TUS NUA - ch 14

TUS NUA – ch 14

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

Finola interrupted. “Beverly, can you hold that thought for a minute or two?”

“Of course, what did you have in mind?”

“Not me, dear. Dara, would you please answer the door?”

Everyone looked at each other since no one heard a knock.

“Of course, dear cousin. They’re close enough, now.”

Jules thought, “Huh? They? Who are “they”?”

Dara opened the door as one young girl raised her hand to knock. She said, “Come on in. All are welcome here. You’d be Aoibhinn? But I’m persuming that your parents call you Merry. And this is your sister, Noel?”

“How do you know who we are? We didn’t even know we were coming here until yesterday and we told no one.”

Dara smiled. “Here at Tus Nua, we know what we need to know. Come in and meet the family.”

Dara escorted the girls towards the gathering room and Finola stood to greet them. “Come, have a seat. I hope you like raspberry iced tea. Have you eaten? We’ve plenty of food. Dara? Can you please make a plate for Merry and Noel? Now, girls, I’m Finola,” then she went around the small round table and introduced everyone.”

Mia couldn’t control her giggles when she noticed the bemused look on the faces of the new arrivals.

“I know you’re both confused. Let me explain briefly. This house is called Tus Nua. That’s Gaelic for New Beginnings. It was created for those in need of shelter – whether a day, a week, or even longer. We strive to allow the healing of mind, body, and spirit. What you need to know, and please don’t let what I’m about to say frighten you, but well, Aintin Finola, Dara, Tauri, and I are witches. White witches! We don’t do magic tricks unless absolutely necessary. We refuse to harm anyone. We are only here to help. Oh, here’s Dara with some food. Beverly will pick up where she left off as you eat. Enjoy your lunch!”

Mary whispered to her parents. I know we were about to leave, but maybe we should wait until the new girls tell their story.”

“Mary,” Nora said, “we’ll wait as long as we can. Then, it’s really back to America.”

Beverly didn’t elaborate. She didn’t need to. Each young woman would eventually remember her own story but each thought it was encouraging when Beverely told her tale first.

“Beverly,” Annora began, “thank you for sharing your, wow, I was about to say your ‘experience’ but in this case, I should reclassify that and say, ‘nightmare’. We had no idea the Moretti’s put you through all that. And despite of all that, you still took care of us. We owe you so much. Thank you.”

Beverly’s eyes misted. “Oh, Annora, girls, I just wish I could have done better.”

Abby interjected her thoughts, “I sincerely doubt you could have. They kept you under their thumbs. Under lock and key. You could only do so much and you did what you were able to do. We’ll never forget that. Ever!”

Merry’s eyes widened. “You mean to say you were all kidnapped and held by the same family?”

“Yes,” Jules answered. “Originally, Tus Nua was created for the purpose of bringing us here to, well, not to forget, but to remember and heal. Then, we all realized that this house is more than it’s original intention. It needs to be available to anyone who needs shelter and healing.”

Merry asked, “Does that mean us, too? Our story isn’t nowhere near as horrific as all of yours. We, I guess you could call us run-aways.”

Finola walked behind them and spread her arms. Bending slightly, she ran each hand down the outter arm of each girl, she said, “We here to help, not judge. If you feel up to it, Merry, why don’t you tell us a bit about why you ran away.”

Noel sat quietly looking as though she were about to burst into tears. Merry clamped her hand over her sister’s and with a hitch in her voice, said, “Noel and I talked it over. I’m fourteen and she’s eleven. I don’t know when it started but it’s been going on for as long as I can remember. Maam and da like their Hennessey. I stopped counting how many bottles they toss in the trash each week. What makes it worse is the fighting. They’re very free with their fists. And often, whatever they find nearby that they could pick up and throw. Mind you, so far, they’ve never hit us but then I don’t even think they know we exist.”

Noel finally spoke but her voice was almost like a whisper. “If Merry doesn’t cook, we don’t eat. She washes my clothes, too.”

“Noel,” Mia asked, “Since you left home yesterday, can I assume this was the first thing you’ve had to eat since then?”

Noel nodded. “Alright then, what was your last meal at home?”

“Merry found a can of soup in the pantry and some soda bread in the freezer. Merry’s a good cook but, soup is soup.”

“I’m sorry, Noel, I wish I could have found more. That’s why I thought we should leave. Are you angry with me?” Merry worried she might have thrown her sister into something the young girl wasn’t ready for.

“Oh, Merry, no! I’m not angry at all. I’d rather face the unknown than face what we knew would eventually happen.”

Sam looked at his daughters and couldn’t imagine how any parent could conveniently forget their child existed. He had a soft heart and after hearing enough, rather than allow anyone to see his raw emotions, he stood and reached for his wife’s hand. “Lovie, it’s time.”

“Yes, Sam, I agree.”

He looked at all the residents of Tus Nua and said, “Ladies, if you ever need anything, Finola has our address and phone number. Call anytime for any reason. Mia? Can you take us home, now?”

Mia looked at the group and said, “Be back in a flash! Ready, Sam, Nora, Mary, Laura? Place your bags at your feet. Mary, Larua, are your kittens in your backpacks?”

When they nodded, she said, “Hold hands.” She tossed the plusating orb in the air and allowed it to descend and swallow them to take them home.”

In the meantime, Finola commented, “Merry, Noel, allow me to show you where you can find your bedroom.”

She turned and led them up the beautiful wooden staircase.