Tessy took her time. She peacefully meandered down the wee path back to the house. She wanted to savour every minute. The next couple of days would be rather busy preparing for the handfasting tomorrow, even though, she and Marshall were instructed not to lift a finger! Her nearby cousins, nieces and nephews would be dropping in with food and helping set up throughout the day, while relatives farther way would begin arriving as well. Tessy was truly looking forward to the visiting. However, she was now wishing the handfasting hadn’t got so out of control. Poor Marshall, she thought as she reached the yard, put on display in front of a horde of partying Irishmen! I’m surprised he’s not runnin’ for the hills!
Tessy entered the house through the kitchen to find Keenan, Mary and Marshall all seated at the table.
“Mornin’” they chimed.
“Well, good mornin’” Tessy returned.
“How was your walk, honey?” Marshall smiled.
“Oh, ‘twas lovely!” Tessy sighed.
“Finally greeted the horses, did ye?” Keenan chuckled.
“Aye. That, I did. My, Keenan, ye’ve outdone yerself. There’s some grand ladies ye’ve got down there.”
“Aye. We’ve a grand lot, I’ll agree. Some fine wee foals coming about, to be sure.”
“Tessy, are ye ready for a tea or perhaps a coffee, dear?” Mary asked as she jumped up from the table.
“Aye, Mary, but sit, sit. I know where it all is. I’ll have a tea for now then go up and shower before everyone starts arriving.
11
Answers Leading to More Questions
Relatives from near and far arrived with plenty of best wishes and even more food. Soon the kitchen counters and the table were hidden under a mountain of delectables. Marshall had never been hugged by so many strangers in his life, most half his height! Tessy was in seventh heaven. She had not seen many of her cousins in years and was having a grand visit. She reminisced, laughed and, at times, even cried. Marshall slipped away from the crowd and leaned against an out building as he watched her. Keenan spotted him and sauntered over with a couple of pints. When he reached Marshall, he handed him one.
“Thanks. Don’t mind if I do,” Marshall smiled at him.
“Had ‘bout enough, have ye?” Keenan concluded as he eased himself down beside him.
“Oh no. Ummm… everything is fine,” Marshall stammered.
Keenan laughed. “Ye don’t have to pretend with me, lad. I couldn’t agree with ye more.”
“Well, I suppose I’m not quite used to this many people all at one time.”
“Me either and I’m related to most of them.” Keenan chuckled, shaking his head. “We could possibly sneak off with a few pints and head down to the stables and hide out there for a while.”
Marshall laughed, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I best stay put considering this wingding is for Tessy and I.”
“Aye. You’re probably right. Me Mary would catch on in a flash, anyway. Pretty crafty, that one.”
Marshall chuckled and held up his beer.
“Slainte,” Keenan clinked his mug against Marshall’s.
Marshall finished his pint and returned to the house. Tessy caught up with him in the kitchen. He was watching the gathering safely from behind a window.
“How are ye holdin’ up, love?” She smiled up at him as she touched his arm.
“I didn’t realize you were related to everyone in Ireland,” he smirked.
Tessy chuckled. “Aye. I’m sure it must seem that way. However, I do remember warning ye.”
“I’m just teasing. It’s been enjoyable watching you reconnect with your family. And, yes, you did warn me. You didn’t, however, warn me about all the delicious food that comes with them. Man, we haven’t even sat down to the meal yet and I’m not sure I could stuff one more thing in my mouth!”
Mary walked into the kitchen and tapped him on the shoulder. “Well, ye best be givin’ it yer best effort, there sir!”
Marshall swung around and smiled, “Yes ma’am. You know I will give it my best shot.”
Soon the kitchen was full of women of all ages, shapes and sizes preparing their tasty fares. It was hard to believe they were leaving the very best for tomorrow’s main event. The handfasting was set for mid-morning. The whole day would be spent in celebration. This family’s tradition of handfasting had the bride and groom cross arms and join hands creating the infinity symbol, basically the figure eight. Then Marshall and Tessy’s hands would be joined with a decorative cord. It would be a full and joyous day!
