he explained several things to me. I clearly jumped to conclusions, something I have chastised Shannon for on a number of occasions. ” I chuckled.
“ Yes, well sometimes things present themselves in a particular way and it is hard to see the truth. I am happy to see that you were able to find that in the end. ”
I offered her a cup of tea as I had begun to make one for myself. “ That sound s lovely, Lass. I wanted to speak with you as it were. ”
I handed her the cup and settled into my chair. I watched as she patiently stirred the hot liquid, watching the spoon as it mixed the sweet goodness.
“ Did your father ever tell you of the arrangement he and my Thomas made about you? ”
I nodded as I sipped my own cup.
“ He said that Thomas helped him with his divorce from my mother, but that was all he said. ” She looked at me with such a gentle look, a motherly look.
“ Oh, Christi. The men in our lives try so hard to protect us, thinking we are these fragile china dolls that will break at the slightest touch. If you are to become a member of this family, you should know the entire story. ”
I was frozen in my chair as I listened intently to her words.
“ It is true that Thomas contacted your father at a time when he needed our help. Of course my Thomas rarely did anything back then that didn't benefit himself. He was so angry when Matthew denied him your hand. ”
It was so strange to hear my fathers first name out loud. He was either dad, grandpa or Mr . O ’ Rourke.
“ But I told Thomas, that it was better that way. Have Patrick prove that he is a man in more ways than just age. If he can ’ t control his heart, how can he control the family business. ”
I could clearly picture Nora telling an angry Thomas that he wouldn't be getting his way.
“ When the time came, we took Patrick to the mall over on Moore Street. He was to bump into you and introduce himself. However as he stood there watching you, he told Thomas that you were too innocent for his world. Patrick was never protected from what his father did. There was no point, he was to be the leader of the family. I told Patrick very firmly that he would attend university and get a good education. I explained to him that any man can point a gun at another and make him do what he wants, but to be successful, you needed knowledge. Patrick Senior and Thomas, tried to teach him everything they knew when he graduated. Patrick took to the role of head of the family like a duck to water. However, I could see it in his eyes that his heart was empty. ”
I faintly remember the day that Nora spoke of. My father hated shopping, but on that particular Saturday, he insisted on taking just me to the mall. I met several of my friends that day and even found out that Mikey O ’ Toole had a crush on me. Mikey and I dated for several years, he was my first kiss as well as the one who took my virginity. He joined the military and married Rebecca Stone from the neighborhood.
“ Now, Christi, I know that my son was no saint while he was away at university. Thomas made certain he had eyes on him the whole time. But I do know for certain that he never dated a lass with red hair like yours. He has always leaned toward the floozie types. When he took over the family, I cornered him at dinner and asked him why he didn't date a good Irish girl. He smiled and told me that he wasn't ready to fight for her yet. ”
My mouth was gaping and my eyes wide.
“ Yes, Christi he was talking about you. He was smart enough to know that he had to establish himself before he pursued you. He took the advice of his elders and made certain he could provide for you. ”
Just like the moment I figured out that Patrick was in the Mafia, finding out that he knew me all this time. He took the risk that I would marry someone else. He deliberately dated girls who were the complete opposite of me, not because he preferred them, but to avoid duplicating me. Looking back, I understand why
“ Yes, well sometimes things present themselves in a particular way and it is hard to see the truth. I am happy to see that you were able to find that in the end. ”
I offered her a cup of tea as I had begun to make one for myself. “ That sound s lovely, Lass. I wanted to speak with you as it were. ”
I handed her the cup and settled into my chair. I watched as she patiently stirred the hot liquid, watching the spoon as it mixed the sweet goodness.
“ Did your father ever tell you of the arrangement he and my Thomas made about you? ”
I nodded as I sipped my own cup.
“ He said that Thomas helped him with his divorce from my mother, but that was all he said. ” She looked at me with such a gentle look, a motherly look.
“ Oh, Christi. The men in our lives try so hard to protect us, thinking we are these fragile china dolls that will break at the slightest touch. If you are to become a member of this family, you should know the entire story. ”
I was frozen in my chair as I listened intently to her words.
“ It is true that Thomas contacted your father at a time when he needed our help. Of course my Thomas rarely did anything back then that didn't benefit himself. He was so angry when Matthew denied him your hand. ”
It was so strange to hear my fathers first name out loud. He was either dad, grandpa or Mr . O ’ Rourke.
“ But I told Thomas, that it was better that way. Have Patrick prove that he is a man in more ways than just age. If he can ’ t control his heart, how can he control the family business. ”
I could clearly picture Nora telling an angry Thomas that he wouldn't be getting his way.
“ When the time came, we took Patrick to the mall over on Moore Street. He was to bump into you and introduce himself. However as he stood there watching you, he told Thomas that you were too innocent for his world. Patrick was never protected from what his father did. There was no point, he was to be the leader of the family. I told Patrick very firmly that he would attend university and get a good education. I explained to him that any man can point a gun at another and make him do what he wants, but to be successful, you needed knowledge. Patrick Senior and Thomas, tried to teach him everything they knew when he graduated. Patrick took to the role of head of the family like a duck to water. However, I could see it in his eyes that his heart was empty. ”
I faintly remember the day that Nora spoke of. My father hated shopping, but on that particular Saturday, he insisted on taking just me to the mall. I met several of my friends that day and even found out that Mikey O ’ Toole had a crush on me. Mikey and I dated for several years, he was my first kiss as well as the one who took my virginity. He joined the military and married Rebecca Stone from the neighborhood.
“ Now, Christi, I know that my son was no saint while he was away at university. Thomas made certain he had eyes on him the whole time. But I do know for certain that he never dated a lass with red hair like yours. He has always leaned toward the floozie types. When he took over the family, I cornered him at dinner and asked him why he didn't date a good Irish girl. He smiled and told me that he wasn't ready to fight for her yet. ”
My mouth was gaping and my eyes wide.
“ Yes, Christi he was talking about you. He was smart enough to know that he had to establish himself before he pursued you. He took the advice of his elders and made certain he could provide for you. ”
Just like the moment I figured out that Patrick was in the Mafia, finding out that he knew me all this time. He took the risk that I would marry someone else. He deliberately dated girls who were the complete opposite of me, not because he preferred them, but to avoid duplicating me. Looking back, I understand why
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