Been In Love Before: A Novel

by Bryan Mooney

  “RUT-3?” asked Ryan.

  “It’s a new test for cancer, and we have found that CA-125 is a protein that is elevated in the bloodstream of women with advanced ovarian cancer. If the cyst is filled with fluid, that could be a danger to the baby, if and when the tumor bursts. However, we can always drain it or deliver the baby if we have to do that. We ordered a rapid amnio test to see if the baby’s lungs are mature enough for delivery. We’re also waiting for those test results. At this point, her obstetrician does not want to perform a cesarean section to deliver the baby. Time will tell. Please be patient as we wait for the results of the blood test. I will let you know as soon as I know anything at all. I was scheduled to finish my shift at seven,” the doctor said, glancing at his watch, “but I will stay here until I receive the results.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” was the chorus from the crowd of Macgregors now listening to his every word.

  They returned to their corner refuge, now filled with stacks of empty coffee cups, pizza boxes, newspapers, and candy wrappers. All they could do now was wait.

  Standing at the coffee machine, Ryan said to his daughter, “I’m sorry, Mary Kate, this is not how I thought we would be spending tonight.”

  “Me too, but I called the others and told them to go ahead with everything and just e-mail me the video from the rehearsal. I’m glad you insisted on an earlier rehearsal last month. At least we won’t look like total bozos walking down the aisle.”

  Eian came up behind them. “Do you have any change to lend me? For some coffee?”

  Ryan looked at Eian; then father and daughter both said at the same time, “Some things never change.” They laughed for the first time that night. Time dragged on—eight, nine, ten o’clock. It was well after midnight before the doctor reemerged, this time smiling.

  “You got the test results?” Bobby asked him.

  “Yes, it was a fluid sac. We drained the fluid, and she is out of danger, with her fever receding. It was a large fluid sac, and the marker test results came back negative. She is resting comfortably now.”

  “And the baby?”

  “The baby is fine. No delivery, which is good. However, I do want to keep both of them overnight for observation, as a precaution.” He turned to Bobby and said, “In the meantime, she would like to see you.”

  Bobby smiled for the first time. “Can I go in now?”

  “We’re moving her, but you can visit with her soon. But please stay only for a few minutes; she needs her rest. I’ll send an aide out to bring you back to her room.”

  “I understand. Thank you, Doctor.”

  “And for the rest of you, go home and get some rest. She’s going to be just fine.” He went to talk with another group in the room that was also waiting for news from him.

  The family gathered together in a circle. “Well, that’s good news,” Ryan said to them. “Very good news. I suggest we all head home now . . . we have a wedding to go to tomorrow.”

  “I’m not going to a wedding tomorrow,” Robert said.

  Oh no, Ryan thought, Not again. “Robert, I thought . . .”

  “It’s after midnight. The wedding is today. See you all tonight, because now we have two things to celebrate.” He shook Angus’s hand and said, “Thanks for coming, Mr. . . . Campbell. It meant a lot to the family . . . and to me.”

  “That’s what family is all about. See you at the wedding. And the name is Angus . . . Robert.” He smiled a knowing smile.

  “Yes, it is.”

  Mary Kate looked worried. No rehearsal and no Patti. Patti was supposed to be there to help me get dressed. This should be fun, trying to get this dress on by myself. Maybe I can ask . . .

  Claret walked beside her and draped her arm around her shoulder. “Mary Kate, since Patti won’t be there, I would be happy . . . no, I would be honored, to help you prepare for your wedding and help with your dress. If you like.”

  “That would be wonderful,” said Mary Kate.

  “And appropriate,” said her father. “Gracie would have approved.”

  “Well, I’m heading home. I have a baseball practice with my new team in a few hours,” said Eian.

  “You better not be late for my wedding,” admonished Mary Kate.

  “Aw, Graw, you know I’d never miss your wedding. Funny you should mention that, though . . .” He paused and looked around at his brothers but said nothing further.

