by Unknown
“I don't like your tone, Ms. Gallagher.”
I appeared to look for something, I lifted my plate and looked under the table moved my bag and looked under it finally I heard. “Ms. Gallagher what are you looking for?”
I looked him in the eye boldly and said “I've seem to have misplaced my bag of fucks to give!”
I coolly return to eating my muffin. I heard the chair slide back and the door chime. Frankie came running over. “Did you just tell Easton Kerrigan, one of America's most Eligible Bachelors, Billionaire Playboy and The Golden Boy of the Kerrigan Family that you were out of fucks to give?” Frankie asked with astonishment in her voice.
“I don't like assholes, that guy is an asshole!”
I wake up to the sound of the outside gate buzzing. It's seven o’clock in the morning. No one knows I'm here, so who the hell is at the gate. Walking to the intercom, I ask who it is.
“Hello, Ms. Gallagher. It’s Stacy Kerrigan. I'm here with my brother, Michael. I had hoped I could speak with you.”
“Ms. Kerrigan, you do realize that it's seven in the morning on a Saturday morning? Why are you here?”
“I’m here because I told you a lie, and I know a way to help you get The Hope Theatre, but you have to be somewhere exactly at eight –twenty for it to happen.”
“Stacy, thank you, but I've decided to pass on the building.”
I heard a man’s voice. “Hello Ms. Gallagher, I'm Michael I want to tell you that The Hope Theatre is owned by Kerrigan Properties not individually by Easton Kerrigan. So, let's say you wanted the building you could meet with my parents. They can sell you the property. My brother couldn't stand in your way.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“In your inquiry, you stated you wanted the theatre to be turned into a music conservatory. My mom has had her heart set on restoring that building for thirty years, but never wanted to undertake a project of that size,” Stacy says
Michael adds, “My brother wants to turn it into office space. If I can see my mom’s dreams for that building come true, I owe it to her and you, to see if it's a plan that will work. My parent have breakfast every Saturday morning at eight-twenty at the Denver Diner.” I was silent.
“I can't let you in. I don't like strangers in my personal space. I will meet you outside the gate in twenty minutes. Please wait.” I hurried up the stairs and threw on pair of black slacks and a nice lavender top pulling my hair back in a low smooth ponytail. I put my contacts in and did my makeup in record time. I have to remind myself I’m not Kennedy here, I'm Siobhan. My mask is in place. I make sure I have everything I need for my meeting. I then meet the Kerrigan siblings at the gate.
You couldn't have a more stark contrast in two siblings. Stacy with her olive skin, blue eyes and black hair was standing next to an equally beautiful man. He was tall, maybe six foot three, with hair the color of copper, piercing green eyes with flecks of gold in them, and skin so fair it was almost translucent. When they smiled you could tell he and Stacy were siblings; they had the same enchanting smile with deep dimples on each cheek.
I greet Stacy with a handshake and nod at Michael. It was hard to touch men, so I tried my best not to. Taking separate cars, we drive a few miles off the beaten path of Downtown Denver. I parked in front of a fifties style diner. Getting out, I followed the Kerrigan siblings to a booth occupied by a stunning couple that appeared to be in their sixties.
“This is my mom Elena and dad Shamus,” Stacy chirped.
”I would like to introduce you to Siobhan Gallagher.” I extended my hand to Mrs. Kerrigan, but quickly drew it back nodding my hello to Mr. Kerrigan. Mrs. Kerrigan's eyes were locked on me like she could see through my mask. I run my mental checklist: contacts in, scars covered, freckles covered, and no red roots peeking through. I snap out of it, and direct my attention to the couple.
“I'm sorry to have interrupted your breakfast but I hope to talk to you about The Hope Theatre. I'm interested in buying it, but I was told by your son, Easton, that it wasn’t for sale.”
