‘Oh Gerry, that’s wonderful. You’ve thought of everything. Jack’s going to love it!’
With that, Gerry started to decorate the room and Grace could feel herself getting more and more excited with every balloon that was added. Then Catherine, Tom, Tara and Sean all arrived. Tara had the birthday cake and they all piled the presents at the end of Grace’s bed, ready for Jack’s arrival.
‘The room looks fabulous, love,’ Tom told Gerry.
And it did.
‘You’re looking pretty foxy today Mrs Ryan,’ Sean then said to Grace. ‘If only I wasn’t married…!’
‘In another lifetime…’ Grace said with a wink.
‘Did you see Dr Kennedy today?’ Catherine asked Grace.
‘Not yet. He’ll probably call in later on this evening. I told him about the party, so he said he might drop by for some cake,’ Grace replied.
‘That’s nice,’ Catherine said. She was pleased to see Grace looking better today, but knew that the flush on her cheeks came from her make-up. She could tell that Grace was making an extreme effort to keep things going. Then with a burst, Jack and Liam walked into the room and everyone shouted, ‘Happy Birthday!’
‘I’m four today!’ he told everyone. Then he climbed up on the bed beside Grace, plonking himself on top of her.
‘Hi Mommy. You look pretty. Where’s my present?’ Jack demanded, as Grace did her best to hide her wince. Seeing Liam about to come over and grab Jack, she quickly shook her head at her husband. Every second she could have with Jack she was going to take, even if it caused her the odd wince or two.
Grace turned to her son and started to laugh, ‘Compliments will get you everywhere sweetie-pie. These presents are all for you, Jack. Knock yourself out!’
Jack’s face lit up with excitement, it seemed to say – all these for me! He couldn’t believe his luck as he opened each present. ‘Thanks Uncle Tom, Uncle Gerry. Cool!’ They had bought him Handy Manny’s Tool Box. ‘Wow, thanks Aunt Tara and Uncle Sean,’ he continued when he’d ripped open their gift. They had chosen a huge Lego set for him. He then moved onto Abby’s present, which was a Spider-Man web maker. ‘This is what I’ve always wanted!’ Abby was delighted with his response. Liam had given her the tip-off that he’d been eyeing this up in Smyth’s superstore. Catherine had bought him clothes, which he looked at quickly, then moved onto the next present!
‘What do you say to Nana?’ Grace said giving him a little dig.
‘Oh, sorry Nana. Thank you. I love them!’
‘That’s okay, Jack. You’re welcome,’ Catherine said, making a mental note to buy a toy the next time a present was required!
Then Jack opened his last present from Grace and Liam. ‘Mom, this is way cool!’ They’d got him a Bob the Builder costume, to add to his already bulging wardrobe. They’d also bought him some Bob toys to add to his haul. ‘This is the best birthday EVER!’ he declared to the group, cuddling in close to his Mom.
‘That’s great bud,’ Liam told him, ruffling his hair.
‘Time to blow out the candles,’ Tara told her godson. Sean lit each of the four candles quickly.
‘Make a wish, baby,’ Grace whispered to Jack.
He closed his eyes really tightly and made his wish. Taking a big deep breath, he blew all the candles out. Then everyone sang Happy Birthday as Jack insisted he blow the candles out a second time.
‘What did you wish for Jack?’ Tom asked him.
‘I can’t tell you! I’m not allowed to tell, am I Mommy?’ he replied seriously.
‘No sweetie-pie. It won’t come true if you tell. Good boy.’ She gave him a kiss, as he wriggled away.
‘Can I put my costume on, Daddy?’ he begged.
‘Sure you can,’ Liam answered him, helping him get changed.
‘I’ll go get some coffees to go with the cake,’ Tom told the group.
Catherine jumped up to go with Tom, offering to help. ‘Can I have a word Tom?’ Catherine asked him as they walked down the corridor.
‘Sure Catherine,’ Tom replied. ‘What’s on your mind?’
‘Fr O’Hara,’ she answered.
Tom nodded. He suspected it might have been this.
‘Grace needs a donor quickly. She can’t go on like this, can she? I mean, it’s no way to start off married life,’ Catherine continued.
‘No, Catherine, it isn’t. To be honest I’ve been thinking about paying Fr O’Hara a visit since last night. Do you think he’d agree to be tested?’ Tom said.