  “And don’t forget to pick up my tuxedo, bro!” said Robert.

  “I won’t. You can count on me.”

  “Yeah, like a forest fire, blowing with the wind. I never know what’s going to happen with you.”

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  There were twice as many boys this Saturday as the prior week. They would need a bigger field, he thought to himself. I could always sell this property and buy some other parcel, larger and better suited. But he still would need a place to live; he could not stay with Ryan for the rest of his life. I’ll worry about that later, he thought; right now he had to figure out the teams. There was no saved parking spot for him this week because he was late after picking up Robert’s tuxedo. Duke’s had called that morning after it finished the alterations. He had to park three blocks away.

  “All right, let’s play ball,” he shouted in the traditional fashion. He glanced at his watch; he had to be home by one o’clock. No later. He had promised Graw he would not be late.

  Her wedding day! Mary Kate poured more champagne for the women in the wedding party—Alison, Gerri, and Mattie. They were her best friends in the whole world. Her wedding planner, Gloria, was shouting instructions and directions to the photographer and videographer. The hairdressers and makeup artists had a production line for the women’s hair and makeup, to get them ready for the big event. She missed her mom. It was a sad day, but a happy day. She thought about everything that had happened over the last week.

  Mickey had made peace with his father. He was going to be promoted to president of the firm when it moved to Florida. Exciting! Patti had called her from the hospital and wished her well. Wonderful to hear from her. Her father had found Alexi, someone he was happy with, as Uncle Robert had found Coleen, and Uncle Eian had found Rose. Outstanding. She was quite pleased with herself. She heard the front doorbell ring.

  “Can someone get that? Please?”

  Alison, her coworker and bridesmaid, opened the door, then walked toward her holding a long, thin white box tied with a yellow ribbon.

  Mickey had sent her one yellow rose. A Scottish sign of love and respect.

  Graw—

  My love, soon we will be one and our life will never be the same.

  I want to grow old with you, to hold you, to cherish you.

  I love you always,

  Mickey

  “Oh, how romantic can you get?” Her friends swooned.

  “That’s my Michael,” Claret whispered, smiling at her new daughter. They hugged. “This is the best day ever.”

  Robert walked inside carrying the corsages for the bridal party and Claret. He also had boutonnieres for the groomsmen, for Angus, and for her father and two uncles.

  “I guess it’s time for me to get dressed and let them take some pictures,” said Mary Kate. She looked around. It is nearly one o’clock. Where is Uncle Eian? He promised he would not be late.

  “Yes, indeed,” responded Claret.

  Claret helped Mary Kate with her slip and her dress, and then patiently tied the intricate bodice in the rear. When she was done, Mary Kate turned to face her new mother-in-law, who gasped. “My God, you’re a beautiful bride. Your mother would be so proud of you.”

  They hugged. “Don’t make me cry, Mom,” Graw said. “I just had my makeup done.”

  She called me Mom! Claret began to tear up; she was so full of emotions. “Time for me to get dressed and for you to make your grand entrance downstairs to see your father,” she said, dabbing a handkerchief to her eyes. “Go on now.”

  She shouted from the top of the steps, “
Don’t look, Dad. Turn around and look away, I’m coming down. I’m ready for the pictures, but don’t look yet, and promise me you won’t cry.”

  “Me? Never.”

  Mary Katherine came down the steps accompanied by ohhhs and ahhhs from those waiting below, then walked up behind him and touched his shoulder. When he turned around, he was overwhelmed. Standing before him was his little girl, the little one he had walked to school, the one he had taught how to swim and ride horses. The one he took to ballet classes, and chauffeured to the junior prom with the neighborhood boy who had all the braces. Today she looked like an angel; she looked just like her mother on their wedding day, so many years ago. He could not hold back the tears.

  “Daddy, you promised me you wouldn’t cry,” she said, herself starting to tear up.

