And there they were - standing together in a group holding a ‘Welcome, Daniel & Lizzy’ placard in the air. Lizzy hung back slightly to the side of Daniel, allowing him to take the lead. She squeezed his arm as he paused and shot her a quick glance. Their eyes met for a brief second. Yes, they could do this.
Casting his eyes over the small group standing before him, some faces familiar, others, not so, Daniel’s gaze settled on a tall, lanky man, not much older than himself wearing a pair of black high-tops, acid washed jeans, white T-shirt and denim jacket. The man’s neck, adorned with a tattoo of a cross, suggested his body could well be a work of art under his clothes. His dark hair, shaved on the sides, was spiked on top. Daniel recognised him immediately.
“Caleb!” Daniel strode to his brother and wrapped him in a bear hug before holding him at arm’s distance. “You haven’t changed a bit, man, apart from maybe this.” Daniel tilted his head to get a better look at the tattoo.
“Yeah, that’s new. Grand to see you, Danny. It’s been too long.” Caleb grabbed Daniel’s hand and shook it vigorously, his dark eyes lighting up.
“Yes, it has. Way too long.”
The tall young woman on Caleb’s right caught Daniel’s attention. No, it can’t be… or can it? “Grace?”
The young woman’s dark smoky eyes were familiar. Yes, it was Grace. His little sister had morphed into a classy beauty. Slightly over-dressed in dark designer jeans, knee-length boots and fitted red jacket, she could have just come off the cat walk. Her immaculate make-up accentuated her naturally good looks, and was topped off with heavily permed dark brown hair.
Grace nodded as her eyes watered. Daniel held her tight, squeezing back his own tears. How long had it been? She must have been twelve when he’d gone to live with Nessa’s family, and Grace and their next sister down, Brianna, had been sent to live with Aunt Hilda in Londonderry. He hadn’t seen either of them since.
He pulled away and held her at arm’s length. Her tears had escaped, and black streaks spiralled down her cheeks. Pulling a clean handkerchief from his pocket, Daniel gently wiped her face.
“Grace, I don’t believe it. Look at you! You’re all grown up. I wouldn’t have recognised you on the street.”
“You’ve changed a bit too, Danny, you know.” Her eyes sparkled as a cheeky grin grew on her face. Taking the handkerchief from him, Grace continued dabbing her eyes, and once composed, turned to Lizzy and held out her hand. “And you must be Lizzy. Welcome.” She smiled broadly at Lizzy, continuing to exude such confidence Daniel was amazed. Grace had always been outspoken, but he’d never expected this.
Lizzy returned Grace’s smile and took her hand. “Thank you, Grace. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Daniel cringed at the look on Caleb’s face. He’d almost forgotten how Lizzy sounded, but here with his siblings, her well-bred English accent was blatantly obvious. He placed his arm gently around her shoulders.
“Lizzy, this is Caleb, my brother, and Caitlin, his wife.” He directed Lizzy’s focus to the young woman to Caleb’s left. She’d changed in the years since he’d last seen her too, which in fact had been at their wedding, not long before he’d packed up and left. Although she’d put on weight, Caitlin’s round jolly face would cheer anyone.
Lizzy smiled at them both and said hello before her gaze dropped to the two young girls standing between them.
“And this is Imogen and Tara.” Caitlin lowered her eyes to the twin girls and gently pushed them forward. “Say hello to your Uncle Danny and Aunt Lizzy, girls.” Dark eyes gazed up, but the girls clung to Caitlin’s legs and wouldn’t budge.
“It doesn’t matter,” Lizzy said to Caitlin before stooping to the girls’ level. “You have very pretty hair ribbons. And I love your sparkly shoes.”
The girls looked down at their shoes before inching closer to their mother.
Caitlin shook her head and rolled her eyes. “One day they’ll learn to be social.”
Lizzy let out a small laugh as she stood. “They’re very cute. I wouldn’t worry about them.”
Dillon let out a huge cry. Daniel bent down and picked him up from the push chair. “And this is our little man. Dillon Patrick O’Connor. He obviously didn’t want to be left out!”
