Chapter 5
Mum dragged me into the house without even bothering to stop to remove her shoes. We ended up in the kitchen, where she sat me down at our old, scarred, worn and well-loved table. She quickly threw off her gardening apron, wellies and gloves, tossing them out the back door before washing her hands and putting on the kettle.
It was only moments before she had a cup of tea in front of me. The milk and sugar were set down between us and she was in her seat a moment later.
"It's chamomile––for the baby," she said. “No more junk for you, young lady."
"Yes mum," I said obediently while taking a sip. “Now I want a coffee," I told her cheekily.
"You wouldn't dare," my mother gasped, putting her hand to her chest.
You would think I had said I was going to attack the Pope.
I laughed and relaxed.
"No mum, I wouldn't."
"So, how far along are you," she coaxed.
"Umm, I'm not sure."
"How can you not be sure? When did you do the test? When was your last period? You are already showing, so you must be at least four months. So, when did you find out?"
She was firing questions faster than I could even think to answer them. How do I answer these questions without lying? I refused to lie to my mother more than I had to. So, I thought for a few moments and told her as much of the truth as I could.
"We won't know until we have a scan, how far I am. I just found out recently. I haven't even had a chance to make an appointment yet with the midwife. As for my periods, they were all over the place; they were never regular. Probably due to the stress," I stopped.
She had a pained look on her face and I reached over and took her hand.
"It's not your fault, mum. You couldn't do anything about how others felt and behaved. We all make our own choices, and you have stood beside me the whole way. I love you, mum. Things will get better, and I’m in a better place now. Before this baby gets here, I am sure a lot more will be sorted out."
"Oh Dia," My mum sobbed and left her seat to hug me tight. “I am so sorry, baby. I knew they were being horrible, but it is getting better. Your father and sister will straighten out, or I will straighten them out. Don't you worry. I will not let anything happen to you or my grandbaby because they have issues."
"Who has issues?" My father's voice echoed from the hallway.
I stiffened in my mother's arms, waiting for the verbal attack I was sure would follow.
"Shhhh," my mum murmured against my hair. "Give him a chance."
I nodded and looked up just in time to see my dad enter the kitchen, loosening his tie. He froze when he saw me and for a tense moment, the world froze with him.
"Baby girl," he whispered.
Before I knew what was happening he had swept me up in his arms and hugged me tightly.
"Oh, my baby girl! I'm so glad to be seeing you. I've been such a bleeding idjit, and I don't deserve it, but will you please give your old dad another chance?"
My mouth dropped open in shock and all I could get out was a grunt.
I had faced The Hunt, betrayers, my love dying in my arms, becoming a member of the Sluagh and discovering my powers. That was easy, but seeing my dad cry brought me to my knees.
"Oh daddy,” I sobbed. "I love you, I always have."
By this time mum was flapping around and slapping my dad on the shoulder with a dishcloth.
"Put her down, you big lummox. She's pregnant."
"Yer what?" He bellowed, before gently lowering me to the ground, eyes zeroing onto my belly.
"I will bloody well kill them! Which one of them did this to my baby girl? No matter, one is as guilty as the other. I will geld them all. Those bloody bastards getting my little girl pregnant without a ring on her finger."
"Dad, stop."
He was working himself into a rage and had even started to call Sean to have them arrested. For what, I have no idea.
"Dad, you can't have them arrested for getting me pregnant," I told him patiently.
"Why not," he demanded.
"Because, dear father, it's not illegal to get someone pregnant. Unless it’s rape, and I can guarantee it was never that."
He flushed a deep red, nearly purple color and for a moment, I was worried for his heart.
"Daddy," I took his hand and placed it on my belly. “Come and say hello to your grandbaby."
That was all it took. He stopped his ranting and dropped to his knees in front of me. Gently leaning his hand against my belly, he began to talk directly to the baby.
"Hello my wee darling. I'm sorry if I scared you with my ranting. Your granddad is a right git at times and as thick as a stone wall."
Mum snorted in agreement behind him.
He didn't even pause though. "I’m so very sorry for all the grief we have given your poor mum. Just because her choices are not the same as the ones I would have made for her, well that is not a reason to––well, be an arse. Don't worry, I will no be talking like that once you are on the outside," he promised. “However, I will be finding out which one of those bastards did this to your sweet, innocent mother and drag him to the church, tied and gagged to make sure he makes an honest woman of her. No grandchild of mine will be born a bastard!"
I groaned and rolled my eyes. Good thing Kale hadn't seen that.
"Umm––dad, they already asked. I told them no."
"You what!" He shouted before kissing my belly in apology.
"Granddad’s sorry, my wee lamb, I wasn't yelling at you, just your daft mother. You go on back to sleep while I talk some sense into the lass."
I just looked at my mother, and we both rolled our eyes. He was the one talking to my belly.
He rose to his knees and demanded once again, “Right, which one of em was it?"
"I can't answer that question, Dad." Well, it was the truth; I couldn't answer that one.
"So, we don't know. Well, pick one of em to take to the altar, baby girl, because one way or the other, you will be married before this babe gets here. No McLearey will be born out of wedlock.”
I grinned and refrained from telling him that if I married one of them, I would no longer be a McLearey––and neither would my baby.
I stayed with mum and dad for several more hours, talking about nothing. They were already planning a nursery for the baby and mum was looking at knitting patterns.
After finally telling them I had to get home, it was another half hour of dad worrying about me driving back on my own. He was ready to take me himself. I kindly refused. I didn't want to face the guys yet, much less with my severely over-protective dad.
Finally, we got outside and I glamoured a car to get into. Once they were back inside the house, I let the car fade away and I opened a portal into the grey paths.
I was overwhelmed. I had not expected my dad's reaction at all, and now I had even more to think about.
I wandered the paths aimlessly for a small eternity before opening a portal randomly and stepping out.
I was surprised when I stepped out onto the ground floor of Earthly Pleasures. Even more so when Brodie stepped out from behind the bar and smiled.
"Why Dia, fancy seeing you step out of a portal into my bar. Want to tell me why?"
Oh shit! Well, I guess he wasn't as human as we thought. That was confirmed when he gently closed the portal behind me and pulled a very comfortable looking sofa from the ether.
He sat down and patted the seat beside him.
"Have a seat and tell me all about it, sweetheart."