Page 75 of The Past

“Ye have to.”Her voice was barely above a whisper.“Because if ye don’t, I won’t be able to go on.”

I swallowed hard, my heart fracturing.“Fi…”

She gave me a sad smile.“Who knows what the future holds?But for now… we have to be done.”

I knew what she was saying.I understood it.And I hated it.

Right now, we couldn’t be together.Maybe there was the hope that one day things would work out for us.

I wished I believed that, but somehow, deep in my gut, I knew I was leaving Ireland without Fiona and there was nothing I could do to fix this mess.

CHAPTER 26

Fiona

Aweek hadpassed, and Rory’s absence weighed heavy over Glenhaven.When I walked the property, through the barns and watched training sessions, it was quiet.No boisterous laughing, no raucous ribbing.Heads down and work was done.It felt thick and blinding like the mist that clung to the hills in the early morning.Siobhan told me, “It’s like the land is mourning Uncle Rory.”

The house had also settled into an unnatural stillness, but I think that had more to do with the fractured family living within than Rory’s death.I don’t think my father was sad at all he’d lost a brother.He had jumped right into the training center, taking over management.On the outside, some would think that was just his way of grieving—by being busy.

I felt it was more distraction by the golden opportunity that was laid at his feet, because with Rory gone, my dad owned all of Glenhaven now.

Of course, that was probably my own bitterness projecting onto my da, because I was so angry at him—nearly to the point of hate—for making me come home.

For sending Tommy away.

For ruining my happily ever after.

Siobhan and I sat cross-legged on my bed.She’d barely left my side since I’d moved back in, knowing that I wasn’t bearing just the weight of Rory’s loss but of Tommy’s as well.

Our voices were hushed, though there was no real reason to be.The house was silent save for the occasional creak of the old wooden beams, the distant whisper of wind sneaking in through the windowpane.

“Da invited the Kavanaghs to dinner,” I murmured, my fingers twisting a loose thread on my sleeve.

Siobhan sighed, flopping back onto the mattress, her red hair spilling over my pillow.“It was inevitable.”

“I told him I’m still in mourning and didn’t want to attend.”

She snorted, turning her head to look at me.“And how long do ye think he’ll let ye use that excuse?”

I sighed, rubbing at my temple, exhaustion creeping into my bones.“He didn’t let me use it this time.I was ordered to attend.”

Siobhan propped herself up on her elbows, her brow furrowed, frustration simmering in her green eyes.“Ye’re not actually considering it, are ye?I mean… I get ye came back home to save Tommy from getting in trouble… but Fi… ye can’t marry Brian.”

If only Siobhan knew the real truth.I really came home to save her.Sure, I didn’t want Tommy to get in trouble, but if it weren’t for Siobhan, I would have made a run for it.Of course, I could never tell her that.She’d be riddled with guilt and I wasn’t about to put that on her.

“Of course I’m not marrying Brian.”I sat up straighter, but my stomach twisted as I spoke.“But for now, I have to play Da’s game.”

Siobhan’s expression darkened.“I’m sorry yer going through this.It’s not fair.”

My heart ached with love for my little sister, sharing space with the fear I held for her future.I was at a loss on how to save us both and that was my ultimate goal, but I couldn’t afford to be reckless.

“I’ll figure something out,” I said, though I had no clue what that something was.

Siobhan smirked.“Maybe we should make ye as unappealing as possible at dinner.”

I quirked an eyebrow.“What?Like do my makeup all wrong?Talk with my mouth full?Belch and fart at the table?”

She cackled, rolling onto her side.“Oh, absolutely.Maybe spill wine on Brian’s lap too.”

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