Genevieve noted that Francis and Eoin had been out with the yearling a long time.
“It’s difficult to get two good horsemen away from the stables, Ned explained.
“What a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen,” O’Toole said as he closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of roasting turkey. Looking at her watch, Genevieve remarked that Francis, Ned and young Eoin should lie down before the rest of the family arrived, as they had been up the greater part of the night.
“Say no more, Genevieve,” and rising, O’Toole went to the door and saw that they were on their way in. When they entered, O’Toole stated Genevieve’s request, saying, “It’s off to bed with you for a few hours until the rest of the family arrive.”
“I wish to rest also,” and rising, O’Toole headed for the bedroom.
About half past eleven that morning, a car pulled up in front of the house, and young Eoin running and forgetting his manners, called to his uncle Rory, excitedly telling him about the new yearling while completely ignoring his remaining relatives. Kieran and his wife smiled at Eoin’s enthusiasm, and as they walked to the house, passed Francis, who wished them a Merry Christmas. Francis then addressed Eoin, “Aren’t you going to invite your cousins to see the horse?”
“We’re not allowed to go to the barn,” Nora told him, “Mommy said we’d get our clothes dirty if we went there.”
“Well, let’s see this horse, young man, and we’ll see you all back at the house,” Rory replied, as he, Gwen, and Francis went with Eoin to the stable.
Deirdre was not following her sister to the house, but was trailing behind the group toward the stable.
“Deirdre, you’re forbidden to go there. You’ll be in a lot of trouble if you do.”
Deirdre ignored her sister’s warning and quickened her pace until she was part of the advancing group.
When they got to the stable, Eoin, having heard Nora’s words to her sister, offered to bring the foal out of the barn so that Deirdre might see it and rub her hand along its warm body without disobeying her mother. But Deirdre walked into the stable and over to where the horse stood.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, as though not to frighten the horse, and timidly placed her hand on its back.
“He is indeed,” Gwen agreed.
After much admiration of this new member of the stable, young Eoin asked Deirdre if she would like to see the horse he rode.
“Yes, yes,” she answered, and so he brought her over to see it.
“Would you like to sit on her?”
“Yes,” the girl answered in contained delight.
“Come over to the side, and I’ll help you mount,” Francis said. The girl sat on the horse, and uttered with sheer wonder, “Oh, Eoin, you’re so lucky to have a horse.”
“I could walk her around with you on her, if you wish.” All Deirdre could do was smile at the prospect, whereupon, Eoin called to the saddleless horse to follow as he walked out of the stable into the cold sunlit morning.
“I feel like the Queen of Sheba,” Deirdre laughed, as she sat upright on the chestnut-color pony as Eoin walked it along a trail out of sight of the house.
As the family sat around the dinner table at the end of the meal, Genevieve said, “I’m so glad the whole family is gathered here together this Christmas, and I’m so very grateful to Mary and Ned for making this all possible.” She paused a moment and remained standing. “While we’re all together, Eoin and I wish to make an announcement,” she said, looking across at the elder Eoin, and added, “Will you take it from here, Eoin?”
“Gladly, my dear. Now that Francis is safely home, it’s time I moved out of Kate’s and Francis’ home, and so Genevieve and I have decided to buy a house that is about a twenty-minute walk from their home.”
“Mother,” Kieran gasped with alarm.
“Perhaps we should have mentioned that we plan to marry,” Genevieve smiled. “We plan a very small wedding with just the immediate family.”
“What about your house in Gory?”
“That house, Kieran, I plan to sell.”
“Sell the family home!!”
“That house lost its family quite awhile back. You’re all married with homes of your own, and I certainly don’t want to hold onto that big house.”
“Breda, the girls, and I have always joined you for dinner there on Sundays. It was tradition. It is our childhood home!”
“It was in Dublin, Kieran, that we grew up. We were nine and eleven years old when we moved to Wexford. It was Kate who spent her childhood in that house.”
“And now the move is back to Dublin to accommodate Kate!”
“Oh, grow up, big brother,” Rory responded.
Kieran stood up, threw his napkin down and walked out of the house.
Genevieve felt grieved by this outcome to her and Eoin’s plans. Eoin put his arm around her and drew her close to him then spoke. “I thank you, Kate, for your kindness to me in making me feel at home in your home. You and Francis may someday have another child or two and will need the room I am presently using. Young Eoin gave up his room whenever his grandmother came to visit, and we both are grateful to him for that. Now it’s time we moved on.”
Breda sat silently and listened to all that was said. Kieran returned to the room, but not to the table.
“You didn’t even ask me if I would like to buy the house,” he addressed his mother. “All these years I took care of your finances, and you did not discuss this with me.”
Genevieve did not reply. The room was awash in silence until Kieran again spoke.
“It was our inheritance,” he said in a low, angry voice.
On hearing this unfamiliar word again, Eoin announced, “I’ve got an inheritance.”
All looked towards the boy except Eoin O’Toole who tried to make eye connect with Kate, but she, too, was looking at the boy.
“You have?” Rory asked.
“Yes. But I cannot have it until I’ve grown up.”
