“Don’t I know it.”
They talked for over an hour, catching up on things, bragging about their kids and grandkids. By mutual agreement, they never talked about how they’d first met. Some things didn’t need to be spoken of aloud to be shared.
Jed stood, grasping Jack’s hand in a firm shake. “Remember what we talked about. Soon as you’re up and about, haul your ass down to Lakeside for some Southern hospitality, ya hear?”
“I will,” Jack said, wondering if he’d be able to make good on that.
They said their goodbyes, and Jed took his leave. Exhausted from the visit, Jack closed his eyes. He felt old. Tired. He missed Kathleen. Jed was very fortunate; he’d found that special connection with not one, but two women. Unlike Jed, Jack knew there would never be another for him. Kathleen was, and continued to be, the love of his life. That wasn’t going to change.
The gaping hole left by Kathleen’s untimely death was still there. The edges were a bit smoother than they had been, worn down by the sheer persistence of time, but when she had gone, she had taken that part of his heart with her and held it still.
Jack lifted his hand, placing it over the incision that now ran the length of his chest. The part of his heart that remained wasn’t doing so well anymore, either.
Was his time approaching? Was that why he was dreaming of Kathleen so much? Because he was going to be with her again?
After her death, he hadn’t wanted to go on. He’d had to be strong for the boys then, but no longer. His sons were grown, fine men with families of their own.
What did he need to stick around for? Sure, he loved his grandchildren, but what else? He’d long since retired from actively participating in the missions; the boys handled all that now. And as for the Pub, Jake and Ian had been running that for years. They didn’t need him anymore.
He had done his part. Surely after all this time, he was entitled to a rest, wasn’t he?
“Kathleen,” he whispered into the empty room. “Are you coming?”
––––––––
June 1975
Pine Ridge
“Kathleen, are you coming?” Jack called out. He shifted impatiently, waiting for her to finish brushing her teeth and come to bed. She’d been in there a long time.
“Yes.” She shuffled out of the bathroom, yawning. He lifted the covers, so she could slide into bed next to him. She did, smelling of peppermint toothpaste and that lightly-scented face cream she put on every night.
Jack pulled her close and nuzzled her neck. This was his favorite part of the day, the time when they left the rest of the world behind and it was just the two of them. Her warm, fragrant body snuggled up against his. Instantly he began to relax. When Kathleen was in his arms, everything was right with his world.
“You okay?” he asked, pressing his lips to her forehead, as his hands stroked along the curve of her back.
“Yeah,” she breathed. “Just a little tired. Mmmm, that feels good. Don’t stop.”
“You’ve been tired a lot lately.”
“Yeah.”
She had been working a lot, spending hours every day trying to straighten out the Pub finances. Danny had made a real mess of things, not only by failing to pay his taxes, but also in keeping shoddy books. It seemed as if every other day, a supplier was showing up at the bar, looking for money Danny owed him.
When she wasn’t doing that, he’d find her scrubbing or painting or patching one thing or another, trying to make the private living space more livable. She spent her evenings with him at the bar, tending for those few hours they were open each night.
He loved her enthusiasm, but the frenetic pace she’d set for herself was beginning to take its toll.
“Tomorrow is supposed to be a gorgeous day,” he said, placing kisses just below her jawline. “Let’s play hooky and go up to the lake.”
“Sounds wonderful,” she sighed. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she lifted her chin to give him better access. “But I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I promised Erin I’d help her with the books for Seamus’ construction business.”
“I thought Erin did all that.”
“She did, but now that she has the baby, she can use some help, especially since things are really taking off. Seamus is hiring more guys just to keep up with the demand.”
“Can’t she hire someone?”
“She did. Me.”
“But - ”
“But nothing,” she breathed. “Enough talking. Make love to me, Jack.”
Jack had the distinct impression she was trying to distract him, but he would not refuse an opportunity to make love to his croie. He settled into the cradle of her thighs. “This discussion isn’t over.”
Her reply was a lift of her hips and a tug on his hair.
Mornings were better suited to such discussions anyway, he decided.