by Joannie Kay
"I feel the very same way, Michael. I would never tell a man that I didn't want to be safe with him! You are different; I feel as though you belong to me... Very silly considering how we met..."
"Not silly, honey. Ma always said that when I met the right girl I would know deep in my soul, and that is exactly how I feel." His dark eyes were serious as could be. "I won't rush you, Molly, but I am going to see that you are cared for while we explore our feelings for each other."
"Gramma would love you, Michael," Molly whispered, her green eyes filling with tears.
"We can visit her and invite her to come to the dinner tomorrow," he suggested, and then felt bad when he saw the pain in Molly's eyes.
"Gramma doesn't recognize me often anymore; she has Alzheimer's, and is in the advanced stages of the disease. She won't be with us much longer," Molly admitted, saying the words aloud for the first time. "Every time my phone rings I expect the worst."
"I didn't know, Molly. I'm so sorry."
"That is why her care is so expensive," she added, telling the truth.
Michael made up his mind to see if he could find some financial help for Molly, but wisely kept his mouth shut. The little redhead had entirely too much pride. He pulled her close and gave her a comforting hug. "It has to be hard on you. I can't even imagine being alone and dealing with something so devastating."
"I owe her so much, Michael. She raised me and never complained. She did without so much just to give me what other kids had. And, somehow, she helped me through college. I had grants and scholarships, but she did the rest. I don't think she had more than two or three outfits at a time, and never more than two pairs of shoes. She took care of me, with every bit of love she had, and now I take care of her... with all my love." Molly started crying. "I hate to see her so helpless and lifeless, Michael. I hate that I can't introduce you to her."
"I'll go with you, honey," he promised. "It is the right thing to do, showing her respect."
Molly nodded. "Aren't you supposed to call your Mother?" she asked, reminding him of the time.
"You do like spaghetti, don't you?" he asked, grinning. "Ma's is the best," he added, taking out his cell phone and hitting a button.
"I love spaghetti," she assured him. She loved to eat, period, and right now she would be very hungry indeed if not for the kindness of the O'Keefe family.
"Ma, you'd better make plenty of spaghetti! Molly said she can eat more than I can..." He was teasing them both and Molly's mood immediately lightened. She heard him promise to be there by one o'clock, and reminded her that he would bring wine. Once he hung up he suggested they go and fill out a change of address card at the post office. That errand went quickly, and once Michael was sure Molly had no other errands to run, they returned to the O'Keefe home. He insisted on carrying the boxes into the house and upstairs to Molly's room, but he sent his brother Timothy out to get a couple of boxes, too. Her possessions and clothing was soon piled on her bed, and Molly got to work settling herself into the large bedroom and making it hers. It didn't take long. She didn't have many clothes or toiletries. The few other items she owned she scattered about the room. There were a few books, her diary, and her laptop. She hoped the house had wireless connection. She belonged to a couple of message boards, and the Internet was a wealth of information just for asking. She could also watch television shows online, and since she didn't own a television, or have money for cable, it was wonderful to have that form of entertainment at her fingertips.
"Are you all settled in, Molly?" Mary stood in the open doorway to ask. Her heart ached for this young woman. Michael had already told her how little she owned and that all of her money went to care for her Grandmother, and she vowed she was going to see to it that Molly had some motherly attention and affection. It was rare to see someone so young take on such a responsibility at a time when most young people were selfishly investing in themselves. Molly needed nurturing, and Mary was good at nurturing. She also realized that Molly would soon be her daughter-in-law, and she meant for her to find loving acceptance in their family.
"Yes, I am, Mrs. O'Keefe. It is so kind of you to allow me to stay here. Frankly, I don't know what I would have done if not for Michael and all of you."
"Now, we'll not be worrying about that. The important thing is that you are here now and you are welcome. I am anxious for you to meet the rest of our family. They can be overwhelming at times, but I love every one of them," she said with a smile. "Come on down and I'll put you to work."
