by Jean Carroll
“Let’s go for a ride and have some fun.”
“Okay,” she said, and now sort of enjoyed him cradling her with his body and arms.
“I should know by now that you’re right when you get all stubborn and testy like that,” she told him.
“Yeah, well, I only get stubborn and testy when I know I’m right,” he laughed.
She leaned back against his chest and he kissed her hair. He put Arrow into a brisk walk and they rode along a dirt road with woods on one side and a green meadow on the other. She took a deep breath, taking in the fresh, fragrant Irish air. Grass, a hint of the sea, the moldy, mossy smells of the woods; she loved the smell of Ireland already. The road rose to the top of a hill. From there a beautiful valley lay before them so green it seemed iridescent. In the distance she could make out a glimpse of the sea.
“Oh, Blackie, this is so beautiful.”
“I thought you’d like it. I love it up here.” They rode through the hills and down into the valley for about an hour. Blackie told her the history of the area and showed her all the places he used to explore when he was a kid. They had so much fun. They started back for the stables and she was sorry the ride was over.
“Thank you for this. It was wonderful. I think I’ve fallen in love with Ireland.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. This land is so much a part of me, of my soul; I want you to love it as much as I do.” He kissed her neck and shoulder. She leaned back so he could kiss her mouth. He kissed her deeply and she returned the kiss.
“Let’s go back now, Meg.”
They got back to the stable, Blackie gave Arrow a cursory grooming and she put the tack away. He came up behind her in the tack room, circled her in his arms and caressed her belly.
“Let’s go in.” They went to his room and as soon as he closed the door they started taking each other’s clothes off. They made love on the bed for a long time. When they were sated, they lay there talking for a time.
“We should get a shower and see what’s happening.” So they showered together, which was always fun with Blackie, then dressed and walked downstairs.
TWENTY-NINE
Preparations were underway for the dinner party, so Blackie and Meg hunted up Sean and Katie and hung out with them on the huge, stone patio off the kitchen. After a couple of hours they got called in to dinner. As soon as they were about to take seats, four men stood up and greeted Blackie with, “Good evening, Your Highnes.”
He stopped and shook his head. “Please, don’t call me that,” he said with an edge to his voice.
Oh, great, this is going to be trouble.
Sean leaned over and whispered to him, “Take it easy, Blackie and ignore it.”
“But that’s your title, Sir. You should embrace it,” one man said.
“I’m not embracing anything and my name’s Blackie,” he snarled.
“Son, this is Robert O’Donnell, Patrick Moore, Eamon O’Keefe and Charles Murphy. They’re all ministers in the Dáil. They’ve come here especially to meet you,” his Dad said.
“Good evening, it’s nice to meet all of you,” Blackie said making an effort to calm down.
“Yes, we’ve come to talk to you about taking your rightful place in Ireland. With your bloodlines, you’re a natural born leader. The O’Brien, in fact.” Patrick Moore said.
“My bloodlines!” Blackie scoffed. “What am I, a prized stallion? And my Dad’s Chief of the Clan, not me”.
“No, no, Your Highness, we mean you should lead your people from a government position,” Eamon O’Keefe spoke up.
“I thought I said not to call me that. If you can’t respect how I feel, why should I even talk to you?” Blackie said, red-faced.
“Blackie, actually they came to discuss some new proposals on social issues coming up for a vote,” his Dad said.
“Okay, well then, I can just eat and don’t need to participate.”
“As you wish, son.”
They ate in silence for awhile. Blackie kept his head down and ate. At the start of dessert, several of the men brought up referendums that were going to be presented the next week. Most of them were unintelligible to the rest of the group. Then they brought up one about child care subsidies for single parents. This suddenly got Blackie’s attention.
“What’s that proposal for?” He asked.
“It’s a referendum to raise taxes on higher income groups to provide child care for single parents.” his Dad replied.
“Of course, we’re going to vote it down,” Robert O’Donnell said pompously.
“What! Dad, are you serious? You’re not going to pass it?” Blackie said, wide-eyed.
“Blackie, you don’t understand this. It’s not economically feasible to pass it,” Ken said.
“I do understand. Single parents need help. How are they going to work if they can’t pay for child care? That’s ridiculous!” Blackie exclaimed.
“Well, the children wind up living in poverty, so they fall into the Welfare State. So they get taken care of,” Eamon O’Keefe said.
“But that’s worse. Don’t you think the parents would rather work than be on the dole? Whose taxes pay for welfare?” Blackie asked.
“The taxes from the population across the board pay for Welfare,” Ken said.
“Don’t you think those of us who have the most should pay more? We should help those less fortunate,” Blackie said, his faced flushed.
“Most of the higher income people are wealthy business men and landowners like us. If we pay more taxes, we won’t be able to put money back into our companies. Our land and businesses are what keep the economy going.” O’Donnell said.
“That’s elitist bullshit. If these parents can work, there will be more people in the tax base. That’s what runs the economy. You bastards just don’t want to part with any of your money. You’ll let the lower class get taxed to death, though.” Blackie was yelling now and slammed his fist on the table.
“Blackie, please sit down. You just don’t understand politics,” Ken pleaded.
