TUS NUA - ch 51

TUS NUA – ch 51

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

Finola looked at the photo of Ida Dowd’s daughter, Mary. “Ida, there could never be any doubt that Mary was your daughter. She’s the spittin’ image.”

Ida opened her arms, embraced Caroleena, and murmured, “Oh, my darling. My darling!” Finola noticed tears swimming in the eyes of Ida and her husband Daniel. As she sat and pulled Caroleena into her lap, a portal opened and through it walked Mia and Kevin.

Caroleena looked at him and scurried off Ida’s lap almost screeching, “Ke. Ke.” Kevin knelt before the child and wrapped his arms around her. “Caroleena. I promised I’d be back.” She searched his face and tried to understand why he’d left. He held her hand and together, they walked to where Jennie was quietly sitting. Gently stroking her hair, he knelt in front of her and said “Hi Jennie. Remember me?”

Her smile grew and reached her eyes with understanding and happiness. Although speaking was very difficult, she tried, “Keh. Keh.” He laughed. “That’s right, Jennie. Kevin. I’m Kevin.” Caroleena whispered, “Ke. Kev.” Then almost shouted, “Kevin! Kevin!”

He laughed and hugged her fiercely.

Ida and Daniel knew immediately they had a decision to make and made it instantly. Daniel sat down beside Finola and whispered, “Ms. Finola. Ida and I have a very odd request.”

Before he could continue, she smiled and said, “Daniel, I can read your heart and mind and as long as Kevin is willing, I think it’s a wonderful idea. Why don’t you go ask him, although I already know his answer.”

Daniel first went to his wife and took hold of her hand. Together, they approached Kevin who was using his hands to hold a conversation with Caroleena.

“Kevin?” Ida began. “Is that sign language you’re using?”

“Uh, no, ma’am. Well, not exactly. I don’t know hand language, but when I first found Caroleena and Jennie, Caroleena had a rough time speaking and Jennie didn’t speak at all so, I kind of invented a way to talk to them. It took time but eventually, Caroleena started to understand what I was trying to say. There were times when Caroleena found her voice and times when it was almost completely gone. It was always there and then not there.”

Daniel whispered, “Amazing.”

Ida nudged him in the arm with her elbow. “Uh, Kevin, my wife and I were wondering. Well, you seem to be so good with the girls and they both obviously enjoy having you around so, we were wondering. Well, you know, we’re taking the girls back to our farm in Meath. We were hoping that, well, maybe you’d like to come with us and be part of our family.”

Kevin’s eyes widened in surprise. “You want me to go home with you? But you don’t know a thing about me.”

Ida smiled, “We know you’re good with and for the girls. We know how they reacted when they saw you. We know the girls depended on you for their own survival. You’re more their family than we are. Hopefully, they’ll understand that they are our grandchildren, but Daniel and I believe that they need you as much as we need them. So, please, Kevin think about it.”

His smile grew and almost spilled out of his eyes. “Mrs. Dowd, Mr. Dowd, I don’t need to think about it. If you’re really serious about this, then yes, I’d like very much to go home with you. I promised I won’t be a burden. I’ll help around the house. Whatever chores you give me, I’ll gladly get them done. I ..” he didn’t have a chance to finish.

Ida wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Kevin. We can take care of all that as it comes along. This will be one step at a time.”

Finola smiled and looked at the newly acquired Dowd family. “Kevin, remember that stream where you took the girls when you first arrived at Tus Nua?”

He nodded. “Do you think you can find it again?”

He laughed. “Aintin, I found my way from Offlay, to Glasneven to Greenan. If I can’t find my way, I invent a way.”

Finola laughed and replied, “I don’t doubt that for a second. Why don’t you show the girls and their grandparents the stream? All of you will be leaving tomorrow and this might give you some wonderful memories to take with you.”

Kevin, being the bright and sharp boy he was, understood. As he wrapped his arms around Finola, he whispered, “And help them forget the bad and remember the good. They’ll need that.”

He heard the soft chuckle of Finola’s laugh. She didn’t speak the words but allowed her mind to project them into Kevin’s. “You were, are and will be a force to be reckoned with.”

He smiled as they headed to the door and heard Dara call out after them, “Remember, supper will be in about an hour. After that, the meat will turn into rocks.”

They all smiled and stepped out into the warm afternoon air.

As Finola spent her time with the children’s grandparents, Mia turned her attention to the next set of visitors. Before they knocked on the door, Mia opened it and stepped out.

“I guess it’s safe to assume you’re the sister and brother-in-law of Ali Hale.”

Ellen could barely control herself. “Yes, yes, we are. Is my sister here? Do you know where she is? Is she all right? When can we see her?”

It was her husband who spoke as he placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Please, Ellen, calm down. We’re here and now all your questions will be answered.” While he tried to reassure his wife, he knew he didn’t sound too convincing.

Mia took a step away from the door and answered. “I’m Mia Diehl, and yes, your sister is inside. She’s expecting both of you, but I didn’t tell her you were expecting. I’m going to let her tell you about the last few years, but she’s asked that her friends Sybil and Jules be with her. All of them have been through a lot and Ali feels she needs some moral support. Are you okay with this?”