“I forgot my purse,” Errin said.
“I’ll wait outside,” Emmy said as she kept on walking.
Kieran was staring at the table but looked up from the white and red-checkered tablecloth with hopeful eyes at Errin’s approach, but slumped when he noticed it was Errin.
“I’m sorry, Kieran. I’m in the dark about what happened between you. But if you think you can fix this, more power to you.”
Kieran observed her and it seemed like he was debating with himself what to answer her.
“She works at this pub, it’s called The Lucky Irishman. If you can make her smile again, come around sometime.”
She grabbed her purse and walked out of the restaurant. She wasn’t sure if she’d done the right thing, but maybe it would help Emmy let go of the past she wasn’t comfortable talking about.
“You ready?” Emmy asked.
“Yep.”
As they walked over to the parked car, Emmy was silent and only glanced over at Errin once or twice. When they drove back to Lucky, Emmy snapped, “So, you’re not even going to ask me?”
“Ha, as if. You’ll only bite my head off, if I do. No, prettylittle weirdo of mine, I’m not asking shit about this rendezvous. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” She smiled at Emmy.
Emmy sniffed and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Thanks.”
“Do you want to hear my joke from the restaurant earlier?” Errin said.
“Fuck no. Please, I beg you. Stop with the jokes. I’d rather listen to Kieran’s excuses than hear another Errin-joke.”
“Hmm, okay. Well, we’ll see. I think in time, the jokes on you.”
“What did you do?” Emmy said in a high-pitched voice and swerved the car.
“Shit. Watch the road, Emm. Geez. Well, I might have mentioned the pub...”
“Fuck. I’m gonnacook you alive,” Emmy said through gritted teeth. Errin couldn’t help but laugh, but Emmy didn’t join her.
“I’m dead serious, Errin. You have no idea what you’ve done,” she said.
Errin swallowed and lowered her head. That was often her problem, acting before thinking things through. “I’m sorry… I…” she said.
“Okay. If he comes to Lucky, you’ll help me. You’ve made this mess, so least you can do is help me get out of it. Promise me you’ll do whatever I’ll ask of you. Or I will never trust you ever again,” Emmy said, never once looking over at Errin.
“Shit. What the hell is this all about?”
“I… Okay, trust me when I say that I’ll tell you—but not now. Seeing him after four years is… Oh my God, it’s been four years…” she sucked in a breath and stared out of the window.
Errin figured they were lucky they stood stuck in traffic with the distracted Emmy behind the wheel. After a few minutes sitting in silence, Emmy said over her shoulder, “Okay. I’ll tell you when you’re back from Jersey. I’ll need a few drinks for this story.”
“You think I’m coming back here?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my life,” Emmy said.
“Walk on, bro.” Ronan nudged Don’s back with his rough hand. Donovan stood stock-still after taking two steps inside the crowded Thomas Tavern.
Loud music blasted in the bar next door to Lucky, while people threw shouts and hollers at two brunettes working the stage in the back.
It was Tuesday Karaoke Night and tomorrow night Errin would fly back to Jersey. Brennan, his brothers, and cousins were meeting up with the Walsh and Ryan girls after another day of hard labor.
Even though it pained him to see Lucky in such a state of decay, working on the rebuild of their family pub with his brothers and cousins was something special.