by Cindy Kline
“Is she happy?”
Molly shrugged, “She appears to be, but I don’t see her or Dr. West very often. They’re friends of my parents, and the four of them get together every once in a while.” Molly unlatched her seatbelt and opened her door. “Let me talk to her first.” He opened up his door, and they walked side-by-side up the sidewalk to the porch. It was a grand house. Two large windows faced out toward the front, the door painted crimson red. Molly pushed the doorbell, and he held his breath. Thirty-four years was a long time.
A dog barked, and she heard a familiar voice yell “be quiet,” and then the door opened.
“Molly! What are you doing here?”
He stayed back a little, but he could see her standing in the doorway. She looked very nice in a pair of blue trousers, a white-collared shirt and a blue cardigan. She wore an expensive set of pearls around her neck. She looked like a doctor’s wife should. Her auburn hair was shorter, and she was a little older, but other than that, she looked just like he always remembered. He smiled as a slew of memories flowed through his head.
” Mrs. West, I’m sorry for not calling first. Do you have a few minutes? There’s someone who would like to talk to you.”
“Certainly. Nothing’s happened to Reanna or Colin, has it?” Her face showed concern.
“Oh, no, nothing at all. They’re both fine. Well, at least Reanna is. We just came from there.”
“We? Who wants to talk to me?” She held the door open, and Molly moved forward. She looked behind her, the smile on her face changing to panic. “Henry?” All the color left her face, and she swayed. Molly grabbed her arm to steady her.
“Hi, Sam.”
Molly held onto her arm, but since she didn’t slam the door on him, he walked in and closed it behind him. Henry stood there and let his eyes take in the sight of her. His heart beat a little faster. “You look great.”
She looked down like she’d forgotten what she was wearing. “Thank you. You look…” She looked at Molly and then him. “Are you feeling all right?” Her eyes ran over his face. She led them into the living room and motioned for them to sit down, but she stayed standing.
“Can I get you anything?”
Molly popped up. “Mrs. West, why don’t I make some tea? That way, the two of you can talk alone.”
He looked around the room. Very nice, not cluttered, feels like a well-loved home.
After Molly left the room, the smile left her face, and she broke the silence. “I heard about the car accident. I’m so sorry. I wanted to come, but the kids were little, and it was in France.…”
“It’s okay, but thank you for your condolences.”
“What are you doing here?” Her face was flushed, and she was holding her hands together so tight her knuckles were white.
“I met Reanna.” He sat down on the couch. Sam stood behind the chair sitting opposite him, her hands clutching the back of it.
“So?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?” She looked everywhere but at him.
He shook his head at her stubbornness. “That we have a daughter.”
“I debated telling you for a long time. When I finally decided you had a right to know, I reached out to Steve Sullivan to find out how to reach you, and you know what? He couldn’t wait to tell me he’d just returned from Dublin after being the best man at your wedding. You can see how that helped change my mind.”
His head was spinning, and he bent down, resting it in his hands, leaning his elbows onto his knees until it passed, then lifted his head. “Not the smartest move I’ve made, I’ll agree.”
“Steve couldn’t wait to tell me how you all partied all weekend. So much for going someplace new to—what was it you told me? Oh, yes, ‘to clean up your act,’ I believe were the words you used.” She let go of the chair so hard it moved a few inches forward.
“She looks just like Alaina.” Henry stood up and stood in front of the chair she’d just let go of. He took hold of the arms and leaned in until their faces were only three inches apart. “I had a right to know.”
She took hold of the back of the chair again and leaned in a little closer. He could smell her minty breath as she asked, “Would it have changed anything?”
He looked at her for a few seconds, then let go of the chair and stood up straight. Henry glanced around the room again, noticing a far wall full of framed photographs. Pictures of two adults and a red-headed little girl, then the family of three became a family of four. His glance skipped the ones of the little boy but took in every detail of the photos with the redhead, the same shade of hair as her mother, only with his eyes and smile. He tried to memorize them all, the pictures of his daughter. He’d always wanted two children, a boy and a girl. He loved his son, but a second child wasn’t in the cards. Imogen was so ill through the first pregnancy; they’d agreed to stop at one.
