Rae

 

After they had left the graveyard, Rae and her whole family gathered with friends and extended family at the local pub for soup and sandwiches, and one last farewell to her mother.

Rae talked to people she hadn’t spoken to in years, introducing A.J to everyone as she went. Most of them had already left the graveyard before A.J’s fight with Dean, but those that had witnessed it just shook his hand or clapped him on the back.

Even Daisy, Sean, and Colm couldn’t hide their delight that Dean had finally been put in his place. The only one who didn’t say a word was Dara. He barely spoke to anyone at all, choosing to sit at the bar instead of with his family.

Rae had no idea what to think about his behaviour, but she was determined that she was going to speak to him once they got back to the house.

It was a little after eight pm when they all got back to the house. Rae felt tired and was relieved that the day was finally over. She walked into the living room and collapsed down onto the sofa.

“Are you tired, Pet,” Gerry asked as he too walked into the living room and sat down on his arm chair.

“I am,” Rae sighed as she kicked off her shoes. “And my feet hurt so much.”

“Well you can have an early night,” Gerry replied with a smile. “And relax all day tomorrow.”

“That’s the plan,” Rae said with a smile as she looked up at A.J.

“I think I will make some coffee,” Daisy said from the doorway of the living room. “Does anyone want some?”

“I’ll pass,” Sean said as he walked across the living room to his father. “I’m going to head home. I’m exhausted, but I will drop by in the morning.”

“Okay, Son,” Gerry said as he stood up and hugged his son tightly. “You sleep well.”

“Actually,” Colm said as he too walked towards his father. “I’m going to call it a night, too, Dad.”

“Okay, Son,” Gerry said as he hugged his eldest son too. “You take care of yourself going home.”

“I’ll drop him off,” Sean said as he turned to Rae and kissed the top of her head. “Good night, Rae.”

“Good night, Rascal,” Colm added as he too kissed Rae.

“Good night,” she replied as she smiled at both of her brothers. They said their goodbyes to Dara, who was now sitting in their mother’s armchair, Daisy and A.J before they both disappeared out the door.

“I’ll go make that coffee,” Daisy said once more.

“I’ll help you,” A.J offered as he gave Rae a smile before he followed Daisy out of the room.

For a moment there was silence in the living room, but the atmosphere was heavy, and Rae felt suddenly uncomfortable.

“So, are you two going to tell me what the bloody hell is going on?” Gerry asked as he looked at his two youngest children. “You two have barely said two words to each other since Saturday.”

Rae glanced over at Dara, but his eyes remain fixed on the floor in front of him.

“And you,” Gerry said, also turning his attention to his youngest son. “You have had a face like a smacked bottom all day. But it ends now because right now we all need each other to get through these next few weeks. Your mom wouldn’t want this, so sort it out.”

Before either of them could say a word, Gerry stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Rae and Dara alone.

Neither of them said a word for a few minutes.

“So, do you want to tell me why you are so angry with me?” Rae asked, unable to take the silence any longer.

“Who said I was angry with you?” Dara asked, as he finally lifted his head and allowed his eyes to meet his sister’s. “Don’t really know where you got that idea from.”

“Oh come on, Dara!” Rae exclaimed. “You have barely said two words to me since A.J got here. Is… is that it? Are you angry that I fell in love with a priest?”

“I couldn’t give a crap that he’s a priest,” Dara retorted. “You know that. I care that you had all this crap going on in your life, and you didn’t talk to me. Since when don’t you talk to me?”

“Of course I talk to you,” Rae replied, but she knew in her heart that he was right. “It’s just with A.J things were complicated.”

“Like they were with Dean?” Dara asked, surprising Rae. “Rae, he almost killed you, and it wasn’t the first time he had hit you, but you didn’t talk to me.”

“I was embarrassed,” Rae said being completely honest with her brother. “I let him hurt me, and I took him back.”

“But you promised me,” Dara said as he stood up and walked across the living room and sat down next to her on the sofa. “You said after everything that had happened with Dean, you would never keep secrets from me again.”

“I know I did,” Rae sighed, knowing her brother was right. “A.J is nothing like Dean. He is sweet and kind…”

“But you were upset when you got here,” Dara stopped her mid-sentence. “You say he’s a good guy, but you were so upset when you came home, and I don’t just mean about Mom. I knew there was something bothering you, but you wouldn’t tell me, then this guy just turns up, and I don’t know what to think.”

“It was nothing that he did,” Rae sighed as she gave her brother a warm smile. “Well not really. He tried to do the right thing, and I overreacted. I said things to him that were cruel and mean, maybe because I was hurt a little, or maybe because I was afraid of letting someone as close to me as I let Dean. So I lashed out, and I pushed him away like I push everyone away. But then I knew I had made a huge mistake, but I thought that it was too late to fix it…”

“Until he came here looking for you,” Dara said, and this time his voice was softer and less angry.

