Page 23 of Praying Mantis

“Are you okay Sean? You’re awfully quiet tonight.” Louisa breaks through my thoughts.

“I’m good, baby. Lost in my thoughts.” I smile. I know it’s a weak one because she places her hand on my thigh and squeezes it. She’s reassuring me. I get back into the conversation and Mom talks about her book club. Louisa talks about the book signing she went to last month and tells her about it. She brings out the cell phone to show the pictures of her and Matthew from it. My mom laughs so hard at the antics, which is Matthew. My mom is dabbing her eyes with her maroon napkin from laughing when Maeve brings out the dessert. I thank her when she fills a cup of coffee for me and when she brings me a piece of apple pie. I smile up at her, and she pats my shoulder.

We say our goodbyes and leave with leftovers.

“Louisa, dear, it’s been so wonderful meeting you and getting to know you. I’m sorry my céile isn’t here to meet you.” My mom is sad when she talks about her husband not being here. I wonder what’s going on with him.

“Can you tell athair I’ll give him a call this coming week? Don’t get excited. I just haven’t talked to him in a while.” I kiss her cheek before leaving. Louisa and my mom hug with a promise of a farmer’s market visit in a couple of weeks and possibly bringing Matthew. I think there are new book club members if my mom has anything to say about it and Louisa is more than excited about it.

“Are you okay?” Louisa asks me.

“Yeah, it’s weird not seeing my dad at dinner. I need to check in with him, that’s all.” I kiss her cheek before pulling out of the driveway. Louisa invites me over for the night. We have sex on the dining room table like I told her I would before making love to her all night in her bed and it’s a perfect way to end a night.

Sean

“Make it stop.” Louisa’s voice wakes me up as she slaps my chest.

“Make what stop?” I slowly wake up and try to focus on what’s going on. I hear my phone ringing on the floor. I remember we brought our clothes to the bedroom before going to sleep. Louisa doesn’t like the mess so I’ve been trying my hardest to keep her OCD from being on overdrive or whatever it is which makes her feel out of control. I throw the light green comforter and matching sheets off me as I climb out of the bed. My cell phone is in the back of my jeans. “Fuck!” I growl.

“What is it?” Louisa comes around the bed wearing her black silk robe.

“Many people have been trying to get a hold of me. I don’t know how I slept through it.” There are a ton of text messages, missed calls, but only one voicemail.

“I just heard it. Call someone back.” The phone rings again and it’s John.

“Hello, John. Sorry, I slept through my cell phone somehow.” I wink at Louisa teasing her.

“Sean, you need to get to Boston Medical Center as soon as you can. It’s your father.” He sighs. I hear a lot of commotion in the background. Is he at the hospital?

“Was he shot?” I ask as I grab my clothes and put the phone on speaker so I can get dressed.

“No. I found him in his office about five a.m. unresponsive. The doctor thinks it was a heart attack. They’re running tests now. Your mother is a mess.” I look at the time and it’s almost eight. Louisa’s getting dressed in dark skinny jeans and a pink blouse.

“I’m on my way in two minutes. I need to get my shoes on.” I hang up with him and we leave in the two minutes I told him. Louisa is driving since I can’t quiet my mind because I’m trying to remember the last time I spoke to my father. I lean my head back on the headrest of the car, closing my eyes.

“What can I do?” Louisa’s hand finds my thigh and runs her hands on it. It’s not sexual but more of a reassuring way.

“I don’t know. I’m glad you’re here with me.” I grab her hand, bringing it to my lips, leaving kisses. She smiles at me. Boston Medical Center is about a ten-minute drive.

“Do you want me to let you out then I park or you want to go park the car with me?” Louisa’s tone is quiet and I’m certain she feels unsure what to say or do. My insides are a mess, but I’m trying to be strong because I know my mom is going to need me.

“Park. I want to walk in with you. I don’t know if I can face Mom and my dad’s men without you.”

“Your dad’s men?” She pulls into a parking spot and turns off the car.

“You are going to hear a lot of talk today. I’ll explain everything later tonight when we leave. My name is Sean O’Hannon but I go by my mom’s maiden name because when I turned eighteen years old, I joined the military and turned my back on the O’Hannon family. My dad is head of the O’Hannon Mob. My family is the Irish mob here in Boston.” Louisa’s mouth is hanging open, and she’s staring at me with eyes wide. “I’ll go into more detail later on tonight, I promise.” I tuck my finger under her chin to close it, which makes her chuckle.

“I trust you, Sean. I’ll follow your lead, but I expect a nice long bath with a storytime.” I smile as I kiss her beautiful pink lips. We get out of the car and walk hand in hand into the hospital. I see some of my father’s men standing guard at the exits. They nod their head toward me. Despite me being an FBI agent, they believe in family and loyalty. Dad is my family, and I’d do anything for him even when he doesn’t respect my wishes. The further we go in, the more men we see.

“Baby, I need you to do something for me.” We stop short of the waiting room. I see my dad’s right-hand man, Colin, standing there talking with about five men. “Don’t go anywhere without me. If you need to go anywhere, let me let one of my father’s men who I know and trust go with you. There is one man who would love to see me in this hospital fighting for my life instead of the other way around.” I sigh.

“Why?” The confusion on her face makes me wish I had more time to explain all of this to her. I blew out a breath, shaking my head, trying to clear out my thoughts. They’re all bundled together. “The quick version is Colin, that man standing in the black suit with the red dress shirt. He’s my dad’s right-hand man and wants my dad’s spot when he passes. My dad believes the firstborn son should have it. I don’t want it as I’m an FBI agent. Dad still thinks he can convince me to give it up and take up the family business. If he knows you’re mine, then he might try something. I don’t know. I don’t trust him, never have.”

“I can handle myself, but you know best with these men. Let’s go check on your parents. I bet your mom could really use you right about now.” She stands on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. I wrap her in my arms. I breathe in her scent. I eventually release her from my grasp and we continue the trek into the emergency room. I nod at Colin but keep walking past him.

I stop a nurse who leads us back to where my parents are while they’re waiting on test results. I pull back the curtain to see my mom sitting on a plastic chair with her hands clasped praying while my dad is lying in the hospital bed with all these machines beeping, whirring, and wires coming from all over him. I can’t move. My feet feel like they’re in quicksand. Louisa squeezes my hand. I swallow hard and I feel my eyes stinging trying to release the tears. I’ve never seen my dad so still even when he had the flu.

“Sean.” My mom’s voice cuts through my thoughts. I walk over to her. “Louisa.” She stands to hug us both as she cries. I don’t let go of Louisa but we both wrap our free hands around her. Her body just shakes in our arms. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

---