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“We should stop for a night.” Astra looked over her shoulder at Egan who was crashed out in the back seat..
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“He definitely needs to sleep in a bed.” She pulled out her phone, “let me find a hotel with a pool. If we let him burn off some of his pent–up energy maybe, he’ll stop being such a grumpy Gus.”
“It’s been a full day of driving, and his mood is only getting worse. We should have moved to Orlando. At least then he’d look forward to
it.”
“We’re about thirty minutes out of Chicago and only an hour and a half from Milwaukee. We could try to push it.”
“I need to eat. I know he does too. By the time we stop, have food, rest a bit, we’re not going to want to get back in the car, Gen. Let’s stop in Chicago. Tomorrow it’s only a short drive to Milwaukee and then we can go apartment hunting in the afternoon. We can line up some viewings tonight.”
“Alright,” she nodded and took a breath. “I’m exhausted too. I’m simply really anxious and want to be done with the traveling. I feel like my nerves will settle once we get into place, you know?”
“I know but we’ve been through four states and two countries in two days. An extra night isn’t going to hurt anyone.”
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Genesis nodded and then looked over her shoulder at her sleeping
son, “let’s take him to a BBQ place. It will improve his mood a hundredfold.”
“He does love a good brisket,” Astra laughed.
“I’ve booked us into a hotel which is across the street from a
restaurant called The BBQ Joint. It has a kid’s menu,” Genesis scrolled the phone. She plugged the coordinates into the GPS of the car and then leaned back in her seat. “Now I’m getting hungry too.”
By the time they reached the restaurant, the two women were both laughing at their growling bellies. Genesis leaned over the seat, “Egan, buddy, wake up.”
“Are we here?” his eyes flashed open, wide.
“Well, we are going to spend a night in Chicago. I found us a place to get some BBQ. Are you hungry?”
He was unbuckling his booster seat faster than he’d moved in the entire day. “I hope they have potato skins.”
“Me too!” she got out of the car and held his car door for him. He slipped his hand into hers and she was grateful he still wanted to after the cold shoulder he’d been giving the two women all day. She leaned over and kissed the top of his head. “I love you, Egan.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
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Clearly food was the bridge to their gap as he bounced excitedly all the way to the booth where they were sitting. It was a corner booth with a bench which rounded the table and could have sat six or eight people with ease and he was thrilled with the seating.
“The table is kind of huge,” Astra made a face as they sat down.
“Think of all the food we can put on it!” Egan grabbed the menu. “Do they have potato skins?”
“The children’s menu is on the placemat,” the hostess set at packet of crayons in front of him. “You can select from the kids* meals and even color the back of the placemat.”
“Mom!” he whined at Genesis, “I don’t want a kids‘ meal. I want lots of food. I’m starving. It’s been a full day since we ate.”
“It’s been four hours since lunch and you ate a snack two hours. ago before you fell asleep. You’re not starving.” She shot the hostess an apologetic look. “Can we get some waters for now and some time to look at the menu?”
“Of course.”
“I want soda, not water.”
“Yeah right,” Astra laughed at Egan’s demand. “You’ll fill up on soda and not eat your food.”
“She’s right, Egan.” Genesis looked over at her son with a smile. and noted the way his eyes were wide, and his bottom lip
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trembled as if in terror. She looked to where he was staring and felt her stomach drop. “Shit.”
“Hello wife. Twice in a few days. What are the chances?”
Her heart was hammering as Kiefer slid into the seat beside her, Tadgh and Jerren sliding next to Astra on the opposite side of
the booth.
“Kiefer,” she whispered his name as goosebumps coated her skin. She immediately adjusted her body as if she could possibly hide her son from his gaze. Searching Kiefer’s face, she didn’t note any of the rage she expected if he ever found out about Egan but then again, he was always very good at hiding his emotions. He wouldn’t be a mob boss if he couldn’t.
He leaned sideways and shocking her, placed a kiss to her cheek, “you look tired. Running like a coward would do this to you.”
“How did you find me?”
“There are more important things to discuss, wouldn’t you agree?” He turned her chin towards the child.
“No. I don’t agree.”
