Page 41 of The Past

“Aye, good advice.”

I sighed.“I just don’t want him sniffing around her anymore.”

“Then ye need to make her feel like she has a real choice.Not just between Brian and ye—but between the life Seamus wants for her and the life she could build for herself.”

I stared at him, a weight settling in my chest.“And if she tells her dad no, if she stands up for herself and he kicks her out?”

Rory regarded me.“She won’t be without a home.Not while I’ve got one.”

That took the wind out of my sails.I had been ready to throw more verbal punches, to argue, to fight for her myself.But knowing that Rory was willing to fight too?That meant something.

I sat back, letting that sink in.“She needs to know that,” I said after a moment.“She needs to know she’s not alone in this.”

Rory nodded.“Aye, she does.I’ll have that talk with her.”

The tension in my shoulders loosened slightly, but it wasn’t enough to kill the frustration still burning in my gut.

Rory sighed, reaching for his whiskey.“Tommy, lad… are ye thinkin’ beyond this summer?”

I hesitated, running my thumb over the grain of the table.“I don’t know,” I admitted.“But I do know I’m not ready to walk away from her.”

Rory took a slow sip, considering me.Then he nodded.“Then just be sure she’s not sacrificin’ one cage for another.”

I stiffened at that.“That’s not what I’m doing.”

He held up a hand.“I’m just sayin’, don’t make promises ye can’t keep.And don’t let her build her whole world around ye, only for ye to leave in the end.”

That hit harder than I liked.Because I didn’t have answers yet.Didn’t know what the hell happened after the summer.

But I knew one thing for damn sure.

I wasn’t done with Fiona Conlan.

And I’d do whatever it took to make sure she knew it.

CHAPTER 13

Fiona

Isat stifflyin the passenger seat of my ma’s new Jaguar, a gift from my da for her birthday in January.While my parents never showed affection to each other, my dad expressed his care for her with jewels, furs and new cars, and my ma reciprocated by backing him in all decisions.

My arms were folded tightly across my chest as she drove down the narrow lane leading across Glenhaven to the main road.The sky was still heavy with morning mist following a brief shower, casting the fields in a sleepy haze.I eyeballed the barns with longing, as I was supposed to run Glenhaven’s steeplechase course.This had been planned for days as my da was away on business and I went to sleep last night dreaming of flying over jumps on Brannagh.

I dreamt of Tommy too and that thought brought a tiny smile to my face.

No steeplechase today, though.Ma woke me and Siobhan up and announced we were going to Dublin for a two-day shopping trip I wanted no part of.Siobhan squealed with glee as she loved buying new clothes like she loved oxygen.I tried to protest, stating I didn’t need anything, but Ma wouldn’t have any of it.

She was on a mission on my father’s behalf.“Yer attending the festival with Brian and ye need something pretty to wear.”

I clenched my teeth, bile rising in my throat at the memory of last night’s phone call.

My da had hovered while I sat on the edge of the settee in his study, holding the heavy black receiver in my hands, my fingers trembling as I dialed.Brian answered on the second ring, his voice too cheery, too expectant.I forced myself through the conversation, inviting him to the Heritage Festival as my father instructed, feeling like every word out of my mouth was a betrayal—to myself, to the future I wanted, to the flicker of hope I had with Tommy.

Brian had been delighted, of course, and I could hear the smugness in his tone as he said he’d pick me up at six.

My father gave a satisfied nod and turned away, already considering the matter settled.

My fists were now clenched in my lap, my mother oblivious beside me, and Siobhan sat quiet in the back seat.I stared out the window, my vision blurred with frustration until something up ahead snapped me back to the present.

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