20
Kieren felt like she had walked onto a
movie set. Shenanigan’s was exactly how she had pictured an authentic Irish
pub; rich wood everywhere, low lit candles on the tables, fiddlers playing on a
small stage, a burly redheaded man behind the bar, a beautiful buxom girl
waiting tables, and old men sipping a dark muddy brew.
As Logan relieved Kieren of her coat, the
sultry vixen sashayed over to greet them. “It’s good to see you Logan.” She
said and kissed him on the cheek. “And who have you brought with you this
evening?”
“Kieren may I present Mary Katherine
MacClennan or I should say Mary Katherine Shaunacy now, but we all call her
Molly. Molly, this is Kieren Byrne Cleary.”
Molly gave Kieren a brilliant smile, “Ah,
so this would be Paddy’s granddaughter finally come home. And where is Paddy? I
haven’t seen him since I was but a young girl, but oh I loved that man.”
“Molly, Paddy passed away a few weeks
ago.” Logan informed her, sparing Kieren from having to respond.
Molly gathered Kieren in a quick but
fierce hug, “Oh dear, I’m so sorry for your loss, as I said, I loved the man.”
“Thank you.” Kieren replied, not knowing
what else to say.
Molly pulled back, then squeezed Kieren’s
hand, “Come, come. Let’s get you set up. Tonight will not be about being sad,
it will be about celebrating a wonderful life.”
Kieren had no idea what Molly was talking
about until after Molly had seated her at the table, then climbed up on the
stage and drew everyone’s attention. “Settle ye selves down. I’ve just learned
from Kieren Cleary over there, that her grandfather, Patrick Christopher Byrne,
has passed.” She raised a glass, and when every patron had his glass raised as
well, she said loud and clear for all to hear, “Here’s to you Paddy, you were
loved by all and will be missed by many. May the road rise up to meet you, and the wind
be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall
soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow
of His hand.”
The crowd
cheered and drank, and Kieren was reduced to tears. It was her grandfather’s
funeral all over again. She barely had time to swipe at her tears, when the
music began to play and someone had taken her hand.
She looked
to Logan and he told her, “You cannot refuse love, it’s for Paddy.”
For
Paddy. She allowed
herself to be whirled away. Since she had no idea what she was doing, she
simply held on tight and allowed one partner after another spin her around the
room, each attempted to share a word or two about Paddy as they danced.
Eventually the music stopped and she was returned to Logan and her table.
Throughout dinner, people would sit at
their table and share a story about Paddy with them. By the time they had
finished eating, Kieren’s tears had completely dried and her sides ached from
laughing.
When Molly stopped by the table to check
on them, Kieren thanked her again. “I’ll still miss him every day, but now I
think I’ll be smiling when I think about him instead of wanting to cry.”
“Then we did well and I’m glad.” Molly
wagged a finger at Logan. “Make sure Logan here gives you my number, so if
you’re needing anything when he’s not around, you have someone close to call. I
only live up the road a piece, and if I’m not home, I’m usually here.”
“That’s very sweet of you. Thank you.”
“Ach, think nothing of it.” Molly
dismissed. “You’re one of our own, even if you haven’t realized it yet. Now, I
won’t be bothering you no more. Enjoy the rest of your evening and I hope to
see you soon.”
When she left, Kieren turned to Logan and
asked, “Is she always so kind?”
Logan laughed and shook his head,
“Actually, she isn’t, but for some reason she’s taken a fancy to you. Count
your blessings. You don’t want to be finding yourself on Molly’s bad side.”
Kieren raised an eyebrow, “That sounds
like you’re speaking from experience.”
“That I am love, that I am.”
“Spill it buster. What did you do to that
poor sweet girl to get on her bad side?”
“Sweet my arse. She has a mean streak
which would give the Devil himself pause, our Molly does.” Logan eyed Molly
from across the room. She responded with a beatific smile, for she knew Logan
was being forced to recount his tale of woe.
Kieren noted the exchange and prompted,
“So…”
“Let’s just say I was a bit of a
prankster when I was young, as most young boys are, and Molly didn’t appreciate
being the butt of one of my pranks, and she made me pay for it for a very long
time.”
Kieren’s eyes widened, “Oh no. So this
has been going on for a while.”
“Damn near twenty years.”
“But she seemed genuinely happy to see
you when we arrived?”
“Oh, Molly and I are great friends, but
that doesn’t mean she’ll ever let me forget the time when that wasn’t so.”
Kieren couldn’t contain her giggles, and
eventually Logan joined her in laughing at his own misfortune.
“It’s getting late and we should be
getting you home. I have a big day planned for you tomorrow, so you’re going to
need to be well rested.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” He said as he helped her on with
her coat.
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