by Jane Keene
Ryan and Maisey looked confused.
“What do you mean Aaron, how could he have known he would die?”
“Just read the letter, Ryan. It explains everything,” Aaron handed him the letter. He took the letter with slightly trembling fingers; he cleared his throat and began to read out loud:
“My Dear Children (Aaron, Ryan and Maisey)
If you are reading this letter, than you know where I am. Please don’t be sad this was my destiny.
It is difficult to explain but here goes. Ryan, I do not want you to blame yourself for what happens to me, it is going to happen anyway. What I mean is that I am sick, and there is nothing left that anyone can do medically. The doctors have given me weeks, so instead of trying to fill a lifetime of experiences into the next few weeks, I have decided to give the people I love a lifetime of love, and the ability to have new experiences without worry or looking over their shoulders. I am doing this so we all can be set free, free to be who we truly are.
I contacted Jack and convinced him to come to the Café’. If all you told me about him was true, he would never miss an opportunity to take revenge for himself. Earlier today, I intercepted a call from your solicitor warning you that Jack had been released. I made contact with Shane and eventually he agreed to pass on the message to Jack. If all goes as planned I intend for him to kill me instead of you. I know that he wants to get back at you, his ultimate would be to kill you, but killing someone close to you might be even better for him, but worse for you. Once he has his revenge, he will finally leave you and your loved ones alone.
Ryan, I owe you so much, you rescued me at a time when I thought I was drowning, you gave me a purpose again, restored my pride and faith in humankind. When you bought the Café and offered the ownership to me I thought it was too good to be true. And, all you wanted in return was employment. I know you didn’t need the money, you never asked for anything more. Over the years our friendship grew, and I knew that the Lord had given me another son. Ryan, do not feel guilty about any of this. I would like you to go out and live your life, be the man you want to be, involve yourself in other people’s lives (I think you know who I am talking about). Now is the time to live and most importantly love.” Ryan’s voice quivered. He handed the letter to Maisey and wiped away a tear. Maisey read further.
“My dearest Maisey, you are like the daughter I never had. You have shown me what hard work, loyalty and dedication look like. I admire the way you have stood by your son, and how no matter what, you always put him first. I failed miserably as a father to Aaron. Watching you with Billy made me want to be a better father. What I want for you is for you to succeed and make yours and Billy’s life more comfortable, so I have made provisions that you will become part owner of the Café and co-run it with Aaron.” Maisey, could not believe that Mickey would do that, she could not compute what this all meant, all she knew was Aaron was glaring at her and she felt awkward, but she carried on reading.
“I know you and Aaron got off to a rocky start, but I truly believe you two will sort out your differences and make it work.” Aaron shook his head in disbelief, but did not say anything further to interrupt, so Maisey went back to reading the letter again.
“Aaron, I just want to you to know how much I love you, when your Mother died, half of my heart died with her. Instead of focusing on the other half (you), I dwelled too deep on the emptiness that was left behind therefore shutting you out. We had not spoken for so many years, and all of that is my fault. I hardened your heart and now you find it difficult to trust. Please do not be angry with Maisey, she did not ask for this. I ask you to look after each other, and take care of the people who rely on the Café.
Well I better sign off, there is still much to do before tonight.
Love you all with all my heart
Mickey (Dad)”
By this stage Maisey had tears streaming down her face, even Aaron could not fight his emotions.
Ryan got up and put his arm around Maisey, “So that explains all his little trips to “Cork” lately. He wasn’t going away, he was going for treatment.” stated Maisey.
Ryan nodded and added, “I was wondering why he had suddenly stopped his nightly whiskey with me, and I assumed he wanted to cut down, seen as though he had used alcohol in the past, but clearly he couldn’t have it because of his treatment.”
All three of them sat in silence, remembering the man who was Mickey.
Chapter 29
Victoria felt like a fool, she hardly knew Ryan really, why had she expected anything different. She refused to play the victim, she needed to sort her own life out, and it all started with finding Dermott and making him pay for what he did to her. There was a knock on her door, she looked down she was still sitting on the steps naked. She saw a long coat on the coat stand and quickly pulled it over her body and did up the belt.
She took a quick look in the hall mirror, her hair was a mess and she looked like some sort of flasher but it would have to do for now. The knocking grew louder.
“Alright hold on!” she shouted impatiently. She opened the door, and Liz lunged forward and hugged her.
“Easy there now, what’s all this about?” asked Victoria, who was taken by surprise? “For crying out loud! Victoria, two days in row I have had to come here and been so terrified to see what state you were in.” Liz punched her playfully on the arm.
Liz looked her up and down “And what do you look like? Why are you wearing that ridiculous coat in the middle of summer?” Victoria hugged her coat closer to her body, her face aflame of shame.
“Never mind that now, why are you here?”
“What do you mean? I went down to that Café today to see crime scene tape all over the bloody place. I ran into Ryan and he told me you had a been through a bad experience, you were fine, but you might still be at home”.
“You saw Ryan?”
“Yes, he was at the café, I saw him with one of the waitresses who works there.”
Victoria felt a rage inside her, “that bloody bastard, not two minutes out of my bed he is in with someone else.”