“She’s beautiful.” His heart hurt at what he’d missed.
Sam smiled, nodding. “She is. You’re right. She looks like Alaina. Your mother saw it right away.”
His head whipped toward Sam, “My mother knew I had a daughter?”
Sam nodded. “Yes, as did your father and Alaina.”
“Damn. Why didn’t they ever tell me?” He could feel the anger swell. What the hell?
“Because they knew the same thing I did, that you weren’t ready to be a father. I made them promise not to tell you. I told them if you ever came back, I would, but to keep it a secret until then. They moved when Reanna was small, so I don’t think too many people in town figured it out, thankfully.”
“So, you were going to tell me?”
She was quiet for a moment.
“Honestly?”
She nodded. “No, not if I could help it. But it’s a small town. I knew you’d figure it out, eventually.”
“Does she know?”
“No, and I’m not about to tell her. As far as she knows, Owen West is her father, and I won’t ruin it, not for her, or their relationship.”
Molly appeared with a tray, tea and two cups, along with a bottle of water, which she handed to Henry. He thanked her and then sat down on the couch.
Henry unscrewed the top to the bottle and took a drink. He’d just set it down on a nearby table when his mobile rang. He looked at the caller and excused himself for a moment, going into the other room. It was his doctor in Dublin letting him know he’d scheduled an appointment for half-past nine with a local doctor, saying he’d text the address. Henry thanked him and hung up, and walked back into the living room where Samantha and Molly were talking.
“Mrs. West, I don’t know… She’s one of my best friends.” The look on Molly’s face was grave.
He looked at his watch. It was already a few minutes past nine. He walked toward Samantha, and she took two steps back. Was she afraid of him? “We have to go. It was good to see you, but we’re not done talking, Sam.”
“We are as far as I’m concerned. Leave her alone, Henry. She’s my daughter, mine and Owens.”
Samantha walked to the door and opened it. Henry walked out, his head spinning. He figured Molly was directly behind him, but she wasn’t. He looked toward the door to see Sam whispering in her ear. She nodded and then walked out, making her way to the car and getting in.
Molly didn’t start it up. She just sat there. He turned in his seat to look at her.
“You were listening, weren’t you?”
She turned to him and sighed. “Of course, I was. You are a bastard. You really left here and within months married someone else?” She started up the car and pulled out of the driveway.
“It was stupid of me, I know. I thought I loved her, but it was just…loneliness, I guess. It wasn’t long before we both realized it was a mistake and had it annulled.”
He could hear her muttering under her breath, and he smiled. “I know Gaelic, you know.”
“Well then, you know I’m on Mrs. West’s side.”
“That was
my doctor in Dublin who called. You’re going to love this; the doctor here in Dooley who my doctor got me an appointment with is none other than Dr. Owen West.”
Her head snapped toward him, “You’re kidding? This just gets better and better.”
“Do you know him?” He flipped down the visor to block the sun.
“Yes.”
“He’s an excellent doctor. You’ll be in expert hands.”
“Have you lived here your entire life?” He looked out the window at the bare trees growing in between the conifers. The branches looked like they were reaching out to the conifers asking to keep them warm.
“I was born here but left about five and a half years ago and moved to the U.S. to get married. It didn’t work out, and we divorced. I moved back six months ago.”
“Divorces are hard. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” He thought of his in-laws, definitely not an amicable divorce.
A few minutes later, Molly dropped him off at his car. “Thank you, Molly, for everything.”
I appreciate all of your help today and last night.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome, Henry. I hope everything works out for you.”
# # #
When Henry got in his car, he added the address his doctor had given him into the GPS and followed the directions to Doctor Owen West’s office.
