THE INHERITANCE - part five

THE INHERITANCE – part five ………

Welcome home

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Kate Sullivan inherited the house that once belonged to her great-grandmother. The old stone house sat on the edge of a ten-acre plat of land in Aughacasla, Ireland. Two weeks ago, she’d never heard of the small town and now, she owned a piece of it.

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Maureen Reilly smiled, her bright blue eyes twinkled as she smiled, “That’s true enough, Kate. You’re the spittin’ image of your great gran.” Maureen Reilly was a strikingly handsome woman. Considering the approximate ages of her sons, Kate imagined Maureen to be in her late forties but still had the face of a woman in her twenties. Her long gray hair was folded in a loose bun at the nape of her neck.

“Oh, Mo, I have a feeling there is so much more you can tell me about her. I guess my first question would be, was she really, honestly and truly a witch?”

Mo covered her face and laughed heartily. Her gray curls bounced around her shoulders. “Oh, Kate, I will assume that with that question, you didn’t know. Okay, then, the answer is yes. She was a good white witch. For that matter, so was your great grand da. I’ll tell you everything but I’ve an idea. Stay for supper. My husband and sons will be home shortly, and we can all eat together. Hope you like a good bowl of Irish stew. Shaun specifically asked for that tonight.”

“Shaun? As in moving man, muscle-man Shaun?”

Mo laughed again, “Tis one and the same. When Terry from the bank called and asked if he and the boys could deliver a few things, they jumped at the chance. They were eager to meet the young woman who would be movin’ into Miss Kathleen’s old cottage.”

Kate was a bit leery but smiled anyway. “Hm. Word gets around, doesn’t it?”

Mo patted Kate’s hand and said, “Don’t you worry, Kate. We all consider ourselves family here. I didn’t get to know your great grandmother. I’d only seen her a time or two when I was very little, but my grandmother used to talk about her all the time. In fact, oh, rather than try to explain, I’ll just get the book. Be right back.”

Mo left the kitchen and walked to a room down the narrow hallway. Kate wasn’t sure to make of the fact that so many people knew about her before she’d even arrived in Aughacasla. She was cautious by nature, and now she’d be living in the countryside alone. Unlike her apartment on Long Island, if she were in danger, no one would hear her scream. She began to fret as Mo walked back into the kitchen.

“Ah, look at your face. You look like a scared little kitten. Talk to me, Kate. Let me help.”

Kate told her about her dreams, past and present, her desire to live in her great-grandparent’s house, and her fears about living so far removed from city life.

“Okay, then, I’m glad you came to visit. This is the book your great grandma gave to my grandmother to hold for you. I know you have many questions, but this book will help with, well, probably everything. Ah! I hear the truck. Shaun and the boys are home. And don’t think of running off. We’ll have that stew, like I promised.”

As quickly as Maureen said those words, the front door almost slammed open and three four burly men walked through. Maureen laughed as she scolded them, “Boys, and I mean, you, too Shaun O'Reilly, one of these days, you’ll throw that door right off its hinges. Can I not get some cooperation from the lot of you and have you open the door a bit easier before you send it flying across the room?”

Kate tried to hide her smile as she heard four voices in unison say, “Uh, sorry!” She saw how they hung their heads and thought, “Oops, guilty as charged. Wow, Mo clearly has the upper hand with her family.”

“Kate, you met Shaun, my lesser half,” again Maureen smiled but a bit mischievously, “and here you have Brian, Danny, and Shane. Boys, we’ll be having supper in about half an hour. Go wash up and change those raggy clothes. Kate and I will set the table.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they mumbled as they all headed up the narrow staircase and Kate rose to take the dishes from her new friend.

“Oh, Kate, you have no idea how I wish I had your great grandmother’s abilities. I have a small amount of power but nothing even close to Kathleen. Ah well, as she would say, “If wishes were horses!”

Kate looked at Maureen astonished at her statement. “Mo, am I to assume that you are also a witch?”

Maureen laughed as they heard a booming voice from the second floor. It was Shaun, very loudly bellowing, “Oh, my lord, is she ever!”

Maureen’s laughter was so vigorous that it now brought tears to her eyes. She hollered back, “Shaun O'Reilly, you’ll pay for that – one day!”

Then she turned to Kate and with a serious gleam in her eyes said, “Kate, this is the land of magic. I can’t explain how your great grandma chose you for her inheritance, but just meeting you, I can assure you that she chose well.”

They heard the stomping of feet descending the stairs.

“And here are the boys. Okay, then, let’s eat and talk. There’s much to be said.”