TUS NUA - ch 34

TUS NUA – ch 34

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

“Nora, now that you’re back, would you tell me where you were and how you managed? After all, you were fifteen when you, well, when you left.”

“Mom, I didn’t just leave. I just about stormed out of your life. I didn’t know or thought I could accept myself and who I was or what I wanted to be. As for where I went? For a while, I just wandered around, I guess for about a year, doing odd jobs here and there just to keep me going. I was a stowaway on a trawler headed to England. Pleaded with a family to help me get to America. Visited many states there. Heard about and spent time in New Orleans. Then found my way to Scotland, and no matter where I went, I found myself sitting in a classroom learning different things. All sorts of things. English, Spanish, German, you name it, I can probably speak a little of each. Or at least try. I found a school that, I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but the school taught witchcraft. Only theirs was black magic. After the first day, I walked out. Almost ran. In Scotland, I ended up in Culloden. I studied their history. Did you know the Moor is haunted?”

“Oh my, mo stor. You’ve accomplished so much.”

“Mom, as I said, I bounced around from here to there and while my so-called education seems extensive, I never finished high school. I just never stayed in one place that long. Well, except for Culloden. Then, ironically, my last stop was in Donegal. I spent the last five years there and thought so often about coming home, but, well, honestly,” and as she looked at her mother, Finola saw the pleading in Nora’s eyes as they began filling with tears, “I wasn’t sure if I’d even be welcomed after all this time. The way I left was and still is unforgiveable, The reason, uncomprehensible.” She lowered her head in shame, but Finola placed her fingers under Nora’s chin and lifted her head. Before reaching for her daughter, Finola stated, “Oh, mo ghra. There’s no shame in trying to find your own personality, no matter where it takes you.” She pulled her daughter into a warm and fierce embrace. As Nora began to sob, Finola asked, “Can you just do me one favor, mo ghra? If you ever want to leave home again, please, just let me know beforehand?”

With that, Nora laughed a bit between sobs.

“Now, I need to also ask. Is that where you learned the Irish Sign Language?”

“Yes, mom. For some instinctively strange reason, I enrolled in a school that taught sign language for different countries. It’s really so interesting to see the difference between them all.”

Nora looked at the little girls and said to Finola, “It looks like lamb might be one of their favorite foods. Mom, is it all right if I move in here?”

Finola answered, “Of course, mo chailin daor (my dear girl) but also keep in mind that you still have a room in our home waiting for you. “

Nora insisted on helping to clear the dirty dishes and within a few minutes, clean cups and plates with new forks were now sitting where the dirty ones had been.

Dara peeked around the corner from the kitchen and then nodded to her sister. As Dara brought out the tea pots, Tauri carried the very large cake and placed it on the table directly in front of Mia. Everyone stood and sang “happy birthday.”

“Oh, heavens,” Mia blurted, “I knew you planned on a special supper, but Dara, Tauri, not only did you create such a special lamb stew but just look at this cake? It’s magnificent! How can I ever thank you?”

It seemed that everyone began chattering at once, first to Mia wishing her the best for everything she planned to do, blowing her air kisses across the large table, conversing with each other and complimenting Dara and Tauri on the delicious meal they’d just eaten, and Nora? Nora sat holding a silent conversation with Caroleena and Jenny.

Even Midnight made sure she was part of the fun. She gathered the kittens that still lived in Tus Nua and meowed loudly until Tauri filled several bowls of the special feline milk they kept in the refrigerator.

Conversation came to a screeching halt as Alistar’s cell phone rang. He stood and walked away, taking his phone from his pocket, all eyes on him wondering if it was the call they’d all been waiting for.

“Yes, I see. Yes, I understand completely. Sir, I can help with that. Yes, we have a nurse in the family. Yes, absolutely. Thank you.”

The look in Alistar’s eyes said what everyone feared, yet he knew he had to speak the words. “That was Poilin (policeman) Mulrooney from the guarda (police). He’ll be here tomorrow to take a sample from Caroleena and Jenny. Morena, he’d like you to try and be here around four in the afternoon.”

Morena sadly said, “Alistar, I’ll definitely be here. All he needs is one sterile swab for each girl. He’ll swab the inside of their cheeks and reseal the vile. I’ll be here a bit early if that’s okay.”

Ana asked, “Did he by any chance, tell you the name of the girl?”

“Sorry, Ana, that he doesn’t know yet. Currently, he has nothing to compare it with. He’s sending a nurse from Meath to the home on file of the missing person’s report. They’ll extract DNA and rush it for analysis. He said we should know a bit more by next weekend.”

Finola nodded knowingly. “In about a week or two, these little ones might be in the arms of loving grandparents.”

Nora remarked that at least while they were in Tus Nua, she might be able to give them some sort of happiness.

Midnight jumped from Mia’s lap and ran out the cat door at the back of the house.

In less than five minutes, she pranced in with two kittens whose coats were as white as snow. She led them to Caroleena and Jenny, then helped them climb into the girls’ laps.

Mia chuckled, “Oh Midnight, mo chroi, how on earth do you always manage to find kittens who need homes?”

Midnight just meowed but never told her anything.