THE INHERITANCE - part twenty-seven

THE INHERITANCE – part twenty-seven ………

Welcome home

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As Kate pulled up to her cottage, the first thing she noticed was the grass in the walkway leading to her front door was mowed. The walkway was debris free and washed. She didn’t have to guess who was responsible.

“Come on, mom. I can get the luggage while you’re upstairs.” She used her key to open the front door and then led her mother upstairs to show her where she would be spending the next two weeks.

As she ascended the stairs, she was grateful that she had the foresight a few days earlier to purchase the items needed for a guest bathroom. Mo had done a fantastic job of cleaning and getting the room ready for company. Kate thought, “What would I do without Mo?”

Her mother stood at the doorway and gasped, “Oh Kate, this is a wonderful room! It’s roomy, warm, and well, perfect!”

Kate smiled. “I’ll go grab your bags and bring them up. Take your time.”

She was pulling the second suitcase from her jeep when she saw Ryan’s truck coming up the drive.

“Hey, Ryan, you did an awesome job clearing and cleaning the front yard. Thank you so much. How can I ever replay you?”

“When you feel more settled in, invite me for supper.”

“It’s a deal! But why wait? How about tomorrow?”

“Don’t you want to spend time with your mam?”

“Supper won’t interfere. How does six o’clock sound?”

“Perfect, now the reason I’m here. Yesterday, I saw lying on your new hutch, that beautiful welcome sign. I was wondering. I’ve an idea how and where to hang it.”

After he explained his thoughts, here eyes gleamed with delight. “Oh, Ryan, that’s perfect.”

“Good, then. I suppose you and your mam will be going to Paddy’s tonight for supper?”

“Yes, that’s our plan.

“I’ll have your plaque on your door before you get home. See you tomorrow, then.”

He turned, got back in his truck, and drove away.

As Kate walked back into her kitchen, her mother asked, “Kate, who was that gorgeous young man? I didn’t want to walk outside and interrupt, but can you at least tell me if he’s single?”

All Kate said was, “Grab your purse. I need to make two stops then we’re going to dinner.”

In the jeep, Kate said, “First of all, his name’s Ryan. He owns his own company and I’ve already spoken to him about fixing my yard and doing some plumbing. He’s helped me find other contractors I’ll need to modernize the cottage. Oh, and he’ll be joining us for supper tomorrow night.”

Patti smiled but crossed her arms as a frown began to spread across her face. “And how are you supposed to cook? I noticed you only have a wood-burning stove.”

“Mom, I’ve already mastered it. It’ll be fine.”

They drove into town and the first stop on Kate’s list was a florist. She found exactly what she wanted and made the purchase.

Patti asked, “Lily of the Valley? And so many? You clearly have something in mind.”

Kate smiled as she drove to St. Andrew’s Church. The graveyard sat behind the small stone building. “Come on, Mom. I need to do this.”

It didn’t take Kate long to find the grave marker. It read: Kathleen Sullivan, born May 20, 1918, Died September 4, 1990. Loving wife of Daniel. Friend to all. County witch and healer.

The stone inscription didn’t surprise Kate. She and her mom knelt on the soft green grass, and as Kate placed the bouquet of flowers on her great-grandmother’s grave, she said, “Go raibh maith agat, a sheanmhathair, as gach rud. To gra agam duit.” Kate’s little cross grew warm, throbbed, and glowed.

Patti’s eyes went wide in surprise. “Kate, I had no idea you spoke Gaelic.”

“Mom, I don’t. I can’t even explain where those words came from. For some reason that I can’t explain, I just knew them.”

“Do you have any idea what they mean?”

Kate’s eyes slightly misted as she answered, in a whisper, “Yes, Mom, they mean ‘Thank you, Grandmother, for everything. I love you.’”

Patti’s eyes drifted down to the little cross Kate always wore. “Kate, your cross is glowing. What’s going on?”

Kate stood and extended a hand to her mother. “Come on, Mom, let’s get supper. I’ll explain what I can, the best I can. There is still so much even I don’t understand.”

They walked back to Kate’s jeep in silence with so many thoughts racing through Patti’s mind. While she adored Kate’s father, Aaiden, she didn’t know too much about his background. She never asked; he rarely mentioned it. Now, she wondered if that silent ignorance was a mistake.

Kate spied an empty parking spot half a block down from the pub. “Here we are, Mom. You’re in for a real treat.”

As the door opened, Kate laughed and said over the din, “If there was a small bell on the door to indicate a customer, you’d never hear it with all the noise.” Patti stood still for a few seconds, taking it all in and soon they heard a loud, bellowing voice, “Well, if it ‘tisn’t my favorite lass! Come in, Katie, mo stor! Haven’t seen you in a few days. And who might this striking beauty be? You never told me you had a sister!”

Patti’s eyes lit as her face blushed. “I’m Kate’s mother, Patricia.”

Paddy raced around the bar and enveloped Patti in a bear hug. “Nice to meet you, Kate’s mam. Let me show you to a table where you can hear each other, hopefully.”

He handed them menus, took their drink orders and walked away.

Patti reached inside her large purse and said, “Kate, I was going through your dad’s things that I never had the heart to throw out. I was going to wait until tomorrow to give this to you, but for some reason, I feel now is more appropriate.”

She handed over a leather-bound journal which read, “Aaiden Sullivan: My life.”

Kate’s eyes rounded with shock. “Dad wrote a diary?”