“Well, continue. You look so blissful and happy it would be a shame to interrupt, especially when I’m the cause of it.”
She laughed and threw her arms around him and nuzzled his shoulder. This day was one she would remember forever.
Hours later, Cass and Rory kissed and waved goodbye to their friends and family as they sat into the wedding car. Annie and Aoife, had tied tin cans to the back of the car and Rian and Darragh were busy writing ‘Just Married’ in shaving foam on the back windows and sides of the black Bentley. Paul was standing to one side frowning at them and moved to take Cass’ hand as she sat into the car.
“Congratulations Cassidy, I’m overjoyed for you both,” he said smiling at her.
“Thanks Paul,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. Paul blushed under her gaze and nodded curtly at her. She saw his eyes follow Aoife, as she laughed with Annie beside the car. Cass smiled and watched as Aoife noticed Paul’s gaze and then smile shyly at him. Things were happening right under their noses. She called Rory as he hugged Marie and Mark for the hundredth time.
“Rory O’Malley, time to go. We better make a break for it now or we’ll never get away.”
Marie came over to the car and put her head in to talk to her. Baby Hannah put her chubby arms out and Cass lifted her onto her knee.
“Ah little bubbie, we’ll be back before you know it. And I promise, Uncle Rory will find you something nice while we are on holidays.”
She touched her nose to Hannahs and was gifted with slobbery kisses on her cheek. She giggled and looked up at her old friend.
“I’ll miss you Marie. What will I do without you for a whole month?”
“Oh I’m sure you’ll find something to do with your new gorgeous husband.” Marie winked at her and dragged Hannah back into her arms.
“Have fun and send me a postcard from every place you visit. I love you so much, Cass. We’ll be over to you both as soon as you get back.”
Marie kissed her on the cheek and wiped away a tear from her eye.
“Don’t,” said Cass. “I have just reapplied my make-up and if I start again, I’ll never stop.”
“Just go, have so much fun, see you in a month.” Marie and Hannah waved and Cass felt a lump in her throat as she watched them walk back towards the house. Mark and Marie had become like family to all the O’Malleys. They had taken them into their hearts because they loved her and because of their connection to Harry. She never failed to be blown away by the O’Malley’s generosity of spirit.
Rory sat into the other side of the car and slammed the door.
“Right, finally! Are we all set? I think I’ve said goodbye to half the town and every family member I know! Including my Aunt Aileen, who nearly tore the face off me with her beard.”
Cass rolled her eyes.
“She has a slight moustache, Ror. Aw! Did the big scaredy lady frighten my Rory?”
She tickled him under his chin and he caught her hand in his and pulled her onto his lap.
“Hmmm, I think I prefer this scaredy lady any day.”
He kissed her hard on the mouth, and laughed as she pushed him back against the seat. “You brute,” she laughed and wagged her finger at him. “Later, hot stuff.”
Rory stared at her and ran his finger along her jawline. “Okay that’s enough minx, seatbelts on and let’s get this show on the road.”
Just as they were about to drive off, granny
O’Malley knocked on the car window. Rory put the window down and smiled out at her. She looked beautiful, her long grey hair clipped up high for the day and a peach dress that made her look like an angelic little old lady. Rory almost sniggered when he thought of her ripping into the poor farmer down the road when his sheep had got out on the road and blocked the guest traffic for twenty minutes. Granny put her hand into the car and handed Cass a brown paper bag.
“I bought these for you, Cassidy. It’s a little reading material for your trip.”
Cass smiled at her and kissed her softly on the cheek.
“You are too good, Granny. Thank you so much for thinking of me.”
The old lady smiled at her.
“Sure, you’re one of our own, Cass O’Malley. And Rory got lucky when he met you. You will be the making of that boy. Mark my words. Have fun you two and be safe.”
She winked at a bemused Rory and slapped the top of the car as it drove off. Cass turned towards Rory and smiled.
“I’m so looking forward to this, a whole month on our own. Whatever will we get up too?” Rory bit his tongue between his teeth.