Liz stared at her, “Oh my giddy aunt! Victoria, did you and Ryan do the nasty last night?” Liz was dancing around her like an excited Yorkshire terrier on acid.
“Calm down, please can I get changed, you put some coffee on and I will tell you everything.”
When Victoria came down ten minutes later more appropriately dressed in casual beige cargo trousers and a blue v neck short-sleeved loose blouse, Liz had made coffee and was sitting at the kitchen counter. The coffee smelt heavenly, she grabbed her cup and sat down next to Liz. Liz looked like she was about to explode with excitement.
“Come on spill it, what have you been up to?”
“Do you want the long version or the short version?” teased Victoria.
“I want the version that tells me how you and Ryan ended spending the night together. Oh, and the version that tells me that you were held against your will by a bunch of inner city gangsters.”
“You are a very demanding friend, do you know that? You basically summed up the short version anyway. It was Dermott! He somehow was involved in this gang stuff, and when he put two and two together that Ryan knew me, he decided that he would solve two problems with one solution. To get me out of the way and get Ryan to do whatever they had planned for him. But that’s what I have to sort out, I have an appointment at the Garda station”.
Victoria looked at Liz, “Why don’t you look surprised? I thought you would be shocked that Dermott would be involved in kidnapping?”
“That’s what I have come to tell you, I heard from Mr Stevenson”.
“What did you hear from Mr Stevenson? I didn’t realise we were still in the middle of the week. Since I have been off work I have lost days, sorry Liz! Carry on”.
“As I was saying, Mr Stevenson called me into his office and he told me Dermott had been arrested. Your name has been cleared. You can come back to work! That’s why I was looking fo
r you this morning, I was going to give out to you for not answering your phone, the office has been calling all morning”.
She had her job back, she had nothing to worry about and she was on track again, just like before. But why did she feel like it was such a hollow victory.
“Well, aren’t you excited, this is what we wanted, you back at work”.
“Yes, yes, of course! I guess it’s all so much to take in, so much has happened, it’s like a dream.” Victoria hugged Liz. She thought the news of getting her job back would solve everything, but she knew she was kidding herself.
Ryan had now ruined everything.
“By the way you still have not told me about Mr Sex-On-Legs. So, are you two an item now?” Victoria gave Liz a sharp stare and replied in her coldest voice, “No my dear friend, Ryan and I are certainly not an item, nor will we ever be!”
Chapter 30
After Ryan had heard what was in Mickey’s letter, he knew he had to get Victoria back. He had behaved appallingly and he would be surprised if she ever gave him another chance. After the shooting, the only person he wanted to be near was Victoria.
It gutted him to think that she believed he had used her. He had to hold back the urge to run over to her house right now and convince her of his feelings for her, but the timing was all wrong. He had so much to sort out, and his family was due back from the country house any second now. He needed to reassure and spend some time with them. His actions so many years ago had such a massive impact on all their lives, it was not going to be resolved in one day. He had also asked Aaron if he could be involved in Mickey’s funeral arrangements, unfortunately, his love life would have to wait. The Gardaí still had to release Mickey’s body for burial, it would be not be long until everything would be finalised.
***
Four days had passed since the shooting, the church was full of people coming to pay their respects, Mickey was well-known and liked in the community. Aaron stood at the entrance of the church, his head slightly bent forward; people came past him and offered their condolences.
He cut a fine figure in his dark suit, tall with well-built shoulders. Maisey watched him from a distance, she longed to offer him some support, but she knew he would reject all help from her. The way she was feeling at the moment she wouldn’t be able to handle Aaron’s harsh words.
Damn!
He was such a frustrating man, how on earth did Mickey think she could run a business alongside someone who despised her so much? Her thoughts were interrupted by Breda poking her in the side, “Do you know I never noticed this before, but Aaron is one good looking man, seems like work is going to be fun after all,” she turned and winked at Maisey. “Breda! This is hardly the place or time for any of that kind of talk!”
Maisey didn’t know why she felt so angry, besides Breda’s usual inappropriateness; it might have been the fact that another woman was thinking the same thoughts as she was. She turned around as the funeral procession was about to start, she did not know how she was going to find the strength to get through this day. But she definitely could not rely on Breda, whose grief had apparently been quickly replaced with another feeling all together.
Ryan delivered a moving eulogy; Maisey could not believe how strong he was for standing up and paying such an emotional tribute to the kindest and most loving person.
Ryan looked at her and smiled, Maisey had been a good friend during this time, they had always had such a strong friendship and it was such a relief to have that now.
He had noticed Victoria who was sitting in the back row with her friend Liz. He felt his heart pounding, she was so close.
After the service, everybody had been invited to the Café; Aaron had argued that it was in bad taste for everybody to gather in the place where Mickey had died. But Maisey and Ryan had argued that Mickey loved the Café, and it was the only place for it. In the end, Aaron reluctantly agreed, after all Ryan and Maisey seemed to have known his father better than he did.
