Shamrocks and Secrets

by Cayce Poponea

  “Oh, Nora, hasn’t there been enough fighting and hating? I just want some happiness.” Nora return my smile as she turned back to the hallway.

  I could smell her before she ever made it into the room, the overwhelming cloud of Eileen’s signature Chanel perfume preceding her into the room. I had never been a fan of that particular scent, but to each their own I believed.

  “Christi, I just could not believe it when I heard the terrible news.”

  She moved across the room and began to pour herself a cup of tea, all the while continuing to tell me how she’s been in an area of Italy and that she couldn’t get good cell coverage.

  I looked to Nora who was standing in the doorway, arms crossed against her chest and eyes rolling. “Yes, well, as you can clearly see, our Christi is doing just fine.”

  Did I mention how much I loved Nora?

  “Oh,” Eileen stopped stirring the tea in her cup. “Dare I ask, is the wedding postponed?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. The woman standing before me was not the Eileen I had been used to seeing. This one was acting as if we had been best friends for years.

  “No, we’re actually just finishing up the plans today.”

  The look on her face was of surprise, maybe a little shock.

  “Yes, and speaking of planning, I have to leave you two alone for a few minutes,” Nora’s voice sounded reluctant, as if she would rather have a root canal than to help Makenna who was still waiting downstairs.

  “Oh, Nora, don’t worry about us, I’ll be more than happy to keep Christi company,” Eileen smiled brightly.

  The look on Nora’s face was of apology, but it wasn’t her fault. I smiled and gave her a loving wink.

  “I‘ll make this as quick as possible,” Nora began, only to be quickly interrupted by Eileen.

  “Take your time, Christi and I will be right here when you’re finished.”

  Nora shot me a look that said she was sorry and she would hurry as she left the room.

  My tea was lukewarm and Eileen was quick to offer to warm it up for me. I closed my eyes and let my head rest against the back of the chaise. I still wasn’t a hundred percent and it frustrated me that I tired so easily. I had nearly fallen asleep when I heard Eileen stirring my fresh cup of tea before handing it to me with a smile.

  “So tell me, Christi, what are your colors?”

  I took a quick sip of my tea, the last thing I wanted to do was share my plans for my wedding with her.

  “I’m going with the Malloy family colors.”

  There, truthful answer, yet completely avoided. She wouldn’t question as to what that would mean. I knew she hadn’t done her homework enough to know such an important detail about her daughter-in-law’s family.

  “That’s very admirable of you.” Eileen turned to gaze out the window as she continued to sip her tea. “You know, Christi, I was a lot like you when I was your age,” she rested her cup on her saucer as she continued to look into the garden. Lost in her thoughts, she began to smile just a hint.

  The tea was doing its usual job of relaxing me, perhaps a little too much.

  “I was once in love with a man who I thought the sun rose and set in.”

  My body was so placid at this point, I felt so warm and relaxed from my toes to my eyebrows.

  “How long have you and Sherman been together?” I asked. My words were becoming slurred and my arms suddenly felt heavy.

  Eileen quickly turned toward me again, a look of pure hatred crossing her face. “Who said I was talking about Sherman?” Her voice was sharp and laced with sarcasm. I tried to respond, but my voice wouldn't come. “How are you feeling now, Christi?” she smirked. She moved directly in front of me, kneeling to place her face even with mine. “I’ve watched you Christi.” She ran her index finger along my new bracelet, “I heard Sophia took your original, such as stupid girl that one.” I couldn’t feel my legs at this point; Eileen must have drugged my tea. “Hardly her fault. Her mother was a whore, so she came by it naturally.”

  I looked at her questioningly.

  “Well, well, I take it by that look you know about the Porchelli family. So do I, and all too well.” She rose to her feet and then took a seat in the chair across from me. “Well, let me tell you a few things you may not know about them.” She crossed her legs and picked up her cup of tea, delicately bringing it up to her lips. Her memories played across her face, making her look deceptively pleasant and happy.

