So Far From I Expected

16

‘Come on then, you two obviously have something to tell me! Jonah, Caireann tells me she’s falling in love! She also tells me that you have no faith in her. Apparently neither do I? SO come on, tell me!’ Mama began to rant at Papa, poor Papa caught in the middle.

‘Meghara would you stop! The girl is in a difficult situation. Do you not remember how it was when you were young? She has developed feelings for a young man, and by the seem of things after talking to him today he has feelings for her too.’ Mama’s face softened, Papa had the ability to do that to her. ‘I accused her of doing things she shouldn’t have done with him, and by the sound of things you have too. It goes to show how stupid we are, we have to most sensible daughter in the village and we both thought low of her.’

Papa looked at me affectionately. I didn’t know how he was doing it but he seemed to be getting Mama to relax. ‘Meghara, Caireann has developed these feelings for someone that you won’t approve of but when you speak to him – and woman you will speak to him, you will see how much she means to him!’

Mama looked a little annoyed at Papa, but curious too. ‘Well if I’m going to meet him you may as well tell me who in the name of goodness he is! And why am I not going to approve? It’s not like he’s a stranger is it?’

I looked at my skirts and wrung my hands tightly, ‘Meggy its the chap from Junaath, Theodore Desala.’

Mama’s face changed from amused and quizzical to furious quicker than I had the chance to register. ‘Thon Junaathan? That man who came here and told us he’s taking us all to Junaath? Thon man who’s bastard friend killed your little brother Caireann? Are you kidding me? Jonah you’re Ok with this? Jesus Christ what the hell are you both thinking!’

‘CALM DOWN Meghara!’ Papa’s voice thundered through the small cottage, wakening the twins from their slumber and causing Tommy to cry in his basket. I lifted him and soothed him with his bottle while Papa settled the boys.

Mama had sat at the table and not moved. I sat at the end of the table with Tommy and began to try and explain.

‘Mama, I don’t know why this all upsets you so much? Theodore did nothing wrong in all of this. Nothing wrong at all, he was kind the day Frankie died and he has been nothing but a gentleman these past two days. When you sent me to get water on Sunday, he was still outside, and I went to the barn last night and he was there. I didn’t know he would be but he was. We talked Mama, we talked for hours and he really does just want to help us Mama. Today, today when he saw Papa I was there and nothing he said was different than what he said to me. He will do anything to prove it to you Mama!’

‘She’s right Meghara, He’s done nothing wrong here except be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Frankie died. I’m not saying I’m happy with all this but the lad deserves to be heard. He will be here soon.’

Mama’s eyes were on fire. She was furious with me and Papa. ‘I’m not going to Junaath Jonah. Nothing you say will change that. I am NOT going.’ I put Tommy back into his basket and knelt down beside Mama and placed my head on her lap.

‘I love you Mama. I don’t mean to have hurt you.’ She laid her hand on my head and ran her thumb over my forehead. Her other hand found the ribbon at the bottom of my plait and she pulled it free.

‘Young girls in love should wear their hair down. Now wash your face and we will tidy up before Mr Desala gets here. Jonah, you have some explaining to do.’ She looked at Papa and I immediately felt scared. I had never seen her look so sad, or let down.