Page 67 of Hot Irish Halloween

They skirted the town’s main strip of shops, restaurants, and bars, and passed through the Historic District with its massive Victorians. Right around the corner from there was the Mayfield’s part of town, where the homes were built on gently sloping hillsides. The Black Mayfields, those descendants of an 18th-century English dairy farmer and his “indentured African washerwoman” (who somehow never quite left that servitude), lived on one side of a hill. The white Mayfields, descended from the same English farmer and his legal Dutch wife, lived on the other side.

This part of Owenville was dotted with big white clapboard houses boasting dark, tasteful shutters, well-maintained lawns, and backyards that flowed to become deep woods. She could throw a rock in any direction and hit houses inhabited by aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unofficially, it was known as Mayfield Way. As in, “Where you headed? Up around Mayfield Way.”

Penny’s parent’s house was set back from the main road with a paved driveway lined with decorative white rocks and solar-powered lanterns. The best and worst memories of her life were centered here. There’d been so many skinned knees from tripping and falling on this driveway; up on that porch swing, Brendan had stolen her first kiss when she was twelve.

It held some of the worst memories, too. On the day of Brendan’s funeral, his mother had forbidden Penny to come to the repast at her house. While Penny was being comforted by her father and a host of aunties, Brendan’s mother had shown up here, drunk and reeling with grief. She’s screamed at Penny and threatened to get back at her for killing her son. It was the first and only time in her life Penny had seen Erica lose her poise, grab Mrs. Shaughnessy by the arm, and throw her out. That was the end of the decades-long friendship between the two women.

Two weeks later, Penny moved to North Carolina. And so began her decade of self-exile from this place, except for an occasional short visit now and then.

The fresh scent of evergreen and cool water greeted Penny when she stepped out of the car. She hugged herself, with gratitude to be home but also a fair amount of trepidation. Only a month ago, when she’d imagined this moment, she’d pictured herself walking into her parents’ house holding Jack’s hand. Having dinner together at the big oak table in the dining room. Sitting them down and telling them she and Jack had set a wedding date and were bringing along a special guest of honor. She’d pat her stomach with a meaningful grin. Her motherwould be a little miffed that the pregnancy had happened before the wedding, but she’d be happy at finally becoming a grandmother.

Now all those cute, sit-com scenarios were dead on arrival. There’d be nothing joyful when she shared the news that she was pregnant and alone. But she was home. And maybe she could find some quiet time and space, bury her head in the sand for a while. Forget about Ireland and the lost dream of making it her home with the only man she could picture herself with there or anywhere else.

She’d called ahead so her appearance wouldn’t be a shock. Squaring her shoulders, with Jade standing next to her lending silent emotional support, Penny used the large, ornate doorknocker and waited.

Slippered feet scuffed the floor in a familiar gait. Grinning at the sound, Penny waited, and when her mother opened the door, the biggest smile on her almond brown face, Penny sank right into her arms.

“My baby is home. Oh, thank you, Lord, my daughter is safe at home,” her mother murmured. Then Erica pulled back and took a good look at her textured afro. It was unkempt from her lack of caring about things as trivial as her appearance amidst the turmoil in her heart and mind. “My goodness. Penelope Rose Mayfield. What have you done to your hair? Never mind. We’ll get you an appointment with Shirley first thing in the morning.”

With a soft hiccup, Penny laughed. And then she cried.

Immediately, the amused exasperation on her mother’s face melted into concern.

“What’s wrong? Is it Jack?”

Penny nodded, unable to speak. Erica pulled her into the house while Jade trailed in after them and sat her down on the loveseat in the living room.

“Oh, my Penelope Rose…”

Her mother didn’t ask questions. She just held her and rocked her gently for a long time.

24

CAN'T TAKE YOUR MEMORY

JACK

So, it looked like Penny wasn’t who or what he’d thought she was after all.

American Roots video Penny was sweet and sincere. In the imaginary relationship he’d built with her, she was also fiercely loyal. Dream Penny would never have decided to pack her things and take off without a word. Not a phone call or a text. Not even aDear Jacknote on the nightstand. Just a silentfuck you.

A quietNo, I don’t want you, I never loved you.

That’s what she’d left him with. That’s what was inside him — a scream in the void where his soul should be.

Fuck that.

He should’ve walked away and never looked back the night he saw her wedding photo by her bedside, knowing she was walled off from caring about a new man. Even if she’d revealed she wasn’t romantically passionate about Brendan, she was still using him as her excuse to keep Jack at arm’s length.

There’d never been a real shot for them. Brendan was the only man she wanted in her life. For the rest of her life.

Now he had nothing left but his pride and his rage. The thirst for blood.

FitzGerald excelled at keeping affairs in the castle a secret. And in a secret fight, there’d be no rules. No laws. He could kill La Roque and there’d be no consequences.

On the other hand, if La Roque killed him with a lucky blow angled just right, at least it would silence that scream inside him once and for all.

It would be a mercy compared to what lay ahead without Penny. Without their child.

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