Reckoning 13 by Cate Tiernan

Author:Cate Tiernan [Tiernan, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

11. Shatter

Juli 30, 1951

Father died of a heart attack five days ago. It came on suddenly, and no one was at home.

Nothing could be done.

Hugh and I have stopped looking for a house. We will live here. Mother will need support

and help with Tioma. To make matters worse, this has stirred up Oona. She shredded the

curtains in the living room and broke the panes of glass in our front door. Mother and I

watched as it happened. She wept endlessly. I need to be strong.

Goddess, I know you give, and you must take. I revere you, though my heart is broken.

---Aoibheann

"I came along," Charlie said, peeling off his sopping jacket as we stepped into the foyer. "I hope that's all right."

"Of course," Ruth said with a smile. "Always. I'll set another place."

"I'll get it," he said, slipping back toward the kitchen. "Don't worry about it, Ruth."

Ruth nodded, looking at me kindly. "Alisa, the bathroom is right by the front door. You can

wash your hands and dry off a bit there."

"Thanks," I said. Ruth returned to the kitchen, and I found the powder room, which was just

big enough to fit a toilet and a very smal sink. I looked like a drowned rat. My hair was

completely soaked, and it clung to my head. My clothes were getting real y swampy. There

were beeswax soap and a jar of salt crystals for washing hands. I used both, rubbing the

crystals into my skin anxiously, as if I could impress my grandmother by having the cleanest

hands of anyone she'd ever met. By the time I came out, I'd turned my hands red from the

effort, and everyone was gathered in the dining room, waiting for me.

The room was filled with a long oval-shaped table and a massive sideboard, both of which

looked like they were probably wel over a century old. The table was heavy with food,

served up on delicate pieces of blue and white china. There was an incredible-smel ing roast,

with big bowls of fluffy potatoes, asparagus, and roasted carrots. The gravy was so thick and

aromatic that it had to be completely homemade, and the soft biscuits were already dripping

with butter. From what I'd seen so far, the Curtises were very good cooks.

We all sat down. I had been put next to Sam. Charlie set his place next to Brigid. Evelyn and

Ruth gad the opposite ends. With a snap of her fingers Evelyn lit the two tal taper candles in

silver candlestick. I had a feeling that little trick was for my benefit.

When are you returning home, Alisa?" Evelyn asked me, rather properly, as she passed Ruth

the potatoes. Nice. I'd just gotten here, and she wanted to know when I was leaving.

"In... a few days." I said. "It's my spring break."

"Wel ," said Sam, "I hope you stay for our circle on Wednesday. It's our annual celebration of the founding of Ròiseal. We're getting together the night before as well, for Ruth's birthday.

It's a big week."

"Yeah," Brigid agreed. "You have to come."

"I'd like that," I said, not real y sure if that was true.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.