Mary rang the dinner bell. The ladies had arranged food on long tables outside. The meal began with an anxious line-up of people waiting their turn to dish up the hearty fare. When all was said and done, there wasn’t an unstuffed guest on the property!
Marshal looked at Tessy, groaned and pushed his plate away just as Mary walked by. “Had yer fill, have ye?” she smiled.
“I cannot believe I ate that much. I’m not going to fit into my clothes tomorrow.” He groaned again.
“Well, that ought to spice up our handfastin’ a mite, love,” Tessy added as everyone chuckled.
While the clean-up crew did their part, the others migrated over towards the bonfire. A small group brought out their musical instruments. The band consisted of two fiddles, three penny whistles, a melodeon and two hand held drums called bodhrans. There’d be some fine jiggin’ tonight!
After a few hours of music and dancing Marshall wondered if these people ever played out. He certainly didn’t want to be rude, but he was getting tired. He snuggled up behind Tessy, “Hi, honey. How are you doing?”
“Truth be told, I’m gettin’ a little bushed,” she smiled.
“Me too. How much longer do you think before we can slip away?”
“Well, might be a while yet. Why don’t ye slip off now, love? I’m sure no one would mind or even notice, at this point,” she chuckled. “I’m going to go over and have a wee visit with cousin Marie. Then I’ll be up to join ye. Tomorrow morning is goin’ to come a mite early, I fear.”
“Thanks, honey. I think I will. If anyone says anything please make my apologies for me.”
She gently kissed him. “All right, love. Good night.”
All afternoon Tessy had been meaning to have a chat with Marie, her oldest cousin on her mother’s side. Being a fair bit older, she wondered if she could shed some light on this mysterious woman in her dreams. Thankfully, she was sitting away from the loud partying. They greeted each other with a long hug.
“Marie, dear. How have ye been fairin’?” Tessy smiled.
“Doin’ grand, thank ye. Not quite getting’ ‘round like I use to, but still on the right side of the sod.”
Tessy chuckled. They chatted on about their lives for quite some time before Tessy brought up the strange dreams she and Keenan had, and the odd woman that accompanied them.
Marie became deathly quiet and hung her head.
“Marie, what is it? What do ye know about this?”
“Oh Tessy, love. I don’t think ye want to be openin’ this can of worms.”
“Aye. But I do, very much so. Tell me what ye know. Please Marie. I must know.”
“I haven’t thought of it for so many years I don’t even know where to start.” Marie bit her thumbnail, deep in thought. “It’s believed yer Mam had a curse put on her.” Marie looked up into Tessy’s eyes.
Surprisingly, Tessy smiled. “Well, that’s impossible! Mam didn’t believe in curses and she taught me the same. She said that for a curse to work you had to give it the power to work and she would never have done that. Tell me why ye think this?”
“Well, I was just a young girl when this all came about and I only heard bits and pieces. I was usually shooed away when it was bein’ discussed. But years later, when Auntie Shannon came for a visit from Canada, she had a pint too many one night and spilled her heart to me. She felt terrible the next day and swore me to secrecy. I guess she just needed to tell someone.”
“What did she say?”
“Well, I’m assumin’ the lady ye’ve been seein’ in yer dreams is a distant cousin of ours, Agnes Haggerty. We didn’t see her often. She was always a mite strange. When we were all young we knew your Da and his family very well. The O’Connors had the finest horses in the county so we were there often for auctions and such. Agnes was quite smitten with yer Da, not that he ever paid her any mind. Then yer Da started seein’ yer Mam and that was it. He was head over heels in love with her. Well, that threw crazy Aggie into a complete fury. She tried everything she could to break them up. She turned to the dark arts and she swore she’d put a curse on yer Mam.”
“Did anyone try and get help for the poor girl?”
“She got to a point where they had to put her away from time to time.”
“Did it help when she was institutionalized?”
“Not much that I could ever tell. She was evil and a looney!”
“Oh, Marie, don’t say that. Where is she now? Is she still alive?”
“Last I heard she was in a hospital in Dublin. I’d be thinkin’ she’d be into her eighties by now.”