Everyone laughed, and then Caleb finished introducing the other family members. He apologized for not being able to gather all the siblings together, but said he’d fill them in on the others later. At first glance, Daniel would never have recognised the two youngest girls, Aislin and Alana, who’d only been six and seven when the family had been torn apart. On second glance, he gasped. Maybe it was their eyes, or the shape of their faces, he wasn’t sure, but their resemblance to Mam unnerved him. The two girls held back and clung to their partners. Had they only come out of curiosity? Probably. It’d be up to him to make a move - standing there like a stunned mullet wouldn’t achieve anything. He leaned forward and kissed them, trying to avoid thoughts of Mam before shaking hands with their partners.
“Hey Danny, we thought we’d stop at Molly’s Tavern on the way home to get a bite to eat. You up for that?” Caleb asked as the group moved slowly towards the exit.
“Sounds good.” Daniel looked to Lizzy and raised his eyebrows. “Liz?”
Lizzy nodded as she took Dillon from him. “I’ll need to feed this little man soon, but he can wait a little longer.” She glanced around quickly. “Nowhere to feed him here anyway. So, yes, that would be nice.”
“Great. Grace has room for you in her car. Let’s go.” Caleb picked up one of the little girls who’d been pulling on his leg as he tried to walk. “What’s up Immi? Can’t you walk today?”
The little girl shook her head and put her thumb in her mouth, her large round eyes fixed on Lizzy and Dillon as she peered at them from the safety of her father’s shoulder.
Lizzy shot Daniel an amused look as they approached Grace’s car. Why wasn’t she surprised to see a hotted up red sports car?
“Don’t worry… Caleb will take your luggage.” Grace laughed, her grin widening into a full, easy smile that lit up her face.
“Phew! I did wonder how we were all going to fit,” Lizzy said, warming to Grace’s unexpected sense of fun.
Caleb, Caitlin and the girls had been tagging along behind, and stopped in front of a less trendy but more practical Ford Escort parked beside the sports car. Lizzy reached for her cross. Twice in one day, memories of the not too distant past had surfaced, bringing with them a sense of nostalgia.
Caleb grabbed the luggage and squeezed it into the boot.
“We’ll see you there,” Grace called out and waved as the sports car sprang to life and surged forward. In the back, Lizzy held on tight. Grace drove fast, but had complete control. She obviously loved driving. Or was she trying to impress?
“You’ve done alright for yourself, Grace.” Daniel shot her a sideways look as he caressed the leather seats.
Lizzy studied the two of them. They must have been close when they were young, there was an ease between them you wouldn’t expect after so many years apart.
“You could say that. I decided to make something of myself, so I went to University.” Grace shifted down a gear as the lights changed, and the car gurgled to a stop. She turned her head and gave him a playful look. “Your little sister’s a lawyer.”
Daniel’s eyes popped and he let out a low whistle. “Wow. You’ve certainly done more than alright. So, is there a Mr Grace anywhere?” Daniel’s eyebrows lifted and he wore a cheeky grin.
Lizzy winced and glowered at him. Don’t ask questions like that, Daniel!
Grace straightened her shoulders defensively and lifted her chin to a haughty angle. The playfulness disappeared from her face.
“No. Not interested in men.” Her voice was crisp and measured.
An uncomfortable silence took over for several seconds. Lizzy bit her lip as she watched from behind. Come on Daniel, be sensitive.
“Sorry, Grace. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He sou
nded apologetic. But would Grace let him off that easily?
Grace looked him up and down. Lizzy held her breath.
“Apology accepted.”
Lizzy exhaled slowly and her body relaxed. Thank goodness for that.
Moments later, Grace made a hard left before screeching to a stop in the Tavern’s car park. “Looks like we’re the first ones here.”
“I’m not surprised.” Daniel’s grin held warmth and affection.
“What do you mean, Daniel? Don’t you like my driving?” Grace threw out the challenge.
“I didn’t mean that. Your driving’s grand, Grace. Just teasing.” Daniel chuckled and shook his head.
Lizzy, relieved the tension had diffused, smiled to herself before handing Dillon over to Daniel so she could squeeze her way out of the back. This was going to be a good week.
