“That is what I said, love.”
“That’s so far beyond ridiculous I don’t even know what to say. He chose this. I didn’t. He chose not to tell me. I didn’t have a vote in this at all.”
“Do not be absurd, love. Of course you have control in the matter, which it is my guess would be the genuine problem at hand. You can decide to continue this relationship and move forward with grace and maturity, or you can decide to continue on this path of destruction and ruin it for yourself and all involved.”
If I had said that to Teagan, I’d have had the good sense to duck, but Mom just sat there looking perfectly calm.
She’s good at that.
Calm.
Mom, not Teagan.
Teagan wasn’t doing the whole calm thing like Mom. She was going more with a head-exploding, trying-not-to-shriek, not-succeeding thing. “How did I become the bad guy in all this?”
“No one has accused you of being a bad guy, love. What I am saying is that we all make choices. Jessie’s choices were unfortunate, but he cannot go back and change them, and therefore you have choices to make all on your own. Either you have a commitment to this man, the one you proclaim to love and cherish, or you do not. It is really that simple. Have you committed your life to him or have you not?”
I didn’t see any smoke coming out of Teagan’s ears, but I looked for a towel to swat around when the smoke detector went off, just in case.
Teagan took a deep breath and tried to control herself. “Mom, you know how much I love you, but this time, I think you are completely off base.”
Mom stayed serene. I hate it when she does that. “It has nothing to do with how much you love me, love. What it has to do with is choice and commitment. When I decided to marry your father, I made a choice that, with very few exceptions, we would work it out. Whatever ‘it’ was. You have proclaimed that you are committed to Jessie. Was that a true statement? Are you committed to him?”
“Being committed to him doesn’t give him the right to do anything he wants.”
“No, it does not, but as I understand the situation, love, he has done little more than lie to you regarding a very difficult situation. What he is asking of you is to understand that he is imperfect and that he lied.”
“It’s not just a lie, Mom. There’s a baby. For the whole world to see.”
“So it’s a matter of pride?”
“I committed to Jessie. Not to his child. I didn’t know he had one.” Her voice was edging back up to screech territory.
“You were well aware of the possibility, Teagan.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Do you mean to sit at my table and tell me that you believed Jessie had been with no other woman?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then you knew there was a possibility. You simply chose to ignore that possibility. That was your choice. Then when your assumption proved to be untrue, you allowed your emotion to overrule your good judgment.”
“I’m not a freaking robot, Mom. Of course I got emotional.”
“As well you should, but at what point do you set that aside and act with dignity and grace?”
“I think I have acted with dignity and grace.”
“You chose not to share the news with your family last night.”
“Is that what this is all about? You called us over here because Jessie and I didn’t say anything about the baby last night? That isn’t fair, Mom. I’m just getting used to the idea myself.”
“Not at all, love. You are hedging your bets. You have not yet decided if you will honor the commitment you made to the man you said you loved. When it came to diamond rings and beautiful houses, you were quick to accept, but when it comes to a baby and a possibly messy situation with his former girlfriend, you are not committed. I must say, unless and until you tell me that there is a far better reason to react the way you have, I am quite disappointed, love.”
Poof. That was it. Teagan’s head exploded. I didn’t actually see the explosion, although I’m pretty sure I did see the hair on the back of her neck come up, which isn’t easy, because she was wearing a lot of hair product. She always does that when she hasn’t been to the salon in a while.
She started to say something then stopped herself and took a deep breath.
She started to talk again, then stood up and put on the kettle.
She started to talk again, walked back over to me, and said, “Come on, we’re out of here.”
My mother’s voice was perfectly calm. “As well you might think again, love. You will not leave this house until I have had my say.”
“Mom, I’m not twelve. You don’t get to tell me when I come and go.”
“Teagan, there is little enough I have asked of you. I am asking you to sit at this table and continue our talk.”
Really, at that point, what do you do? You either sit down and talk to your mother, or… I don’t even know what the other option would be.
Teagan fell into the chair. She might not be twelve anymore, but she can do a great impersonation of herself at twelve.
“Love, please listen to me.”
Teagan turned and put on her big girl face.
“Thank you. I’ll not put guilt at your feet. As Angela Mialu said, ‘When you know better you do better.’”
Teagan laughed. “Angela Mialu? Do you mean Maya Angelou?”
“Yes.” Mom actually blushed. Something about it tweaked my brain, but before I could say anything, she continued.
“Teagan, as you are well aware, I do not agree with this modern approach to relationships. If the relationship becomes difficult, people simply walk away. I thought I had raised my children to do better than that.”
“Mom, this isn’t a simple mistake. Think about the ramifications of what Jessie has done.”
“Believe me, child. I am well aware.”
I blurted it. I couldn’t help it. “I knew it! I knew that Seamus was my brother from another mother. You all but said it. That explains so much.”
Teagan laughed.
Mom didn’t.
Uh, oh.