Tessy reached up to her neck and pulled out the amulet she wore under her blouse. “Have ye ever seen this?” she gingerly asked.
“Oh my! The amulet!” Marie gasped as she gently took it in her hand. “So ye do have it, do ye?”
“What do ye mean? What do you know about it?”
“I only saw yer Mam wear it once. It was at a weddin’ when ye and Keenan were just wee babes.”
“What is it? Where did it come from?”
“Again, bits and pieces is all I can give ye. Apparently, there is a ring to do with it.”
“Aye! Keenan has it.”
Marie knowingly smiled. “Grand. Well, this amulet and the ring to match are ancient and have been handed down for generations. Presented only to the Gifted Haggerty’s who have borne twins. They are very powerful and not meant to fall into the wrong hands.”
“Why were they hidden? Why are we just seeing them now?”
“Well, this is where Auntie Shannon comes in. She told me that once Aggie saw yer Mam wearing the amulet she swore she would have it for her own one day and you twins, as well. Yer Mam packaged them up straight away and gave them to Auntie Shannon to take back to Canada and safe guard them for you two. Well… you know the rest. That’s also why you and Keenan were shipped off to Canada, to keep you safe from crazy Aggie. That, and the fact, Auntie Shannon was also Gifted and yer Mam wanted ye to keep up with the Craft. Aggie never got over not having yer Da and vowed she would get her revenge. Yer Mam didn’t want the amulet and ring surfacing until she was sure Aggie was either dead or too old to do any harm.”
“Do ye think she could have had something to do with the car accident?”
“Aye, there was talk. Nothing was ever proven but I wouldn’t have put it past her.”
Tessy was wide awake now!
“Thank ye so much Marie. I need to digest all of this.” She gave Marie another hug and wandered off to digest and process what she had just heard. It looked like her mother was guiding her on the right path. Now that she had some clues, she needed to find out more about this odd, troubled Agnes Haggerty. She would go over her dream journal notes in the morning, match up the information she had and go from there. She looked over at the party and saw Keenan jigging up a storm. She chuckled. She would wait and find time tomorrow to share with him what she had just found out.
12
Catching Up
Tessy snuck into their bedroom in hopes of not waking Marshall. She undressed and eased herself into bed. Marshall never skipped a beat and continued with his steady inhalation and exhalation. Tessy did her best to relax. It was no use. She tossed and turned while her conversation with Marie replayed through her mind. She realized she was not going to get to sleep any time soon. She got up and went to the kitchen to make herself a nice cup of warm milk and honey.
Most everyone had toddled off to bed so she had the kitchen all to herself. She poured the warm milk over the honey into a large cup and glanced at the clock. She calculated the time back home in Ladyslipper. She looked at the phone hanging on the kitchen wall. Hmmmm… she mused, ‘tis just after supper over there and I’m sure Dotty will still be fussing about in the kitchen. She picked up the phone and dialled her number at Ashling Manor. Dotty answered on the first ring.
“Hello,” said a friendly voice.
“Aye, Dotty dear! It’s Tessy.”
“Tessy! How wonderful to hear your voice. But we must have a bad connection, I can barely hear you.”
“No, it’s just that it’s very late here and I don’t want to wake anyone,” she explained a little louder.
“Oh my, of course. Yes, it is quite late there. We’ve been following your itinerary and you should be at Keenan and Mary’s by now. Is everything all right?
“Aye, dear, we are and everything is just grand. I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d give a ring and see how ye were getting on.”
“We are doing just fine here. Enjoying every moment. Bert has been going down to Sheree’s Café every morning to have coffee with the old guys. I’ve met some lovely ladies at the museum for their tea on Wednesday afternoons and then again at bingo on Thursday evenings. Most were at your wedding.”
“Oh Dotty, I’m so pleased ye and Bert are getting out and about and meeting some of my fine neighbours. I’m sure they are enjoying you, as well.”
“Yes, we have made some great friends while we are here. Oh, I just have to tell you! Roger’s wife Connie, well, she’s decided to start up a quilting shop in town. The ladies couldn’t be more excited. It’s all they’ve talked about!”