  “I couldn’t help myself. You’re so beautiful. He’s a very lucky man. I love you, Graw, and I am so proud of you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy.” As she walked to join the others, she glanced at her watch. It was after three o’clock. Where is Uncle Eian? I don’t need this today. “Daddy, can you call Uncle Eian? Please! I’m a little worried. He should be here by now.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  The game was over, and Eian was about to make an announcement to the crowd of young ball players and their parents sitting around the picnic tables enjoying lunch and talking about the game.

  Miguel stood and tapped two metal spoons together to get everyone’s attention. “Please, quiet. Quiet, please. Coach Macgregor has something to say.” Eian stood and looked around at all the people listening. He took in a deep breath and said to the waiting crowd, “You all played well today, and many of you show great promise.” He nodded to each and every one.

  “You all need practice, practice, and more practice, but always remember something that I nearly forgot over the years. This is a game. And later in life, if any of you are lucky enough, and good enough to be paid for something that you love to do, well, that’s a real bonus.” They all clapped.

  “Practice and coaching is what works best, and then team play. To that end, I want to let everyone know, I have quit my job at the radio station and have filed paperwork to form the South Florida Youth Baseball League for Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Deerfield Beach. I’m sure there will be other teams for us to play in this new league. For any of you that are interested, I have left some applications here on the table for you to fill out and return to me within the next two weeks. It should be fun and exciting because they have a youth World Series every year held in Fort Lauderdale. And we want to be part of that.” The group stood and clapped.

  A young girl in the rear raised her hand. “Coach, is the new league . . . open to girls?”

  “Yes, absolutely, open to everyone.” Then he remembered and looked at the time, and he knew he was going to be late. He had promised Graw he would be there.

  “I know you will all have a lot of questions, so we can talk briefly and then I must leave.” The parents cornered him and peppered him with questions for the next forty-five minutes until he told them, “I really must go now. My niece is getting married today, and I am already late.” They waved good-bye as he rushed to his car. Late! He hated to be late, and especially today. Three blocks away he turned the corner and crossed the street, reaching in his pocket for his car keys and cell phone. I’ll call Robert to let him know I am on my way and I have his tuxedo. His phone rang, an unknown caller.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Eian. It’s Laura, your daughter,” she said in a voice so sweet it would have attracted bees.

  Laura? His stepdaughter. The same Laura who threw him out of his house and home two weeks ago? The home he loved and still missed. That Laura.

  “Howya doing? It’s been over a week since we talked last.” Something wasn’t right; she was acting too sweet.

  “I’m fine, but in a hurry to get to a wedding. What’s up?”

  “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Yeah? And what’s that?”

  “I need you to sign a document for me. I just need to clear up some odds and ends with the estate. That’s all.”

  “What’s this all about, Laura?” he asked, his suspicions now aroused.

  She let out a deep breath. “Well, you know my dear mother always wanted me to have the house she was living in and . . .”

  “And me.”

  “Yes, of course, of course, and you. We both know mom was not herself there toward the end,” she went on.

  He did not respond, but took in a deep breath, his anger building.

  “Apparently she had her attorney file some type of document, called a life estate trust, giving you the deed to the house. I just need you to sign this over to me and rescind this silly paperwork. My name is on the house. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I understand completely. The house is mine, for as long as I live,” he said, stopping at the corner and looking for his car. “This is something your mother and I talked about for years; I just didn’t know she filed the papers. Good for her.” He could tell she was getting frustrated.

  “Well, Mother told me four years ago she was going to do that, and we fought about it, and I thought she had changed her mind.”

  “Obviously she did not. Tell you what, mail me the document, and I’ll take a look at it this week or next.”

  “Just sign it, will you? Eian, it’s my house. I’m her daughter. I need the money.”

  “So you were planning to sell it? Sell your mother’s home? My home? On second thought, let me think about it. I’ll call you later.”

