Page 73 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
“We’re going to have extra budget expenses to clean the center up,” she whispered. “I feel terrible about that.”
“Don’t worry.” Angie rubbed her shoulder. “We have good people behind us. The level of donations you and Eoghan have managed is incredible. My favorite story is about him checkmating Mary Kincaid in the grocery store. How can we not succeed with an evil mastermind like Eoghan O’Dwyer on our side?”
That comment forced a reluctant laugh out of her. “Can you be an evil mastermind at ninety-three?”
“I’d love to find out.” Her sister took her hand and put it on her middle. “Meet your niece or nephew. Carrick and I can’t wait for Ollie’s reaction.”
Neither could Megan. “He’ll be over the moon. Like I am.”
“Come on.” Angie wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s start cleaning up. Carrick and Kade are doing a few errands, but they’ll be back. With help, I expect. It’s not going to be fun or pretty, but we’re going to do it together.”
Together. Yes, that sounded better.
When they left the bathroom, they found their first volunteer. Brady McGrath was mopping up water in the hallway, humming under his breath.
He looked up and winked. “Hell of a storm in here. I was moving my things into Summercrest with my brother and Liam when I heard you needed a hand.”
“That was mighty nice of you, Brady,” Angie said, crossing and hugging him. “I know you guys have been working night and day to make that place habitable again.”
“I don’t feel my back anymore after all the cleaning and the painting we’ve gotten up to these couple weeks. Whiskey helps, so I brought some elixir of life for us all. Feel free to pour yourself a generous glass. We’re going to have this cleaned up in no time.”
Megan felt overcome by the gesture, but she managed to say, “Yes, thank you, Brady.”
“You’re both ours now,” he said, blowing them a kiss. “I heard what our firemen did. Megan, is there any hope for your pottery?”
Pain pressed under her ribs again. “I don’t think so. When you open a kiln too soon, it causes all sorts of problems. I don’t have a clue what happens once it’s covered in fire retardant, but I’m sure they’re beyond hope.”
“Megan Bennet,” a craggy male voice shouted.
She and Angie followed the sound to the entry hall. Eoghan O’Dwyer stood in front of at least thirty people armed with mops, buckets, and towels. He came forward, the wrinkles on his face more pronounced than ever.
“Oh, it’s worse than a funeral in here.” He took her hand and patted it. “But don’t you worry none. We’ll have this place brighter than it was before this horrible tragedy happened. And if you think I won’t be pressing people for more donations, you’d be betting wrong. Girls, it’s a tragic day, but money is going to flow as is kindness. Try and remember that.”
To her surprise, he hugged her gently. “Thanks, Eoghan.”
“Oh, for the love of heaven!” Bets appeared at the front of the crowd with Liam and Declan, each of them carrying an electric fan. “What a mess!”
“That’s an understatement,” Liam said, resting his fan on the floor and crossing to hug both of them. “You must be so upset.”
“It’s worse for Megan,” Angie said, explaining what the firemen had done to her pots.
“Not that!” He grabbed his head with one hand. “I suppose they were only doing their job, but it’s a loss to be sure. Megan! All your beautiful pots for the St. Stephen’s fair.”
“I’m so sorry this happened,” Bets said, setting her fan down with a bang. “I can’t imagine how you must feel. But we’ll make it right.”
“It takes more than something like this to put the people of Caisleán down,” Donal said, coming forward with a fan in each hand. “I’ve got every farmer in the area coming to help. We’ll hope it’s dry for a few days and let the fans do their work. All right, everyone, let’s get started.”
Megan found a mop. She wiped up the floor and then grabbed towels to dry the wooden shelves and other surfaces in the main hall. She couldn’t face the pottery studio yet.
The progress was slow and painstaking. Her back was hurting when Ollie shouted her name. She turned to see him running toward her, and her heart gave a thump as he wrapped his little arms around her. Looking over, she saw Jamie behind him, and she mouthedThank you. He simply nodded and went to pick up a mop.
“Mom, this is awful!” Ollie slapped a hand to his forehead like Liam often did. “It’s wet everywhere. Did the fire department really come and ruin all your pots?”
She didn’t want to throw anyone under the bus. “They were only doing their job.”
He hugged her again. “But it’s terrible, Mom. You loved those pots! You showed me and Kade everything you made.”
“I’ll just have to make new pots,” she said, her voice catching.
