A Little Irish Love Story by Amy Fleming

Author:Amy Fleming [Fleming, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Ambassador International
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

ANNA WAS DRESSED AND READY by nine o’clock the next morning. Dr. Carey was detained by an emergency surgery. So, she sat on her bed, dressed in her beautiful new clothes, hands folded in her pretty grey gloves, and waited.

Father Donnelly knocked at her open door and smiled.

“Well, Anna, you look very pretty.”

“Thank you, Father,” Anna said dryly.

Henry came in as well, but kept his eyes on the floor, his hat in his hands. That morning, his heart had been freshly wrecked by his visit to the police station. He hated to recall the events of his wife’s disappearance. Reliving that terrible night in his statement to the police was more than he could bear. Between the conversation with Dr. Carey the night before and his awful morning, he was not feeling well.

“Good morning, Father Henry,” Anna said slightly brighter.

Henry did not answer. He swallowed hard as Father Donnelly looked at him, puzzled.

“I hear Dr. Carey won’t be in for some time to check me out. Why don’t you go get some breakfast or look around town?”

Father Donnelly was a little unnerved because Dr. Carey had not yet seen her.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, yes, you go ahead. I’m going to wait here.”

Father Donnelly looked at Henry who had not yet moved. He needed to talk to him. The change in his behavior last night and this morning worried him. He told Anna they would be back to check on her, and then they left.

Father Donnelly and Henry found a small breakfast café. He kept a sharp eye on Henry as he quietly buttered his toast.

“I remember the last time we ate a meal like this, Henry; just the two of us.”

Henry remembered as well.

“I sat across from you that terrible morning after Anna . . . Well, after she disappeared.”

Henry looked up at his friend. Any other man would have held it against him, but Henry forgave like no one Father Donnelly had ever seen. He had always thought it came easier to Henry than any other creature, but the truth was it did not. Henry did not understand why Father Donnelly had given up so easily that night, why he had chosen acceptance over searching for her.

However, Henry loved his friend more than words could ever say, so he forgave him. There really was not a choice in the matter.

“I’m so sorry, Henry, I gave up that night.”

Henry smiled sweetly and said, “You’ve been a wonderful friend to me; closer than a brother.”

Father Donnelly felt an immediate relief and asked, “Why are you so quiet this morning, my boy?”

Henry thought for a moment. He did not want to share with anyone about what he knew.

“I think the impact of her forgetting me finally hit me.”

“Indeed. It’s a very difficult thing to swallow.”

Father Donnelly took a bite of eggs.

“Where do you think she was?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who do you think this Daire fellow is?”

“I don’t know,” Henry said.

He tried not to sound exasperated with his friend. Father Donnelly looked up at him when he noticed Henry’s tone.

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