemed to be afraid of how I was going to react. Was I really that bad?
Tina offered brightly, “We're sort of... well we're dating, Len. The little imp had me at hello.”
I started to smile at the tinge of longing and the sound of adoration in her tone. If the group of all the people I loved were trying to defend this person, and my sister, one of the best people I knew sounded in love, then I was happy to welcome Reid with open... wait, wait, wait... “Wait a second." I turned around looking at everyone accusingly. “You gave him my job... my truck... AND my sister while I was gone? What the hell everyone? You giving him Hunter next? I mean he can have her when she's being surly, but seriously, what the hell?”
They all chuckled and seemed to deflate in relief. What? I wasn't joking? What the hell, man? Well I guess I was a little preoccupied the past three weeks.
I pointed at the bloke and warned, “That's my truck. Do what you will with my sis, but that's my truck. No wait, don't do what you will with my sis. You hurt her and this lot isn't going to save you.”
There was that chuckle again. What? Was I not intimidating? I should put them all on my list. That will teach them, I should... I sighed contentedly when Hunters arms wrapped lazily around my waist from behind. Fine. Whatever.
I tried to regain control of the situation, “Is there anything else of mine you'd like?”
To his credit, Reid inclined his head to me, his smile for Tina full of warmth as he said, “TinTin here is my top priority." Then he brightened and said tongue in cheek, “And to answer your other question, I'd love to borrow your hairband sometime..." He gushed far too cutely, “It's darling.”
Shite, he is a girl. I was so confused. But I found a hand absently touching my hairband that Hunter gave me. My curly red hair was unmanageable and I always kept it in a ponytail... until Hunter told me with heat in her voice that she liked my hair down. I do that as often as I can just to see the hunger in her eyes when I do.
She keeps giving me these hairbands... and I keep wearing them. Huh. Am I whipped?
Dear lord, I was blushing.
Hey wait a moment, the pixie had just stolen my thunder by being all cute like that. I squinted one eye and squished my mouth over to one side of my face at her. Then I smiled and everyone went back into motion. Gathering around.
But I wasn't done yet. I turned slowly around to look into a mirror of time. Looking over the middle aged woman who looked so very much like an older version of me. I glanced over and put my hand out to the side, between Reid and Tina when they went in to kiss each other. Just to give my hand wet kisses. Tina sighed audibly in frustration, and I would have smiled if I didn't have more pressing matters at hand.
Speaking of... I wiped both sides of my hand on my trousers.
I said tightly, “Mum.”
She had such a hopeful look on her face, along with something else that looked so very familiar that I couldn't place as she said carefully, almost timidly, “Lenore.”
Then my eyes widened as I recognized the look. It was that same apprehensive fear that we all got when dad got home from the pub. Bloody hell! I actually backed off a step, giving her more room. Was I the cause of that look? I'd never... I may talk brash, especially with someone like my bride who thrives on it, but I'd never raise a finger to hurt a fly. Unless of course they harmed those I loved.
A thought occurred to me at that and I looked quickly between her and Bobby. Had she come for him? Was that why she was afraid? I blurted, maybe a little too harshly, “What are you doing here mum?" Was it wrong that I just wanted to hug her and forgive her and get that damn look of fear off her face. It was terrifying me.
I asked, “Bobby?”
My brother slipped up beside us and offered, “I said no sis. I'm staying at home. But mum is moving to London." His hand indicated the Deidre when he said home, and my heart warmed over the fact that he saw the barge that way too. Us siblings had all bonded even closer than ever before, on the boat, and I saw it as my home too. Well, my second home, my real home was by Hunter's side. True, I may be drowning her in a bowl of soup at the time for being aggravating, but she was my home nonetheless.
Hunter said as she looked around, “Thank ya all fer showin' up ta welcome us home. It looks like the clan Elgin has a wee bit ta discuss. I think we'll be takin' our leave for now. We can meet at the Flotilla later ta say our proper hellos.”
Everyone's eyes were on me and my mother as they offered welcome homes and dispersed. I was still waiting for mum to tell me why she was here. The little girl in me was so happy to see her. The girl who had taken so many beatings at my fathers hand while she pretended not to know, wasn't so eager. I knew objectively that she had been just as much a victim as us, but we were just children and couldn't defend ourselves.
McGrath broke our silence virtually no trace of her fluid Irish accent that seemed to ebb and flow with her moods, “Mrs. Elgin, it's good to see you again. Why don't we move this reunion inside?”
Mum said absently, not looking away from me, “Foster. Ms Foster... or Phoebe." I blinked at that. I knew the divorce had been finalized. I have been watching everything closely behind the scenes, while keeping my siblings protected from the nasty bits. I still didn't know how to tell them that our feckin' father had been granted parole. It shouldn't have surprised me that she wanted to get away from our tainted family name just as much as I had.
She finally looked from me and up at my girl, who towered over us all but Robert, who was only a hand shorter than my bride now. She said with a smile, “Thank you miss McGrath.”
Hunter inclined her head and said while shooting warning looks to all of us, “Hunter, please. You're my mum-in-law now after all. We're all family here." There wasn't a woman alive who hated their first name more than my Hunter. But I thought her name was beautiful, and fit her so very well... not to mention it was sexy as hell.
Mum smiled at that and nodded. “I suppose we are.”
Bobby bounded across to the Deidre, an
d We followed Mum who was supported by McGrath across the gangplank. I noted Tina doing the same for her girl... or boy... whatever. I felt like a bloody git not knowing. She was just so androgynous.
Mum looked dubiously at the door to the cabin that Bobby was holding open for us. She muttered, “You all live on a boat...”
Christine said from behind us, “Mum, I told you the Deidre isn't just a boat. Go inside and look at our home.”
Mum looked back with a question in her eyes and I just arched an eyebrow st her. Smug in the knowledge that our home was grander than any flat on shore. She exhaled then ducked through the door. We all shared a knowing smile at the gasp that followed.
We all slid in behind her and then we turned at another gasp. Reid was wide eyed like a little girl on Christmas as she took in the grand space with all the carvings that climbed the walls and ceiling, which were crafted by my girl and her da. That's right, my sister's secret love has never been aboard. We've seen her sneaking off on shore on that noisy little bicycle of hers.
We all glanced over at Christine as she motored over the the kitchen and pulled some rubber gloves, a rag and some spray cleaner out from the cupboard and said, “Right then. You all talk, I'm just going to go about cleaning any of the places you two may have..." She trailed off and prompted McGrath, “Maybe it would be easier if I asked if there was anyplace you two 'didn't'...”
Hunter and I blushed and looked at each other, and I'm embarrassed to say, we both started to look around instead of answering. My sister said with comic timing as she started scrubbing the kitchen counter, “Right then, the entire barge it is.”
I eyeballed 'the temp', who went to help her scrub, then looked at mum, who was covering her mouth in amusement. I got myself back on task, “Right." I motioned to the sitting area and then asked, “So mum. What brings you around?”
She looked up at me with hopeful eyes as Robert sat next to her and held her hand to lend support as she straightened her shoulders to say, “To congratulate you two on your marriage. And to... to beg for forgiveness. To see if we can all start fresh.”
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