TUS NUA - ch 20

TUS NUA – ch 20

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

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Mia hid her worry well. Everyone was enjoying the time spent as Neil and Alistar entertained them and the last thing Mia wanted to do was cast a shadow on their good times. Yet she worried. “What’s wrong with me? It’s as though my mind is losing its perseptive powers. I can’t see what’s about to happen. Can’t ‘feel’ anyone approaching. Has someone cast a spell on me to make me lose my powers? Once Neil leaves, I really need to speak with Aintin.”

Finola glanced at her and saw the tears swimming in her eyes. So did Alistar who projected his thoughts to his cousin. “Finola, I know what you’re doing and why but isn’t there another way? You’re tortuing Mia.”

Finola thought back, “She only has two days left and her worry will be over. But, you’re right. She doesn’t need to fret so much. I’ll speak with her.”

Neil stood, placed the beautiful, shiny fiddle gently and reverently on the table. “Well, my lovely Finola. I must go but it has been more than a pleasure. Alistar? What a grand time this was playing together as though time had stood still all these years.” He turned to everyone else. “Ladies, how can I ever thank you for allowing an old codger like me to give these old fingers a try at the fiddle once again. I hope I’ve entertained you as much as I’ve entertained myself.”

Looking back at Finola, before she could speak, he said, “If it’s all right with you, mo stor, I’d love to come back and visit.”

She moved in and hugged her old friend. “Oh, Neil, you’re welcome here anytime. In fact, next time you come, you’ll have supper with us. Yes, as you said to Alistar, it’s been too long.”

“I’ve only myself to blame for that. I’m sorry it took me so many years to realize time doesn’t always heal all wounds, but friends do.”

He slowly pulled away from her embrace but grabbed her hands, then kissed her cheek. “Mo stor, walk outside with me, will you?”

She nodded, turned and with him, walked through the doorway.

The young women were giggling and chatting like the youngersters they should have been before their youth was stolen from them. CC shyly walked to Alistar and handed him a page from her sketch pad. “Alistar, I hope this is okay.”

He looked at the page and his grin grew wide. “Oh, CC, this is magnificent. Thank you. Is this for me or should I give it to Neil?”

Her shy smile beamed. “I made two copies but wanted your opinion first.”

“Well, my lovely, quickly, run outside before he leaves. I’ve no doubt he’ll like this just as much as I do.”

CC hurried outside as she heard Neil say to Finola, “Let’s sit here a while. I know you’ve something up your sleeve but you’re blocking me. What’s going on?”

CC cleared her throat to draw their attention. “Please forgive me for interrupting but, Mr. McCloud, I’d like to give you something.”

“Come here, mo stor. You’d never be an interruption. What it is?”

She handed him the copy of the drawing she’d made and his eyes opened with delight. “You drew this, mo stor. Well, of course you did. That was a stupid question. This is lovely. No it’s better than that. It’s magnificient. You said this is for me?”

Finola looked at the sketch of Neil and Alistar as they looked at each other and played the fiddles. Their eyes met in a gleeful smile.

“Oh, CC, you’ve melted my heart. I would absolutley love this. I can hardly wait to get back to my flat and find a suitable frame for it. Would it be fine with you if I gave you a hug?”

She all but flew into his arms and hugged him back. He felt her tremble, then looked at her face to see a few tears roll down her cheeks. He stroked her chestnut colored hair and said, “There now, child. It’s all right. Anytime you need a shoulder, whether to punch in frustration or cry when it hurts, just call out and I’ll hear you and coming running. And please call me Neil.”

CC looked into his kind blue eyes. “Neil, it’s not that I’m upset, not exactly. But, well, except for Rory and everyone here in Tus Nua, no one ever complimented me on my drawings. My father ignored them and my mom always ripped them up saying I was wasting my time on fivolous garbage. I think the appreciation I’ve gotten from everyone here, then Alistar, and now you, finally broke the dam that held back all this emotion.”

He hugged her again and said, “You’ve a marvelous talent and don’t ever allow anyone to tell you different.”

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Neil. Thank you so much.” She turned, than ran back into the house. Well, ran is a complicated word. It was more like she skipped, ran, and flew all in one motion.

“Neil, my dearest friend, you are a wonder. And it’s a wonder that you’ve never married and had children of your own. Why is that?”

“Aw, Finola. There was only one girl for me and she chose another. I think you might remember Brynne Flarity. Aside from you, she was the prettiest girl in school but her heart was set on Shamus Cleary. I never told her how I felt. Saw no use in telling her. I had my two best friends and that was all I needed. Then Finn left us. I should have been a better friend to you when he died but my heart was slashed in two so as soon I thought you’d healed enough, I left. Like a coward, just ran to allow myself to heal.”

“Oh mo ghra.” She grabbed his hand. “Don’t ever leave again. Please, promise me. We all need our friends. You just said that yourself. Stay and we can continue to heal together.”

He brushed a strand of gray hair from her face. “Oh, my lovely friend. You’ll not get rid of me now. You’ve so much to do here and I want to help. But now, tell me what’s going on with Mia and why you’re blocking her.”