Page 6 of Played By the Fool

As we’re driving, we can see a scattering of houses. There’s one big house that appears in front of us. There are a lot of motorcycles parked around it.

“Um, is this safe?” Aisling whispers.

“I’ve heard of the Cimaruta MC. They’re a motorcycle club, they used to be into guns and drugs. But lately they’ve been doing things differently. Not as many arrests for criminal activities,” Fionn says to us.

“So what you’re saying is that our grandfather is part of a criminal gang? Or, okay. An ex-criminal gang,” Aisling says as she looks around with wide eyes.

Da parks and a huge guy comes up to our car.

“You’re looking for Liam Kearney?” he asks as he stares at Da.

It doesn’t feel like he’s staring at him in an angry way. It’s more like he’s trying to figure out how he knows him.

“Yes. Is he here?” Da asks.

“What’s your name? And why do you need to see him?”

“No offense, but the why part is really between me and Liam. But my name is Cian Ó'Ruairc.”

The giant nods. “Please wait here.”

“This place is really nice. But that guy is really scary.” Aisling giggles.

We watch the door and wait for him to come back out. I wonder if Liam is in there? After a few minutes, we see the giant appear again and an older man is with him. He looks like my da. Only older. Holy shit. I hear my da suck in a breath.

“Cian?” Da’s look-alike asks.

My da looks at him and nods.

“Holy shite. I dreamt of this day but never thought it would come. Your mam…she’s on her way here.”

Liam embraces my da as I watch his tears fall. Even the giant is sniffling as he watches. I can’t believe we found my granda and he obviously loves my da already.

“This is my family. My wife, Éireann, our children, Fionn, Aisling, Áine and Ciarán,” Da says.

Liam hugs each of us tightly.

“You’re all beautiful.” Liam sniffles.

We all watch a car pull up to the driveway and stop next to our car. Liam walks over to the car and helps a woman out. Aisling and Áine strongly resemble her. As she gets closer, I can see the tears falling down her face. She walks over to my da and embraces him.

“I never wanted to give you away. You were always wanted.” She sobs as she holds him.

We all follow Liam into the house and then into a large living room.

“Do you live here?” my mam asks.

“We do when we’re in Ireland. We spend a lot of time in Lake Renegade, Illinois.”

We sit down with Liam and Órfhlaith. They’re a very good-looking couple and I can see all of us in their faces.

“I know you must have so many questions for us. And you can ask anything you want. Nothing is off limits,” Órfhlaith says to Da.

“Why did you give me up? You said you didn’t want to. So why did you?”

“We were only seventeen and our parents wouldn’t give us permission to get married. They told us we either give you up or we were on our own. And we still had a year of school, there was no way for us to take care of you. I regretted it every day since. I’m so sorry, Cian. There was a Sister, Katherine. We talked every day and she even snuck your da in to see me before I gave birth to you. She promised to find you a good home. Please tell me you had a good life.” She sniffles.

“I did. My parents were good people. They had a son, Colin, and a daughter, Finola, before they adopted me. My parents passed away when I was in college. But I’m close to my brother and sister. I can see that you’re still together, do you have any other children?”

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