Page 143 of Not Another Yesterday
Friday, June 2nd
Cat
“Oh, there she is!” Saoirse calls when I cross the parking lot toward Murphy’s this evening.
Despite it being Ronan’s nineteenth birthday, he insisted on working tonight, stubbornly rejecting Shane’s offer to cover his shift with a gruff, “I need the money, Shay.”
So the Soult family decided: if Ronan won’t come to the party, then the party will come to Ronan. He has no idea we’re currently congregating outside Murphy’s, no clue that the plan is to surprise him with dinner—well, we’re eating, he’s working, but still—then maybe stick around for a few hours, have some drinks, and make a night of it. Jack’s been experimenting with alcohol-free recipes just for me. He even created a mocktail, calling itThe Kitten. “Cat. Pregnant. Kitten. Get it?” he grinned.Yeah, I get it.I admit, I giggled.
My parents are here too, much to my dad’s visible dismay. Poor guy has no choice but to celebrate the birthday of “my boyfriend,” or, as he’s recently started calling Ronan, my “baby daddy.”
I hate it. Even more than I hateboyfriend. There’s something so smug in the way he says it, like he’s clinging to the role of disappointed father while simultaneously reducing Ronan to a teenage mistake.
I don’t know if my dad realizes it, but every time he makes a comment like that a little more of my respect for him erodes. Resentment has begun to settle in its place, hardening like wet cement.
“Oh, this place smells just like O’Callahan’s. Remember, Perry?” Saoirse says as she takes in the pub, the scent of which I’ve always loved. It’s a cozy mix of cedar, teakwood, ale, and Irish food. Warm and comforting.
The atmosphere is lively, with people mingling around the bar and filling the tables, music humming in the background. As always, Murphy’s is buzzing. Even the bar counter is completely packed.
“I do,” Perry says with a chuckle, turning to my parents. “O’Callahan’s was a little pub in Killarney, Ireland, where I worked back in the day—until a young woman named Saoirse walked in and stole my heart.”
I smile at the story while scanning the room for Ronan but coming up short. I do spot Shane, though. When our eyes meet, he lights up and makes his way over.
“Hey, Cat!” he says, then falters slightly when he notices I’m here with both families.
“Oh, Shane, hello!” Saoirse beams, pulling him into a hug.
“Hi, Mrs. Soult. Sorry, Saoirse,” he says, hugging her back. “So good to see you. How have you two been?” he asks, shaking Perry’s hand.
“Really well,” Perry says, smiling.
“Man, I really want to come back to the ranch,” Shane says, laughing.
“Anytime, son,” Perry says.
Saoirse nods beside him. “We’d absolutely love to have you. And bring your beautiful girlfriend.”
“I’ll totally take you up on that. Just don’t tell Ran. I want the good food all to myself,” Shane teases.
Saoirse pats his cheek. “I make enough for everyone. Truly, you’re always welcome.”
“Good, because Tori keeps talking about how badly she wants to go back. She wants to see the baby cows,” Shane says, bewildered.
“They’re really cute,” I say, giggling.
Shane chuckles. “I definitely can’t compete with that. So are you guys just dropping by to say hi or actually staying for dinner?”
“We’re planning to eat. That’s if you have a table for us,” Frank says in his deep voice, eyeing the crowd. “You guys are packed.”
“Yeah, Friday night in summer. This is the vibe for the next three months,” Shane says, grinning. “Come on, I have a spot for you.”
He leads us to a large table a little deeper into the restaurant.
“Where’s Ran?” Frank asks, looking around.
“He’s here somewhere,” Shane says with a smirk. “Can I get you all started on drinks?”
We rattle off our orders, and I’m as always impressed that neither he nor Ronan ever writes anything down. Somehow, they never get it wrong.
