by Joannie Kay
"I don't have anyone to ask!" she retorted, but then clamped her mouth shut as he opened a door and gently pushed her inside ahead of him. They were in a large kitchen, and it was spic and span.
"Ma, Pop!" Michael called out in a loud voice.
"This is your home?" she asked in disbelief, looking at him in horror.
"I grew up here," he said with a grin.
"Michael, we weren't expecting you!" his father said as he walked into the kitchen. "Now, who is this pretty young lady?"
"Pop, this is Molly Henderson. Hey, Ma," he greeted his mother when she came into the kitchen, wearing her robe and slippers and obviously ready to go to bed. She gave him a hug and a kiss.
"Now, what is going on, honey? Have you eaten?" she asked.
"Yes, we've eaten, but Molly needs help, Ma. Earlier tonight I was forced to put her out of her apartment, but she has nowhere to go, and go money. She's taking care of her Grandma all by herself, and that doesn't leave her much to live on. Her roommate isn't worth the time of day, and she kicked Molly out. I was hoping you could let her stay here for a while?" he asked.
"Of course she can stay here. We have plenty of room," Michael's father answered right away, giving his wife a meaningful look. His mother smiled in silent communication.
"Yes, of course, Molly can stay with us. I have a room all made up. You poor dear," she said to Molly.
"Noooo! I didn't know that your son was planning to do this! I do not wish to put you out!"
"Ma, Molly has nowhere to go, and I can't very well take her to my place."
"I should say not, young man!" His Ma was indignant at the very idea, just as he knew she would be. "Now, everyone sit down at the table, and I'll make us some herbal tea, and we'll have a cookie, too, and we'll discuss everything. Molly, Michael has never asked us to do this before, so you must be very special."
"He barely knows me, Mrs. O'Keefe!" she protested, even as Michael pulled out a chair for her and indicated she should sit down. Molly forgot about her sore backside when she plopped on the seat, but she immediately let out an audible gasp and quickly jumped up again, her wounded eyes looking at Michael accusingly.
Michael wanted to laugh at the shock in the feisty redhead's eyes, but the equally shocked look in his Ma's eyes prevented that. His Pop was studiously ignoring the situation, but his eyes were twinkling.
"Michael Seamus O'Keefe!" his Ma scolded. "Let me get you a pillow, child," she said, heading for the living room, but his Pop reached out and caught her arm.
"Now, Mary, you know better. I've never allowed anyone a pillow to sit on at this table unless they were injured."
"Seamus Patrick O'Keefe, your son put a hand to this child, claiming he barely knows her!"
"Just as I did you the first time we met, Mary Kathleen O'Keefe." He winked at her and then said, "Your teakettle is ready to whistle, love." He turned his attention to Molly, "Sit down now, Miss Molly, so we can learn all about you... and you can learn about us and realize you are safe here. I'll not let anyone hurt you while you're under my roof. You'll be treated as one of our own."
"Now, Pa, don't go scaring Molly," Michael said teasingly. His father laughed. "Yes, I've raised eleven terrified children!" he chuckled.
Mary poured water over herbal tea bags and then she placed milk and sugar on the table, and she took a plastic container from the top of the refrigerator and placed it on the table. Finally, she fetched napkins and spoons. She sat down then and looked at her son. "Tell your Papa and me why you so callously threw this child out of her home when she had no place to go."
"Ma! I didn't know Molly had no place to go at the time." He explained the situation from his side, leaving out the fact Molly flipped him off and the chase through the park and the spanking when he caught up to her. He didn't want his parents to think badly of Molly Henderson.
"It sounds like your roommate was an unfortunate choice, young lady. How long did you know her before you decided to move in with her?" Seamus asked in the thoughtful way he had of pointing out mistakes.
"Not long, Mr. O'Keefe," she admitted. "Gloria, my old college roommate, was getting married, the lease was up, and I didn't have any other options. Natalie was a friend of a friend, seemed nice enough when we met, and I was sort of desperate. It has been three months of arguing and fighting over everything."
