Page 15 of Instant Heat
With a trembling hand, I reached for it. Once me thumb swiped over the green button, I pressed the device against me ear."Dia dhuit."
He coughed into me ear before his raspy voice sounded."Dia is Muire dhuit.Did I wake you, son? I know it's late there."
After taking in me dark surroundings, I admitted,"It was time to wake up anyway. Is everything all right, Da?"
"Yes, yes," he reassured me."Your ma and I were wondering how the move and new job is going?"
Pushing off the bed, I walked to the window. I couldn't see much of anything beyond it, but that didn't matter."It's…" A defeated sigh pushed past me lips."I didn't have the best start, to be honest."
Howling wind filtered through the line and I imagined me da walking across the land, wind whipping the gray hairs on top of his head in every which way. I might've lived in the States but Ireland would always be me home and right that second, I missed it.
Or maybe because I'd been reminded how short life was it was me family I was missing.
"Nothing worth doing is ever easy, son."
Closing me eyes, I leaned me forehead against the cold glass."I know."
"You keep at it and your reward will be just." He paused for a few seconds."Your ma and I believe in you, and you've made us very proud."
"Go raibh maith agat, Da." I pulled in a deep drag of air."How's Ma doing?"
At the other end of the line, me da sighed heavily."She's ready to spit fire. Thirty-one of her sheep have gone missing and ole Doyle has reported fifteen missing too. Whoever is taking these animals clearly know what they're doing."
I bit the inside of me cheek to keep from chuckling. Ma's sheep were her babies. I was certain she was livid and until she could take it out on the arse who'd stolen her sheep, me poor da was going to get it.
"That's unfortunate; I hope it gets sorted soon."
More heavy sighs filtered through the line."Me too, son." The words had barely left his mouth when I heard me ma calling for him. I knew that tone all too well."I have to go feed the horses," he said quickly. The line went dead a second later.
I was still standing in front of the window long after me da had hung up. Staring into the darkness, me thoughts consumed with nothing and everything at the same time. It was this feeling gnawing at me bones that'd driven me to the bar a couple of nights ago.
Drink wouldn't take it away but there was someone who could.
8
RAELYN
It was big, right?" Briana turned to Lacy and continued,"I mean, it had to be; that smile hasn't left her for almost two days now." Sipping on her wine, she turned her suspicious gaze back to me.
"Maybe I'm just in a good mood." I shrugged my shoulders and snatched another slice of pizza from the box. After carefully removing all the olives, I took a huge bite and moaned as I savored the cheesy deliciousness.
"Are you re-enacting, Rae?" Lacy asked.
"Yeah, is that how you stuffed your mouth a few nights ago?" Brie added.
I almost choked.
Covering my lips with my hands, I focused very hard on swallowing what was left in my mouth."What the hell?" I managed to get out after a small coughing fit.
By this time both of my friends were laughing so hard, tears were streaming down their faces. Every few seconds Lacy would make a lewd gesture with her hand and tongue that had Brie just howling louder.
"You two are the worst." Pushing to my feet, I glared at them both as I made my way to the kitchen to refill our drinks. After a quick glance over my shoulder to ensure I was alone, I pulled my phone from my shorts.
No new messages.
I couldn't hide my disappointment. It'd been two days; if he was going to call, he'd have done it by now. Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I got another spritzer for Lacy and grabbed Brie's wine bottle from the counter before heading back to the living room.
"So, are you ready to divulge all the juicy details?" Lacy asked when I sat back down.