“I can come up with a few suggestions. He took Cass’ hand and raised it to his lips.
“I love you Cassidy O’Malley. You are my heart and my soul. I will live and breathe only for you. I make a solemn promise now, between the two of us. I will never hurt you or cause you a moment of regret and I will never be the cause of any pain. You are my sunrise and sunset and I am your protector from this day forth. All that is good in me, is made better by your belief in my worthiness. I love you Cass. Forever.”
Cass kissed him softly on the lips. “And I love you Rory,” she said.
“You are my everything, my best friend. You are mine. Always and forever.”
They kissed and smiled at each other, both of them already lost in their own private paradise.
Cass opened the brown paper bag that granny O’Malley had given her and slid out the three books. She burst out laughing as she read the three titles.
“What the hell did she give you?”
Rory asked looking at her incredulously. Cass tried to stop laughing and got a fit of coughing for her trouble. Rory rubbed her back and picked up the first book. He read the title and burst out laughing.
“Oh for the love of God. Fifty feckin’ shades of grey!”
The End
Michelle McLoughney lives in County Clare, Ireland. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Facebook and twitter.
A note from the author: Thank you so much for reading my book. If you enjoyed it of even if you didn’t, please consider leaving a review on Amazon as it boosts my ratings. Thank you so much for taking a chance on my debut. If you enjoyed Rory’s story, you’ll be happy to know that Rian’s story is on the way in January 2015. Here’s a sneak peak. x
The author acknowledges the following people for their help, and most excellent services.
Editor: Emma Mack
Thank you so much for meticulously combing through this manuscript, finding and correcting errors of which there were many. Thank you also for improving the book with suggestions and tips and working with me to make this the best it could be. I am completely indebted to you for your dedication to this project. You went over and beyond what was expected of you. The skyping, phone calling and general backbreaking work you put into this book, made it go from seed to flower. You handled this book and this author, with such kindness and professionalism. I am forever grateful.
www.Facebook.com/EmmaMack
www.tinkstypos.com
Cover photo: Shauna at Kruse photography:
Thank you so much for finding the right ‘Rory.’ You were so easy to work with and listened to exactly what I wanted. Can’t wait to work with you again to find the right Rian, Annie, Aoife and Darragh. You rock!
www.kruseimagesandphotography.com
www.facebook.com/kruseimages&photgraphy
Cover model: Lance Jones. You are an amazing model and all round great guy. Thanks so much for making Rory a living breathing person.
www.facebook.com/lanceJonesTattooFitnessModel
Cover Designer: Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs.
Thank you so much Kari for designing a cover that I absolutely love. And for sharing your crazy cat and dog videos.
www.covertocoverdesigns.com
Proofread: by the very lovely, Kaye Morrissey. Thanks so much for offering to help. You’re a pure dote. Hon the rebels!!!
Formatting: Thanks so much to Angel for the fanta
stic service and for being such a lovely person to work with.
https://www.facebook.com/AngelsindieBookBlog
‘Cream’
Rian and Liadh - The O’ Malleys Book 2
BY
MICHELLE MCLOUGHNEY
Even as a seven year old, Liadh O’ Neil knew that Sister Geraldine was not to be trifled with. She was tall for a woman, well over 6ft. When she walked, her black habit swished and swayed behind her. Long heavy rosary beads, wooden and rounded were knotted around her stout waist. She looked as though she had no hair beneath her black veil and her face was stern and wizened. A criss-cross of lines around her mouth indicated that it was permanently turned downward in a scowl. The cane in her hand was a regular feature and she was always smacking it against her other hand as she walked passed the tables in the classroom. Liadh keep her head down as sister Geraldine walked passed, she felt the heat that emanated from her body as she moved up and down the aisles of the classroom. She held her breath as the nun stopped at her table, pausing for only a second or two before she continued walking and made her way to the top of the classroom.