‘I don’t know, Tom. I don’t think that he’ll ever admit to being Grace’s father, but maybe if he knew his daughter was ill, just maybe he’d come good,’ she replied doubtfully.
‘How do you want to handle it?’ Tom said.
‘I think I should go see him,’ Catherine answered quietly.
Tom nodded. He could tell that the mere thought of seeing the man who raped her again was scaring the life out of Catherine. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Will you come with me, Tom? I haven’t the strength to face him on my own and Liam needs to stay here with Grace.’
‘Of course I will Catherine. I’ll do anything to help. When do you want to go?’ Tom said.
‘Well, I’ve told Grace that I’m staying here until the weekend but then I have to get back to the shop for a few days. I thought maybe we could go down to Wexford to see him on Saturday. Would that suit you?’ Catherine asked him.
‘Absolutely. I’ll clear my plans for the weekend. Are you going to tell Liam?’ he asked.
‘Yes. I’ll tell him tonight,’ she replied.
Chapter Forty Three
‘Gerry, I’m telling you, there’s something wrong. I’m not imagining it,’ Abby said.
‘Tell me everything, darling. When was the last time you spoke to Shay?’ Gerry asked her.
‘The day that Grace started her chemotherapy and I haven’t spoken to him since we left the hospital.’
‘But darling that’s nearly a week ago now! Very strange for sure. Have you called him?’ Gerry said with a frown.
‘A couple of times, but I keep getting his answerphone,’ Abby said tearfully.
‘Have you left messages?’ Gerry asked further.
‘Yep. But he hasn’t returned any of my calls. He sent me a text last night, just saying he was busy, but would be in touch soon.’
‘Ouch,’ Gerry replied. ‘What did he say to you when you said goodbye at the hospital last Monday?’
‘Love you baby. See you later,’ Abby said, tears again filling up her eyes.
‘Right, but then he texted you to cancel meeting us all in the Cock Tavern?’ Gerry asked.
Abby nodded.
‘Did you call him on Tuesday?’
‘Yes and then again on Wednesday. Each time I keep getting his stupid answerphone,’ Abby said.
‘Has this ever happened before?’ Gerry said with a frown. It didn’t look good to him.
‘Never. We speak to each other every day, sometimes twice a day. But it’s Friday now and I still haven’t heard from him. I’m really getting worried Gerry.’
‘This doesn’t make sense to me,’ Gerry told his friend. ‘I mean at Christmas he was all over you like a rash, darling. He used to sometimes make me feel like we were intruding, when we all went out together. I mean a couple of weeks ago he was bringing you to see show houses. This I think is just a classic case of male commitment phobia.’
Abby nodded her head. She thought this was the case herself. A few times over the past month she felt that Shay had withdrawn himself slightly. But then he’d do something so romantic that she’d thought it was all in her imagination. ‘So Gerry, what should I do?’
‘It’s Friday evening. We’re going to put our glad rags on and we’re going out. Then you’re going to stay here with Tom and me for the weekend. When that rascal Shay calls, you won’t be at home. I think he’s taking you for granted and I think he needs to realise that you’re not always at his beck and call,’ Gerry st
ated firmly.
‘I don’t feel like going out,’ Abby said with a sigh.
‘And that’s precisely why you have to go out my darling. What’s the alternative? Sit here feeling miserable? Now go home, get changed and I’ll pick you up in an hour. And if Shay calls, don’t answer it. Let him feel what it’s like to be at the end of an answering machine for a change,’ Gerry said, shooing her to the door. Seeing Abby smile at this, he continued, ‘That’s my girl! Now go put on some lip gloss!’
When Abby had left, Tom arrived, just back from the hospital. They were all taking it in turns visiting, making sure that someone was there all day and all evening. Gerry had been there earlier, as had Abby.
‘Hi darling. How was Grace this evening?’ Gerry said, jumping up to give Tom a hug.
‘Tired and looking it. She didn’t say much to be honest with you. So I only stayed for a little while. Any news with you?’ Tom asked, relaxing into his partner’s arms.
Gerry filled in Tom on his conversation with Abby. ‘What do you think, darling?’
