Sin Worth the Penance by M.J. Schiller

Author:M.J. Schiller [Schiller, M.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781644571231
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2020-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Bridey

I opened my eyes, and the room was murky. I sprang up, sending a shooting pain along my arm. “Shite!”

“What? What’s wrong?”

I think I scared the living daylights out of him. I pushed myself to the edge of the bed. Hard to do with one hand. “I’m going to be late for work.”

“Bridey. I think it’ll be all right.”

I finally got to my feet. “It’s not gonna be all right. They’re gonna be shorthanded. Where’s my apron?” I searched around, then muttered, “Course, they’ll be shorthanded when I get there, too. Where is that damned thing?”

He was grinning, which annoyed me. “By the door.”

“Oh, good.” I spun. “Get your ass out of bed, Murphey. I have work to do.”

He chuckled. “I’m coming. I’m coming.”

I kissed him when he got to the door. “Thank you.”

“For?”

I slapped his tight little tush. “For being here for me.”

He put his arm over my shoulder. “Come on. They’re waiting for us.”

“You’re the slug-abed.”

Walking to work with him—his arm around my shoulder, or holding hands—was the best. Life is strange. I had one of my lowest lows, and now was at one of my highest highs, within weeks of each other. When I opened the door to Murphey’s, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose. The familiar smell of peat smoke mingled with pipe smoke (we were a trifle loose with the smoking ban, being in such a remote area), freshly poured Guinness, and warm Irish stew and soda bread about made me cry. This was home.

I started to circle the bar to hang my cape up and get to work but noticed the banner strung from end-to-end and came to an abrupt halt.

“Hey! Bridey’s back!”

A shout went up, and I was swarmed by customers, mostly older men with more time to devote to pubbing.

Johnny O’Toole clapped me on the shoulder. “Good to have ya home, old gal.”

“Place ain’t been the same without ya,” sweet Rory McDermott, Bre’s da, added, giving me a hug.

“How’s the form, Bridey?” someone called out.

I cocked a hip and ran a hand along my side. “Better than ever, boys.”

Oh, they hooted about that.

“And look at that banner.”

Paddy came out to greet me. “There’s a cake, too.” He hugged me and gave me a huge squeeze. “We missed ya, Bridey.”

“I missed the lot of you, too.” When I pulled away, I could see tears in the old man’s eyes. “Oh, now, Paddy. Don’t ya make me cry.” He owned my heart, that man. Kindest soul God ever created.

Hugging him to my hip, I addressed everybody. “Aren’t ya all a thoughtful bunch? I’ve a mind to kiss every one of ya.”

“Start with me,” Brody O’Keefe hollered from the end, and everyone fell out.

“I’m gonna do just that, Brody.”

I gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek, then worked my way down the bar. I’d never felt so loved in my life. They were so tender and mindful of my arm, offering all kinds of support.

“Now, Bridey. If you’re ever needing anything about the house, ya let me know,” Braeden Walsh volunteered.

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