CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

 

After the past five exhausting days, Oona could hardly contain her joy to be home, with Sean looking none the worse for his ordeal. ‘Isn’t it just wonderful?’

‘I can’t wait to see everyone,’ he said. They were hanging around in the draughty waiting room, drinking tea before Jack’s car was off-loaded.

‘It won’t be long now, Sean.’ She couldn’t wait to see her family either; to see her mother’s eyes light up once she saw her grandson again. Something else was giving Oona butterflies and she longed to share her good news with everyone. She hoped they would all be happy for her.

Before long, Jack was pulling up outside her parents’ house. The door flew open and everyone rushed out, all except her mother who watched from the window, misty-eyed.

‘Welcome home,’ Connie said, tears in her eyes. She glanced lovingly at Sean, her arms outstretched. ‘Come here, you.’

‘You look… you look different, Connie.’ Oona hugged her sister. ‘What have you done to yourself?’

‘Nothing.’ She brushed off the remark with a smile. ‘Just a new hairdo. We’ve all had sleepless nights here.’

Amid tears and hugs, Sean was hoisted up and carried inside by his grandad and Uncle Dessie to appetizing smells of fried sausages, eggs, rashers and fried bread. Annie was standing in the kitchen doorway, a look of sheer joy on her face.

Clambering down from his elevated position, Sean rushed into her arms. ‘Thanks be t’ God!’ She hugged her grandson tight. ‘Are you all right? That… that man didn’t hurt you, did he?’

Sean shook his head. His grandmother clung to him as she shed more tears. When she released him, she turned her attentions to Jack. ‘We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done, Mr. Walsh.’

‘Please, call me Jack. I was glad to help.’

‘Please come through,’ she said, walking ahead of them into the room where the dining table was set for breakfast. She placed Jack at the head of the table, as her husband took his place at the other end.

‘Where’s Shep?’ Sean asked. The back door burst open and the dog, wagging its tail furiously, ran in, followed by Tommy. They all sat down to eat and enjoy being together again as a family. Suddenly the noise around the table grew in a crescendo, as one question followed another. Sean at times laughed then cried, as he retold his harrowing tale, bringing a tear to everyone’s eyes. They were so engrossed that no-one heard the knock on the front door, until Sergeant McNally popped his head round the door.

‘I hope you don’t mind, but the door was on the catch.’

‘Not at all, Sergeant. Come in and join us. Sit yourself down.’ James O’Hara pulled over another chair. Annie poured tea and handed him a cup.

‘What a joy to see a happy family again,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted that the boy is home safe and sound. So here’s another bit of good news.’ Everyone looked up. Oona stopped laughing and glanced towards Sean; he was hunkered down, stroking Shep.

‘The police in the Isle of Man have arrested Vinnie Kelly, alias O’Leary, Dempsey, Cockran, and who knows how many other assumed names the man had. They got him on desertion of a minor while the child was in his care. He was working on the docks and some guy – one of his old cronies, probably, with a score to settle – informed the police. I can assure you that justice will be done.’

‘Will he have to appear in the Dublin court?’ A concerned frown wrinkled Jack’s face.

‘No. Not necessarily, Mr. Walsh. I think the English police will deal with him appropriately. You’re hardly likely to see him again.’

The smile slipped from Sean’s face and silence descended the room. ‘Why was my dad so bad, Grandad?’

James slipped his arm around the boy’s shoulders. ‘Well, he didn’t have the love of a good mother and he couldn’t integrate into family life, so I guess it made him bitter. But you’ve no need to worry about him any more.’

‘I’m all right now, Grandad. I’m home with my family. And I’m never going away again, not until I’m at least sixteen.’

Smiling, Oona shook her head. ‘Oh, not long then.’ They all laughed.

‘How about a game of footie?’ Tommy suggested.

Shep barked and Sean did not need asking twice. The two boys disappeared, leaving the adults smiling. The news of Vinnie’s arrest was the icing on the cake for Oona and her family and, for the first time in ages, she felt relaxed about Sean.

