Page 24 of Southie
Or, they were whores playing good girls.
I didn’t have time to deal with the baggage that came along with that.
“Nana, how did you two meet?”
“We met on the bus one night when she was getting off in the neighborhood. Liam, darling, poor Camilla wasn’t dressed for the weather.”
Her name is Camilla. It’s just as beautiful as she is.
Camilla’s mouth quirked. “Mrs. Daugherty, cut me some slack for that. I’m not from here. I didn’t realize how cold it got here, but I’m much better prepared now.”
She pulled at the sleeve of her knit sweater.
“Nana, I wish you’d let me take you to Mass and Confession or at least let me get Johnny or Sean to do it. You shouldn’t be riding the bus when there’s someone to take you wherever you need to go, especially late in the evening. It’s not safe.”
My nana waved my comment away.
“You see how he treats me, Camilla, like I’m an old woman.” She waved her hand in the air dramatically. “Like I’m on my death bed and can’t do shit for myself.”
I sighed, although I smiled at her dramatic ass. “You’re being dramatic again, Nana. I’m just looking out for you. You’re all I have left.”
“That’s not true, but I’ll let that bullshit slide because you’re just worried about me.” She patted me on the cheek and gave my chin a gentle squeeze. “Not like those other shits that claim I’m their blood. You treat me better than my children. Just for that, when I die, they aren’t getting shit from me. Do you hear me, Liam Daugherty? Not one damn dime. I’m leaving all I have to you. They may bitch about it, but there’s not a damn thing they can do about it.”
I smiled, and Camilla held her hand over her mouth to shield her grin from my grandmother’s over-the-top confession of her last wishes. Occasionally, my grandmother went on these rants about my father, uncle, and her other grandchildren. They were all called for, of course, because none of them had anything to do with her unless they wanted something from her, which was usually money.
I grabbed her hand, hoping to calm her growing anger about my family’s concern for her money before it got too out of control. “I’m the only one you think loves you, so will you please stop riding the bus for me? It would give me some peace of mind.”
She scoffed. “I’ll do no such thing. How do you expect me to make it to Mass and Confession, Liam?”
“Nana, I told you Sean or Johnny can take you. When I’m not working, I will.”
She rolled her eyes. “Paddy’s boys aren’t driving me anywhere. I wished you wouldn’t have involved yourself with him, Liam. I love that boy like he is my own, and our families go back a long way, but he’s no good. You should’ve stayed far away from him.”
I couldn’t let her find out why I’d done what I had. Despite my Pops' misgivings, my grandmother still believed her oldest boy walked on water and could do no wrong, and she wasn’t one to step down from anyone, even in her old age, especially over her son. She wouldn’t step down from Paddy either, but she was too old to be involved in her son’s business, so I did what needed to be done to keep everyone clear of the shit my father had gotten into.
Yeah, it may have cost me my freedom for a little while and a few sleepless nights after jobs, but he was family. Despite how dysfunctional they might be, they were still my family. Regardless of how much I hated my parents for the life they’d given me, they were still my blood and blood needed to stick together.
“Let’s not talk about it while you have company.”
Camilla didn’t need to hear how fucked up our family truly was. With how comfortable their relationship seemed to be, I didn’t doubt my grandmother had spilled some family secrets already.
“I can excuse myself,” Camilla said, looking down at her watch. “I need to head to the bus stop anyway before I miss my bus.” She gave my grandmother a wide smile. “Mrs. Daugherty, same time tomorrow?”
She stood and placed a kiss on my grandmother’s cheek.
How long had they known each other?
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Liam, take Camilla wherever she needs to go so she isn’t late. She doesn’t need to ride the bus.”
Camilla shook her head. “No…no, Mrs. Daugherty. It’s fine. I don’t mind riding the bus, and I’m sure your grandson is busy.”
“She doesn’t need to ride the bus,” I said. “And neither should you.”
My grandmother scoffed.
When I turned toward Camilla to assure her I had no problem taking her wherever she needed to be, I lost my train of thought.
Damn, she’s fine.