The others arrived within minutes, and they all wandered into the Tavern together. Lizzy walked beside Grace and tried to strike up a conversation. She’d like to get to know her. Lizzy couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but despite Grace’s outward confidence, Lizzy was convinced she was hiding something.
The group stopped in front of the menu board. Main meals were still being served, but had they been any later, only the snacks’ menu would have been available. A table, large enough to accommodate the whole group, was available, but Lizzy excused herself before taking her seat and took Dillon into a quieter, more private corner to feed him.
From her vantage point, Lizzy studied the group. Each of them had a story, beginning in their family home all those years ago.
Caleb and Caitlin appeared happy enough, and so did Grace, on the outside. And the two girls who’d hardly said a word? What was going on there? There were still three more. Brianna, and the twin boys, Shawn and Brendan. And then there’d been Dillon, who’d only lived a matter of hours, and who they’d named their own little man after.
Daniel appeared with a menu in his hand, interrupting her thoughts.
“How’s the little man doing?” Daniel lowered his gaze to Dillon, moving the cover Lizzy had placed over him slightly so the baby’s face was visible.
“Almost done. Another few minutes should do it.” But Dillon stopped sucking as he caught sight of Daniel, his big round eyes lighting up. He kicked his legs and pulled his mouth away, letting out a huge chuckle.
“Well, that’s it. No more for you.” Lizzy propped him up and patted him gently on the back. “You can go to your daddy in a minute.”
“Let me order first, Liz. I’m just getting a burger and chips. Here’s the menu.”
“Just get me something light, Daniel. I don’t feel like much after being sick all day. Maybe a plain sandwich?”
“Okay love.” He stood and squeezed her shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Lizzy sighed deeply and nodded. “Yes, kind of. It’s been a long day.”
“I know. My mind’s spinning.” He glanced at the group seated behind him and leaned closer to her. “I don’t really know any of them.”
“I gathered that.” Lizzy looked up at him, searching his eyes. “Do you think we’ve been sent here for a reason, Daniel?”
“I was wondering that. Seems Grace has something going on, that’s for sure.”
Lizzy put Dillon back in his push chair and straightened her top.
“Yes, I agree. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I believe God’s brought us here, Daniel. It might be an interesting week.”
Daniel nodded as he pulled his finger away from Dillon’s grip.
“Yes, I agree. I hope I’m up to it.”
“You will be, Daniel. God’s with you, don’t forget.”
“Just as well He is. I wouldn’t be here without Him.” Daniel gently ruffled Dillon’s head, causing the baby to gurgle and kick. “I need to place our orders.” He gave Lizzy a peck on the cheek before turning and walking away.
“Don’t be long. Dillon wants you,” Lizzy called after him.
Daniel turned his head and grinned. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Daniel ordered the meals and returned to the table, picking Dillon up from the push chair and placing him on his lap. He picked up his squash and took a sip. If only it was a Guiness. Was he really strong enough to do this? He sighed resolutely. He had to be. For Lizzy and for Dillon. For himself. God, please give me strength. He took Lizzy’s hand. Her squeeze assured him he wasn’t in this alone. Thank you God.
The conversation around the table was mainly directed at them. Daniel’s siblings knew very little about where he’d been since he’d left Ireland over ten years before, nor how he and Lizzy had met, nor what he was doing now. He answered their questions as best he could, deferring to Lizzy at times, and asked them what they’d been doing too, since he knew less about them than they knew about him.
Caleb had married Caitlin just before Daniel had left and still worked at the shipyards where their Da had worked until he lost his job. They still lived in the Cregagh Estate, not far from the house they’d all lived in as kids. Grace had returned to Belfast to study, and now lived in an apartment in the city on her own, near to where she worked. The two girls, Aislin and Alana, lived together in a flat with their boyfriends, Joel and Conall, and were shop assistants. Joel was a carpenter, and Conall a painter. They all seemed to get on well together, but it soon became apparent they saw little of the family. It was only at Caleb’s insistence they’d come.