“Please, Ms. Gallagher, sit and join us.” Shamus pointed towards the booth
“Stacy, can I please sit on the outside?” Stacy nodded and slid into the booth then Michael followed. I sat, as close to the edge as possible, making sure I didn't touch him. I went on the explain everything I wanted to do, including how I wanted to restore the theater and Banquet halls. Once I was done I excused myself to the bathroom wiping my brow with a paper towel and returning to the table.
“Ms. Gallagher after discussing we have decided to sell you the building. Since it's a historical building you are entitled to some grant money for the restoration, but not until the restoration has been completed and approved,” Elena informed me. “Stacy knows how the applications need to be finished and what needs to accompany them. The asking price is two million- five hundred thousand; the building is in disrepair but in a prime real estate district” Shamus added.
“Sir, I'm not going to haggle price. I want that building, so I will pay your asking price.”
“How are you securing financing? Do you have investors for the Conservatory?” Shamus inquired.
“No, sir. I will be the sole proprietor. I will pay three million cash after an inspection. I need close by the end of the week.”
Stacy's eyes got wide. “Thank you. This is gonna be my first sale. I just finished real estate school last month. I'm so excited!”
I smiled my first genuine smile in over three years, “Well since you're about to take a whole lot of my money, you can call me, Siobhan.” I laughed.
Stacy looks up from her phone “Let’s gets the lawyers to start the paperwork. I have someone that can do the inspection at three o’clock this afternoon.”
“I guess I will sign on the dotted line once we get the all clear. I’ll need to get ahold of the bank and let them know what I need. I will see you again on Wednesday, if that's ok. I have to find a contractor, start ordering instruments and recording equipment. I'm not even sure where to start.”
Stacy produced four cards from her day planner. "We recommend this contractor for high end remodeling and restorations. It’s a family owned business. They are honest,and they get their jobs done on time and within budget.”
Handing me the next card, she added,“You will also need an excellent project manager. If you want this done right and on time, I suggest you use this one. Her name is Mindy. Also, if you want she can take of all your ordering because she times everything to when construction on the room is finished, and when things are ready to be moved in without being damaged.”
She handed me a third card. “Rose is one of Denver’s premier interior designers. She has a sixteen-month waiting list, but she just happens to be married to my oldest brother Liam, so I'm sure she can work you in. This last card is for Holmes Luxury Spa. You're about to take on a seriously difficult project. I suggest their deep tissue massages with that.”
Stacy shook my hand and said we can finish the rest of the paperwork on Wednesday. I thanked the Kerrigan’s and left them to their breakfast. I needed to call my parents and let them know the good news.
Wednesday Afternoon was gloomy. I was meeting the contractor, project manager, and interior designer at my newly purchased building. Stacy and I had finished the paperwork this morning and the inspection had come back quickly saying the building was in great shape structurally, and there was no sign of mold. I now held in my hand a giant key ring with what appeared to be twenty keys. Stepping out of my truck, I was greeted by three women and four men.
Walking towards the group, a handsome man in his early thirties greeted me, “Hello, I'm Xavier Benton from Benton Constructions, and these are my brothers Marcus, Peter, and Phelan. We are going to go through the whole building.” What the hell is in the Denver Water? These men look like they jumped off the cover of a Highlander Book!
His voice grabs my attention again. “Peter and I handle all the restoration work, Marcus and Fenton handle n
ew builds. This is Mindy Green. She is our preferred project manager. We have worked with her for the last six years, and this is Rose Kerrigan. She is an excellent designer when it comes to restorations. You already know Elena Kerrigan, the president of the Preservation Society. The inspector has let me know the entire building is sound, so we are free to tour the whole place. We will break up in teams and start taking pictures to get started.
