YOU'RE ALL MINE - ch 16

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 16

(the magic of Midnight)

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They stopped at the O’Malley house and were eagerly invited inside by Francis’ mother, Evie. “Come on in, Brian. I’ve just put the kettle on. Please sit and I’ll make us tea.” She looked at Mia and remarked, “And is it safe to assume this is your Mia? Brian, she looks ..” and she began to laugh, then continued, “nothing like you. She’s all her ma, now, isn’t she?”

Brian brushed the back of Mia’s hair then rested his hand on her shoulder as he lovingly answered Evie, “Yes, Evie, that she is, however, Finola tells us that she has my adventurous streak in her. If that’s even half true, I’ll be losing my dark hair to gray before I can even blink!”

As Mia rolled her eyes, Evie smiled. “Mia, ‘tis a pleasure to finally meet you. Francis felt bad at how many times he’s always run you off the road. My only explanation is that he works very hard for his da and forgets that people use their legs for other things than pedaling a bicycle. And speaking of the devil, here he is coming to the door.”

She spotted him through the front window as he quickly parked his bicycle against the front porch railing and rushed to the door.

“Ma, I’m starved and running late.” He stopped short when he saw Brian and Mia sitting at the kitchen table.

Evie spoke, “Francis, I’ve just made a pot of tea. I’ll pour a cup in your travel mug while you grab a scone. That’ll hold you ‘til supper. I’m sure you remember Brian Diehl who designed that beautiful flower garden for me, and this is his daughter, Mia.”

Francis stood as still as a stone with his mouth open, then realized he was expected to acknowledge his mother’s guests.

Without taking his eyes off Mia, he spoke, “Uh, hi, Mr. Diehl, Mia. Mia, please forgive me for the many times I almost ran you over. It really wasn’t my intention, but people need their medications and without a car, my bike is the fastest way. I keep promising myself to be more careful but then, I get behind and I’m off and running again. Well maybe not so much running as pedaling…”

“Francis,” Evie interrupted, “please mo stor, come up for air. You’re allowed to breathe as you speak.”

She was surprised when her son’s face took on a reddish color. She’d never seen him blush before. Then she looked from him to Mia and her brain’s light bulb lit. Ah, she thought, tis something in the making, there. Won’t this summer be interesting?

She heard Mia say, “It’s okay, Francis. Whenever I have to be on that road, I have a tendency to daydream. Well, more like mental planning. I’m always trying to figure out ways to make my garden more useful.”

Francis finally realized he was staring and answered, “Yeah, I heard about your garden and how the orphanage in Dunlavin appreciates all you give them. Maybe sometime I can pop over and take a look at it. That is if it’s okay with you.”

Mia smiled but the spell was broken when they heard Evie’s voice, “Here ya go, Francis. I put the scone in a small sack for you. Now, go before you have to tear up the road again.”

Tearing his eyes away from Mia, he reached for the mug and bag, then leaned and kissed his mother’s cheek.

As he walked towards the door, he said, “Nice to see you again, Mr. Diehl. Maybe some day I can work with you again. It was fun planting ma’s flowers. And Mia? I’ll try to make it over to look at your garden. Probably not until Sunday. Bye.”

And with that, Francis O’Malley was out the door and back on his bike – tearing up the road with his deliveries in the back baskets that hung across the wheel.

“Well, that’s my boy! Always racing from on spot to another. I swear if he could eat while he showers, just to save time, he’d find a way. Oh well, now, Brian, now that Francis has come and gone, I’m sure you stopped by for a reason. What’s he done, now?”

Mia spoke before Brian had the chance. “Mrs. O’Malley there really isn’t a reason, at least not anymore. We’re fine.”

Brian looked at his daughter, then spoke to Evie, “Evie, we wanted to speak with Francis about the way he speeds down the roads. It really is a danger to himself and anyone walking but if Mia says the problem is resolved, then I guess it is.”

Mia hung her head realizing she’d almost lied – a thing she promised her parents she’d never do. “Mrs. O’Malley, that’s the truth. Francis almost ran me off the road a number of times, but I didn’t understand the circumstances. Now that I do, yes, the problem is resolved. I know what it’s like to be busy, but I don’t have a job like Francis. I’m usually busy at home with my garden and don’t have a situation where I can almost run over people. Knowing what I know, now, makes me feel so small and ashamed.”

Evie placed her hand on Mia’s and said, “Ah, there now, Mia. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. Francis needs to be more careful especially since he’ll be buying his own car at the end of the year. Oh, Lordie, God help us – and all of Wicklow.”

Brian and Mia finished their tea and scones and as they headed back home, Mia couldn’t stop thinking of the boy whose hair was the color of fire and the eyes of a bright emerald.

Brian smiled as he looked at Mia’s face, then commented, “Now that he’s finally taken off that silly cap he always wears, he’s not a bad looking young man. He’ll be eighteen in a few months. Did I mention that he’s planning on college? He wants to be a pharmacist, like his dad.”

Mia just stared out the window and answered with, “Hmm.”