"You wouldn't have approved of Natalie, Pop," Michael said matter-of-factly. "She wouldn't be allowed back in this house after the first time."
"That is most unfortunate," Mary said softly. "Does that girl have family?"
"Yes, Ma, but she is spoiled and she lies to her father. She implied to me that Molly was three months behind in her rent, but she is only a few days late with this month's share... and Natalie agreed to the payment arrangements Molly made with her. I think she was pocketing the money her Dad was giving her and then lying about Molly not paying her at all."
"I didn't tell you that!" Molly looked at Michael in surprise.
"I read between the lines, Red."
"Oh!"
"Don't be so shocked; it's part of the job, and I have a lot of siblings who keep me on my toes with sorting out their lives." He grinned again. "Relax, Molly. You need help and I can't think of anyone more qualified than my folks to help you... provided you can handle the house rules."
"Tomorrow morning will be soon enough to discuss all of that," Mary said firmly. "Can't you see she is miserable, Michael?"
"Molly's had a hard time of it, and things need to start going her way, Ma. She needs to get a good night's sleep, and once I get done at the Station in the morning, I'd like to borrow a truck, Pop, and go and gather Molly's belongings. What she doesn't need here, we'll put in storage for now."
"I can't afford to pay storage, Michael!" Molly spoke up.
"Don't worry about it, Molly. If you don't have too much, I can make room in my spare bedroom."
"Why are you being so kind to me? I have been so nasty to you!" Molly burst into tears again, covering her face with her hands.
"Mama, this child is exhausted and needs to be in bed. I'll ask Rachel for a nightgown," Seamus got to his feet and headed for another part of the house.
"I'll show you upstairs, Molly. Things will look much better in the morning."
"Michael, I don't think this is a good idea," she whispered as his mother started clearing the table. "I want to leave... Now!"
"My folks will treat you well, so stop worrying, Molly."
"I am not concerned about that. It's just that I have no way of repaying them. I have nothing; it takes everything I have to care for Gram!"
"Have my folks asked you for anything, Molly?"
"No, but..."
"Molly, I don't know what kind of people you are used to hanging around, but not everyone has to be paid to offer a helping hand."
"I want to leave."
"You are going to go upstairs and sleep. In the morning I will take you to get your belongings. That chapter of your life is over, and you are not going to live on the streets while you try to support your Gramma. We are going to see about assistance for her."
"No! I won't do that!"
"Yes, you will. Like it or not, Miss Molly Henderson, you are not in this alone any longer." He looked at her and then said firmly, "You can either take yourself upstairs with my Ma and go to bed like a sensible young woman, or you can stand here and push my buttons and get another spanking first. Now which is it going to be?"
Chapter Three
"Michael Seamus O'Keefe, you are not putting another hand to this child! Now be off with you. Molly is so exhausted she doesn't know what she is saying right now. You need to go home and get some sleep yourself for that meeting you have in the morning, and you better let us know right away what it is all about, too!" she scolded and offered support in that unique way of mothers.
"I just don't want Molly to take it into her head to run, Ma," Michael explained.
"The child isn't going to run, dear," Mary said
firmly. "She is asleep on her feet, and in the morning, your father and I will make sure she knows how welcome she is to stay here indefinitely. Now, you stop worrying about this young lady. We will take very good care of her for you." She caressed his cheek, and then stood on tiptoe to give her son a kiss. "Go on with you now. I'm going to take Molly to her room."
"Goodnight, Ma. Thank you," he said. "Goodnight, Molly. I'll be here after my meeting with the Chief and we'll get your things from the apartment." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Molly was truly overwhelmed but she managed to whisper a 'goodnight' to the handsome man and watched him leave by way of the kitchen door.
"Molly, you are truly welcome here." Mary O'Keefe took her hand and said, "Michael wouldn't have brought you to us if he did not care for you. Please let me show you upstairs to your room, and tomorrow we will discuss matters with Seamus. Having too much pride is a sin, you know," she gently chided. "Things will look much better in the morning."