  “It was the summer of my eighteenth birthday and my parents took me to Italy to celebrate. My sister and I had been shopping and stopped by this little café to have lunch. She and I had been talking and we were ready to head back to our hotel when we asked for our check. The waiter told us that the gentlemen across the way had taken care of it.

  “Velenci Porchelli, as I later learned, was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He kissed mine and my sister’s hands and said all the right words at the right time. He made me feel special, needed, and for the first time...sexy.”

  Her free hand went loosely around her neck and she smiled at me almost shyly, before looking out the window again. “He was so gentle with me and after only three days, he told me he was in love with me. I returned the sentiment. He was going to be my forever.”

  Suddenly she looked my way again, the memory gone from her mind, her face vacant of emotion.

  “I returned home and wrote to him every day. He would send me gifts almost daily. He swore he would come to Ireland to visit me and ask my father for permission to court me properly. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. I was so excited and I couldn’t wait to tell him.”

  The look on her face changed again as she continued to sip her tea, her eyes never meeting mine. “That’s when he told me he was already married.”

  She slowly set her tea on the table as she, again, rose from her chair. “He told me we would have to wait to be together. That if his wife found out, she would take all of his money and he would have nothing. I believed him and he paid my way and sent me to America.”

  I could just make out the sound of my cell phone vibrating on the table across the room. I prayed it was Patrick, knowing if I didn’t answer he would send one of his men or even come himself to check on me.

  “I was pregnant, alone, and needed help in a strange country. I only brokenly spoke the language and I had no support here. I was in the states less than twenty-four hours when I met Sherman Montgomery. He was a nice enough man, young and easy to fool, and so eager to please. I knew what I had to do. So I seduced him and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker.”

  My phone began to vibrate again. Dear God, please let it be Patrick.

  “He came back a few days later and professed his love for me and we married immediately. When the appropriate amount of time had elapsed, I told him we were pregnant. He was thrilled, and then went and spoke with his family. Turns out he’d been on the fence as to whether or not he wanted to run his family’s business. I had gone from one crime family to another, it was perfect.”

  The house phone began to ring. It continued several more times and I began to worry about Nora, why wasn’t she picking it up?

  “Velenci kept telling me he loved me and that soon we would be together.” The house phone began to ring again. “I named the baby Mia after his Mother. Sherman never questioned me. Never once did he question anything I ever did, the fool. We only ended up pregnant with Caleb after a night of heavy drinking on my part, out of loneliness and missing Velenci. Sherman always thought me a bit frigid, but he wasn’t who I wanted touching me. He was always so...ignorant.”

  Her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

  “Caleb was a year old when Velenci’s wife paid me a visit. She told me she knew all about me and my daughter. It was then I found out that I was one of many women Velenci had made promises of love to. His wife informed me that she had divorced Velenci and was with a man who treated her with dignity and respect.”

  She turned now to fac
e me. “She was smart like you, Christi. She made the man pursue her, prove himself worthy of her. He’s a butcher in New Jersey. She has a huge house and she wants for nothing. You have the most powerful man in this city at your beck and call.”

  She slowly began to walk toward the door, stopping once she reached the table where her purse sat. “I did everything for that man and he treated me like nothing, he tossed me aside. After I heard that he was no longer married, I went to him, with our daughter. I just knew he would take me as his wife, but instead he told me he wanted nothing more than for me to just be one of his goomahs.”

  She then turned back toward me and I could see the shiny gun she had in her hand.

  “It was then I began to plan.” Her hand caressed the gun like a mother caressed a baby’s face. “I began to take money from Sherman’s accounts and sending it to bank accounts I set up under Velenci’s name so if they were ever discovered, he would be blamed. Of course, I had a part to play, too. Who would believe shallow, greedy, stupid, redneck-marrying Eileen capable of detailed planning and years of patience, being belittled and ridiculed as a social spectacle? No one, and that’s the beauty of all this.”

