Page 24 of The Bossy One

“But her mind and emotions need some help right now. Sometimes when she’s sad, she drinks something that makes her feel better. It’s called alcohol. But if you drink too much alcohol, it makes you sick—gives you a headache and makes your stomach hurt so that you can’t eat anything but crackers.” I saw Catie’s eyes widen as understanding kicked in. “It also makes it tough to make good decisions,” I added as I took Catie’s hands. “But your mom is very smart and very brave, so she made the hard, important decision to try to stop drinking so much. So she’s staying at a special hospital for a few months so she can learn how to do other, healthier things when she wants to feel better, instead of drinking. The good news is, she’s getting help, and she’s going to be okay.”

Catie’s eyes were still wide, but her frown had faded. “What about her important work?”

“That was a silly story Uncle Declan made up to explain why she had to be away for so long. He said it because he didn’t want you to worry. But sometimes silly stories like that accidentally make us worry more, right?”

Catie nodded vigorously.

“So now that you know the truth, you don’t have to worry about helping your mom get to work. She’s going to focus on getting better, and you can focus on having fun with Uncle Declan and Grandma and me.” I made my smile bright and confident. “Your mom will be here before you know it. Okay?”

“Okay,” Catie said. “Can I pick out a book now?”

“Sure,” I said. I stood up, and nearly bumped into a man about my own age who had come to a halt behind me. He was average looking with brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin. The most notable thing about him was that he was in far too fine a suit for a children’s bookstore. I wobbled a bit, and he instinctively steadied me with a friendly hand.

“Sorry, I…your little girl. It’s amazing. She looks exactly like my sister when she was younger.” He shook himself out of whatever he was feeling and gave me a sheepish smile.

Molly bustled over to restock some books. “Hey, Seamus. I see you’ve met the youngest Byrne.” She smiled at me and Catie. “Catie dear, it looks like your uncle Declan just parked out front.”

The man—Seamus—stiffened. He glanced at Catie. “I think I might know your mum, dear. How old are you?”

“Six,” Catie said proudly.

“Six,” Seamus repeated faintly. “Wonderful age.”

The shop bell rang, and I looked up to see Declan striding in. His face split in a grin when Catie ran up to him, holding the book she’d picked. Then he looked past me, and his face turned icy.

“Seamus,” he said, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.

“Declan,” Seamus responded, his voice only marginally warmer.

Molly winced and found an excuse to duck behind the register and away from the men.

Seamus tried for a smile. “I just met your adorable niece—”

“I’ll thank you to stay away from my family,” Declan interrupted. He tossed some bills on the counter, took Catie’s hand, and abruptly left the shop, slamming the door behind him.

I scurried out of the shop after him, more than a little confused. “Declan, what was that about?”

He waited until Catie was settled in the backseat of his car, then shut the door and turned to face me. His face was so hard, it was almost frightening. “I want you to keep Catie away from Seamus O’Rourke, and his whole fucking family. Understand? They’re bad news, the lot of them.”

I nodded, wondering what the O’Rourkes could possibly have done to earn Declan’s wrath.

As we drove home, I tried not to think about the most recent rule of Declan’s I’d broken—and what kind of wrath he might rain down on me when he found out.

7

DECLAN

Olivia had only been on the job for six days when I got an email from Sunny Days Childcare, saying they had a new nanny available who met all my requirements, and asking if I wanted to interview her. I stood in the kitchen eating a late breakfast over the sink and eyeing my phone, feeling irrationally torn over how to respond.

On the one hand, I could tell that Olivia had been making an effort to follow my rules for Catie. She hadn’t told Catie the truth about Sinead. And she’d found a middle ground between strict discipline and spoiling Catie rotten. If Catie wanted something, Olivia either said yes, or she suggested they get to it later in the week instead, so Catie had something to look forward to. Personally, I thought Catie deserved anything she wanted immediately, with no strings attached, but Catie seemed happy enough with the arrangement, so I’d been willing to live with the balance Olivia had struck, at least until I had a better option.

I’d gotten used to seeing her around in the mornings, still soft from sleep, with all that unruly hair of hers piled on top of her head in a way that exposed her graceful neck. To hearing her voice drift through the halls of my house. To glancing out the window and seeing her and Catie laughing in the backyard.

Sometimes when she smiled at Catie it was hard to look away.

I shoved those thoughts aside. Simply getting used to a woman was no reason to keep her on staff.

You know how much Olivia needs this job, something disturbingly like my conscience whispered.

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