‘Well, thanks for the tea, Mrs. O’Hara.’ McNally got to his feet and turned towards Oona, who was pouring another cup for Jack. ‘You know, I’m so pleased that things turned out the way they did, Mrs. Quinn. I’m sorry I didn’t trust your instincts, but I did everything that I could with what I had.’

‘Yes, I realise that, Sergeant.’

‘You are an amazing young woman. You deserve to be happy and I wish you no less in the future.’

‘Thanks for coming with that news, Sergeant. It’s most reassuring.’

Nodding in agreement, James O’Hara stood up and went with the policeman to the door.

After he left, they continued to discuss Sean’s father, until Jack glanced at his watch. ‘Well, I’d better be getting off too. I’ve things to do. And you two,’ he glanced towards Connie, ‘I’m sure, will have lots of catching up to do.’ As he reached over and squeezed Oona’s hand, the gesture didn’t go unnoticed.

‘Before you go, Jack,’ Oona held onto his hand. ‘Mam, Dad, Jack has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes.’

Connie screamed and rushed to her side, hugging them both. Everyone offered their congratulations. ‘This seems to be a day for celebrations all round,’ her mother said, smiling and glancing at Connie.

‘Come on, our Connie,’ her father chuckled. ‘Your sister will be as pleased as punch to hear your news, now she’s got Sean back.’

Placing her hands on her tummy, Connie said, ‘I’m going to have a baby.’ She bit back tears of joy. ‘I’ve been dying to tell you.’

Oona’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. Dessie came and stood next to his wife. ‘It’s true, Oona. We don’t need to adopt after all.’

‘Oh, Connie, this is wonderful news. The best homecoming ever,’ Oona cried. She could not have been happier for her sister. What a perfect ending to the grief-stricken weeks of frustration and worry. Jumping to her feet, she threw her arms around Connie. ‘When did you find out?’

‘The day Sean went missing. I couldn’t tell you then, we were all too upset. I still can’t believe it.’

‘Hold on,’ Jack said. ‘This calls for a real celebration.’ He rushed outside to his car and carried in the rest of Oona’s luggage, as well as a bottle of Italian red wine.

When Jack eventually left, saying that he would see her later, Oona found herself counting the hours.

Back in her own house, she was sorting out the washing when Sean dashed in, followed by Shep. ‘Where’s Jack?’

‘Why, he’s gone home, love. I’m sure he has things to do.’ She smiled lovingly at her son. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘I’m fine. I can’t wait to get back to school.’

Oona sat down at the table. ‘That’s great. Sean… I’d like… well, I have something to ask you! And I’m… I’m not sure how you’ll feel about it.’

‘What is it?’ He slumped down into a chair. ‘I don’t want to talk about, you know, me dad. I don’t want to think about him. He hurt you and he hurt me.’

‘No, love.’ She moved her chair closer. ‘It’s about Jack. Do you like him?’

‘Yeah. He’s okay.’

Oona bit her lip. Okay was a start, she supposed. At least it wasn’t no, and it gave her confidence to continue. ‘He’s asked me to marry him, and I’ve said yes.’ She paused, waiting for his reply, wondering what she would do if he got upset.

‘I know.’

‘You do? But how come?’

‘Jack told me when you went for a lie down on the ferry. I said it was okay if it’s what you wanted, but I told him I didn’t want another dad.’

‘Oh, love, really? And you don’t mind?’

‘I want you to be happy, Mam.’

Was this really Sean, concerned for her happiness, and with a grown-up attitude to life? ‘Oh, Sean. That’s just wonderful.’ She swallowed to relieve a lump in her throat. ‘And I want nothing less for you. It doesn’t mean I’ll ever forget Eamon. He’ll always be your father.’

And when she hugged him, her son reciprocated, staying in her arms longer than she expected.

Then he said, ‘It’s nice to be home, Mam. Do you think Aunty Connie will have a baby boy?’

Smiling, Oona shook her head. ‘We’ll have to wait and see, son.’