Page 70 of Against Ebony Irish Seas

“My brothers and I fought when we were growing up.” Liam nudged him gently. “So did you and Carrick. We didn’t make a life out of it. We had fairness and kindness to balance it all out.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t understand anything anymore.

“There aren’t any easy answers. But it’s despicable that someone put kids up to it. I’m guessing Malcolm figured they were less likely to be charged if caught. Hopefully Donal will make some progress with Denis’ supervisors. All right, that’s enough of that. I’ll see you at the pub. This kind of self-reflection is good and natural. You’re doing well, Jamie, for what’s happened. If that’s any comfort.”

He clasped his friend’s shoulder. “It is. Thank you for everything, Liam. None of this would have come together as fast or as well without you.”

“I was happy to share my gifts.” He gave a jaunty wave and took off for his motorcycle.

Jamie locked the house—praising the saints that Ellie and Kathleen had borrowed heat guns from the arts center to ensure the paint on the front door dried quickly. Sophie was right. The words might be gone, but he could still see them. He imagined he would for a long time.

He picked up a couple more broken pieces of cinder block before petting Rex and telling him to stay. Closing the gate weighed on him as he left. His friends and neighbors would now have to ring him from a soulless box for entry. There would be no more flying visits or drop-overs for a spot of tea or whiskey.

That thought depressed him as he got into his car. Something precious had been stolen from him, and he hadn’t even known how precious it was until today. The smell of oranges enveloped him, and this time there seemed to be a warmth attached to it, so much so his throat ached.

“You’re down in the mouth, Jamie,” Sorcha said, appearing in the passenger seat. “But you have good reason. What happened last night was vile, and there will be more tough days ahead, no doubt. Yet you’ve had them before, and you overcame them.”

He glanced over to see her smiling softly. “Your passing was one of the darkest times I’ve ever faced.”

“And yet all wasn’t lost, was it?” She fiddled with the folds of her white dress. “So this will go, with everyone sticking together and standing up for what’s right. Look at all the people who came around today. Even grumpy old Mr. O’Shea. It’s like my mum always used to say.Miracles love company.Get ready for more, even as you begin to sift through the apple barrel for the rotten ones. Enjoy your evening tonight, my boy, and make sure to dance a jig for me.”

With a saucy smile, she vanished. He almost chuckled. Sorcha knew he had no rhythm for the old dances, but he could manage a slow dance without too much shuffling. He wondered if Sophie liked to dance.

When he arrived at Bets’ and Linc’s, the lights out front were all turned on. The house was equally ablaze, but it was good precaution. They would all have higher electric bills, but if it meant feeling safer, it was a small price.

As he left the car, he thought perhaps he should have texted first. When Linc opened the door, he lifted his hand in greeting. “I got to thinking perhaps we should all text when we’re coming for a visit, given the state of things.”

“As an American, that’s what I’m used to,” Linc said, waving him inside. “I think it’s a good plan for the moment. We should pass the word. How did the wall-raising go?”

The smell of a roast hung in the air as they walked into the parlor. His stomach grumbled. The sandwich he’d eaten earlier was long since gone. “We got the job done and well, thanks to the mass of people who showed up to help. I had your daughter take pictures, hoping it would lift Sophie’s spirit.”

“They would lift mine and Bets’ too.” Linc walked over to the bar stand. “Whiskey?”

“We’re all meeting at the pub for a drink.” He opened his hands awkwardly. “I figured everyone could use a lift, myself included. I’m buying the first round. We were hoping you’d be coming along.”

“We’d love to.” Linc forewent the whiskey and poured some of that sparkling water Jamie had never taken a fancy too. The bubbles sprayed all over one’s face.

“How was your day?” he asked, hoping to hear Sophie coming, but the hall behind him remained silent.

“Got a whole lot done. Hired Brigitte’s publicist and three security people, one of whom is an investigator. Discussed our situation with our current advisory members from the county council. We have an uphill battle locally. One of the idiots had the gall to tell me that we’re veering into a dangerous territory.Art as morality.It made me think he was the one who leaked your syllabus for the children’s program. I wanted to strangle him.”

“Art isn’t morality,” Sophie said from behind him. “It’s apersonalexpression. This jerk is on your advisory board?”

Jamie turned around. She looked as pale as a lily in the moonlight.

“We’ll be parting ways soon,” Linc said savagely. “He’s reconsidering his association with us now that we’re dipping into feminism and ‘girls’ issues.’ You don’t want to know what else he said, trust me.”

Sophie rubbed her forehead. “Are they crazy?”

“Completely!” Bets sailed into the parlor with a tray that boasted steaming dinner plates loaded with roast, potatoes, and carrots. His eyes tracked it as she set it down on the coffee table. “Nicola did some research in her own bookstore and found out that you couldn’t even print the wordpregnantin Ireland until 1960.”

“Where did they think all the babies came from?” Sophie asked.

“The fairies,” Bets said, making a face. “Come, have something to eat. Jamie, have you had any dinner?”

His stomach growled again. “Don’t mind me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sophie, let me tell you about the Irish and having dinner at someone’s house. They won’t take anything. They’ll even watch you eat, stomach growling, and refuse a bread roll. Old school Irish stuff. You never take food from someone’s table. Probably comes from the famine days. But I persevered. I finally asked my friends if there was any way I could convince them to break tradition, and they told me, all blushing cheeks and ducked chins, that you have to ask like this. ‘Jamie, will you have a little bit?’”

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