Molly liked Mary O'Keefe, and hurried after her. The next couple of hours passed so quickly it was a blur. Molly met more of Michael's siblings, and realized it was going to take her a while to get to know all of them and remember their names and their place in the family. Mary's spaghetti sauce was to die for, and she felt stuffed from eating so much! It was an unusual feeling to be so full. Once they finished eating, everyone pitched in to do the clean up while Mary bossed and supervised, and Seamus sat there looking on with a pleased expression in his dark eyes.
"Molly, lass, we need to have a serious discussion now," Seamus said. "Come and sit at the table, and don't look so frightened. I don't bite," he added, smiling at her. As if he told them to leave the room, Michael's brother and sisters scattered about... a couple of them off to work, others to enjoy the day with friends. Michael sat at the table with her.
"You are an adult, and the rules for adult children in this house are very simple. Be respectful of the children still living here. That means no excessive drinking, no smoking, no drugs, no sleepovers. Now, Michael wouldn't have brought you here if you did any of those things, but that is a rule. Be respectful of Mary; if she asks for help I expect it to be done promptly."
"Molly has already done that, Seamus," Mary spoke up. "She is not one bit lazy, and her bed was made before ours today," she added with a smile. "I already told her we pick up after ourselves."
"Good. The only other thing I ask is simple courtesy for all of us. If you are going to be late, a telephone call is expected. If you are staying out, please call us. We will not ask questions about what you do or where you go... You are an adult... but we do not want to be awake half the night wondering if you have had trouble of some sort because you are not home. Does this sound fair to you?"
"Very fair," Molly promptly answered. "Michael has told me that you would be offended if I offer to pay board, but since I am not..."
"It is best you don't offer money, child. You're living under my roof by my rules and I'll not take a dime from you when you are struggling to care for your grandmother. I think someone your age needs family and you are family now. Mary and I agreed upon this. If you wish to help out around the house, that will be all that is needed, Molly, to earn a place in the family."
Molly had a huge lump in her throat. "Thank you," she barely managed to whisper.
"Oh, you'll not be thanking me the first time you forget to call home," Seamus promised, and she could see he wasn't teasing. "I will treat you just as I would any of my daughters, and I do not put up with female attitude, either. You've been warned, and this is the only warning I'll give." He got to his feet and smiled at her. "Welcome to the family, Molly Henderson." He came around the table, leaned down, and kissed her on the top of the head. "We are delighted to have you here, Molly. My sweet Mary and I are sad that so many of our children are leaving us... And having you here will be a blessing." He looked at Mary and said, "Is there anything you require of me this afternoon, darling?"
"Only one thing, dear. I managed to get the duster thingy stuck on the chandelier in the dining room. Could you unstick it? It looks ridiculous up there!" she said, giggling.
"Well, if that is all I need to do to make you happy, Mary, I'll gladly do it, and then I'm going down to my workshop for a while and work on my project." He pulled her from her chair and turned her around and gave her a playful pat on the bottom. "Lead me to that ridiculous chandelier, young lady."
"Was your father threatening to spank me if I'm late getting
home from work and forget to call?" Molly whispered to Michael.
"He'll scold you," Michael answered. "He probably won't resort to spanking unless you scare the daylights out of Ma. Sassing Ma, backtalk, cursing, temper tantrums; Pa would spank you in an instant. Of course, I can't see you treating Ma like that. You're a grown woman, and it is easy to see that you already like Ma and respect her." He paused and then said, "Molly, I wouldn't have brought you home to my family if I didn't know for a fact that you were a good, decent person. If the situation was reversed, and Natalie was the one who needed help, I would have deposited her on the doorstep of an agency. Pop would have blistered her and soaped her mouth within two minutes of meeting her." He grinned, "Not that I would have minded seeing that!" He reached out to touch her cheek. "I love my family and would never bring someone into their home who wasn't special and you are very special."
"Oh Michael... I hope I am everything you think I am. I don't know how to be in a family," she whispered. "I don't want to disappoint you."
"I don't want to disappoint you, either," he admitted, clearly surprising her. "Hey, I'm human, too. You're special. You matter. What you think matters. I don't go around spanking just anyone."