Molly was too tired to argue. She badly needed to be alone and cry herself to sleep. She allowed herself to be led upstairs in the large house and down a hallway to a bedroom where Seamus O'Keefe stood waiting for them.
"I borrowed this from our Rachel, and I believe it will fit you until we can retrieve your own things." He handed her a soft blue dorm shirt. "Mary will show you where the bathroom is, but if you need anything at all during the night, our room is right there," he pointed to the room across the hall. "Now, don't get any ideas about sneaking out of here tonight, Miss Molly. I have an ear for that. None of my eleven have sneaked past me yet!" he declared so proudly that Molly had to smile, liking the man.
Mary took her inside the lovely room, and showed her the door to the Jack and Jill bathroom. "Rachel's room is on the other side, but she won't be up until after ten tomorrow. We permit our children to sleep in on Saturdays." She opened a cupboard door and said, "Towels and washcloths are here, and this basket is full of toiletries. Help yourself to whatever you need, dear." They walked back into the bedroom and Mary asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"No... Thank you so much for being so kind to me. I hate imposing..."
"You are not imposing. We're happy to have you, Molly," Mary said warmly, and then gave Molly a hug. "You make yourself right at home. Breakfast on Saturday morning is self-serve. If you can't find something, just holler for me, and I'll give you a hand." She hugged her once more. "Go to bed and sleep, Molly. Things will look better in the morning, I promise."
Molly nodded, reassured that Mary O'Keefe meant every word she said. The O'Keefe's were a generous and good family and she knew instinctively that she was safe here. She quickly changed into the dorm shirt, which was just her size, and then brushed her teeth. She had a hairbrush in her handbag, and she brushed her hair before climbing into bed and turning off the lamp on the nightstand. She was asleep within two minutes.
When Molly woke in the morning it took her a couple of long seconds for her to recall the events of the night before and where she was. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment as she recalled the spanking Michael gave her before bringing her here and dumping her on his parents as if she were a stray puppy! Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe had made her feel welcome, but she simply couldn't stay here and sponge off of them. It wouldn't be right.
Molly was happy it was Saturday. The thought of going to work and facing her coworkers today was simply too much! Her life was in utter turmoil and she would have a terrible time focusing on her job right now. She got out of bed, and made it up right away. Molly was a neat person, and the fact that Natalie was a slob was a huge bone of contention between herself and Natalie.
Since Mary explained the share bathroom, Molly tapped lightly on the door to make sure the room was empty before she entered. She took a shower, and then dried her hair and applied her make-up sparingly. Once she was presentable, she went downstairs and headed for the kitchen. She badly needed a cup of coffee before she had to face Michael.
When she entered the kitchen a young girl was standing at the counter in front of a waffle maker. The microwave was cooking bacon, and thank God, there was a pot of coffee already made and mugs sitting on the counter with a sugar bowl and creamer and spoons. Just as she stepped forward to help herself to coffee the girl turned and saw her. She dropped her plate of waffles on the floor and screamed... loudly! The microwave beeped. Feet came running and the kitchen door banged open and Michael entered with his gun drawn!
Mary O'Keefe started giggling. "Welcome to the Crazy O'Keefe house, Molly, dear!"
"Why did you scream like that, Bridget?" Michael demanded, quickly holstering his gun. "You scared the hell out of me!"
"Language, Michael!" Mary promptly scolded.
"I thought she broke in!" Bridget said, bursting into tears.
"Now, there, there, darling," Mary said sympathetically, putting her arms around her daughter to comfort her. "I didn't hear you come downstairs or I would have told you we have Molly living with us for a while."
"I'm sorry I frightened you, Bridget," Molly apologized, feeling terrible.
"I frightened you, too!" Bridget declared. "I saw the look on your face. I'm so sorry."
"Hey, I was scared, too!" Michael grumbled.
"Good," Bridget told him, sticking out her tongue.
"Oh, you are asking for it big time, brat," Michael declared, but his eyes were twinkling and Molly realized he was teasing his little sister. "I ought to tickle you...!" He started for her and Bridget hid behind her mother. "Ma won't protect you!" Michael said knowingly.