‘Sounds like he’s getting cold feet alright,’ Tom answered. ‘Poor Abby. She sure does pick them. To be honest, I never had him down as a bastard though.’
‘Maybe he’s not, Tom,’ Gerry said. ‘We don’t know what’s going on with him. He might just need some space for a few days.’
‘That may well be the case Gerry, but what I don’t like about all of this, is that he decided to go underground just as Abby needs him most. I mean he knows how close Abby is to Grace. He could see how upset she is. His timing is crap is all I’m saying,’ Tom replied, shaking his head.
Gerry nodded, he had thought the same, but was determined to try and think the best of Shay. ‘Well, we’re going to cheer her up tonight. She’s been sitting at home every evening this week on her own, pretending everything was okay with Shay to the rest of us.’
‘Right. Where we going?’ Tom asked.
‘I thought we’d go to Trocadero’s for dinner,’ Gerry said, looking at Tom for his agreement.
‘Sounds good, Gerry. But it won’t be a late one for me. I’m off early in the morning to Wexford with Catherine.’ Tom wasn’t looking forward to it. Somehow or other he didn’t believe that Fr O’Hara would admit culpability. ‘Not a word to Abby tonight about my trip though,’ Tom reminded Gerry, who drew a zip over his mouth to show his agreement.
****
An hour later they were sitting in the restaurant, sipping red wine.
‘You mark my words,’ Tom said to Abby. ‘That little iPhone of yours will be beeping away before you go to bed. I’m telling you.’
Abby smiled at his words, grateful for them. ‘We’ve spent every weekend together since that first weekend we met. This is the first Friday night we’ve not been together. It seems strange.’
‘Oh darling. Don’t you worry; this will be the last Friday night you spend without him. I bet you Shay’s sitting at home right now wondering why you haven’t called him again. If you don’t hear from him this evening, he’ll be on the blower by tomorrow I promise you,’ Gerry declared.
Abby hoped so.
Chapter Forty Four
‘Do you miss Wexford?’ Tom asked Catherine.
‘Yes, I do. I still think that it’s the most beautiful part of the world. I really enjoyed our few days in Rose Tree Manor for the wedding.’
‘The Murtaghs certainly loved seeing you again,’ Tom added.
‘Yes, it was great seeing them both. It’s been well over thirty years, but seeing Molly, well it took me right back,’ Catherine smiled. She had expected that going back to Rose Tree Manor would stir up some painful memories. But seeing her beautiful daughter so happy on her wedding day – not to mention her wonderful grandson – nothing could have ruined the day.
‘Happy days?’ Tom enquired.
‘Yes, they were. I loved working in Rose Tree Manor. It was a fun time. Things were so uncomplicated back then,’ she finished with a frown. The nearer they got to Wexford, the more her stomach started to turn. She was really worried. She’d wondered if she should maybe call first and make an appointment to see Fr O’Hara. But then, she chickened out every time she’d picked up the phone. In the end, she had called Ann, her cousin, for a chat. She’d casually asked about Fr O’Hara and secretly she’d been hoping that Ann would say he was on holiday. It would get her off the hook. But no, that would be too easy. He was fine, Ann had said.
Tom interrupted Catherine’s thoughts, ‘Have you had any more thought on how you want to do this?’
‘Actually, yes,’ Catherine replied. ‘I thought that maybe you could go in on your own to talk to him. If you can persuade him without me, to be honest that will suit me perfectly.’
‘And if I can’t?’ Tom asked.
‘Then I’ll talk to him,’ Catherine said with a sigh.
****
They arrived in Ballymichael by midday and drove straight to the vicarage.
‘How will I know what’s going on?’ Catherine asked.
‘I tell you what; I’ve done this a few times before. I’m going to ring your mobile and leave it on while I’m in with Fr O’Hara. That way you can hear our conversation and work out if you want to come in. Does that sound okay?’ Tom asked.
‘Yes. That’s a good idea,’ Catherine said.
So Tom knocked on the door, expecting the housekeeper to answer. But when the door opened it was Fr O’Hara himself. He looked shocked when he saw Tom standing there and obviously recognised him.
‘No need to remind you who I am, I see,’ Tom said as he pushed his way past Fr O’Hara into the hall.
‘How dare you come barging in here,’ he blustered in response. ‘You’ve no right.’
