Page 75 of Demise

He sucked his teeth, looking down at the steps, holding onto the doorframe tightly. He didn’t speak for a long moment, and then his expression turned compliant. “Make sure she keeps in touch with us. Never lay a hand on her, and I swear if you hurt her, I’ll find you.”

“You have my word.”

He stared a little longer, and then he nodded once and shut the door.

“I told Ma and Paul I was going to ask you and she gave me the ring. I also visited your uncle.”

She lifts a brow. “How’d that go?”

I laugh. “About as good as you would expect, but he gave consent.” My phone rings in my pocket and I stand and answer. “Yeah?”

“Bones. We need to meet now. It’s serious.”

“Be at the bar in thirty,” I replied.

Bexley frowns.

“I gotta go, love. But I’ll be back tonight.” I pull her up from the bench and kiss her ring finger. “I love you.”

She smiles and wraps her arms around me. Kissing my neck, she murmurs, “I’ve loved you in secret for so long, knowing my feelings were to be buried deep in the shadows between my heart and soul.”

She breaks away and looks up at me.

“But you don’t have to love me in secret any longer, and soon you’ll be my wife.”

______________

“This better be important,” I say to Sweep as I walk up to the bar. Mae asks me if I want anything.

“Whiskey,” I say. “Sweep will have one, too. In fact, the whole bar will. Drinks on me,” I say to the room.

The old men lift their beers to me. Mae walks over and fills their glasses after she fills ours. I slide onto the barstool.

Sweep tips his beer back, and then he looks behind him around the bar. I lift my glass and make a toast. “May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live. Sláinte.” I throw my drink back, as does Sweep.

“Now what is this emergency that you had to call me away from my fiancée?”

Sweep lifts a brow. “Didn’t know you were going to ask her.”

“She said yes,” I say.

Sweep nods and pats me on the back. “I’m happy for you,” he says.

I nod, looking up at Mae who’s staring at me like she’s seen a ghost.

“Mae,” I say.

She tosses down her towel. “I fucking quit.” She yanks her apron off and exits through the back.

“Shit,” I say. “Hold on a minute.”

I round the bar and chase after her. “Mae, stop,” I say as she pushes the back door open and walks out.

I grab her by the arm.

She slaps me. “All these years. All these goddamn years I’ve loved you and never once have you had the decency to let me go. You’ve never looked at me the way you do her.” She shakes her head, her eyes going to the sky above. “Why wasn’t I good enough?”

I don’t say anything. She exhales slowly, and then she turns and walks away.

---