“As I said to your teacher, Mrs. Flynn. I am here today to talk about your first confession. This children, is a vital part of your first holy communion. You must release your sins and then you can be pure and free to meet our lord on May fourteenth. Hands up who knows what a sin is?”
Liadh watched as Caroline Murphy raised her hand.
“Yes, Caroline.” Mrs Flynn, said. “Please tell Sister Geraldine what a sin is.” Caroline looked at sister Geraldine and spoke softly.
“A lie, miss.”
Whack! “My name is sister Geraldine not miss, you will address me and me alone girl.”
Caroline clutched her hand and whimpered as she stuffed it into her armpit and bit her lip. The tension in the classroom thickened and started to envelop Liadh. She looked over at her friend Rian O’Malley for comfort. Liadh’s eyes met his and he nodded to her grinning. Liadh smiled back at him.
“You girl.”
Biting the inside of her lip, she tasted blood. She chanted ‘not me, not me, not me,’ over and over in her head, but she knew. She just instinctively knew, that it was her turn. Drawing in a noiseless breath, she looked to sister Geraldine who was staring at her stone-faced apart from a slight upward turn at the very corners of her mouth.
“Liadh O’ Neil, stand up and answer sister Geraldine.” Mrs Flynn couldn’t disguise the catch in her voice which made her sound helpless and afraid.
Liadh raised her head and pushed her chair out as she stood up. The metal legs of her chair squeaked on the floor and sister Geraldine’s lips become a thin line. A sneer.
“Come to the top of the class, Liadh O’ Neill.” Liadh walked behind her all the way to the top and turned to face the class. She caught the eyes of some of the other children. They stared at her their own eyes wide and scared. Something was going to happen. Something bad.
“Children, when you commit a sin you become a sinner. And a sinner can be forgiven if they repent their sin. Remember this and learn it well. You can forgive the sinner but not the sin. Repeat it.”
“You can forgive the sinner but not the sin.” The class repeated the line, quietly at first.
“LOUDER!” The cane cracked down on the table in front of Mrs Flynn. Liadh watched as her teacher jumped about a foot off her chair and put her hands to her face. She cradled it softly between her fingertips.
“YOU CAN FORGIVE THE SINNER. BUT NOT THE SIN!”
Sister Geraldine turned her head to Liadh slowly and pointed her cane in her direction. The tip touched the side of her chubby cheek.
“And this girls and boys. THIS, here. Is the sin.”
Liadh heard a soft intake of breath and made eye contact with Julie Byrne, her best friend. Julie lowered her eyes and looked away. An urge to wet herself came over Liadh as she felt her knees start to shake. She understood from that moment that this whole lesson was designed specifically with her in mind.
“This child, Liadh O’Neil was created in sin, born of sin. Her mother is a whore. As a whore, she did what all whores do. She lay with a man before she was 16 years old. Unmarried in the eyes of the church and the Lord. She ruined a boy. Tempted him into her body and corrupted him with her lies and want. She then was sent away. Away from this town and it’s good people, its Christian people. Away from the church and its followers. Do you know where she was sent for her sins boy and girls?”
No one raised a hand.
“To St Patrick's in Dublin, that’s where. In a home filled with other sinners who wanted to repent and expel these sins from their bodies. Stand children.”
Each child stood and stared at Liadh, a mixture of pity and relief crossed their faces like waves of sunlight through a window. Pity for the one who was in the firing line, relief that their mothers had not laid with a man. That their mothers had not had to expel their sins in a mother and baby home in Dublin. Like Liadh O’Neill’s mother. One of so many young girls who got ‘into trouble’ around the towns and villages of Ireland. Returning home with their heads bent in shame, leaving the burden of their sin behind them. Little neat blue and pink bundles, of shame and loss.
“I want each of you to walk up passed the SIN and using God’s voice, I want you to tell her that she is a sin.”
“Sister Geraldine,” Mrs Flynn started to stand.
“Sit down woman, this does not concern you. Unless you would like a visit from Father Murphy to talk to you about your position within the school.”
