TUS NUA - ch 25

TUS NUA – ch 25

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

As Finola began her oration of what happened to those for whom Tus Nua was built, she saw the fury begin to build in John’s eyes. While she watched it grow, she also did nothing to stop it. Finola knew he needed this rage to understand.

Turning to Jules, she said, “Jules, mo stor, explain to Sybil’s family what happened to you and how you ended up here in Ireland.”

After Jules finished speaking, Mia took her turn in what happened next, going into detail of how Finola handled the situation.

“So, you see, that if we turned Tony and his family over to the New York authorites, they’d probably serve, oh I don’t know, maybe ten years? Maybe twenty? And if Tony recanted what he told us, there’s no way to prove any of these young women were drugged. But this way? Well,” she turned to Finola, “Aintin, can we scrye Tony?”

Finola smiled and walked to a far wall. She pushed aside a panel that wasn’t visible to anyone but her, then pulled out a full-length oval mirror and wheeled it towards those in the room.

Once the mirror settled, she begn,

“Mirror, my friend, reveal to me

The person I deem our enemy.

Mirror, my friend, we need to see;

So, I desire it; so, mote it be.”

John murmured, “Hmm, I knew it. Hocus Pocus.”

Finola just smiled as the mirror began to mist and the mist began to swirl and fade. As the mist cleared, the image of Tony Moretti and his wife came into view.

They heard Angelina’s voice say sweetly. “Tony, my love.”

He answered, “Yes, my dearest.”

Then her voice changed. “You lazy piece of garbage. I told you an hour ago to take out the trash. Why is it still here?”

He answered, “Sweetest, I was vacuuming the bedroom carpet.”

She replied, “You have an answer to everything. Take out that garbage now, or I’ll get Rico to take it out and you with it!”

Rico was Angelina’s brother and Tony was, well to say he was frightened by the tall and husky man, was to say little.

They watched as Tony scrambled to grab the garbage bag and walk it outside. Then he hurried in and resumed the vacuuming.

Jules smiled and Mickey put his arm around her shoulders. She said, “Thank you, Aintin. He’ll never bother anyone ever again. I knew this in my heart, but it’s always nice to see it.”

Finola nodded as she wheeled her mirror back to the wall.

“You see, John, the only harm done to any of the Moretti men, is what they’ve done to my girl or what they do to themselves. I know you still have so many questions. Please allow me to bring in my cousin, Alistar. Between him, Mia, Mickey, Jules, and myself, we should be able to answer everything. Once you feel you’re satisfied, we’ll leave all of you alone to talk this over.”

“Aintin?” Sybil spoke. “I really don’t think we need to bother anyone but what I’d like is to take my family up the hill to the stream where it’s peaceful.”

“Sybil, that’s an excellent idea. If you need anyone of us, just call and we’ll, well, we’ll pop up.”

Sybil smiled knowing that’s exactly what would happen.

Claire commented, “Oh, Sybil, this is such a lovely area. I can easily see how Finola dedicated it to healing and peace. It’s breathtaking.”

“Many of us come up here to just sit and watch the water flow from above. I’m not sure if any of us think about what happened. I would love say I missed all of you. But I need to be honest and say I didn’t. I didn’t miss you because I didn’t remember. Aw, hell, I didn’t even remember myself. Once Finola found me, brought me here and helped me heal, it’s then I’d come here and think of what I lost and could never get back. But, I’m glad all of you are here now. Here to see all of my, well, we call ourselves sisters because we all lived through the same nightmare. We’ve learned to talk about it and that’s been comforting. But, we don’t dwell on it. None of us wants to brood and have those thoughts depress us. When we start feeling depressed, we come up here and just marvel at its beauty. The scenery in itself is calming and healing.”

John reached for his sister’s hand. “Sibby, I don’t want to push you, but when you think you’d like to come home?”

She smiled what they might have thought was sad smile but she said, “Johnny, I am home. I’ve lost so much of life in New York. Now, this is where I’d like to being my new life. Not in Tus Nua. I’m past that, now, but here in Ireland. Maybe not in Greenan but somewhere close so I can stay in touch with the Diehls. They’ve taken such good care of me.”

Claire spoke. “Kieran, let’s take a short walk.”

“Sybbie, is this what you really want? What about Mom and Dad? What about me?”

“Oh, Johnny, Ireland isn’t that far away and anytime I’d want to visit, I’m sure Mia would bring me by portal. I can ask her.”

“I think I have a better idea, Syb. You said you wanted to open a small café, right?”

“That’s my plan.”

“How would you like company? I would have no qualms working for my big sister.”

Sybil’s eyes widened. “Johnny, you’d do that for me?”

“Aw, Sybbie, in a heartbeat!”

Sybil giggled. “We could be partners and call the place ‘Sib’s Café’. Not SYB like me, but SIB like what we are. Siblings! What do you think?”

When Claire and Kieran walked back, it was Sybil’s father who told her the news.

“Sybil, your mom and I talked it over. We’re approaching retirement and deicded to put in our papers early. Would you have any objection if we moved to Ireland. We promise we won’t crowd you, but we lost you once. We don’t want to lose you again!”

Sybil beamed and said, “I can hardly wait to get back to Tus Nua and tell Finola! Oh, wait, she probably already knows.”