Mindy can team up with Rose, so that leaves Ms. Gallagher and you, Mrs. Kerrigan. Now that the jobs have been handed out, we all separated and started taking pictures. My first stop was the theatre. I walked to the stage and rested my hand on it. I prayed out loud:
Lord, please bless this place and give me the strength to make this dream a reality. Help me find peace and salvation in this building. Help me teach children the joy and magic of music and please Lord, when all is revealed, let the people be understanding and compassionate. Please allow me to make right the wrongs I have done and help me to heal others with the gift you have given me. Lord, I know in my heart that Emma, Whitney, and Pilar are looking down on me. Angels in heaven, guiding me on my path to redemption. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I turn around to see Elena waiting for me.
“You will come for brunch Sunday. You need some family support, and I'm going to see that you get it. There is a sadness in your eyes and it's obvious your soul needs a little TLC.” I nodded and went to find Rose and Mindy. I told them what my vision was.
After saying goodbye to the ladies, I called Dr. Franklin. It was time for me to find a permanent place. I loved his home, but I needed something of my own. He was excited about my progress and told me that he and Emilia would be at the grand opening of The Hope Music Conservatory.
Finding a condo in downtown Denver is no small feat. I needed something that was secure on an upper level and at least two bedrooms. I felt like one of those annoying people on House Hunters, I had all these expectations and must haves, but nothing was hitting all the marks. Feeling discouraged by Friday, I decided to give Stacy a call to see if she knew of a residential agent I could use because I just wasn't finding anything. She suggested one of her other brothers, apparently nothing in Denver got bought or sold without a Kerrigan on the deal. Her brother, Michael agreed to meet me Saturday morning. After I explained what I was looking for, he told me he had several properties. They do meet everything on my list, but that the starting prices here in the high four hundred thousands. I asked him to show me what he had, and we would discuss money after. I made a choice Saturday morning. I got dressed making sure I was fully covered grabbed a coffee and went condo shopping. Michael met me at The Mad Batter, handing me a stack of papers.
He started talking, "I have six units to show you, all within a mile of your business. I have your list of must-haves, but I will tell you that my mother put her two cents in and has suggested a unit that has all your must-haves except further west about a mile out of your desired area. I would like to show you that first, so I can call my mom and let her know you saw it. That way, I won't have her calling me every five minutes.”
I nod and we get on the way. Pulling into the building, Michael starts telling me about the unit. It comes with underground parking, and the top four levels have a private elevator. The unit I am looking at is on the level below the penthouse the underground garage is also secure. The garage is monitored by onsite security and state of the art cameras. The building itself has cameras in every common area, which includes an indoor swimming pool and fitness center as well as a doorman and concierge. We enter the lobby, and the doorman greets us.
We make our way up to the twenty-fourth floor. Michaels tells me he will wait outside while I look at the unit. I walk into the foyer and see a giant chandelier above the entrance. Walking into the living room, I see the space is huge and open. The living room opens up to a huge kitchen with an island and bar stools. Everything is the unit is new and stainless steel there is a huge butler's pantry and laundry room. I see a half-bath off the living room as well as an informal dining area. The ceilings have exposed beams, it's strange, but it looks like a high-end ski lodge. I walk to the stairs off the living room and see that it's a loft style bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and two walk in closets. The entire east-facing wall is made up of windows that face the mountains. I know this apartment is well over what I want to spend. I continue looking through the apartment there is an additional guest bedroom with its own bathroom and huge closet. Walking back to the living room, I feel a bit sad, but hopeful that I will find something I love that's in my budget.
I hear Michael on the phone.“Yes, mom, I'm here now. Yes, I understand. Okay, I will see you tomorrow. Yes, I will tell her she is coming. Bye.”
I tap Michael on the shoulder and see him blush. “So, I take it that was your mom?”
Michael straightened his shoulders as if he was ready to give an order. "Yes, and she wants me to remind you that brunch starts at eleven, and she expects you there." I start laughing.
“I take it no one says No to your mom and everyone tows the line.”
He is laughing now. “My mom has six kids we all know who wears the pants in our family.”
“This place is great, but I was looking somewhere in the four hundred thousands and I'm sure that gets you a closet size apartment in this area.”
Michael says, “You're in luck because the owner of the unit just dropped the price to three hundred ninety-nine thousand.”