  “Just keep the stupid house; I never really liked it. Who wants to live on the water anyway? Too many mosquitoes. Finally, don’t call me, I’ll call you. Eian, you’ll never change,” she said, nearly screaming at him before she hung up.

  Perfect! Ryan will be very happy to hear that news. He was going home. He had to smile as he looked around for his car. I know I parked it right here, under this tree. Where is it? Where’s my car? he asked himself. He turned and looked around; this was right where he had parked it. It’s gone! Stolen. Oh no! What am I going to do now?

  Chapter Fifty

  “I have to go and get Eian,” Robert said as he ran out the door.

  “It’s almost time for pictures. Where are you going?” Mary Kate hollered, chasing after him. No, not now. Please not now, she thought to herself. Brother stuff.

  “I’ll be back. Talk to your father.”

  “Oh no, this isn’t happening,” she said, nearly in tears.

  She felt a calming hand on her shoulder. “It’ll be okay, pumpkin.”

  “Daddy, what’s going on? We don’t have a lot of time,” she said almost frantically. “We need to take pictures, and Uncle Bob and Uncle Eian have to get dressed and ready. I knew something like this was going to happen, I just knew it.”

  “Uncle Eian’s car was stolen while he was at the ball game. Bob went to pick him up. But don’t worry, he’ll be ready, I’ll make sure of it. Say good-bye to Claret. Angus is picking her up in a few minutes.”

  He always knows just with to say, she thought. She gave him her fake stern look. “I’m counting on you.”

  The doorbell rang, and when Alison opened it, Angus appeared in a Campbell Black Watch Scottish kilt. “Don’t you look handsome,” commented Mary Kate.

  The old Scotsman nearly blushed. “Well, thank you, my dear. And if you don’t look as lovely as a morning sun in Scotland, then I . . . you look wonderful.” He smiled and turned to look for his wife. “Come on, Claret; let these youngsters finish up here.” He shook Ryan’s hand and said, “It should be a grand party, aye?”

  “Yes, indeed, it should be grand. See you at the church.”

  “Wait, while you’re here, let’s get some quick photos of the four of you,” commanded Gloria. “Yes, that would be perfect.” The photographer took photos on the steps, in front of the fireplace, and in the formal dining room.

  Finally Ry
an said, “Enough. These good people have to get to church, and the rest of us need to finish getting ready. See you soon, Angus, Claret.” As they left, he saw the white stretch limousine pull into the courtyard in front of the house, closely followed by Robert’s car carrying Eian.

  Eian and Robert stood in the foyer and started to tell Mary Kate what had happened. It was her wedding day, and she didn’t have time for all of this.

  Eian told her, “We reported the car as stolen to the police, but . . .”

  “Okay, okay, enough! Tell me later. Spare me the details. Just get dressed. Now!” she commanded and stomped away, muttering something under her breath.

  “Well, there’s a problem,” said Robert.

  “What now?” she asked, spinning around.

  “Well, Eian’s car was stolen and—” Robert started to say.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know that, so?”

  “Robert’s tuxedo was in the back of the car—it’s gone, along with the car,” Eian said.

  “Oh no!” she said, with her hands covering her face. Then, turning to her uncles, she said, “No time. Come on, you two; let’s get this show on the road. Go upstairs and find Daddy. I’m sure he’s already searching through his closet to see if he has any suits that may fit you.”

  “Fat chance,” commented Eian.

  “Well, I’ll not have you walking down the aisle at my wedding wearing only socks and boxer shorts. No sir,” responded Mary Kate.

  Ryan stood at the top of the stairs. “I can’t find anything that would fit him unless . . .” He was out of sight for a brief moment, then returned. “How about this?” he asked, holding Robert’s dress Highland kilt outfit.

  “Nay. I’ll not be wearing that to this wedding.”

  Mary Kate spun around to face him. “Why not?”

  “Because today is your day, and I’ll not be upstaging or taking any sunshine from your rainbow, darlin’ Kate, that’s why not.”