Liadh looked at Mrs Flynn her eyes pleading with her to intervene. She closed them eyes tightly when she saw the teacher turn her back and walk towards the window. Lidah followed her gaze and wished that she too were outside at the hurling match that the bigger boys were playing in the field. She couldn’t even blame her teacher for it. Everyone knew that the church controlled the appointment of the teachers in the school. Mrs Flynn had a family to feed, she needed the job. Liadh turned her face back to sister Geraldine and waited.
“Come children, make haste.”
Each child in the class lined up and one by one each walked passed Liadh and whispered sin into her left ear. Some, like Liam O’Brien seemed to take a kind of pleasure from it. He had smirked and said the word loudly as his breath caressed her ear. “SIN,” he breathed.
“WAIT,” sister Geraldine roared.
The children stopped in mid motion and looked to the bottom of the classroom, in the direction of where sister Geraldine’s cane was pointing. One lone child sat staring straight ahead.
Rian.
“You boy. What is your name?”
“Rian O’Malley, Sister.”
“Stand up and move into the line.”
“No sister. I will not.”
Liadh closed my eyes and started to pray for an intervention of any kind. If just once God would actually listen and do something. She looked at Rian and tried to meet his eyes, but he just stared straight ahead. And Liadh loved him for it, but feared for him too in that moment.
Sister Geraldine walked straight-backed to the desk and leaned down until her face was inches away from Rian. Liadh watched as his little jaw tightened and he looked her straight in the eyes.
“What did you say to me, boy?”
“I said no, sister. I won’t be doing that to Liadh. She is not a sin. She is just a girl.”
Children murmured and gasped as sister Geraldine dragged Rian out of his chair by his hair and launched him in front of her. She pushed him on the back, half thumping and half dragging him along the length of the classroom. Liadh looked on in fright as Mrs Flynn moved passed her to the classroom door, she ran down the corridor to the principal’s office. She heard her banging loudly on a door and shouting for Mr O’ Leary, the school principal.
“Conor, come quick. Come quick!”
Liadh didn’t remember much else, except the sound of the cane. The noise of it as it flew through the air. A beautiful sliding sound, a wh
oosh and then Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Over and over again against Rian's back, shoulders and face. He stared at Lidah silently, his eyes locked with hers. She watched as he grimaced with every blow. He never cried or called out; he just stared into her eyes. A look of pure defiance in them. Liadh started screaming then and looked down at her feet. A pool of water grew bigger on the floor; she watched it flood down her legs. Looking back on that day she couldn’t really remember what had happened next, it all seemed disjointed somehow. The next thing she remembered was being brought home by Mister O’Malley and his kindness to her.
Lidah waited in the car outside her house, as Gearóid O’Malley went in to talk to her mother. She had watched her mother cry at the doorstep. It was the first time she had seen her like that, her body wracked with sobs. Her lovely mammy had committed the worst crime of all; she had brought her little pink bundle of sin home with her.
Caoimhe O’Neil had refused to leave Liadh behind in the mother and baby home to be brought to a new family, a new life. Instead she had brought her home and had gratefully moved into a ramshackle cottage with her bachelor uncle, Neddy.
Old wonderful Neddy, who had taken them in and told her mother not to listen to the shite-hawks of the town, her own parents included.
Neddy who cared nothing for convention. Neddy who refused to attend mass and was a quiet man with a lively and sincere nature. Neddy was gone now, too. He had died last year peacefully drifting away in his sleep. Not an ounce of pain or illness in his life at least that was something.
Now Neddy’s cottage was theirs and life was looking good. Her mammy had work cleaning in the O’Malley’s farmhouse and Liadh had Rian too. Rian sat beside her in the back of the car, his small hand covering hers. Even at seven he was a head and a half above Liadh and always seemed bigger and stronger than the other boys. She cried softly beside him, heaving every now and then from the shock and humiliation of it all.“Shush Liadh. Hush now. It’ll be over soon. She will never hurt you again.”
Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance Page 21