Family_Ties_by_Lisa_Gray

Chapter 7-1

Chapter 7

Sean Dwyer stood in his grandfather’s study and occasionally nodded his head mindlessly. Pretending to listen to the old man’s endless lectures was just automatic now. He watched as his Aunt Sharon laid out the lunch she’d prepared. He could see her steeling herself for the inevitable insults and complaints Colin Dwyer delivered daily in return for her efforts.

Not that Sean cared one way or the other about his aunt. But neither of them would need to kowtow to Colin Dwyer for much longer. Sean would soon be the one issuing orders and making decisions to shore up the family business. And the first thing he’d do, would be to move out of this decrepit old tomb and into a nice apartment downtown. Somewhere upscale where he and Valentina could entertain as befitted the new head of the Dwyer family and his lady.

His rosy musings were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. Sean picked up the receiver on his grandfather’s desk. “Dwyer residence.” He listened for a moment, then covered the handset of the phone and hissed, “It’s Nessa Carmody calling for you.”

Colin Dwyer wiped his mouth and pushed his luncheon plate out of his way. Motioning to his daughter Sharon to remove the mess from his desk, he put the phone on speaker. “Nessa, good of you to call. What is the status of our plan?”

“Colin, it’s all set. We can proceed with the wedding arrangements.”

“Ah, that’s good news. It’s long past time we reconciled the families. And if you want help with the wedding, don’t be afraid to ask.”

There was a moment’s silence. Then Nessa slowly asked, “You want to be involved in the planning?”

Sean almost laughed aloud at the astonishment in the old crone’s voice.

“God, no! But if you need someone, my daughter Sharon could be of use to you. She has little enough to do around here.” Colin cast a baleful glance at the forty-something woman who was grimly silent as she placed dishes on the tray.

“Well, thank you, Colin. Please tell her if she would like to help, she’s welcome to. And I also wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to revive the tradition of the family reunions again. It will give both families a chance to reconnect and will serve as the venue for announcing the engagement.”

Colin sneered but kept his voice pleasant. “Sounds like a fine idea, Nessa.”

“So please consider that your whole family is invited two weeks from Saturday at noon. It will be like old times.”

“How kind of you. I look forward to it. Goodbye.” Colin Dwyer hung up the phone and growled, “Arrogant old b***h! Always playing the queen of the manor born. If it weren’t for the sad fact we need their money, I’d tell that cow to go to hell.”

Sean couldn’t pass up the opportunity to restate his objection. “Well, it’s not too late to listen to me, Grandda. We don’t have to lick their boots, and we don’t have to offer up Meggie to that spoiled prig Danny Carmody. There is an alternative.”

“Oh, shut up, you i***t. How many times do I have to tell you we’re not getting mixed up with the thrice-damned Russian mob? You’re out of your depth there, boy. Those thugs would chew you up and spit you out. And what makes you think I’ll be giving my Meggie away?”

“What? Meggie isn’t going to marry Carmody? I thought you had decided she was.”

Colin scowled and shook his head. “I was never easy in my mind about it. The whole idea of sending my sweet girl to that catamite didn’t sit right with me. But in the end it wasn’t me who reneged. ‘Twas the boy, Danny. He refuses to ruin Meggie’s life by tying her to a queer who’ll not give her children. And for that I have to give him credit.”

“Well, who else would be marrying the Carmody heir?” Immediately, a dark foreboding shook him. His voice rose. “You’re not thinking of me, now are you? Because I promise you there’s no way I’ll be taking it up the ass from any man. You’re the one who taught me it’s a sin against God.”

Colin leered at his frightened grandson and laughed. “Relax, boy, your virtue isn’t at risk. No, there’s another I’ve decided would be perfect to give to the Carmodys.”

Sean’s mind went blank. He’d thought once he’d convinced Meggie to refuse, there wouldn’t be any other option, and the marriage plan would be dead.

Smirking at Sean’s dumbfounded look, Colin finally revealed, “‘Tis your so-called cousin we’ll be handing over. Evan Dwyer will finally get his chance to do something worthwhile for the family. It’s certainly no loss for us, and we gain the good favor of the Carmodys. It’s perfect.”

“That sniveling little worm? I didn’t even know he was still alive.” Sean hadn’t even considered his bastard cousin might be tapped for the role of the bride. Scrabbling to put obstacles in the way of his grandfather’s plan, he asked, “But won’t he try to poison the Carmodys against us?”

Colin snorted. “Let him. What do I care? “

Sean was confused.

Colin shook his head as he explained. “The moment the marriage takes place, the agreement I’ve signed with Nessa Carmody takes effect. We’ll have the support of the Carmody money, and there’ll be nothing anyone can do about it.”

“But what about if something happens to you? Does this agreement you signed give power to the Carmodys, leaving me out in the cold?” Sean clenched his fists as he watched his dreams dissolving.

“No chance of that. The Dwyer interests will stay always with the real Dwyer men. I’ll not risk that damned woman getting her claws into our business.”

Grasping at straws, Sean burst out, “But will he go through with the marriage? He knows he’s not wanted here.”

“Of course he will. You heard her say it’s all hearts and flowers between the two. So yes, Evan will do his duty in the Carmody’s bed, and we’ll reap the benefits.”

Sean was quick to mirror the smug smile on his grandfather’s face. No need to let his anxiety show. But now he needed to act before it was too late.