“I requested your medical records be pulled to corroborate your story. You left out some pertinent details about your short stay in hospital seven years ago,” he leaned forward and gave a pointed glance at Egan. “Hello son.”
“Hello sir,” Egan reached under the table searching for Genesis‘
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hand which was on her lap dendhed.
Kiefer’s shaky breath was the only thing to give away the emotion he felt.
“What’s good?” Kiefer lifted the menout of Genesis‘ other hand.
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“There’s a platter with a little bit of everything.” Jerren said as he looked over the menu he’d taken from Attra. “There’s BBQ pork, chicken, and brisket and even wings. You can add sides like mac and cheese.” He patted his tummy, I haven’t eaten since we left Ohio. Should we get appetizers too?”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Tadgh said nodding. “I want the big meat platter too but instead of mac and cheese I think I want
coleslaw.”
“I think I want the ribs.” Kiefer draped an arm over Genesis shoulder, “what about you, a ghrá, what are you in the mod for? Sausage perhaps?”
“No.” she swallowed angrily. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to meet my son and see my wife. I missed you.” He pressed a kiss to her temple again.
“I didn’t miss you.
“Liar. I know you miss me every single day. You should have stayed, and we could have reconnected, and you could have told me the truth instead of making me chase you all over the world.
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By the way, very cool the way you stole a motorcycle from my neighbors. It was sexy as hell watching you drive it. We should ride together.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Mom,” Egan slid closer to her, clearly feeling the energy from his mother and Astra. “I’m scared.”
“It’s fine, baby.” She lied through her teeth. Nothing was fine. It was never going to be fine again. She sucked in a breath when without warning, Kiefer pushed her backwards in the seat and leaned over to lift Egan from the back bench and pulled him. onto his lap.
“You have nothing to fear. What is your name?”
“Egan Jones.”
“Ah, it should be Egan O’Reilly. We will get it fixed up. You are. very handsome.”
“I don’t like my red hair.”
Kiefer made wide eyes, “are you kidding? It’s the best part of you, well that and this little divot in your chin which comes from your Mom. I always liked it on her and now I get to see two.”
Egan shifted nervously, “you have red hair.”
Kiefer’s smile was wide as he studied his son and ruffled his hair. “You could be my spit at your age.”
“What does that mean?” Egamblinked at the man holding him on his knee.
“It means you look exactly like I did when I was six.”
“Me too,” Tadgh spoke across the table after waving at the server for
more menus.
“You are twins.” Egan said excitedly. “Tused to be a twin, but my brother died.”
Kiefer’s gasp was barely audible but the way he turned his gaze to Genesis was purposeful. “You told him such thing?
“He knew.” Astra interjected as if trying to profeet Genesis.
“How? He’s six!” Kiefer protested.
Egan frowned at Kiefer, “I dream of my brother. He comes to me in my dreams. We play together. He looks like me.”
“Impossible,” Tadgh grunted, “you fed this to him.”
“No.” Astra spoke as if she knew Genesis was struggling. “We never did. Genesis called me one morning freaking out because he drew a picture of him and his brother playing. He was three.”
Kiefer stared into Egan’s eyes, “you dream of a boy who looks like you?”
“Yes. He asked me to ask Mom what his name was and to say he
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loved her and sometimes he kisses her tears away.”
Genesis turned her head away as she tried to calm her breathing. She didn’t know what bit of Celtic magic ran through her son’s blood, but Astra once brought a person to their home who insisted Egan was gifted as a medium. When they asked Egan if he played with or talked to anyone else in his dreams, he admitted he played with his grandpa too but usually grandpa sat off to the side and watched the boys play in Egan’s dreams while he cut a stick with a knife.
The words at the time made Genesis freak out since the man she called her father carved wood as a hobby. Now she considered she was fortunate for the connection though she made sure to never exploit it. She always let Egan give her info and never asked for it.
“What did Mom say his name was?” Tadgh asked quietly.
“Roan.” Genesis finally found her voice. “His name is Roan.” She touched her cheek to wipe a tear.
Egan reached his hand out and touched her face, “don’t cry Mom. I’ll be brave and not be scared.”
“Oh baby,” she wanted to pull him into her arms. “You are the
bravest, sweetest boy I know.” She prayed he didn’t need to be brave for too long.