I start laughing. "Michael, I call bullshit! This unit is easily seven hundred thousand dollars! The owner isn't mental enough to take a loss that great, so I know something is going on. I don't take kindly to people dicking me around, so cut the crap.”
Michael looks shocked, but soon I have the whole story. His mother owns the building; she renovated the building and all her five remaining unmarried children live on the top four floors. The building is paid for in full. So she can sell the units for whatever she wants. Each of her children got a unit on their eightieth birthday.
“Okay, so there are six of you. Give me the Kerrigan breakdown.”
Michael smiled and started speaking, “Liam is the oldest at thirty-two. You met his wife, Rose and they have a daughter and two sons. Liam is a financial Consultant and Hedge Fund Manager. Rose, as you know, is an interior designer.
Easton is twenty-nine. He is the CEO of Kerrigan Realty, and he is currently dating some social-climbing harpy named Stella. Everyone hates her, but my family with all their manners can't seem to tell her to choke on it.
Rhydian is a Computer Programmer. He writes security code for some of the largest corporation in the world. He is also twenty-nine and is the proverbial bachelor. He likes his women loose and commitment free.”
"Wait Easton is a twin? Pleasesay it isn’t so.”
Michael laughs and says,“No. They are what's commonly referred as Irish Twins. They are ten months apart.”
I start laughing because I've never heard the phrase before, and then I start laughing even harder when I think of the elder Kerrigan’s as being young and hot in the pants
“I just turned twenty-six; I am the Head of Residential listings for Kerrigan Realty. I'm also single, but not looking. Don't get me wrong you're smokin' hot, but I know what it's like to get your heart ripped out not planning a repeat.” I notice a sad look come over Michael.
Shaking it off, he continued, “Stacy and Killian are REAL twins. They just turned twenty-two. Stacy works as a junior agent at Kerrigan, and Killian manages the website and listing information. He is also a freelance graphic designer. He lost his hearing as a young teen. He can speak, but he prefers to sign so he hasn't spoken a word to anyone in six years. That's it, the siblings Kerrigan. What about you, any family?"
“I'm an only child. My parents' late in life miracle baby. They live in Florida. My mom works at a school and my dad works in a juice plant. I grew up on a farm outside a small city on the south west c
oast. They took in foster kids once I went to college to help my mom deal with her empty nest feelings. People always say Florida isn't really the south, but it's as south as you can get without leaving the country. I went to college up north and after decided I wanted to try the west. Michael, I want to counteroffer your mom, I will lease this place for six months, and after that time we will sit down and discuss the purchase price. I have to make sure I can handle living next to you and I have a feeling you're gonna be nothing but trouble, Michael Kerrigan.”
“You’re probably right; I have been known to get a little wild every now and then. So are you coming to brunch tomorrow?”
“Yes I'll be there. I have a feeling your mom would hunt me down if Ididn’t show up. Can I bring anything?”
“No, just yourself.”
We parted ways and I returned to Dr. Franklin’s to start getting my stuff in order. Sunday morning, I got up and went to the fresh market and the grocery store. I decided to make Lemon-Glazed Banana Scones with crystallized ginger. After a morning of baking and cleaning, I wanted to find something fun to wear yet Sunday appropriate. Growing up in the south you learn always wear your Sunday best. I found a Lilly Pulitzer long sleeved mint dress with a lace overlay that covered my neck and paired it with a nude and mint green wedge sandal. Then made my way to the Kerrigan estate.
Chapter 7
Pulling onto the estate, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. A giant Tudor style mansion with breathtaking landscaping and a large green lawn. I parked my blue extended cab Chevy Silverado next to cars that cost half a million dollars each. It seemed so out of place. I grabbed my container with my scones and made my way to the door.
Stacy answered the door and let out a large squeal that I think ruptured my eardrums “Oh my god you're here. I’m so happy. Come on, everyone is in the great room.”