I swiveled on the stool, swallowing a laugh when I saw Griffin sheepishly step into the kitchen. He wore plaid boxer shorts and a My Pretty Pony T-shirt.
“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Griffin offered. “I just … I needed to be sure she was okay. This was the only shirt I could find in the dresser that fit me. I had no idea you liked My Pretty Pony.”
I snorted. “That’s not mine. That’s Jerry’s.”
“Well, that explains that.”
“Sit down, Griffin,” Dad ordered. “You’re probably hungry, too.”
“I could eat,” Griffin admitted, hopping onto the stool next to me.
Dad started fixing him a plate. “I don’t care if you like cooked carrots or not,” he said. “You’re getting what I fix for you.”
Griffin smirked. “I’m not the picky eater Aisling is,” he said. “She has a few fussy food idiosyncrasies.”
“She’s a pain in the ass,” Dad agreed, although the small smile playing at the corner of his mouth told me he was joking. “We need to discuss what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
“We can try to sneak out before everyone is up,” I offered. “That might make things easier.”
“You’re not running away,” Dad said. “Kicking you out last night was a mistake. I was hoping to protect you from your brothers, but you guys are going to need to work this out if we want to move forward.”
“They’re going to yell.”
“They are going to yell,” Dad said. “You’re going to yell, too. That’s why you need food to bolster you. It’s going to be a big fight.”
“Dad, I … .”
“Aisling, I don’t know what all of this means and I’m too tired to figure it out tonight,” Dad said. “The only reason I’m still up is because … I needed to see you. There was no way I was chancing a visit to your bedroom when I knew you weren’t alone. You’ve always had a penchant for midnight snacks. I took a chance you would need food after your adventure.
“We’re tackling this as a family tomorrow,” he continued. “For tonight, all you need to worry about is eating – and making sure you don’t let the cop get too handsy under my roof.”
I snickered. “Don’t worry. No matter how cute he is, I’m never going to do anything with him when he’s wearing a My Little Pony shirt. I have my standards.”
“That’s my girl,” Dad said. He reached across the counter and grabbed my hand, dragging my eyes to his. “You’ll always be my girl. We’ll figure this out.”
For the first time in weeks, I finally felt as if that was a real possibility.
Twenty-Four
I slipped my hand into Griffin’s before moving into the dining room the next morning. The conversation with my father did me a world of good, and my second bout of sleep was heavy and dreamless. I woke up feeling refreshed.
In the light of the new day, though, we still had old problems to overcome.
“It’s going to be okay,” Griffin said, squeezing my hand. “The worst is already behind you.”
We both knew that wasn’t true. My mother was still out there and very likely trying to grab me. We could tackle only one problem at a time.
“This is probably going to be rough,” I said.
“Nothing is worse than your father seeing me in a My Pretty Pony shirt. It doesn’t get rougher than that.”
I giggled, rolling up on my toes so I could give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for … everything.”
Griffin affectionately tugged on a strand of my hair. “When this is all over, you’re going to thank me in a much more entertaining way.”
“That’s just what I want to hear before I eat my breakfast,” said Dad, appearing in the hallway behind us and pushing us apart so he could shuffle toward the dining room. “I’m going to have you neutered, boy. I’ve decided that will fix most of my problems.”
Griffin rolled his eyes, but wordlessly followed my father into the dining room. We were the last to arrive and six sets of eyes shifted in our direction as we made our entry.
“Good morning, Aisling,” Barbara said, her voice unnaturally bright. “How did you sleep?”
“Fine. Thank you.”
“You look better,” Barbara said. “You’re probably starving. You didn’t get dinner last night.”
I offered Dad a weak smile before moving to my usual spot. “I could eat.”
“Perhaps you should try the restaurant down the street,” Aidan suggested, his eyes dark.
I ignored the jab and settled in the open spot next to Jerry, letting Griffin sit on my other side. “Good morning, Jerry.”
“Good morning, Bug,” Jerry said, his eyes kind. He didn’t look angry, which was good. He was in a bad place. I knew that. He couldn’t offer me support while Aidan was upset, though. I tried not to take it personally.
“We have a big day ahead of us,” Dad announced. “We need to discuss the gargoyle situation and plan our next move for tracking down information regarding your mother’s … death. That means you all need to get your issues out on the table and make up.”
“Are you saying you’re not angry with her?” Redmond asked, surprised. “What changed?”
Dad rested his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “I was never angry with Aisling for what she did,” he explained. “I’m not thrilled she didn’t tell us what was going on, but she had her reasons. Don’t even think of saying something obnoxious, Braden.”
Braden had the grace to look abashed, although the ire-filled look he shot me was abundantly clear.
“Aisling thought she was doing the right thing,” Dad continued. “She didn’t want to tell us her suspicions regarding your mother until she had more to go on. She was worried about hurting us.
“Now, I’m not particularly thrilled with her decision-making process on this one, but I do understand it,” Dad said. “She’s been struggling for weeks. We’ve all seen it. We made plans to approach her about it. There’s no need to continue punishing her.”
“You kicked her out of the family last night,” Braden countered. “I like that idea. Let’s go back to that.”