"Have you eaten breakfast, son?" Mary interceded before Michael could grab Bridget.
"No, I haven't. I wanted some of your waffles, Ma," he replied with a grin.
"Well, sit down at the table. I'll make all of you some breakfast. Bridget, you can clean up your mess from the floor, please. Molly, you can pour juice for everyone, please. The juice glasses are in the cupboard above the dishwasher."
Molly was pleased to be included in 'helping'. It gave her a good excuse not to sit on her very sore bottom! She did as she was asked, and then asked if anyone besides her wanted coffee. Michael and Mary both said yes, so she did that task, too, before sitting down.
"Michael, please get me some plates..." Mary bossed, and Molly smiled as he jumped up and did his job, too. He also got out eating utensils for everyone. Bridget rescued her bacon from the microwave and then offered to make more when her mother gave her a look. Michael put her right to work and Bridget fixed an entire tray.
Once they were all eating Mary looked at Michael and said, "Are you going to keep us in suspense, darling, or share what your meeting this morning was all about...?"
"Well, I am no longer a Sergeant," he said so quietly and sadly that Molly was positive he'd lost his job. A glance at Mary and Bridget told her they felt the same. Michael waited another moment or two and said, "I am now Lieutenant O'Keefe!" He grinned and laughed at their astonished expressions. "I was promoted! I took the exam some time ago, but I sure didn't expect it to come to anything with all the budget cuts lately. I'll be working vice as a detective," he added.
"Oh, Michael!" Mary said proudly. "We'll call your father right away! He'll want to know." She started to get up, but Michael stopped her by raising his hand.
"Wait, Ma. I stopped by the construction site and borrowed Pop's truck, and he already knows. I had to stop him from calling you... I told him I wanted to tell you myself. He's happy for me," Michael reported, smiling.
"We will have a family dinner tomorrow to celebrate. Can you be here?" she asked hopefully.
"Tomorrow is fine, Ma. I don't work again until Tuesday. I've been putting in some wicked hours, and the Chief wanted me to relax a bit before I take on new responsibilities."
"I'm going to start calling everyone and inviting them... Molly, you'll get to meet the entire family tomorrow!" Mary was smiling happily.
"Well, first things first; Molly and I are going to stop by my place so I ca
n change out of my uniform, and then we're going to go and get her stuff. I'm not sure what other errands she needs to take care of... I'm sure she needs to get her mail forwarded here... So we might be gone for a while, Ma. Don't count on us being here for lunch."
"Call me around eleven and let me know positive. I'm making spaghetti..." She looked at him knowingly.
"We'll be here for lunch. One o'clock?" Michael asked with a huge grin.
"Always. Your father is prompt," she stated with affection.
"We'll be here, Ma. Do you want me to pick up some wine?" he offered.
"That would be nice. We can celebrate your promotion a bit today, too!"
"Sounds wonderful." Michael gave her a hug and a kiss, and then grabbed his unsuspecting sister and started tickling her. She squealed and tried to get away, but had no luck until Mary swatted her son. Michael chuckled and said, "You're lucky Ma stopped me, brat."
"She loves me more than you!" Bridget sassed, and then laughed at the pouty face he gave her.
Michael winked at his mother and whispered loudly, "It's okay, Ma. We'll let Bridget believe that, but we both know I'm your favorite!"
"Oh, I love all of my children!" Mary declared!
"Good, Ma!" He winked again, and then grabbed Molly's hand. "Let's go, Red." She barely had time to grab her purse, which had her key to the apartment tucked inside.
"I borrowed Pop's truck. He said he'd drive one of the company trucks home, but this is his personal vehicle."
"It's huge!" She looked at it in awe.
"Pop is a big man. He loves to be comfortable, too. He did without for a lot of years while he built the business, and now he can afford to spoil himself a bit. He's in construction." He opened the passenger side door for Molly, and then helped her climb inside. He saw her wince when she sat on the leather seat. "Spanking still hurts, huh?" he asked in genuine sympathy.
