TUS NUA - ch 11

TUS NUA – ch 11

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

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They wandered around the glen, talking, crying, hugging, healing. Nora Green wiped a whisp of hair from Mary’s eyes and said, “This is such a beautiful place. I can’t think of anywhere better to heal than here but it’s time to go back home.”

Her husband, Sam, agreed. “I think we should first go back to, uh, what is it called again? And didn’t that girl say something about lunch?”

Laura tried not to laugh at her dad’s stumbling words. “Dad, it’s called Tus Nua. That’s Gaelic for ‘New Beginnings.”

“You know, the name fits. Finola did a good job of putting all this together for all of you. We need to think of a way to thank her. But first, let’s go back to Tus Nua. I’m starving.”

Nora laughed and shook her head, “Sam, my love, you’re always hungry, but you’re right. I think we’ve held up their lunch long enough.”

Although Nora was hesitant to release the hands of her daughters, the girls pulled away, joined their own hands, and walked ahead.

“Nora, honey, they’ve grown and in so many ways. What are we going to do?”

Mary turned after hearing her dad and declared, “Dad, the first thing we’re going to do is find a therapist. Laura and I have already talked about that. The second thing is to find a school or a program that will allow us to graduate. We’re planning on going to college.”

Nora looked confused. “Mary, Laura, I was under the impression you were kept drugged and only brought to Ireland two days ago. When did you have time to make all these decisions?”

It was Mary who spoke, “Mom, after Jules’ family helped clean the drugs from our system, they gave us peace and time. I know it’s only been two days, but those two days seem like a lifetime. Since Laura and I share a room, we’ve had plenty of time to talk things through. We want to go into Social Services so we can help children and young adults with their problems. We’d like to come back to Tus Nua now and then for a few visits.”

Nora wrapped her arms around her daughters. “Oh, my! My girls!! I keep thinking of you as the innocent seventeen-year-olds you were when you disappeared. Now, look at you! And listen to you! All grown up with plans for your future. I don’t know whether to cry with sad tears because I missed so much of your lives or cry happy tears because you’re both safe, sound, and putting this tragedy behind you.”

Laura, the shyer of the two girls, said almost quietly, “Mom, we’re not putting this tragedy behind us. We’re learning from it. We may never put it in the forefront of our daily lives, but also, we’ll never allow ourselves to forget it. Forgetting it might cause us to be careless, and we’ll never let that happen again.”

Sam placed his hands on the shoulders of his daughters. “Even despite all that’s happened, I couldn’t be prouder of you. Whatever it takes to help you in your future paths, you can count on us.”

The girls looked at their father, “Thanks, dad. It means a lot to us that you and mom realize we’re not to be babied but understood. Now, dad, let’s get you some lunch.”

When they walked through the front door, they heard Dara, Alistar’s sister call out: “Everyone, lunch will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Hope you’re hungry for dirty chicken rolls.”

Sam stopped dead in his tracks and whispered to his wife, “What the hell is a dirty chicken roll.”

Alistar’s other sister, Tauri giggled as she picked up on his thoughts. “Mr. Green, it’s a chicken salad sandwich: sliced chicken breast, garlic, butter, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato slices and a few other things all neatly placed on a baguette roll. ‘Tisn’t dirty but a clean chicken roll would be just chicken, now, wouldn’t it?”

Nora laughed loudly, “Sam, she has a point. I have a feeling this is something you’re really going to enjoy.”

A few of the young women rushed to where the twins stood. “Are you really going to leave us? We’re only beginning to get to know each other.”

Mary commented, “Yes, we really need to go home, and we’ll probably leave tomorrow. But we’d like to give you our home address, email addresses, and phone … oh crap, we don’t have phones anymore. The Moretti’s threw them out. Well, we can email. I’m sure Mia can arrange that.”

Mia walked towards the family and said, sort of questionably, “So, I guess you’ll be wanting to go back to New York and soon?”

Nora answered, “Part of me wants to stay a few extra days but another part of me wants to get our daughters home and try to get back to normal, whatever that is after all that’s happened.”

“Just so you know that there is no rush. If you’d like to leave tomorrow, I’ll take you home but if you decide to stay another day or two, we definitely have the room. You can let me know tomorrow. Even if you leave tomorrow, you’re always welcome to come back for a visit.”

She turned and they heard her say, “Dara, I’ll set the table. Jules can put out the pitchers of teas.”

“Thank you, mo stor. Finola is right. You are a peach!”

Mia laughed. Well, I don’t know about that, but I do like keeping busy.”

Midnight trotted over to Mia, “Mo Chroi, I can’t find Beverly. I found her kitten in her room mewing loudly but Beverly isn’t around. I’ve looked.”

Mia quietly made her way to Finola’s room and knocked gently. “Aintin, I think we may have a problem. Maybe not, but it has Midnight concerned. Beverly is missing.” US