Page 1 of Aidan

CHAPTER1

Aidan

The world isfull of liars.

Some of them tell the harmless white lie. The black lie for personal gain. Or the red lie because they want to hurt the other person or get even for some transgression against them. Me? I’ve told them all.

“Don’t you dare touch that.” Sorcha doesn’t pause filling up the pint glass with the nearly-black ruby red stout as she threatens Aisling.

The young girl flashes me a wide-eyed, guilty glance as she slowly lowers the arm that had been reaching for the basket of fish and chips sitting on the counter behind her much older sister. My whiskey glass hides my grin. Inside O’Connell’s pub, fishermen slowly trickle in after a long day out on the water, all of them wanting a cold drink and a hot meal.

Sorcha tips the glass and expertly leaves less than an inch of foam at the top, before spinning to grab the basket and round the other side of the bar. She sets down both in front of a white-haired, white-bearded man and then moves to a nearby table to take their order.

“She was crying the other night.”

I drag my gaze from the lush curves showcased by the jeans she wears and turn to the tiny black-haired girl who moved to stand next to me. “I’m sure things have been hard for all of you.”

What else do I say to a six-year old whose Da’s been dead less than a month?

“She lied though and said she wasn’t.” Aisling pouts.

I guess even Sorcha can count herself amongst the liars of the world. “She probably just didn’t want to upset you.”

“Lies are bad. Da said so.”

I’m barely able to stifle my snort. Her Da was one of the biggest liars of them all. “Sometimes people tell white lies so they don’t hurt someone’s feelings or make them sad.”

Aisling shakes her head, her dark curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Da said even white lies are bad. We’re always supposed to tell the truth no matter what.”

“Well, then, you should probably listen to him.” Look at me giving out sage advice.

Except her bottom lip trembles and her bright blue eyes, exactly like her sister’s, shimmer with tears. “I can’t listen to him no more, cause he died.”

Christ. I shoot a desperate glance Sorcha’s way. She catches it and her gaze drops to Aisling. With a quick word to the men sitting at the table, she rushes over and crouches in front of her sister, palming the little girl’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Aidan told me to listen to what Da says, but he’s dead and I miss him and I’m sad and I don’t want him to be dead,” she sobs.

“Oh, my sweet little nightmare.” Sorcha pulls Aisling into her arms and holds her tightly.She glances up at me with a sheen in her own eyes, but continues hugging her sister until finally the girl stops crying. Sorcha draws back and swipes away the tears still clinging to Aisling’s lashes. “I miss him, too. But just because he’s gone doesn’t mean we can’t still talk to him or hear his voice.”

The girl runs her sleeve across her snotty nose and takes in a shuddering breath. “I didn’t mean to cry.”

“You can cry any time you want.”

“Then why do you keep telling us you’re not crying when you are?” Aisling presses.

Sorcha winces and stands, although most people would have probably missed it. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I won’t do that anymore.”

“Promise?”

There’s a brief hesitation before she answers. “Promise.”

Lie.

But I understand why she said it.“Why don’t you go upstairs and make sure the twins aren’t getting into trouble?” Sorcha tells Aisling. “I’ll send dinner up soon and be there to tuck you in later.”

“Okay. Will you read me a story then, too?”

“Yes. Pick out a good one.”

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