Henry checked in with the pretty receptionist, and while he was waiting, he placed another call, this time to his lawyer.
“It’s just a codicil, Jerry, and I want them today. It’s what I pay you for. Send a messenger for me to sign them. Call me when he’s on his way, and I’ll let you know where to meet me.”
A few minutes later, a nurse called him to the back. Doctor West was what his wife would call, “tall, dark and handsome.” The doctor greeted him with a smile, but Henry couldn’t help resenting him for being the one to watch his daughter grow up.
“Mr. Pierce, it’s nice to meet you.” They shook hands, and Henry couldn’t help but wonder if the doctor knew who he was.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re here?”
Henry told him of the symptoms he’s had, and how at first, he believed it was his ulcers, but his symptoms seemed to evolve and get worse.
“How is your stress level?” The doctor motioned him up onto the medical table.
Henry almost laughed. His mind went to the thumb drive he put in his pocket this morning, “I will admit, it’s high.”
“I spoke to your doctor in Dublin. He’s very concerned you’re going to have a heart attack.”
He patted his protruding stomach, “I know. I’ve been trying to exercise regularly, but it’s been hard lately. I’m hoping now that I’m here in Dooley full time, I can start running again.”
“Well, I’m going to take some blood and get a urine sample. Then, depending on what those tell me, we may do additional tests. In the meantime, I’ll give you a prescription for a different medication I want you to take three times a day, starting today.”
Thirty minutes later, his appointment completed, he had to admit Owen West was a good guy. He was happy for Sam; she deserved happiness. Henry walked to his car but didn’t start it up. He didn’t want to go to the office, but he also didn’t want to go home. He thought about going back to see Sam but decided to give her some space.
Henry pulled out of the parking lot and made his way back downtown.
The Book Nook had quite a few people browsing when he entered. The aroma of cinnamon tickled his nose. Was someone baking cookies? Molly’s friend, what was her name? Ciara, that’s it, was at the counter, but he didn’t see Molly. Ciara saw him standing there and pointed toward the back. There were more Christmas carols playing, this time by one of his favorite Irish bands. He made his way past the tall bookshelves, category placards hanging from the ceiling over each one, toward the back where the children’s books were located. A short, white wall coming out from both sides of the room separated the area, leaving a space for people to walk through. The carpet here was different too, gray with a giant Cat in the Hat figure in the center. He could hear a voice reading in a high, squeaky voice, then a low voice as they read a story. He followed the sound and smiled when he saw Molly reading a book to six children, some of them on the laps of their mothers, some of them sitting cross-legged, staring at Molly as she told a story about two dogs named Blizzy Blue and Dakota Sue and their adventures one day when they got out of their fenced yard. He sat on one of the comfortable benches and waited until she finished.
Five minutes later, the children all popped up and begged their mothers to buy the book Molly had just read before giving her a hug. He smiled at how much she connected with the children. Then he realized she’d also connected with him. Otherwise, why would he be here?
Molly hugged the last child and then looked at Henry. “What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk?”
Molly looked around the store and said, “Can you give me a few minutes to help Ciara with this crowd?”
He nodded, and she went toward the front of the store. Henry wandered around the bookstore until she found him a few minutes later.
“Sorry about that. We’re always busy on story time days.”
“No problem. I used to come here when I was a kid. I couldn’t afford as many books as I wanted, so the owner would let me sweep the front walk to pay for them. This place brings back a lot of memories.” He looked around, taking in the smell of new and used books.