“For chrissake, Dad. I’m not stupid. It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s right. We have everything. Why shouldn’t we help other people? Help them have some dignity. How would you feel if you had to watch Jill, Sean and I go hungry? It’s wrong to tax people who are already struggling. Goddamnit, what’s wrong with you, Dad?” Blackie yelled at his father. There was sudden applause all around the table. Blackie stood there with his mouth open.
“Very well argued, Sir. I do believe you belong in politics,” Charles Murphy said smiling.
“Your father said you had the fire to run this country and I see he was right.”
Blackie stood there for a second looking stunned.
“Fuck it, you people are nuts,” he said stomping out of the room and onto the patio. Meg just sat there stunned herself. Blackie’s parents and the others were smiling.
“You were right, Kennet, he’s very dynamic and charismatic. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, too. I believe he’s just what this country needs,” Robert O’Donnell said.
“Well, I can tell you, it’s going to take an awful lot of convincing to get him into the game,” Ken said shaking his head. “He can be very stubborn.”
“That’s just what we need, a man who will take hold and not let go.” Eamon O’Keefe said.
“There’s a Dáil seat for Newcastle West that’s vacant. He should run for it. Your seat will be vacant when you retire, Kennet.”
“Believe me, I’d retire early, if I could get him into it,” Ken said his eyes dancing with excitement. “You know he’s so much more the real head of the clan than me. He was born to be The O’Brien. Sean, Meg, Katie, you should help convince him.”
“To get into politics? I don’t know, Dad, I can’t see him being interested,” Sean said.
“You know, he’s always lived by his own rules. They’re pretty much what he considers to be right and wrong; whether they go along with conventional laws or not. He’
ll never give in on something he thinks is right, I can tell you that,” Maeve said.
“Sean, why don’t you become his advisor, you could always keep him a bit grounded,” Ken suggested.
“Me, keep him grounded, you’ve got to be kidding. We fight all the time. I can’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to.”
“I think it’s a great idea, but I don’t think he’ll buy it.” Meg said. “I’m going to go check on him.” She got up and went out to the patio. He was standing there with his hands in his pockets, staring out at the night. She came up next to him.
He sighed big and said, “I know, I know, I’m an asshole for making a scene with my father’s friends.”
“No, I’m proud of you for standing up for what’s right,” she said.
“You are? You know, Meg, that scared the hell out of me. Suppose I was some prick who took off as soon as I found out you were pregnant. What if I left you with no way to take care of yourself and the baby?”
“But I have a good job and a college degree. I could save lots of money to provide for myself and the baby after it’s born.”
“Yes, you’re educated, but suppose you worked in a pub, had no education and didn’t make enough money to be able to save. Suppose you had no medical insurance. After you had your baby, you’d have to go on the dole, to even get food. Christ, that’s scary. Meg, I’m glad I’m able to take care of you and the baby. Just the thought of you struggling to feed our child makes me sick.”
“I’m glad you’re a good guy and didn’t disappear when I told you.”
“There’s no way I’d do something like that, you know that. I love you too much.”
“I know that about you. I know you wouldn’t leave me.”
“Thank you,” he said, kissing her tenderly.
“Do you want to go back in?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Are they still there?”
“I think they’re getting ready to leave. You know I’ve never really heard anyone call you that before. It was weird,” she said.
“Oh, the ‘Your Highness’ thing. I know. I can’t stand it. It’s sick,” he said in disgust.
“Well, you can be my prince anytime,” she said provocatively.
“Mmm that sounds like fun. Yeah, I’ll be the prince and you can be the serving wench. We can play hide the scepter.” They both got hysterical laughing at that. Then he grabbed her, kissed her deeply and moved his hands down to her butt.
“Mmm, it’s good to be the prince,” he murmured, kissing her neck. They both started laughing again as his Dad came out onto the patio.
“What’s so funny, you two?”
“Nothing, Dad, we’re just being silly. Dad, I’m sorry if I offended your friends. I didn’t mean to make a scene.”
“On the contrary, they were very impressed with you. They think you should consider running for a seat that’s vacant in Newcastle West.”
“Me! In politics! That’s ludicrous, Dad. I’m into horses, not politics. I wouldn’t have time anyway. Also, I live in the States. How could I represent people and their problems when I don’t even live here?”
“You could spend more time here. I know you want to work on dressage and training your horses, but you could do this too. I don’t have to be there every day. The Dáil and Seanad are in session all the time. I go when there’s a vote coming up.”
“Dad, the dressage training is going to take up a lot of my time.”
“Don’t forget, I run this farm, too. I’m just as busy as you are,” his father pointed out.
“Don’t you forget, we have a baby on the way. I’ll have to help Meg at first. I’m not really very interested in politics.”
“You were interested in an Irish social problem. You had very definite ideas about it. That’s
what we need here, someone who will stand up for what’s right and do it fiercely,” Ken told him. “Will you at least think about it, son. It won’t be too long until I’ll retire and my seat will be vacant.”
“I’ll think about it, Dad, but don’t get your hopes up.” His Dad hugged him and Meg could see the love between them.