“I did not kick her out of the family,” Dad argued. “I asked her to leave because I knew she’d be your favorite target all night and I didn’t think that would help matters. The only way to get out of this family is death – and apparently even that doesn’t hold now.”
“I’m not working with her,” Braden said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I can’t forgive her.”
“Oh, you’re going to forgive her,” Dad snapped. “You’re going to suck it up and realize that you would’ve probably done exactly the same thing in her position.”
“I would not have done anything of the sort,” Braden protested.
“Oh, please.” Dad rolled his eyes. “You two are the most alike. Cillian would’ve immediately told everyone what he found out and then hit the books for two weeks, because that’s what he does. Redmond would’ve hemmed and hawed for days and skulked around until he exploded. Aidan would’ve drunk himself to the brink of death and then let it slip to Jerry, who wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from telling Aisling. You would’ve handled it exactly as Aisling did, Braden. Although you probably wouldn’t have spent so much time cuddling up with Griffin during the process – and I’m thankful for that.”
Braden’s mouth dropped open. “You … I … we … I am nothing like Aisling.”
“Sometimes I think you two should’ve been the twins,” Dad shot back.
Redmond snorted. “He’s right, Braden,” he said. “You and Aisling are the most alike. That’s why you argue the most.”
“Whatever,” Braden groused. “We are absolutely nothing alike.”
“I don’t understand why we’re pretending this is all okay,” Aidan said. “Did you forget that she spent two weeks lying to us about Mom being alive?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Dad countered. “She’s still my daughter, and no matter what she does, t
hat will never change. I’m sure if Aisling had it to do over again she would … alter … some things. She probably wouldn’t change others. We don’t have time to waste with her second-guessing herself. It is what it is.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, Aidan, but I think you’re more upset that Aisling didn’t confide in you than you are about what she was hiding,” he continued. “You’re not upset because your sister lied to you. You’re upset because your best friend chose to confide in the handsy cop instead of you.”
“We can probably let the handsy cop stuff go now,” Griffin suggested, pouring juice into my glass. “I try really hard not to be handsy around you.”
“And that makes me cringe because that means you’re even more handsy when I’m not around,” Dad said. “I made you dinner last night and didn’t comment on the My Little Pony shirt. I’m going to keep calling you handsy.”
“Hey, I’ve been looking for that shirt,” Jerry said.
“It’s in the hamper,” I supplied.
“Did he look better in it than me?”
“No one looks better in that shirt than you,” I said, patting his hand. “I promise.”
“Did you at least get a photo of him in it?” Jerry asked.
“No, she did not,” Griffin snapped.
“I’ll show it to you later,” I whispered.
“If you show that photo to anyone I’ll spank your bottom blue,” Griffin warned.
“Kinky,” Jerry said, winking.
“That will be enough of that,” Dad said, although he didn’t sound particularly perturbed. I think he enjoyed the fact that at least some of the people around the breakfast table were warming up to me again. “So, now that everyone has made up … .”
“I’m not making up with her,” Braden interrupted. “I don’t care how you try to spin this. She lied to us … and it wasn’t a little lie like when she dinged your car and told you I did it.”
“I still maintain that was your fault,” I argued. “If you hadn’t opened the door into that pole … .”
“You parked too close to the pole!”
“You were both at fault as far as that’s concerned,” Dad said. “You weren’t supposed to be driving my car in the first place, Aisling. And as I recall, Braden, Aisling was driving because you got drunk with your friends and needed a ride.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” Braden argued. “She still lied to us.”
“Do you think she feels good about it?” Griffin asked. “She’s been tying herself into knots. She did the best she could, given the circumstances. How many people have to deal with their mother coming back from the dead?”
“No one asked you,” Braden grumbled.
“Don’t talk to Griffin that way,” Dad ordered. “For better or worse, he’s part of the family now. He’s the one Aisling confided in. He stood by her. He dug up information on the fire. He refused to leave her when she was under attack yesterday. He patched up her wounds – although I still maintain I would’ve done a better job.”
“Don’t worry,” Jerry interjected. “I’m sure he kissed her boo-boo just like you used to.”
“Thank you, Jerry,” Dad said, exhaling heavily. “I … will never get that visual out of my head now.”
“It’s not as if her boo-boo was in a naughty place,” Jerry replied, nonplussed. “You should get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Jerry, eat your breakfast,” Dad ordered.
I risked a glance at Griffin and found him rubbing his forehead. “I’ll bet you wish we’d stayed in bed all day,” I whispered.
“Jerry always manages to make these meals fun,” Griffin said. “I just … wish he would stick to My Pretty Pony shirts instead of naughty boo-boo kisses. I’m going to have nightmares about your father chasing me with a pitchfork now. I know it.”
“It will be a chainsaw, not a pitchfork,” Dad supplied. “You didn’t know I heard that, did you? I have ears like a cat. Don’t forget it.”
“I’m so glad everyone else thinks this is funny,” Braden said. “Personally, I’m disgusted that Aisling is being let off the hook after lying to us.” He stood up, tossing his napkin onto his plate. “Aisling was spoiled rotten when we were growing up because she was the only girl. It was just the way of the world. I accepted it, but I’m not accepting this. She lied and I’m not participating in any of this.”