“Until he came looking for me,” Rae repeated and gave her brother a smile. “He’s a good man, Dara. The reason I didn’t tell you why I was upset was that Mom had just died, and you all had enough to worry about without worrying about me, yet again. I’m sorry for not telling you.”

“So he’s a good guy?” Dara said as this time he gave her a smile.

“He is,” Rae confirmed.

“And a priest,” Dara asked as he raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “Now that I wasn’t expecting.”

“Tell me about it,” Rae laughed as she flopped back onto the sofa. “But I’m happy, well as happy as you can be when you just buried your mom.”

“That’s true,” Dara sighed as he too flopped back on the sofa. “But I will admit, it felt good to watch him beat the crap out of Dean today. I think even Mom would have liked that one.”

“I think so too,” Rae smiled as she thought of her mom. “It’s hard to believe she’s gone.”

“I know,” Dara sighed, and blew out a breath. Rae knew he was struggling to keep control of his emotions, so she didn’t push it any further. Instead, she allowed a comfortable silence to fall between them.

“So,” Rae said finally. “What’s going on with you and Daisy?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Dara grinned, and Rae knew he was not telling her something.

“No, no,” she said as she sat up. “You don’t get to be mad at me for keeping secrets when you’re keeping one too. Spill.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Dara grinned. “I mean I may have kissed her last night, but that’s it really.”

“OH MY, GOD!” Rae squealed excitedly.

“Shhhh,” Dara laughed. “It was just a kiss.”

“But what does this kiss mean?” Rae asked. “Are you and her…”

“We are going to see how it plays out,” Dara stopped Rae mid-sentence. “She is going to stay for a couple of weeks, and I might go to visit you guys in a couple of months. But nothing is set in stone, so don’t start shopping for a hat for the wedding just yet.”

“You’re no fun,” Rae said as she flopped back onto the sofa once more.

“But we’re okay?” Dara asked as he looked over at his sister.

“We’re okay,” Rae replied with a smile. “We are always okay.”

“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” Gerry said as he held Rae tightly in the hallway of their home. “I know that makes me selfish, but I loved having you here. It’s been too long.”

“I know,” Rae whispered as she tried her hardest not to give into her tears. She had promised herself that she was not going to cry when she said her goodbyes, but it was harder to say goodbye than it ever had been before.

It had been two weeks since her mother’s funeral, and Rae, A.J, and Daisy were finally heading back to San Francisco.

“Promise me that you won’t be a stranger anymore,” Gerry pleaded with his daughter.

“I promise,” Rae whispered as she held her father tightly. “I will be back in a few weeks. I give you my word.”

“Okay,” Gerry said as he finally released her from his embrace, and held her at arms-length. “You know I love you, don’t you. And I am so proud of you.”

“I know,” Rae cried as tears finally spilled down her face. “And I love you, too.”

Gerry turned to A.J and offered him his hand.

“Take care of my girl, Son,” Gerry said as A.J shook his hand. “I know that you love her, but her old man loves her too.”

“Of course I will look after her,” A.J replied with a smile. “I give you my word.”

“I hope things work out how you want them to when you get back home,” Gerry said as he patted A.J on the back. “You’re a good man, and if they can’t see that, then that’s their loss. Just know you always have a home and family here now too, and you are always welcome.”

“Thank you,” AJ replied, and Rae could hear the emotion in his voice. He stared at Gerry for a moment, then suddenly wrapped his arms around Rae’s dad, and hugged him tightly.

Rae knew what her father’s words meant to A.J. Growing up without a real family, to be welcomed into her family was a huge thing to him.

“We should be going,” Dara said as he checked his watch. “Unless you’re planning on staying here for good.”

“I bet you would love that,” Rae said giving her brother a knowing smile. Over the last two weeks, he and Daisy had grown very close, and Rae knew he wasn’t too happy about her going home. He had promised he would come and visit them in a few weeks, but something told Rae that she would see her brother sooner rather than later.

Rae said goodbye to her father, Sean, and Colm once more, then they all said goodbye to Daisy and A.J, before they finally headed for the car, and to the airport.

As Dara’s car pulled away from the kerb, Rae waved goodbye to her father, as she thought about the last time she had left home.

She remembered her mother standing in the doorway, crying as she waved her goodbye. She hadn’t thought it would be the last time she would have seen her. She wished now she hadn’t left it so long to come home, and she promised herself, no matter what happened in the future, this would not be the last time she saw her father.