TUS NUA - ch 19

TUS NUA – ch 19

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

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While Morena and Finola tended to Teagan, their newest arrival looking for help, Mia approached the carriage driver. “Excuse me, but my name’s Mia. Can you tell me what happened?”

“Good evening, Mia. I’m Neil McCloud.” His smile seemed to hold a secret but Mia only thought he was being friendly.

“I was sitting on the bench of the carriage when I saw a girl running towards me. Before I could react, she just about jumped inside and whispered, ‘please, help me’. I told her to take the blanket off the seat and cover herself. I clicked the reins and had the old mare, Cricket begin to slowly walk. The boys running to catch up to me and asked if I’d seen a girl running. One boy explained that she was his sister and didn’t want to go home. It was past her curfew.’ Naturally, I knew better and told him she ran in a different direction. He attempted to reach in and grab the blanket but I had old Cricket jump and turn so quickly, it scared the beegeezes out him. They turned and ran off, I clicked the reins again and Cricket increased her cantor. I brought her straight here.”

“Mr. McCloud that’s so wonderful and so utterly kind of you but how did you know to bring her here? We’ve only been open about a week.”

He chuckled. “Well, Missy, first of all, word in our small town gets around. Secondly, well, when Finola is free, ask her about old Neil McCloud. We go way back.”

Mia tried to hide her shock. She’d never heard his name before and wasn’t sure what to think, but, Mia, being Mia, rather than ask questions, politely said, “Mr. McCloud, please come in and have some tea. But, considering what you just experienced, we do offer our adult guests either a pint of Guinness or a tumbler of Hennessey. Your choice, but either way, please come in.”

He smiled and replied, “I’d really like that but let me put old Cricket and the wagon in the back.”

Alistar came from the hallway storage closet at the same time Neil McCloud entered the front door. Alistar’s smile grew as he greeted the old timer.

“Well, if it isn’t Neil McMcCloud. How the devil are you, you old rascal? Still saving the world or creating more mischief for it?”

“Alistar, you know Mr. McCloud?”

“Oh mo stor, Neil and I go way back. When I was just above knee high, he taught me how the play the fiddle. Many an occasion, we played together and what a time we had. Didn’t we, Neil?”

Midnight heard Neil’s voice and scampered across the room, took a flying leap, and landed on the man’s shoulders. Neil laughed as he reached up and stroked the feline’s head. “Ah, Midnight. I was wonderinf you’d come say hello. I knew your maam.”

If Mia thought she was shocked at Alistar knowing Neil, she was completely astonished hearing how he knew the mother of her cat! “Hold on a second, Mr. McCloud, you knew Midnight’s mother?”

His laughter grew. “Ah Missy, not much passes by old McCloud. Ah, here comes my old friend now,” he said as Finola walked from the infirmary.

“Neil? Neil McCloud is that really you? I thought I heard your voice. Tauri, get some scones, please. Neil, it’s been too many years. How the devil are you?”

Neil laughed heartily and shook his head. “Just like the Diehl family, always rushing to ask questions.” He paused to sip his Hennessey. “Ah, goes down as smooth as every. Now, Finola, why don’t you tell your great-niece who I am, first. I’m sure she’s bursting inside.”

Neil noticed the confused frown Mia tried to hide. It wasn’t like her not to pick up on something and yet, her mind drew a blank.

Finola turned to Mia and explained. “Neil, my husband, Finn and I were the best of friends. Where you’d find one, the others weren’t far behind. We were like the three muskateers. Neil was the shoulder I leaned on when Finn took ill. He helped me nurture him back to health and was there again when the accident that took Finn’s life happened. But then …” She turned to look at Neil. “Then you disappeared. Without a word. I never knew where you went or why.”

“Ah, my beloved friend. I blocked you from knowing. I couldn’t ..”

Before he finished, Mia sat more upright and interrupted, “Wait. YOU blocked Aintin. Does that mean you’re a witch? And if you are, how come I didn’t see your aura?” She looked at Finola. “Aintin? What’s going on with me? It’s not like me to not pick up on anything. What’s happening?” Her eyes displayed worry and more importantly, fear.

“Mo ghra, probaby a passing cold or some other bug. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Now, Neil, why did you just leave the way you did?” Mia wasn’t happy being brushed off in such an abrupt manner, especially by the aunt she loved so much. Yet, she knew there wasn’t anything she could do until she was able to speak privately with her aunt.

“Oh, my love. Finn’s death hit me harder than I was willing to let anyone know, especially you. I couldn’t help you if I couldn’t help myself. I knew if I told you, you’d try to convince me to stay and, well, more than likely, I would have. Then rather than have the time to grieve like you needed, you’d have been tending to my sorrow. I felt it wasn’t fair. So, I left.”

“But, now you’re back after all these years. I’m glad to see you but why now?”

“The God and Goddess sent me. When the helpless need help, I’m to bring them here. Just like I did with Teagan. I knew without knowing that I should sit outside Paddy’s and wait. I didn’t know what I was waiting for until she jumped in my carraige. I felt a pat on my shoulder, just as if the God was saying ‘Well done’. So, yes, until they send me somewhere else, I’m back.”

Neil turned to Alistar. “Now,lad, let’s get those fiddles and lighten up the mood.”

Alister shook his head, “Ah, Neil, my fiddle is back home. I’d need to get it.”

Neil laughed. “And you don’t think I’d come unprepared?” He snapped his fingers and continued, “Go back to that room in the corner. You’ll find what you need there.”

A few seconds later, Alistar came back with two shiny, new, and well-tuned fiddles and for the next hour, they played as the women laughed, clapped their hands and danced to the lively tunes the men played.