  “My Mia has been denied all these years, but she’s also been patient. She knows her part in all of this as well. My precious girl is brilliant, just like her Mother. She’s going to run the Porchelli family now. It was always my plan to get Sophia and Anthony out of the way. Their stupidity just made it easier.

  “It was Mia’s idea to have Velenci attend the wedding you know. She told Caleb that she and Sophia were old friends, practically like family. Again, Sherman never questioned anything. Nice job, by the way. It was a beautiful wedding, and once I make sure my son marries properly, I’ll deliver the baby quilt to its rightful mother to use with my grandchildren.”

  My phone began to vibrate again.

  “Yes, you were just too pretty at the wedding for that sick bastard Anthony to resist and I encouraged him to pursue you. I even told him you and Patrick were fighting and that you had mentioned you found his eyes erotic. I honestly think he believed you would find him desirable, the poor nutcase.”

  “I knew how Patrick would react with you gone. I knew he would do all the dirty work for me, including getting rid of those bastard children of Velenci’s before he took care of himself. Men are such basic, simple creatures. But Anthony took too long. I told him to move quicker, but he insisted he wanted to break you down first, make you want him completely. So, I took my opportunity and flew to Italy while he enjoyed his game, and this time, I called all the shots,” she said blowing on her pistol as if she had just fired it.

  I wasn't certain I wanted her to tell me what she meant by that.

  “So you see, in the end I’ll have everything I want. Mia is the head of the Porchelli family now, and once I do some damage control, Caleb will take over here as soon as a few loose ends are tied up. I’ll finally take my place as the Mother to two of the most powerful people in this country and Europe.”

  She was serious. This had all been her plan.

  “Nora made it far too easy today and Makenna was all too eager to help me. Well, it did take a little promise of a large sum of money on my part, but not to worry as I plan to kill her as well.”

  I could feel my breathing becoming erratic as she stepped closer to me. God, please let Patrick get here quick.

  “The only thing I haven’t decided yet is, do I kill you first or do I let you watch everyone else die.”

  I could feel the tears rolling down my face, yet I was powerless to do anything about it.

  “Only one thing wrong with your little plan there, Eileen.” Nora stood in the doorway once again. Her hair was a mess and her shirt was twisted. Eileen’s face was one of shock and I wanted to scream for Nora to run, but again nothing would come out. “Your partner in crime downstairs can’t throw a right hook to save her ass.”

  I had always known Nora to be a graceful woman, she moved with a particular air about her. Not this time, though. She was a mother bear protecting her cub.

  Eileen didn’t know how to react as Nora tackled her to the floor, smashing the lamp that had sat on the table that was now on its side. The motion caused the door to slam shut. The bodies of the two women had blurred into one as they fought for the gun in Eileen’s clenched hand.

  “Christi!” The sound of Patrick’s voice echoed from downstairs as Eileen and Nora continued to thrash around on the floor. I could hear the thunderous sound of feet, hitting the wooden steps and I questioned if all of Patrick’s men were on their way up the stairs.

  The sound of a gunshot drowned out the sounds coming from the stairs and the thrashing of the women abruptly stopped.

  Seconds later, Patrick and Shamus burst through the door, splinters flying as the frame gave way.

  Eileen and Nora lay motionless, Nora currently pinned under Eileen. I couldn’t control the tears that ran down my face. This family wouldn’t survive without Nora.

  I held my breath as Patrick crossed the room towards the two women, his gun pointed at the back of Eileen’s head. I watched as Nora’s hands began to move, struggling to get Eileen off of her.

  Patrick moved quickly as he rolled Eileen’s body to the side. Nora lay on the floor, her shirt stained with bright red blood, her breathing heavy and her eyes closed. All eyes were on Nora as she blinked and slowly sat up, Patrick was quick to help her as he began to check her over. Eileen’s lifeless eyes were still open as she stared blankly at the ceiling.