“We’re going to leave in the morning. I want to get back and we need to get married.”
“So soon? It seems like you just got here. Your mother and I miss all of you terribly. She won’t be happy that you’re leaving.”
“I know. I have a lot of things to get working on. We’ll be back soon. If not before, right after the baby’s born for a real wedding. I promise.”
Just then Maeve came out and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Awww, wouldn’t you know it; they’re leaving in the morning.”
“Oh, dear, you just now got here. I haven’t had a minute to get to know Meg. Oh, son, I miss you so much. I wish you still lived here,” Maeve said her eyes tearing up.
Blackie got agitated and stuffed his hands in his pockets and moved away from Maeve, frowning.
“Mom, I haven’t been home much since I was sixteen. I’m almost twenty-seven.”
“Come here, son,” she said and held her arms out.
“I miss you too, Mom,” he said and walked over to her. She folded him in her arms and hugged him tight. He put his head on her shoulder and Meg could see him relax in her arms and instantly realized why he liked to cuddle. He missed his mother’s comforting embrace. He had been on his own from a teenager. It suddenly struck her that she had lost both of her parents at a young age. Maybe that’s why they needed each other so much. She made a promise to herself to make sure he came back here more often. She thought he needed his parents love and guidance more than he would admit. He finally released his mother and they both were misty-eyed.
“We’ll see you guys in the morning before we leave,” he said gruffly. “Goodnight.”
They went up to his room. He pulled her down on the bed, put his head on her chest and held on tight. She held him, stroking his hair for a long time. He was silent and she knew he just needed her to hold him. He was so strong physically but still very vulnerable emotionally. He fell asleep and she pulled a cover over them, letting him sleep in her arms.
THIRTY
In the morning Meg awoke and Blackie was still cuddled with her. She started to get up but he tightened his arms around her. She looked into those beautiful blue eyes and they were serious.
“Don’t get up yet. I want to talk to you.” He paused and she wondered what was next.
“Okay, honey, what is it?”
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes, darling, of course. I said yes when you asked me two days ago. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“This is a lousy way to ask you. I don’t even have a ring, but I’m getting one. As soon as I get one, I’ll do this again, properly. I’m such a jerk.”
“I said yes,” she reminded him.
“I know. I love you.” He put his mouth on her belly, kissing it and said, “Good morning, Baby, it’s Daddy.” Then he laughed, rolled her over on top of him and hugged her right. “Let’s go home, honey.”
* * *
They landed at Dulles and took a limo home. The guys started chatting on the ride home and they all seemed to perk up a little.
Sean got out a bottle of champagne and exclaimed, “I have an announcement. I’ve asked Katie to marry me and she said yes!”
They screamed with excitement and hugged one another.
“That’s fabulous. When are you planning on doing it? I think we’re going to do something small as soon as possible,” Blackie said.
“We’ll start planning right away and I guess do it in a couple months. Then we can all go back to Ireland,” Katie said flushed with happiness.
“So you’re going to get married in Ireland. Great! Mom’s going to make a big deal out of it. Are you ready for that?” Blackie said.
“Yes, I know she will, but we don’t want anything big. Small and elegant is what we want,” Sean said putting his arm around Katie.
“Hey, where�
��s the ring, dummy? You’re as bad as me. You need to get a ring, man,” Blackie scolded Sean.
“I know, I know. I thought you and I could go and look at them. What do you think?” Sean asked him.
“Okay, but shouldn’t you take Katie?”
“She said she wants to be surprised, so that’s what I’m doing,” Sean answered.
“Katie, that’s so exciting. It’s going to be wonderful,” Meg said.
“Hey, I can’t wait to get home and see Jill and Keary’s faces when we tell them our news,” Sean said, happily.
* * *
They arrived at the farm, stowed their bags and walked up to the house.
Jill and Keary were in the TV room watching a movie when they trooped in. There were lots of hugs and kisses until they settled down with drinks to catch up.
“You look great. We missed you guys,” Jill said.
“How was it? Are the new horses on their way? How’re Maeve and Ken?” Keary asked.
“We missed you guys too. Mom and Dad are wonderful.” Blackie laughed. “We had the best time. Meg is in love with Ireland and I think Katie is too. The horses should be here in a couple weeks. Wait till you see them, Keary. I think we made some good buys. We actually can’t wait to go back. Oh, get this, Dad wants me to go into politics! Me!” Keary and Jill’s mouths flew open.
“What?” they said.
“I’ll tell you about it later, it’s ridiculous, but first, we have some exciting news.”
“Wait, wait, Jill and I have news and we go first, since we didn’t get to go to Ireland,” Keary said smiling and looked at Jill. She nodded.
“We’re pregnant!” he exclaimed. There was total silence and then pandemonium broke loose with more hugs, kisses and ‘high-fives’.
“We need more champagne,” Sean said and went out to the fridge.
“Hey, I found some,” he said juggling it and a stack of plastic glasses. He poured and everyone toasted Jill and Keary.
“All right, now what’s your news?” Keary asked.
“Katie and I are getting married!” Sean yelled causing more toasting, hugging, laughing and well-wishing.