“Oh Dotty, how wonderful! Now we won’t have to travel all the way to Regina to pick out our material. I do remember Connie saying we needed a good shop close by and now here she will be starting one up. Well, good for her!”
“How are you and Dr. Tayse enjoying Ireland?”
“Oh, Dotty, just grand. I’ve become a tourist on this trip. We’ve been having the time of our lives and enjoying every blessed minute. Tomorrow we are having the handfasting here at the farm so ‘twill be a long, exciting day, to be sure.”
“How lovely. Can’t wait to hear all about your trip and see the pictures. I certainly wish we were there to celebrate your big day with you. We will be there in spirit.”
“Thank you, Dotty. I wish you were here, too.”
“Well, I have a bit of exciting news to share. I know I really should let Sage tell you when you get home, but you know how awful I am at keeping a secret. Tommy gave Sage a promise ring!”
“Oh my! Bless their hearts. How special. That is wonderful news.”
“Yes, everyone here is pretty happy. Sage was over the other day and the way she carried on you’d think she was wearing one of the Crown jewels!” Dotty chuckled.
Tessy laughed with delight.
“Oh, and Tessy, please make sure you act real surprised when she tells you so I don’t wreck it for her,” Dotty begged.
“Aye. We’ll be sure to make a big fuss.”
“Thank you.” said Dotty, “And, there is one more little tidbit I just absolutely have to share! Kyle is out visiting, again.”
“Marshall’s son, Kyle?”
“Yes. He’s been out a few times now since your wedding.”
“Ahh… ’tis nice to see he’s spending so much time with Penny, Jim and the kids.”
“Well, I think he has a much stronger motive than just visiting family.” Dotty impishly suggested.
“Now, Dotty Mitchell, I know for a fact, ye can’t keep a secret to save your soul so what is it you’re tryin’ to say?”
“Okay,” Dotty laughed. “When he was here for your wedding, I believe, there was a little spark between him and Susan which has obviously grown into a full-blown wildfire since then!”
“Becky’s mom, Susan!” Tessy exclaimed.
“Yes!”
&
nbsp; “Well, Blessed Be! How wonderful.”
“Yes, they’ve become quite an item. They’ve been out everywhere and, most times, taken the little girls with them. Kyle is so good with Becky and Emma. And, I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“Oh, Dotty, what grand news. I can’t wait to tell Marshall. How is everyone else; the children, my pups, the cats? Are they all making out fine?”
“The kids are over almost every day, especially little Emma and Becky. Oh, what a pair of darlings those two are! They are so cute and come out with the funniest sayings. They have been quite entertaining. Although, this week they are out at summer camp so it’s a little quiet around here. The animals are all fine. Merlin and Cordelia continuously honour me every morning with dead mice on the deck. Bert has been teaching Duke and Darby some new tricks to show you when you get home.”
Tessy laughed, “That’s grand.”
“Yup, we’re sure going to miss Ladyslipper when we go back to Winnipeg, but it will be nice to get home and into our routine. Of course, I guess that may not be for much longer, either, depending on what you and the good doctor plan on doing. Oh… I’m so sorry Tessy! I didn’t mean for that to come out quite like that! It is certainly not my place to say.”
“Oh, Dotty dear! Please don’t worry about your future. You and Bert are like family. Marshall and I will make sure ye are welcomed no matter where we end up.”
“Thank you, Tessy. I guess all we can do is wait and see what lies ahead for us all.”
“Aye, Dotty. Well, my dear, I suppose I should probably wander on up to bed and see if I can get some sleep before our big day tomorrow. Now, promise ye won’t be doing any more frettin’ about the future. When we get home, we will all sit down and work it out.”
“All right, Tessy. Thank you and have a wonderful day tomorrow. We’ll be thinking about you and Dr. Tayse.”
“Aye. And Dotty, thanks again to ye and Bert for watching Ashling Manor for us while we are away. It gives us such peace of mind.”
Wise Woman Homage Page 7