“We don’t know where Brianna is,” Caleb said. “She took off with some dude a while back and hasn’t been in touch since. We’re worried about her, aren’t we, Grace?”
Grace nodded. “We tried to find her, but I don’t think she wants to be found.” Her face paled. “She didn’t get on too well with Aunt Hilda, and ended up mixing with a bad crowd.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She took the handkerchief Daniel had given her earlier out of her pocket and dabbed at them.
“Don’t apologise, Grace,” Lizzy said, squeezing her hand. “You obviously care about her.”
Grace nodded and sniffed. “Yes, very much. I hope she’ll come back one day.”
“I’m sure she will. We’ll pray for her.”
A faint smile appeared on Grace’s face but disappeared quickly.
“And Shawn and Brendan - that’s another story.” Caleb took a sip of his drink. “Shawn took off overseas with his girl a year ago - last we heard, they were in America. Brendan - well, he’s a no hoper. Drinks way too much, and he’s in and out of trouble all the time. He’s in the clink at the moment for assault.” Caleb shook his head and shrugged. “Not much we can do for him. Not that we haven’t tried, hey Grace?”
“Yes, we’ve tried just about everything, but he doesn’t want any help.” Grace sighed heavily.
“Well, I know what that’s like,” Daniel said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t make people do something they don’t want to do. I hate to say this, but it might take something bad to make him wake up to himself.”
“Did something bad happen to you, Danny?” Grace asked, touching his arm lightly.
Daniel hesitated. How much should he say? They would all have known about his own stint in jail after he’d assaulted Liam, Nessa’s brother, but they knew very little about his journey since then. How could he sum everything up in a sentence?
“Well, yes, it did. I almost killed myself in an accident a few months back, didn’t I Liz?”
Lizzy nodded as she linked her arm through his.
“Almost losing everything made me come to my senses, and I haven’t had a drink since.”
“I wondered why you were drinking squash and not the Black Stuff,” Caleb said.
Daniel paused for a moment, shifting in his seat as all eyes turned on him.
“Yep. I can’t afford to drink.” His gaze quickly travelled around the group. “It’s not easy. I’d love to have a drink, but that’s the way it is.” He drew in a deep breath. “But I’m okay with it now.”
&nb
sp; “Good on you, Danny,” Caleb said. “I’m glad everything’s worked out for you. I’ve had a few problems myself, haven’t I, Caity, and I’ve cut back.” He put his arm around his wife and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “But we’re good now. I had to behave once these two came along.” He tilted his head towards the two little girls sitting on his other side, colouring in quietly.
“Seems like our Da left his mark on a lot of us,” Daniel said as the meals began to arrive.
While they were eating, Daniel continued his conversation with Caleb.
“I got really down about five years back and hit the grog hard. Almost lost my job, and I hate to say it, I almost lost Caity too, but she stuck by me and helped me get myself together. We go to church every week now, and I’ve only had the occasional slip up since.”
“Stop the lights! You serious?”
“Yeah man. We’re regular church-goers. Does that surprise you?”
“Not really. It’s just that Lizzy helped me find God too.” Daniel shook his head and chuckled. “Who would’a thought…”
“Yeah, my mates were all gobsmacked, I tell you. They still give me a hard time, but I don’t care. My life’s much better now.”
“I’d have to agree with you. I’m only a few months down the track, but I couldn’t imagine life without God anymore.”
The buzz around the table lowered. The others were listening, but Grace leaned back with folded arms and narrowed eyes. Something’s definitely going on with her.
Daniel squeezed Lizzy’s hand and caught her eyes for a second. Yes, it really did seem that God had brought them here this week.
A short while later, once the table had been cleared, Caleb stretched his neck and yawned. “You both must be tired. I know I am. Call it a night?”
“Yes, it’s been a long day,” Daniel replied.
“Let’s get you home, then.” Caleb reached over and picked up one of the girls. Following his lead, everyone else stood and began to stroll out to the cars. Before they all went their separate ways, they all agreed to catch up again in the next day or so, even the two girls who’d hardly said a word.
The Shadows Trilogy Box Set: A Christian Romance Page 31