“Sit down,” Dad snapped.
“No.”
“Either sit down or leave the room.” Dad changed tactics midstream. “If you don’t want to be a part of this, you don’t have to participate. I understand that this is overwhelming and you need time. I’m not going to spend time arguing. That goes for all of you.
“If you’re not going to be part of the solution, though, then you’re a part of the problem, Braden,” he continued. “I don’t want to tell you how to feel. I have no idea what’s going through your mind, but my door is always open if you want to talk. If you don’t want to work with us, then you should give us space. Sniping at Aisling isn’t productive. We need to be productive today.”
Braden was flabbergasted. “So, instead of her getting in trouble I somehow ended up in trouble? How does that work?”
“You’re not in trouble,” Dad said. “You’re hurting, Braden. It’s written all over your face. You need to get yourself together and face what you’re really angry about. I’m telling you right now that it’s not Aisling.”
“Well, thank you for telling me how I feel,” Braden said, kicking his chair out of the way so he could step back from the table. “I guess I’ll go upstairs and think about my feelings until I convince myself that Aisling lying to us isn’t a big deal.”
“Perhaps that’s for the best,” Dad agreed.
I watched Braden go, part of me wanting to follow and beg for forgiveness while the other part wanted to wrestle him to the ground and pinch him until he cried. I didn’t move.
“Does anyone else want to leave?” Dad arched a challenging eyebrow and glanced around the table. “You all can feel whatever you want about this situation. We need to work together, though. If you’re going to hinder the process, leave now.”
Dad waited.
“Okay, everyone eat,” he said. “I have jobs for everyone today … including you, Griffin. If you’re going to be part of this family, you’re getting chores.”
“Oh, good,” Griffin deadpanned. “I can’t wait.”
“Wait until you hear what I want you to do,” Dad countered. “Babysitting is only part of the job.”
Twenty-Five
“We’re here,” Griffin said, putting his Explorer in park and killing the engine before turning toward me. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nodded, even though I had no idea I was being truthful.
“Why did she get the front seat?” Redmond complained from behind us. “I’m bigger than she is and I’m mad at her. I should’ve gotten the front seat.”
Griffin rolled his eyes. “She got the front seat because I don’t want to hold your hand.”
“Yeah, that was annoying,” Redmond muttered. “Having to watch you hold her hand and kiss it whenever you stopped at a light gave me heartburn.”
“I think that was the pound of bacon you ate for breakfast,” I countered.
“I’m still angry with you,” Redmond said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t see why Dad made me come with you guys. You could’ve done this on your own.”
“If you don’t want to come, don’t come,” Griffin said bluntly. “You can sit here and pout until you die of heatstroke for all I care. Well, actually, I might get in trouble for that. You can sit at that picnic table over there if you’re going to pout the whole time. I think those two women are prostitutes and they might give you a hand job if you have ten extra bucks.”
“Whatever.” Redmond eyed the women in question. “They don’t look healthy.”
“This is a high meth area,” Griffin said. “I’m sure they’re not heal
thy. Given the way you’re acting, though, the release might do you some good.”
I pursed my lips. I knew exactly why Dad sent Redmond with us. Unfortunately, I think Redmond knew, too. That was the crux of the problem.
“Aisling, if you don’t want to see this, you don’t have to,” Griffin said, grabbing my hand. I had no idea whether he was doing it to irk Redmond or soothe me. It was probably a combination of both. “I can go and look around. I’m not expecting to find much back there.”
“I want to go,” I said. “I’ve never been here. It’s not as if she’ll be here. Truthfully, I think Dad sent us here just so he could say we did due diligence. I don’t expect to find anything here either.”
Redmond was morose. “I’ve been here before.”
I shifted in my seat. Dad doled out various jobs over the course of breakfast. He tasked Cillian with research, which was his forte. He wanted background on the Grimponds and a possible motive for them to lie. He also wanted any information Cillian might have missed the first time around when he looked into Genevieve Toth.
He tasked Aidan with hitting a few local reaper haunts to see what he could find out. Of course Jerry wanted to go with him. He was in the middle of picking out the perfect undercover outfit – leather pants and vest were a must – when I swooped in and reminded him that he had another meeting with the picky wedding couple he couldn’t miss. Aidan reluctantly thanked me for the rescue, although his tone was cold. In truth, Jerry would get his ass kicked in a reaper establishment. I was saving Jerry as much as Aidan.
Dad dumped all of our reapings – five in total – on Braden. I wasn’t present for that conversation, but Braden’s cursing could be heard two wings away. He took this as another personal affront. There was nothing I could do about that, so I opted to push it out of my mind.
Dad intended to spend his day talking to the colleagues he’d distanced himself from. He hoped someone would be able to give him a motive. That’s what bothered him most. The possibility of Mom being alive left him conflicted and bitter, but someone purposely working against him and trying to hurt his family infuriated him. He needed to know why someone would be underhanded enough to do it.
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