  Nora’s nose wrinkled as she looked at the dead woman’s body beside her, “You’d think someone would have told that awful woman that perfume has an expiration date.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Once the dust settled, Patrick took Thomas out into the hallway. Moments later, an ambulance arrived to take me back the hospital. My biggest fear was that the drug she had given me would have an adverse effect. Tonto came in while Patrick and Thomas were talking, and took my teacup in hand and sniffed it.

  “Troll killer,” he spoke with assurance.

  “Not to worry, Ms. O’Rourke, I’ve used that drug a number of times and although it seems potent, it wears off quickly.”

  Patrick and Thomas entered the room again; Patrick was at my side before I could even blink.

  “I saw the tapes, Love.”

  Tapes?

  Thomas was quick to answer my questioning look. “Nora wants this to be a nursery, she had audio and video placed in the room for when the grandchildren are over.”

  If I could have laughed, I would have. Nora was always a step ahead of everyone.

  My father was the next to enter the room, and as much as I loved and needed Patrick, I would always want my dad to comfort me. He looked to his right, the covered body of Eileen stopping him in his tracks.

  His eyes then turned back to me, “Christi, you responsible for this?” When I lay there motionless and didn’t answer, he rushed past Patrick to get to me.

  “Sir, she was drugged by Eileen with troll killer, it’s an herbal concoction. We use it sometimes to get answers we need. It wears off pretty quickly, but I can give her an antidote,” Tonto informed.

  Patrick took my hand in his, “Are we sure it’s troll killer?”

  Tonto nodded and then passes the teacup to Patrick. With a quick sniff, Patrick agreed. “Give her the antidote.”

  Tonto left the room and I heard a loud clatter of voices coming up the stairs moments later. Brandon entered first, followed by Muscles. Nora came in behind Muscles, her small frame nearly blocked by Muscles larger one. Her clothes were changed and her hair perfect. She crossed the room, shooing away Matthew and Thomas.

  “Let me see my lass.” Nora took my arm and began cleaning a spot on my skin in a circular motion, the smell of alcohol flooding my nose. “This will sting just a little, Lass.”

  Seconds later, I felt a slight sting which was followed by an overall warm feeling filling my body, much like the feeling I got from the o
riginal drug.

  “I still want her to be checked out,” Patrick’s sharp voice resonated.

  “Of course, Patrick,” Nora replied condescendingly.

  The medication must have been working, as I could finally move my fingers.

  “Someone want to tell me exactly what happened here?” My father’s concerned voice questioned from across the room.

  Nora took in a deep breath and then turned to face him. “It’s all my fault, Matthew.”

  Nora sounded so sad and broken. It wasn’t her fault, and as soon as I could talk, I was going to inform her of that very thing.

  “Makenna called early this morning in an absolute panic. She was recently given the Fitzpatrick christening. Mrs. Fitzpatrick wanted all of the programs in Gaelic. You know as well as I do that Makenna may be of Irish blood, but she never took the time to embrace it.”

  This wasn’t a surprise to me. Most of the Irish families that lived in the neighborhood embraced their heritage. You either got with the program or you were left behind.

  “Mrs. Fitzpatrick does so much for the women’s shelter over on Main that I couldn’t say no.” She lowered her head and began to rub her hands up and down her pant covered thighs.

  “Makenna walked in, thanking me profusely, not knowing I wasn’t doing this for her benefit,” her head shaking as she spoke. “I told her to have a seat in the sunroom and that I would make us a pot of tea.” Nora rose from her chair and began looking out the window into the garden, just as Eileen had done not long ago.

  “Had she stayed in the sunroom, her plan might have worked.” I was finally able to move my head, so I tried to clear my throat, but it was still silent.

  “She came into the kitchen, the look of confidence on her overly tanned face,” Nora sneered. “She raised the knife she’d smuggled in, like I had reason to be afraid of a knife,” Nora let out a huff; clearly she wasn’t afraid of the blade of a knife.

  “You’re very brave, Nora,” my father spoke.

  Nora turned to face us once again, “Bravery has nothing to do with it.”