‘Oh, I think you’ll find that I’ve every right, Fr O’Hara. Or should I say Michael?’ Tom said, emphasising the ‘Michael’.
The priest visibly paled. ‘You’d better come in.’ He led the way into the living room. ‘What do you want?’ He sounded nervous.
‘Funny that you didn’t mention your name was Michael the last time I was here,’ Tom stated. ‘Must have slipped your mind.’
‘It didn’t seem relevant that’s all,’ Fr O’Hara answered. Then he appeared to pull himself together, putting a big smile on his face. ‘How can I help you, Mr. Whelan?’
‘Well, first of all I’d like you to stop lying, Michael,’ Tom said coldly.
‘I’d prefer it if you’d call me Father. And I don’t care for your tone, Mr. Whelan.’
‘Oh we’re all friends here. You can call me Tom and I’ll call you Michael. Makes it much easier, don’t you think?’ Tom sat down in one of the chairs and pointed to the other one.
Taking a seat opposite, Fr O’Hara said, ‘You’ve obviously got something on your mind. Again, how can I help?’
Tom took a deep breath. He figured that there was no point in beating around the bush. ‘Let’s recoup a number of facts. Fact one, you raped Catherine Dunne. Fact two, you are the father of Catherine Dunne’s daughter, Grace Devlin. Fact three, Grace is ill. She has leukaemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. The next fact is yet to be determined,’ Tom finished.
Fr O’Hara looked more and more frightened with every word that Tom said. He stood up and turned his back to Tom. Tom knew that he was trying to compose himself. He wondered what his next move would be.
After a moment or two, he turned back towards Tom. ‘I’m afraid your facts are incorrect, Mr. Whelan. I have no idea who told you those poisonous lies. I can only imagine Catherine’s mind turned when she sinned all those years ago. It grieves me to think that she’s suffering. That poor delusional soul.’
Then the door opened and Catherine walked in. ‘You bastard. How dare you?’
Tom walked over and put his arm around her, whispering, ‘Calm down Catherine, it’s okay, I’m here.’
She nodded and walked towards Fr O’Hara, ‘Do you know that I have spent the past thirty three years literally terrified at the thought of ever ha
ving to see you again? For years I had nightmares of that day when you raped me. But do you know something? Looking at you now I’m not scared. I’m just disgusted. You disgust me, Father.’ Catherine was shaking as she spat out the word ‘Father’, but it was true, she was no longer scared. Maybe it was the fact she had Tom in the room with her. But it was probably the first time in over thirty years that she didn’t feel afraid.
‘What do you want?’ Fr O’Hara shouted at her. ‘I suppose you’re here to cause me trouble, you vindictive little bitch.’
With that Tom grabbed him by his shirt and threw him against the wall. ‘Oh I’d watch your tongue if I were you, Michael. I’ll be honest; I don’t really need much of an excuse to rearrange your face. So go on, say something else, I dare you.’
Fr O’Hara had a feeling that Tom meant every word he said, so didn’t reply.
Nodding, Tom said, ‘You made a wise choice old man. Now listen to what the lady has to say. Sit down and shut up.’
‘Thank you, Tom,’ Catherine said, and then turning to Fr O’Hara continued, ‘We have a daughter. But you know that. She’s a wonderful girl and is married with a four year old son. But she’s not well. She has cancer.’ She paused to let her words sink in.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll remember her in my prayers,’ he answered her sombrely.
‘She doesn’t need your prayers,’ Tom said sharply.
Catherine continued, ‘Grace’s best bet for a full recovery is to have a bone marrow transplant. All her family and friends, including me, have been tested and we’re not a match. You are going to go to Dublin on Monday to have the test to see if you are a match. If you are, you are going to be a donor for her.’
‘I can’t do that,’ Fr O’Hara said. ‘What would I tell my congregation? I’d be ruined.’
‘For fuck’s sake, stop thinking of your own stinking skin and think of your daughter,’ Tom yelled at the priest. God, he wanted to deck him badly.
‘Tom, sit down,’ Catherine told him. Turning back to Fr O’Hara she said, ‘Grace doesn’t know about you and to be honest I don’t want her to. It was bad enough telling her that her father was a rapist. It might just finish her off if she found out the rapist was a priest.’
Beyond Grace's Rainbow: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Page 26