Page 16 of Accidental Irish Daddy

“Martha,” she says, through a mouthful of scone. “These are amazing.”

“Thank you. Made with love for my favorite family.” Martha sits down next to Ma, and Aisling goes to the cabinet for the teabags.

“I should get going,” I say. I walk over to Ma and kiss her on the cheek. “Aisling, could you come with me for a moment, please? I’d like a word with you.”

She looks up at me, all glowy in the morning sunlight, then she follows me out of the kitchen and into the hallway.

“How has she been lately?” I ask her once we’re out of earshot.

She sighs, crossing her arms across her ample breasts. “Well. She’s been complaining about pain a lot more lately. I’ve been offering up her meds, but she says she doesn’t need it. I’m kind of at a loss as to how to give them to her. I don’t want her to have to suffer through it if she doesn’t have to.”

“You’ll have to find a way to get her to take them, then,” I say. “And get her on a schedule about it. Make it so she sleeps through the night, please.”

“Of course…but…” She stops, looking at me hesitantly.

“What?”

“Well…it’s probably better if you just give it to her before she goes to bed at night. I know you asked me to keep her medication hidden, but I think—”

“That won’t work,” I reply curtly. “You need to give her the medication before your shift ends. Understand?”

She nods, the brightness in her eyes dimming and putting on her professional face. “Of course, Mr. Duncan.”

“Good.”

***

I look over to see that everyone in the room is looking back at me. The presentation for the new ad campaign has been going on for at least twenty minutes and I haven’t been paying attention to a single word. The presenter—…um…Maryann, I think?—is standing in the front of the room, Her slide presentation is over and now I’m expected to comment on it.

“Good,” I say. “You will include copies of the slides for me to review more closely?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good. Now, if there’s nothing else, I have other meetings to attend to. Thank you for coming out.”

I stand and leave the room, my mind still a million miles away.

I was fine when the presentation started.

The slide showed a photo of a big flat with a family standing out front. A mother, father, two kids; a boy and a girl. The little girl had long red hair and pigtails, just like Aisling’s little sister.

And that’s where everything derailed in my mind.

I started thinking about last week when Aisling brought her little sister in with her. It was only for a few hours. Something about the school starting late for some reason or another.

That morning, Bridget was sitting quietly and doing her homework. I happened to look over and saw that it was pretty advanced-looking math. The kid must be a genius…

“That’s your homework?” I asked her.

She nodded.

“It’s algebra. I’m in an advanced class.”

“I’ll say,” I chuckled. “I’m an adult and I still don’t get algebra.”

She shrugged. “It’s not as hard as you think. It’s just all about following the rules.”

I smirked at her. “That’s probably why I have a hard time with it.”

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