Chapter 31
After endless badgering from Liz; Victoria decided to go the Café after the funeral. She didn’t know why she was there; she didn’t want to see Ryan, but knew it was inevitable that she would run into him, her head spun at the thought. She spotted him across the room, he was standing next to that waitress, and she had noticed the looks they exchanged when Ryan had delivered the eulogy.
She felt a tug of jealousy deep in the pit of her stomach. “Liz this was a bad idea, I don’t know why we came, we didn’t know Mickey very well, and I just need to get out of here.” Victoria made her way towards the exit, but there were so many people crammed inside she found it difficult to move.
Ryan knew she was there, he had been watching her. He could see that she was about to leave so he followed her. Victoria finally made it to the door and opened it, the breeze outside was cool and refreshing. She felt a hand on her shoulder, which gave her a start. She turned around to see Ryan standing in front of her. Her mouth was dry and she found it difficult to speak.
“Hello Victoria, why are you leaving so soon?” She couldn’t help but look into his striking blue eyes; he was so irritatingly good looking.
“I came to pay my respects, I have done that and now I am leaving,” replied Victoria curtly. She turned to leave, Ryan pulled her back. This only made her angrier. She tried to shrug his hand off her arm.
“Get your hands off me; you have no right, no right at all to even touch me.”
“Victoria, please I know you are angry, but I can explain everything. Please give me a chance?” Victoria drew in a deep breath; she rested her hand on her hip. She looked extremely sophisticated in a peplum-styled charcoal grey blazer with matching knee-length pencil skirt.
“I don’t want to get into this now Ryan; it’s been a long an emotional day”.
“Fair enough, then meet me later, at Luigi’s down the road, we really need to talk.”
Victoria thought for a moment, “Very well then Luigi’s at 7, but only for a drink”.
“Ryan, Aaron needs you for a second, he is asking for the… Oh! I am sorry.” Maisey had come outside to find Ryan, but clearly she had walked in on something going on between Victoria and Ryan. Victoria glared at Ryan who was standing next to Maisey and she stormed off.
Chapter 32
It was 7:15pm, and Victoria still had not shown up. Ryan was waiting anxiously at the bar of Luigi’s. He decided to order a drink; he needed the extra courage it was supposed to bring. He had no idea why Victoria had suddenly turned and left in a huff. He had just got her to agree to meet him and then she flounced off before he could say anything more to her. He hoped she would get here soon, a lady in a red leather skirt was making eyes at him from the other end of the bar, she had even sent over a drink.
While Ryan was fighting off unwanted admirers, Victoria was still at home in mid debate with Liz.
“You cannot seriously stand him up, Vicky. I know he treated you badly, but he asked for a chance to explain himself.”
“Liz, you are not listening to me, one minute he is begging me to meet up with him, and then he is flaunting this other woman in my face”.
“I think you are being a bit melodramatic. Yes, we have both seen him with the blonde, but I honestly feel there is nothing going on between them. Don’t they work together?”
Victoria drained the last bit of red wine from her glass, maybe she was over dramatizing the situation. After Ryan’s betrayal, she was willing to believe that he would be having it off with someone else; it would definitely make it easier to hate him.
“You were obviously thinking of going, you got all dressed up.”
“I am not all dressed up!” shouted Victoria defensively. “I live by the saying that “If you look good you feel good.” She was wearing a short above-the-knee emerald green wrap dress, it showed Victoria’s sensuous curves off in all the right places. The sound of knocking at her front door distracted them from their debate.
“I will get the door, and you pour
some more wine,” said Victoria on her way to answer the door. It was Ryan and he looked angry.
“For goodness sake woman, you are so difficult!” with that he marched in passed her. She was in shock, but it didn’t take long for her to recover, she chased after him. Hearing the commotion Liz came out of the kitchen.
“Liam just called me, we are going for dinner so I better get going.” she made her excuses, picked up her purse and left.
Victoria suddenly felt very vulnerable now that she was alone with Ryan. They were still standing in the hallway, Ryan was pacing around. Victoria pointed towards the sitting room and they both went in. He could not sit down, now was his only chance. He walked over to where she was sitting, he knelt down and took her hand and spoke softly.
“It was never my intention to hurt you. Victoria, I think I’m in love with you.”
Victoria was taken by surprise; she didn’t know how to respond, so she let Ryan carry on. He got up and started walking around the room.
“After Mickey was shot, I wasn’t thinking straight. That night I needed to be with you, I needed to be close to you, but when we woke the next day the reality of what had happened hit me. I felt ashamed.”
He ran his hand through his hair, “I felt ashamed and guilty that I caused the death of my best friend, and you had been held hostage because of me. It just seemed that whoever was close to me was getting hurt. I panicked and I thought if I left you, you would be safe. But something happened to make me realise I can’t run away from what we have”.
Victoria absorbed Ryan’s words; she still couldn’t believe he had said that he loved her. She turned to where he was standing, “So what happened to make you change your mind?”
“I thought Mickey’s shooting was my fault, but it turns out he had planned the whole thing, he was terminally ill, and he conspired to save my future by sacrificing his own life.”
Victoria felt confused, “But how did you find out Mickey’s intentions? Ryan sat down opposite Victoria on a large puffy white sofa.