“You girls can try to make light of this, but I am very concerned for the both of you.”
“Me? What did I do?” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. What an idiot.
“We will get to you shortly, love. Teagan, if you are truly committed to Jessie, as you claimed to have been when the diamonds were ablaze in the backyard of that beautiful home, then I suggest you take a step back and determine just what that commitment means to you. Do you believe that you will stay and work through whatever difficulties you might have? Or do you believe that when things get difficult, you head for the nearest door? If there is even the slightest doubt in your mind, I suggest you find that door sooner rather than later.”
“Mom, I just…”
“There is no reason to explain or to try to justify your decision to me. I am not the person you made a commitment to. I suggest, strongly, that this is a conversation you have with himself.”
Oh crap. Now it’s my turn. I could tell because my mother actually turned her chair so she could see into my eyes.
“And as for you, my love, what is all this silliness about the trunk and all that it holds for you?”
“Mom, I…”
“Let me just say my piece, Cara. I have asked you any number of times if you had been abused in any form or fashion when you were visiting with our Bernie. You have repeatedly told me that you were not physically harmed in any way. Does that hold true?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then I have to believe that whatever the trunk holds for you is little more than lessons.”
“But, Mom…”
“I have not finished, love.”
I really wanted to say something, but I knew my turn would come, so I sat back to listen to my mother. She usually answers the question before I ever ask it, so it was actually an efficiency thing, not bowing down to Mom pressure.
“Cara, I understand som
ething happened all those years ago to set you off course. I understand you believe that whatever it is that set you off course is housed in that trunk, but I would have you think again. If, like a priest, you are waiting for my confession, it will be a long time in coming. To this day, I know of nothing that your father or I have done to add to your distress.”
For a split second, I thought that maybe my mother did something to our tea. Added a little truth serum or something, because before I could stop it, my mouth was working overtime. I told her almost exactly what I’d told Teagan. About my whole life being in service of O’Flynns. About no longer feeling like I had a strong foundation, because if the O’Flynns allowed me as a child to be around such craziness, then what exactly was it that the O’Flynns stood for, anyway?
She listened.
To it all.
I did a really good job of it, too. By the time I was done, both Teagan and I were in tears.
Mom wasn’t.
In a very soft voice, she said, “Love, is that not what I was just talking to you about?”
“Wait, what?”
“You are choosing to look at this in a negative light. Perhaps you would be better served to look at it through brighter eyes.”
“Okay, Mom. I’m gonna need help with that one.”
“The two of you have always been of greatest help to each other. I suggest that the each of you tell your young men that you are going to take a day or two and spend it learning to be a positive influence for the other.”
“What?” It was Teagan’s turn to be confused.
I answered for Mom. “I think what Mom is saying is that we need a girls’ weekend.”
“That’s exactly what I am saying. Apart from your young men. With or without the rest of the girls, although I must say that Troya could use a little support, as could Sinead.”
“You know what, Mom? That’s a great idea. You want to join us?”
“Not at all. Your father and I are going to run away from home ourselves. We have made reservations at a lovely little bed and breakfast, and we are going to pretend that we are in Ireland once more.”
“That sounds great. You guys should have a fantastic time.”
“We well and truly will. I offer you girls the house, should you want to use it.”
“Thanks, Mom. We’ll let you know.”
“I hope that you will use the opportunity to heal yourselves. I have sat idly by while the two of you have done little to bring yourselves back to center. I love you both dearly, and it is my fondest wish that each of you have whole and healthy lives. You cannot have that if you choose to live in the darkness.”
EIGHT
“THE HOUSE LOOKS great, Cara.” Teagan had just gotten to Mom and Daddy’s house. The rest were supposed to join us at about eight.
“Thanks.”
“Where in the world did you find all these sleeping bags?”
“I rented them.”
“Um, ew. Cara, how do you know who has done what in these?”
“They’re all cleaned. No different than sleeping in a hotel bed.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“I knew you and Valerie wouldn’t want to use a used anything, so I actually got these stupid things that are like germaphobe cocoons. I saw them in that airplane catalog thing and thought of you as soon as Mom said ‘slumber party.’ Anyway, you wrap yourself in your own little cocoon, and you don’t have to worry about germs.”
“Good. I like that. What else have we got? I brought everything you asked for.”
“I got the movies, the food, the drinks, and the games.”
“What games?”
“Pictionary, the apple one, dominos, cards, and the truth or dare one.”
Teagan had the most evil grin on her face. “This could get dangerous.”
“Remember, we are the family champions.”
“The day you got the word ‘ecstasy’ when all I did was draw a half a bed and say woo-hoo? I thought that Seamus’s head was going to explode.”
“What did Jessie say when you told him we were having a slumber party?”
“He laughed and said it was a great idea. Asked if he could get the rest of the guys together to crash it.”
“What did you say?”
In her best eighth grade voice, she said, “I said my dad would call the police, and they would tell his parents what he was up to.”