“That sounds like the Rileys. They were very good to me when I was a teenager. I used to work here too. Mr. Riley passed away several years ago, but Mrs. Riley worked here until her death.” She looked back at him, and he could see her eyes turn glassy, as if she was going to cry. She cleared her throat and continued. “She actually left me the bookstore in her will when she passed away.” Molly led him to a side room used, he assumed, as a break area. She closed the door, which muted the music. Henry looked around at the cheery, yellow walls and smiled. She definitely goes in for bright colors. There was a small refrigerator, an Aga stove, and a wooden table with four chairs. He took off his coat, placed it over the back of one of them and sat down. Molly took a pod out of the coffee station drawer located under the machine, added it to the coffeemaker, stuck a mug under it and hit a button. A few seconds later, hot, steamy coffee streamed into it. Then she flipped the switch for an electric kettle and brought two cups to the table a few minutes later, a cup of coffee for him and a cup of tea for herself. She went back to the counter and brought over a plate of molasses cookies and two dessert plates.
“I thought I smelled cinnamon, but now I realize it was nutmeg.” He took one and had a bite, realizing he was hungry. Whatever happened to his cinnamon roll?
“No, they’re molasses.” Molly added sugar to her tea and stirred it.
He smiled. “No. When I walked in, I thought I could smell snickerdoodle cookies. My mother used to make them for Alaina and me.”
She smiled back, “No, that’s a faux candle we sell. It’s a small light that warms the scented oil, and you’re right, it is snickerdoodle.”
He looked at her and smiled. “You asked what I’m doing here. I’m not really sure. You’re very easy to talk to, I guess, plus I really have no place else to go. My life is such a mess right now, and it doesn’t help that it’s of my own making.
“How did your doctor’s appointment go? Did Dr. West say anything about who you were?”
He shook his head. “Not a word, and I didn’t bring it up either. He took some blood for tests and will get back to me with the results. He called in a prescription to the chemist that I need to go pick up soon.”
“It must have been quite a shock finding out about Reanna.” Molly took a bite of a cookie.
He sighed, “When I left here thirty-four years ago, I was a mess. I was into drugs, was drinking too much and was a selfish bastard.” He stopped, rubbing his chin. “Then a friend of mine who lived in Dublin invited me to come and stay, and I jum
ped at the chance to start over again.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I had no idea Sam was pregnant.”
“What did you do after your marriage ended?”
“Fell into a funk. Worked at a pub, drank too much. Thankfully, I stayed away from the drugs though.”
“So, you had no feelings for Mrs. West at all? I mean, back then. Before she was Mrs. West?” She chuckled.
He sat silent for a few moments, “You know, deep down, I think I loved her, but I wasn’t ready to admit it yet. I think that’s part of the reason I left. It scared me to death. Then when I married Lola, it didn’t feel real.” He shook his head. “I know this doesn’t make much sense. It should tell you what kind of state I was in.”
“What happened next?”
“I met this guy, Patrick Moore. He was the same age as me but had his head on straight. You know? He basically brought me into his family, got me a job at Moore Plastics.” He smiled at the memory. “Nothing grand, believe me. I started at the bottom, in the factory, creeping my way up the job chain. Then Ronan Moore, Patrick’s father, took an interest in me, found out I had an affinity for numbers and paid for me to go to college. Once I graduated, he brought me in as a low-level accountant, but I worked my way up to the chief financial officer. While I was in school, I met Ronan’s daughter, Patrick’s sister, Imogen. We became friends first, kind of like with Sam.” He rubbed his chin, “As a matter of fact, she reminded me a lot of Sam. Then Imogen found out she was pregnant, and we got married.”
“Karma has a way of biting you in the arse, doesn’t it? Did you love Imogen when you married her?”
He looked at Molly. He hadn’t opened up this much to anyone, ever. What is it about her? “I liked her, yes. It was more her father that convinced me to marry her.”
She smiled. “Oh, the ole’ ‘shotgun wedding’ as the Americans say.”
He smiled back, “Something like that, with a promise of a vice-presidency at Moore Plastics.”
He could see the disgust on her face and didn’t blame her.
“I know. I know. I was greedy and ambitious. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with her, though. Trust me; you don’t have to tell me I don’t deserve her. The thing is, I’ve learned something lately that makes me wonder if I knew her at all.”
