Michael exhaled. Jake wouldn’t let it go, and he was too tired to play games. “It’s probably nothing, but something just isn’t adding up.”
“It’s a hell of a thing, having a heart attack.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Shane says you think it wasn’t a complete surprise, though.”
“Shane has a big mouth.”
“Kier doesn’t think it was a surprise either.”
“What the hell does Kier know?”
“He knows Dad hasn’t been at BodyWorks for over two weeks.”
Michael frowned. Given the history of heart disease in their family, Jack was a stickler for keeping in shape and insisted his sons did the same. For him to miss two weeks was unusual, but it wasn’t exactly a red flag. “So?”
“So, Kier says the last time the old man was in, he cut his workout short. And when he left, he was covered in sweat and as pale as a ghost. He told Kier it was just indigestion, but he hasn’t been back since.”
Indigestion. Just like Jack had told Maggie. “No one thought to mention it?”
Jake shrugged. “Didn’t think anything of it. Would you? Shit, Mick. He said it was indigestion, for Christ’s sake.”
Michael leaned back and closed his eyes. “Karen, the night shift nurse, told me she went into Dad’s room last night and he called her Kathleen.”
“With all the shit you’re pumping into him, that’s not unusual, is it? You did a bit of calling for Mom yourself when you decided to play Superman and got that hole in your chest a couple of years ago.”
Michael winced at the memory. He and Maggie had been going through a rough patch, and he’d thought he’d lost her forever. His judgment had been adversely affected, and he’d taken chances he normally wouldn’t have on that op. He’d ended up nearly getting himself killed in the process.
“Yeah, well, that’s when I was out of it, not when I was awake.”
Jake sat up straighter, his blue eyes alert. “What?”
Michael told him about what had happened in the OR. Jake was floored, gaping at him in disbelief. “You think he was talking to Mom? That he saw her?”
“I don’t know. I’d like to say it was the sedation, but you should have seen the look in his eyes, Jake. I haven’t seen that look since Mom died. He believes.”
“Jesus.” Jake stood up and started pacing. He made several trips around the office. Michael knew he was thinking the same thing he was: that the thought of seeing his croie again after all these years might be enough of an incentive to ignore the warning signs of an impending heart attack.
“What the hell do we do now?”
“Nothing. We could be way off base here, Jake. Let’s give it some time. Nothing is going to happen to him while he’s here.”
Jake blew out a breath. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
––––––––
February 1975
Pine Ridge
“Getting cold feet yet, young Callaghan?” Declan Kennedy chuckled when Jack slid the dark, frothy draft in front of him. “Your wedding is what, only two or three weeks away?”
“’Course he is,” nodded Fergus McCandless before Jack could respond. “What sane man wouldn’t?”
“Aye. I’d rather be shackled and staked out naked than go through that again,” claimed Bob O’Malley.
“Now there’s a fine visual,” shuddered Brody Mackenzie.
“Shut it, all of you,” said Brian O’Connell, rising to his defense. “His wedding can’t come fast enough for him.”
“Ah, a groom eagerly running toward the altar instead of away from it. ‘Tis a novel thing, that.”
“’Tis not the wedding, but the wedding night he’s running toward.”
A couple of regulars laughed; Jack smiled but said nothing. Yeah, he was definitely looking forward to that, but there was so much more to it. Kathleen was his croie, his heart, and every day his love for her only grew.
Danny Finnegan, owner of the establishment which had become his second home, said, “Brian, be a good lad and take over the bar for a wee bit.”
“I’m fine,” Jack said. His leg was aching something fierce from being on his feet so long, but he hated the sympathy he saw in their eyes. He was afraid that one day, someone was going to ask him what happened, but so far, no one had. He hoped they never did, because he never, ever, wanted to speak of that again.
“Aye, I know, lad, but there’s something I’ve been wanting te discuss with ye. Grab a couple of glasses and a bottle from the top shelf and come with me.”
Jack and Brian exchanged glances, then Brian took his place behind the bar. It was no secret that Danny Finnegan had been talking about selling the place. Jack wondered if this was the point where Danny took him aside and gave him the bad news, told him he’d have to look for another job.
Finding something suitable would be tough, at least until he settled back in and started feeling normal again. If that was even possible. With his wedding on the horizon he needed a means to support Kathleen. Conlan had offered him a job at the diner, but Jack’s pride wouldn’t let him accept. He wanted to care for his wife and future family on his own.