I laughed. “Remember when all the guys came over to the house when you were having that slumber party in eighth grade? And what’s-her-name’s brother was dropping her off when the cops showed up because Billy what’s-his-name had thrown a bunch of fire crackers in Mrs. Ladner’s yard thinking that it was our house, and she thought that someone was shooting at her dog?”
“That wasn’t funny. Her mom gave me the evil eye for two years.”
“Daddy did drive over and explain.”
“Yeah. Not sure how much good it really did.”
We spent about a half an hour hanging crepe paper around the family room. Pink and purple. We pushed the dining room table up against the wall and loaded it down with all kinds of junk food, plus some healthy stuff with a sign over it that said “for the preggos.”
We dumped bags of ice in the sink and put in all different kinds of soda. Set the freezer to stupid cold and made sure the ice cream would be hard as a rock.
We made a stack of games and made sure to have extra paper and pens just in case. Teagan brought one of the big white boards on an easel from the office for the Pictionary tourney.
We ordered pizza and sandwiches and arranged for them to be delivered in three hours.
I know it’s really stupid, but I was as excited as I used to get when we were kids and we were hosting a slumber party.
It was nice of Mom to suggest it and even nicer that she let us use her house. Teagan and I both knew that she did it on purpose, knowing that the familiar surroundings would help us feel like kids again.
There was nothing better than an O’Flynn slumber party.
Ever.
Everyone arrived a little early. We decided we would change into pajamas right away and set the tone. Plus, you’re much less likely to answer a business call when you’re with your sisters and you’re wearing your slumber party regalia. I can’t believe that Valerie — the proper corporate mogul type person that we all know and love — was the one to go all-out slumber party. She came walking back into the family room in footie pajamas in bright reggae colors with a huge marijuana leaf emblazoned across her chest.
She got the desired response.
The laughter was contagious and welcomed.
“Where did you find those?” Teagan asked between fits of laughter.
“My chest of drawers.” Valerie did a very Paris-runway type turn so we could get the full effect. “I’m shocked I could get them over my butt and that this ever growing belly didn’t pop the zipper.”
“Your drawer? You’re kidding.”
“Nope. You guys didn’t know me in high school. I was all about gettin’ blazed.”
Teagan gaped. “I can’t believe it. You? Does Seamus know?”
“No comment.”
“Oh my God. He not only knew, he was partaking?”
“No comment.”
“Oh, tell me, please. He still partakes, doesn’t he?”
“No comment.”
“Oh. My. God!” Teagan screeched.
You would think finding out that the two most conservative people in our family — no, in the world, perhaps the universe — smoked weed would have been the high point of the evening. No pun intended, although it did work out well. But things just got better and better and better.
At one point, Sinead confessed that she had always wanted to marry Howard. That they had already been talking about marriage before she got pregnant. Troya was in shock. Her tiny little baby sister, still technically a child in her eyes, had been talking about marriage. We all got the impression that the baby, although unexpected at th
at moment, wasn’t an accident. Well, maybe the baby was an accident, but not a mistake. You know what I mean.
In the spirit of confessions, Maeve decided to tell us all about the night that she and her very best friend, Kevin, decided that it would be a good idea to test Maeve’s sexual orientation. Kevin was a little drunk — okay, a lot drunk — as was Maeve, so they decided that a night of passion with Kevin would be the delineating circumstance that either proved Maeve to be a lesbian or “turned” her.
It’s amazing what drunk people think is a good idea.
As she described it, she discovered to her horror, “There are parts of a guy that move all on their own. It freaked me the hell out. I knew I was a lesbian before that, but damn.”
Sinead sniffed. “It fascinates me that society has this weird thing where they almost expect a gay person to have sex with the opposite sex to ‘prove’ they’re gay, but a straight person is never expected to have sex with a same-sex partner to prove they’re straight.”
Maeve gave her a hug, and the subject changed. It continued to change every two minutes for hours and hours.
It must have been about three in the morning when Teagan said, “I need to talk to you guys.” The tone in her voice changed the room immediately. We went from stories of teen angst and reminiscing about teen pranks to grown women wanting to help a loved one.
I love that about us.
Women can turn on a dime when support is needed.
Teagan explained all about Joynessa and Jessie and the problems that all of that brought to bear.
I had the luxury of sitting back and watching everyone, since I already knew all about it.
I have to say that my family impresses me. Everyone listened intently. Nobody interrupted, but there were enough questions at appropriate times to show love and support.
At the end of it, after much discussion, it was determined that whatever Teagan wished to do was the right thing to do. She had everybody’s support. Morgan pointed out that Jordan had been accepted into the family seamlessly, and she was sure that Joynessa would be as well. She also explained what it felt like to have the “other parent” be a little bit more than insane and how difficult it was to deal with, but that she and Liam had decided from the onset that they would be a united front, and to Liam’s credit, he had been. That extraordinary communication and maturity were key.
The Tea Series Page 71
