A Place Beyond (11 page)

Unable to form words, I shook my head, glancing down to where my mother sat immobile.

What then? Have you decided saving your father isn’t worth losing your friendship with my sister?

“No, no.” The words came out in a whispered rush.

Do not forget what I told you. I can make it far worse, believe me. You’ll wish they were dead before I’m done.

I could only nod, because the door opened and the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand. I glanced back at the mirror, but my own face stared back.

The doctor was very kind as he checked my mother’s chest and throat. She was far more pliable than I expected and allowed him to stick a tongue depressor in her mouth. I’d been worried I wouldn’t be able to keep her as calm as Gram could, but there were no problems.

He took a culture, but seemed confident the bleeding was just from excessive coughing due to a common cold. Before we left, he wrote out a prescription for cough medicine with a pain reliever. I hoped it would keep her as calm as the sedative.

Nicole stood when she saw us walk into the waiting room. “What’d he say?”

“It’s probably just a cold, but he took a throat swab to check for a more serious infection.”

My cousin let out a breath. “Thank goodness.”

I drove home, nervous to check my rear view mirrors and find Aoife looking back at me.

When we pulled into the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Gram and Aunt Jessie weren’t home yet, so I helped my mother up to bed. In seconds, she was asleep. I could only hope she stayed that way for as long as possible.

Nicole sat on the couch in the living room tapping on her phone when I came downstairs.

“I never even asked you if you decided on the bridesmaid dresses,” I said, dropping down next to her.

She finished typing her message and glanced over at me. “Yes. I still have to have the other girls go down and get sized, but yours is all set.”

“And the cake tasting?”

She didn’t say anything for a second as she stuck her phone into the pocket of her hoodie. Then she glanced at me sidelong and a small smile lifted one corner of her mouth. “We narrowed it down, I think.”

I poked her side. “The offer to help you choose still stands.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Thanks, you’re a real life saver.”

My shoulders tensed. I was no life saver. I’d be happy to just get through the day without causing any more pain.

“Do you think Gram will be okay?” she asked, all signs of joking gone from her voice.

I swallowed. “Of course. She’s the strongest woman I know.”

“I guess you’re right. I’ve just heard stories about people who’ve been married a long time losing the will to go on after their spouse dies.”

“No. It’ll be hard, but Gram will get through this,” I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.

Nicole sniffed and looked up at me. “What about you? How are you doing?”

I lifted a hand to smooth a strand of her blonde hair back from her cheek and looked away. “I’m okay.”

“If I know you at all, I’m guessing you blame yourself for what happened.”

Any other time, I would have said she was being silly. But something in me cracked and my hands began to tremble.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I said my voice barely a whisper.

“I won’t deny what you did was thoughtless, but you were trying to help a friend. Pop has been sick for months. Sicker than he let us believe.”

My eyes closed as I exhaled. “It just doesn’t seem real,” I said. “I can practically hear him shaking out his newspaper. Like I’ll open my eyes to see him looking over the edge of his reading glasses, telling me he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Nicole laughed a little. “He would totally say that.”

I ruffled her hair and went to get up. “I’m hungry, want some of Joanne’s pasta?”

“Sure,” she said, standing with me. “I’m going to turn into a meatball, I’ve eaten so much Italian food lately.”

I tapped her nose. “You’re marrying into the family, you’ve only just begun.”

That got her to laugh. “I can think of worse things.”

As we ate, I tried to think of excuses I could give Niamh for not going to Tír na n’Óg. I’d been so ready to go and now, I just couldn’t risk it.

I wondered if Saoirse would have been honest with me if I’d been able to go. The last time we’d spoken, she told us her only hope for passing the throne to Niamh was if Aodhan was by her side. Maybe that was one of her true visions. Did that mean I would fail at keeping Niamh and Aodhan apart? Or that they’d be reunited after my life was over.

So many questions, but maybe I’d never find out the answers.

When Gram and Aunt Jessie returned from the funeral parlor, they both looked physically and mentally exhausted. After we told them what happened at the doctor’s office, Nicole and Aunt Jessie made their way home and Gram went up to check on my mother.

Staring at my phone, I tried to summon the nerve to text Niamh. I was torn. I knew Aoife could cause my father pain and suffering, but would he say it was worth it if, in the end, we put an end to Aoife’s whole scheme? Could I allow him to be tortured, and my mother too?

Before I made any kind of decision, Ethan sent a text asking if my mom was okay. After I told him she would be fine, he said he’d be over after he was done work.

Gram came down and sat by my side. “Oh Allison. Things are going to be very different around here, aren’t they?”

I struggled to keep my voice even. “They sure are. But you know Pop wouldn’t stand for us sitting around moping. He’d say something like ‘It’s okay to be sad for a little while, but you’ve got to keep living.’”

She gave me wobbly smile. “You’re absolutely right. That’s just what he’d say.”