"Your Father said he spanked your Mom when they first met... Do you know the story?" she asked, trying to make sense of these men who believed in spanking grown women. It seemed that they equated spanking with love, but it was difficult for her to grasp that concept.
"The entire family knows the story," he said, shaking his head. "I guess Ma was a bit of a firecracker when she was young. Pop was really young, about twenty-one, and working construction. They were putting a roof on a house, and got started really early in the morning. Ma was in her senior year of high school, and she didn't appreciate the hammering next door on a Saturday morning when she wanted to sleep in. She opened the window and started yelling at them, and her language was pretty blue. Pop told her she was too pretty to talk like that. She gave him even more sass, and when they kept right on hammering, Ma lost her temper and decided to fix them. She got dressed, went outside, and started throwing eggs at Pop's old pick-up. He yelled at her to stop; she ignored him. He came down the ladder, and she threw an egg at him, and it smashed on his shirt. He was really mad then; she tried to run, but he caught her, knelt down right there in her front yard and spanked the sass out of her. He then made her wash his truck. But she started feeling feisty again and was mad because he treated her like a child. She turned the hose on him, soaked him, and the other guys on the crew were laughing, which only made him angrier. Ma tried to run again, but he caught her, and after soaking her with the hose to 'cool her temper', he put his hand to her backside again. This time she went inside, crying. Ma said his hand was harder than a board, and I can swear that is true," he ruefully added. The next day was Sunday, and after Mass, Pop picked up some flowers and went and knocked on her door and when she answered he handed her the flowers and asked if she would like to go see a movie. She accepted, and they got married a few months later. Ma refused to go to college; said that all she wanted was to be a wife and a mother, and she got her wish."
"That is amazing."
"They love each other, Molly. Pop always says that there was something special about Ma the second he set eyes on her. Just like when I first saw you," he added with a smile. "I wanted to blister your cute little backside right then and there."
"I am sure most men don't think of spanking before they think of kissing!" she declared.
"I thought of that, too," he assured her, and then he kissed her. When he pulled away he said, "I have plans for this evening, Molly, but I will see you tomorrow. Get settled in, and if you need anything, tell the folks." At her bereft expression, he added, "I promised a friend I would participate in a volunteer basketball game at the youth center. I can't let those kids down, and you would be bored. I will be too busy to spend any time with you. It's pretty much just the kids and the volunteers... all male."
"It's good of you to volunteer, Michael," she said with a smile, overwhelmingly relieved that another woman wasn't a part of his plans for the evening.
She found Mary after Michael left and asked to be put to work. Mary gave her the task of washing the 'good dishes' so they could be used the next day. "They can't go in the dishwasher, dear. I hope you don't mind...?" she asked.
"I would love to help," Molly replied with a smile. Doing dishes was a comforting act and she knew how to do it well. Mary finished putting a pretty tablecloth on the table and then came to help dry dishes.
"Are you feeling better now, Molly?" she asked. "Feeling more at home?"
"I'm not used to being part of a huge family, but I feel safe and happy," she acknowledged. "I really do care about Michael," she added, wanting to be honest.
"Oh, I know that, my dear. I know my son very well. He is in love with you, but it will take him a while to admit to that. He is so much like his father!" Mary blushed and then giggled, "Right down to the spanking!"
Molly had to laugh. "He told me how you and Mr. O'Keefe met. I'm surprised you didn't throw the flowers in his face and refuse to go to the movie with him!"
"Oh, goodness! I was afraid to do that, Molly! Seamus would have spanked me again, and I was much too sore to permit that to happen again. Besides, he was the first man I met that made me feel special. My temper didn't frighten him, and I found that refreshing. I felt safe and cherished with my Seamus, and I still do."