That was Kate’s and my secret, Eoin O’Toole thought.
“Do tell us about it,” said Gwen, intrigued by the child’s announcement.
“It’s from Grandma, and it belonged to Grandpa Eoin, who is dead.”
“Oh, how exciting. What is it?”
“It’s his pocket watch, and it plays music,” he told Gwen.
“You gave him father’s watch? I’m the eldest. That should have been mine.”
The boy was confused. His uncle has just stated that his inheritance, which his mother was keeping for him, was not his but his uncle’s.
Francis, seeing his son’s confusion, said, “Come Eoin, and let’s walk off some of this fine meal we’ve had.”
The boy gladly arose from the table and followed Francis. Ned joined them. Deirdre stood up and was about to follow when her father asked where she was going. When she said she, too, was going outside, Kieran raising his voice, told her to sit down.
Kate gathered the dishes, brought them to the sink, removed any remaining food from the dishes, and put them in the sink while Mary, seeing Kate’s action, picked the pot of boiling water off the stove and poured it into the sink.
“We’ll need some cold water to add to this boiling water,” she addressed Rory, while holding out a large jug. He immediately took the jug and went out to the rain barrel to fill it.
“You can help wipe the dishes, if you wish,” Kate said looking at Deirdre. The girl was glad to be excused from the table. Kate handed her a dishcloth while she removed the remaining food from the table and washed the wooden table down, something she would not have normally done while people still sat at the table.
“I think it is time we went home,” Kieran said to his wife, and she and Nora stood up.
Deirdre stopped drying the dishes and stood, not knowing what to do.
“You had better get your gifts and your coat, and go, too. Thank you for helping with the dishes,” Kate smiled at her niece and bent over and kissed her.
&nb
sp; Having collected all their belongings, Kieran and his family got into their car and left. Deirdre waved to Eoin, and he to her, as the car pulled out into the road.
On a cold, blustery, yet sunny Saturday morning in March, Eoin and Genevieve exchanged vows. Kieran and his family did not return for his mother’s wedding, sending their regrets due to their daughter Deirdre’s illness. Eoin’s brother, accompanied by his wife and their son and daughter-in-law, attended the wedding to Eoin’s delight. Rory and his wife, Ned and Mary, young Eoin, and Kate and Francis were also there. A breakfast was served in Francis and Kate’s home after a nuptial mass.
Eoin hugged his brother at the luncheon and said, “So glad, Dermot, that you have come to the prodigal son’s wedding.”
“The prodigal son has gotten himself a grand family, yes, a grand family indeed. And the young boy is your namesake?”
“Well, his grandfather, Genevieve’s deceased husband, Eoin, is the person for whom the boy was named. He’s a fine young man, and I’m glad to claim him as a grandson.”
“How did you manage to talk that lovely lady into marrying you?”
“I proposed with the possibility of being turned down, and instead my proposal was accepted.”
Both men laughed and were soon joined by the others. After the wedding breakfast at the Egan’s, Genevieve and Eoin invited the guests over for a drink and to show them their new home. Since most of the work they were having done on the house was almost completed, they decided to spend their marriage night there before leaving the following morning for Majorca where they would spend a week.
Rory and Gwen, Francis and Kate, and Eoin went to the airport to see the newlyweds off, as did Dermot, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law on this, the beginning of a new life for them.
CHAPTER 16
About six months after the O’Tooles returned from Majorca, Francis and Kate raised the doorknocker on the older couple’s door shortly after nine o’clock on a rainy April evening. Kate and Francis smiled at each other as they waited in happy anticipation. Francis bent over and kissed Kate just as Eoin opened the door.
“Come in, the pair of you,” O’Toole said with a grin.
“We realize it’s rather late for a visit, but we have some news we want to share with both of you,” Francis said, as he followed Kate into the house.
“By the look on your faces, I’d say it is good news you have to impart. Here, Kate, let me have your wet umbrella, and I’ll put it into the kitchen sink.”
Genevieve, hearing their voices, came into hall and hugged each of them.
“Let’s not stand here in the hall. Come in and sit down,” Genevieve urged.
“I hope you two weren’t getting ready for bed,” Kate stated.
“Oh no, love, this is a lovely surprise.” Then with concern in her voice, and noting the lateness of the hour, asked, “Is everything all right?”
“Better than all right,” Francis smiled.
“Eoin was about to make some cocoa when we heard the knock on the door. Would you like some?”
“Don’t go palavering on, woman,” Eoin advised in a kindly manner, as he sat down beside her. “The children are bursting to tell us some news.” Genevieve put her hand on his, and he covered it affectionately with his other hand. Two faces with great expectations looked at the younger couple. Francis looked at Kate and said, “You, Kate, love, tell them.”
“We’ve just come from a visit to the doctor’s office. We expecting.”
Genevieve was so overcome by this joyful news that tears broke above the smile on her face. Going towards them, she hugged her daughter, then Francis. Eoin followed suit.
“Well, no cocoa tonight. A toast for this grand occasion,” Eoin said going to the liquor cabinet. “What will it be for you Genevieve?”
“A little brandy, please.”
“And for you Kate?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Brandy all around,” Eoin said as he began to pour.