“He’d probably tell us we needed to eat a little extra ice cream, too,” I whispered, nudging Gram lightly with my elbow.

She laughed, the most beautiful sound I’d heard in days. “Right again, Allie-girl.”

We sat together in silence for a while. I tried to imagine what my grandfather would have told me to do about Aoife. He was a man with a strong moral compass. Everything she did went against everything he stood for. I couldn’t imagine Pop letting anyone hurt his family. But he was well-known in Stoneville for his honesty and integrity. He would figure out a way to keep everyone safe.

By choosing to do as she wished, I might protect the people I loved. By doing what was “right,” I might stop Aoife, but what if I lost both of my parents as collateral damage?

How could I live with myself?

Uncle David and Aunt Jessie came over at four o’clock to discuss the funeral arrangements with Gram. I stayed in the living room with my mother while they talked. The wake would be the next night, and the funeral the following morning at St Edmund’s. While they’d been out earlier, they ordered flowers, so everything was in place. I wished I could help them more, but I’d never lost anyone before so I was clueless about what had to be done.

I looked at the TV screen, wrinkling my nose at the reality show my mother was watching. It was about some group looking for paranormal creatures. Maybe I should give them a call, see how they’d like to meet up with some real walking nightmares. They might decide to change their careers if they knew what was actually out there. If they weren’t left drained of blood or possibly worse, addicted to a Danaan.

“I’m going to need to go shopping in the morning,” Aunt Jessie said. “What about you Al? Do you have anything to wear?”

“Oh. Yeah, I have plenty of clothes,” I said, forcing a smile.

“Maybe you should go shopping, pick out something nice. That might cheer you up,” Gram said. “My treat.”

“No, really. I should be all set. But thanks.”

That was yet another reason why I shouldn’t go to Tír na n’Óg. I couldn’t miss Pop’s wake and funeral. What kind of granddaughter was I for even considering it? Once again, I imagined what Pop would say if I asked him for his opinion. He’d most likely laugh in his good-natured way, and tell me he wouldn’t be in that coffin, so why should I feel bad about missing it?

I had to make a decision. I glanced at my mother, who was only coughing mildly now. I could go to Tír na n’Óg and be back so quick she wouldn’t suffer for all that long.

As my decision began clicking into place, my phone beeped.

Ready when you are.

Niamh had a decoy ready to take my place, and one for Ethan. Now was the time to end this. My mothers face as I’d once seen her in Tír na n’Óg, flashed before my eyes, strengthening my resolve.

I texted Ethan, letting him know to meet me next door.

“You know what,” I said. “Maybe you’re right, Gram. Maybe I’ll go get something new. I need to get out for a while.”

Grams eyes softened. “Good girl. Let me just get my purse.”

I waved her off. “I’m all set.”

She tightened her lips, but nodded. “Okay, have a nice time. We’ll be fine here, so don’t hurry back.”

I walked next door as fast as I could. Even though I’d made my decision, I knew the sound of my mother coughing would be my undoing. I was grateful Liam’s house didn’t have any mirrors, because if Aoife appeared now I didn’t know how I’d hang on to my intentions.

I didn’t bother knocking, I just walked right in the front door, my footsteps echoing on the tile floor of the foyer.

Niamh and Aodhan sat at the table in what appeared to be a very intense conversation. They both straightened when I came into the room.

“Hello, Allison,” Niamh said, glancing sidelong at Aodhan.

I held out my hands. “I’m ready, and Ethan should be here soon.”

“Good. Why don’t you give Eithne and Diarmuid a quick rundown of the past few days while we wait?”

“They’re our decoys this time?” I said. Usually she had Danaan I didn’t know stay in my place while I went to Tír na n’Óg. But I’d met Eithne and Diarmuid a few times now. Diarmuid was Niamh’s advisor and Eithne was his mate. She was a quiet, timid girl, but she was kind. And she had many reasons to want to keep Aoife from becoming queen.

“Your mother has been sick, I noticed,” Niamh said. “I thought Eithne would be a good choice since she is our finest healer.”

“That’s great, actually. Thank you.”

“Of course. They’re in the living room waiting for us.”

Aodhan hadn’t spoken to me. He looked out the window into the front yard, his shoulders tense. He took a deep breath, blowing out through his nose.

I moved to his side and laid my hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

It was getting dark outside, and the trees in the yard cast shadows across his face. He looked up at me, pressing his lips together, and nodded. “Fine, why?”

“You just seem quiet, that’s all.”

He stood and gestured for me to go before him to the living room. The front door opened, shut and Ethan came in.

He said hello to Aodhan as he came to my side, slipping his hand into mine. As soon as his skin touched mine, I relaxed.

Niamh sat in the arm chair talking to Eithne and Diarmuid. They sat close together on the couch, nodding at whatever Niamh said.