Page 35 of Accidental Irish Daddy

So,” I say to Aisling, “I was thinking that maybe I should give you a little time off for a while. Maybe a weekend every so oftenso that you can unwind properly without having to worry about taking care of my mother.”

She glances up at me and smirks. “Thank you, but I’m fine as I am.”

“You haven’t taken any time off since I’ve hired you. And now that you’re living here, you’re basically giving twenty-four-hour care. You must be wanting some time off to…go out or whatever.”

She shakes her head as she pours the hot water in the teacups. “It’s no trouble, and if it were, I’d tell you, but thank you for offering. The fact is that now that I’m here, I’m more relaxed than I’ve ever been. That bed up there probably has the softest mattress I’ve ever laid in.”

“They’re too soft if you ask me,” says Ma. “I wake up with a stiff neck every morning.”

“That’s because you had me switch out your pillows, Mrs. Duncan, remember?” Aisling sets the tea up on a tray, then wipes her hands with a tea towel. “We had a talk about it last week.”

Ma looks at her strangely, then recognition comes in and she nods. “Right. I guess my memory isn’t what it used to be.”

That’s not the only thing, either. Ma looks frail this morning. Her skin is incredibly pale, almost translucent. Even with her mood being better, physically, I can see the cancer taking its toll on her.

“Well,” I say to Aisling. “If you change your mind, just let me know. I wouldn’t want you to think that you couldn’t take time off if you wanted to.”

She just smiles and nods. I make my coffee without another word as she and Ma walk out to the lanai to have their breakfast outside.

Once they’re gone, I get an idea. She shares the guest room with Bridget, so surely Bridget knows something about whereshe’s going. I sit down at the table, grabbing one of the biscuits from Martha’s basket.

“Your sister is a pretty busy woman,” I say to Bridget.

Bridget doesn’t say anything. She just keeps working in her notebook.

“Taking care of youandmy ma, I’m sure she doesn’t take any time for herself ever.”

“She can’t,” Bridget responds. “She’s gotta work hard for my medicine.”

I blink and frown slightly. I wasn’t aware that Bridget was ill. “You take medicine?”

She nods. “Just because I can’t breathe too good sometimes.”

I nod in understanding. “The medicine must be expensive.”

Bridget just shrugs, then looks up at me, “She likes being a nurse. She wishes she could do it all the time, but it doesn’t pay enough to take care of us both.”

It hits me then.

Of course!She’s moonlighting. Well, that makes sense. I know a lot of bosses who don’t take kindly to their employees taking second jobs. I always thought that was silly, personally. Punishing people for working hard has never been on my radar.

I feel a little relieved that Aisling is just working a second job at night. I might even say that’s admirable of her.

My coffee’s done brewing, so I get up to make my cup, but not before telling Bridget. “Your sister’s a good person for working so hard just to keep you healthy.”

“I just wish she didn’t have to work so late at the club.” Bridget frowns.

I freeze.

Did she say…club?I turn around to Bridget and I ask, “She works at a club?”

Bridget nods. “Yup. The Pink Kitty. She dances there every night from midnight to two o’clock. I know because I used to tryto wait up for her, but sometimes she comes home later than that.”

Shit! She’s a stripper? No way!

“Are you okay, Mr. Duncan?”

I force a smile on my face. “I’m fine, love. I’d better get going to work, though. You have a good day at school, all right?”

---