“This is a wonderful surprise,” Genevieve said, brimming with joy.
“Yes, indeed, the very best,” Eoin agreed.
After the expectant parents were toasted, Kate spoke.
“The doctor told us I was carrying twins. We told him he must be mistaken for there weren’t any twins on Francis’ side of the family, nor mine.”
“That is not so,” Genevieve said in a quiet voice. “I was a twin.”
“But Mother, I thought you were an only child! Who was this twin who was never spoken of and whom Rory, Kieran, nor I ever saw in the family photograph album?”
“Her name was Katherine. We shared the same crib, my mother told me. She said we babbled and laughed constantly with each, happy just being in each other’s company. We were inseparable, my mother and mother’s sister had said. When my mother came to our room in the morning to get us washed and dressed, she could hear us babble before she opened the door to the bedroom. She had to lift both of us out of the crib together, since taking one of us out of sight of the other, even if only for a short time, left the other twin fretful.
“Mother recalled telling my father one night that she had separated us so that we were now at opposite ends of the crib, because she thought it wasn’t healthy for us to sleep tangled together. As my father retired for the night a little later in the evening, he checked in on us. Getting into bed he told my mother we were sleeping like Siamese twins, and he could not tell which arms or legs belonged to Katherine or me.”
“What happened to Katherine?”
“She got sick and died soon after.” Genevieve paused a moment before continuing. “My parents said I was inconsolable. I stopped babbling and laughing and didn’t want to eat. They didn’t know what to do for me, and I wouldn’t respond to anyone. They got a life-sized baby doll and put it in my crib to comfort me, but I just stared at it. When they brought it closer to me, I reached out and touched the doll like Katherine and I touched. I immediately screamed in horror and fear. Apparently, I had thought it was another baby, and by touching it, felt its cold china hand.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about your sister?” Kate gently asked.
“We were only ten months old when it happened. All I have of her is what my mother told me. A loss, a forgotten consciousness stored away somewhere. I wanted to call you Katherine. Your father, understandably, did not want his beautiful daughter named after a dead child. Your name is Katherine on your birth certificate, but he insisted you were to be called Kate.” Genevieve grew quiet. Kate embraced her mother.
After a moment, Eoin asked, “May I refresh your drink, love?” She shook her head.
“No, love, I’m fine. It’s painful even after so many years but also good to be able to speak of this incident long-buried within me.” Turning to Kate, Genevieve continued.
“After Katherine was removed from the crib, I apparently went mute, for there was no one to babble with. I lost weight. My parents became alarmed, fearing they might lose their remaining child. They agreed to have me hospitalized. I remained at the hospital for a fortnight. During that time, no matter when my parents came to visit me, I was always in one of the nurse’s arms. The nurses sang to me, and they played with me. My mother and father were so happy I was receiving such good care. I was babbling again, not to the degree I had done with my twin, but my smile and any kind of baby noise coming from me was a delight to them. Even if I awoke during the night, one of the nurses picked me up. Soon, I was eating and gaining weight, and preparations were being made for me to leave the hospital.
“When the day arrived for my discharge from the hospital, all the nurses hugged and kissed me goodbye, then handed me to my mother. When she was leaving with me in her arms, I screamed and held out my arms toward the nurses. Mother was distraught by this rejection. When I wouldn’t stop crying, she handed me to my father, but I continued to cry pitifully. Father ignored the stares and strange looks he was getting from people who came into or left the hospital. Afterwards, he said he felt
like he was kidnapping a child, and was expecting the police to arrive before we left the hospital grounds.”
“The nurses had spoiled my little girl,” Mother had said.
Genevieve sat quietly for a few moments, as though still living in a time past. Eoin sat down beside her and held her hand. Moments later, Genevieve smiled up at him and gave him the courage to speak.
“Now that the past is being shared, I too, have something I need to reveal concerning Francis and myself.”
“Perhaps we should have some tea before you do so,” Francis offered.
“Tea can wait, son.”
It was then, as the four of them sat together, that Eoin revealed to Francis the story of his birth as he had told Kate many years earlier while she nursed him back to health.
After the initial shock wore off, Francis wanted to know why Eoin had waited so long to tell him, since his parents were both long dead, and why he chose this day to reveal it.
“I should have told you a long time ago, yes. At first, I had to wait until you could understand the ways of love, so that our actions would not sully your mother in your eyes. I don’t know how you will see it, but I believed and still believe it was an act of pure love on our part. I gave the woman I loved what she wanted most, a child, and she in turn presented her young husband with what he most craved, a child.
“Then it was imperative that I step completely out of the picture. You had two excellent parents. If Aoife’s husband had mistreated you in any way, I would have come to your rescue, but the man you knew as your father was one of the best people I’ve ever known.
“Knowing when to impart this delicate information to you has been the bane of my life. I woefully regretted not making your origin known to you before you left the lane for England. You might have shared your plans to leave Ireland with me, if you had known and accepted me as your father. I could have made known to you at that time my strong belief that if Aoife’s husband had discovered who fathered you, he still would have accepted you wholeheartedly and continued to love both of you.
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