Chapter Five
Molly surprised Michael when she came to Mass with his family. On the Sundays he did not have to work he always arrived at St. John's before the others in his family, and like his Father, he wore a suit and a tie. He gave the pretty redhead a smile when his Ma gave her a gentle push inside the pew to take a seat beside him. "I didn't know you are Catholic...?" he whispered, and she nodded. She'd surprised his parents, too, when she asked the night before what time they attended, and if she might have a ride. And, Molly admitted that she'd been surprised when all but one of the O'Keefe children still living at home got up early and accompanied their parents to Church. Mary told her that once their children turned eighteen they were free to decide on their own about such matters.
Once Mass was over they all went back to the O'Keefe house to get ready for their guests. Mary had no qualms at all about putting every pair of hands to work, and she even sent Seamus upstairs to wake Sabrina so she could pitch in, too. Molly didn't have time to fret over the fact she was about to meet so many people she didn't know, but when the kitchen door opened and Aunt Jenny walked in first and gave her a big hug, she felt pleased to see at least one friendly face she already knew.
"My three will all be here, Mary, and they are all bringing potato salad!" she said with a laugh. "Did my daughters-in-law talk to each other first? No!"
"And what did you bring, Jenny?" Mary asked. "A pineapple salad and some baked beans, of course. Michael's favorites."
"Thanks, Aunt Jenny!" Michael leaned down to kiss the petite woman. "See, Ma, I'm Aunt Jenny's favorite, too!" he declared, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Today is your special day, young man!" Jenny said with a laugh. "Now you run down to the basement and put this in the fridge down there until it's time to eat. Your Ma doesn't need to be making a thousand trips up and down those creaky steps."
"Those steps are not creaky, Jenny," Seamus informed his sister-in-law. She loved to jab him with those kinds of comments.
"You finally got around to fixing them, huh?" Jenny teased mercilessly.
"Twelve years ago!" he responded dryly.
"Would you two behave just once!" Mary scolded fondly. "Jenny, would you check the scalloped potatoes for me?" she asked when the doorbell rang. She and Seamus went to see which of their relatives was arriving, stepping around all the tables and chairs blocking their way.
"Don't worry, Molly. I'll stick with you and keep you safe," Michael said. "Come with me so I can introduce you. Now that Aunt Jenny has taken over the kitchen,
you won't be needed out here."
Molly was truly shocked when the people kept coming and coming. There were lots of children, and people in Seamus and Mary's age group, and lots of people in between the two groups. Michael introduced her to all of his siblings she hadn't yet met, and all of them, with one noticeable exception, greeted her warmly and made her feel welcome in the family. Michael's oldest brother, Patrick, leaned down and kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for coming into Michael's life. You are very special to him, and we are happy to have you as part of our family." Molly thanked him, her green eyes misting over with tears. Did all of the O'Keefe family believe in love at first sight?
It was only a few minutes later that Patrick's wife sought her out and said with a smile, "I am Linda, Patrick's wife. I was overwhelmed the first time I met all of them, too. This family is huge, Molly. No one expects you to remember who they are today. It will all come gradually. They were all very patient with me, and they will be with you, too. Don't you just love Mother Mary?" she asked. "No one believes me when I tell them I love my mother-in-law, but I do love her. She has been so supportive of Patrick and me, and when I've needed advice, she is a wonderful sounding board."
"I like her a lot, and I'm not usually so open with strangers, but I honestly feel as if I belong already," Molly confessed.
"Good. I was hoping you would say that. It's the way all of us in-laws have felt when introduced to the family. Oh, Pop Seamus is wanting to say grace!" she whispered and hurried to go and stand with her family.
Michael made his way to her side and took her hand in his, and Molly noticed that all of the families had gone to gather together in small groups. Aunt Jenny was standing in the middle of her sons and their wives and their children. Molly felt grateful for Michael's presence. She wasn't used to being included.
Seamus started by welcoming everyone and telling them how proud he and Mary were of Michael for working so hard and earning his promotion. Everyone clapped and cheered, and Seamus said, "Such hard work deserves a reward, and son, this envelope is from all of us here. He crossed the floor and handed it to Michael with pride, and Michael said, "I wasn't expecting gifts, Pop!"