Page 106 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘Oh my gosh.’ Melissa let out a sigh. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

Finbar, aware that Melissa must have received good news, stood back and watched as Hattie and Jo raised their glasses and Melissa laughed. The tension in Melissa’s face had lifted and for the first time since he’d seen her at the manor, she appeared to relax. The anxious woman, who’d crossed the lawn and entered this room, moments earlier, was gone. It was as though the years had lifted and now Finbar saw the young Mel, the girl that he’d fallen in love with. He looked at his glass and wondered if he’d had too much to drink. He’d enjoyed Hattie’s company and her ability to let him talk comfortably about his mammy, aided by several large gins, but now, he longed to speak to Melissa. But knowing that she’d only rebuff him, Finbar turned away.

He was about to say his goodbyes and make tracks to walk home, when the door opened and a young man entered the room.

Heads turned and conversation stopped as everyone stared at the stranger.

‘Oh, my goodness,’ Melissa said. Her hand flew to her mouth and Hattie reached out to grab her glass.

‘Hello, Mum,’ the young man said.

‘P…Patrick,’ Melissa ran forward and threw her arms around her son. They hugged and tears flowed, both oblivious to the onlookers.

Jo turned to Hattie and took her hand.

‘It can’t be…’ Jo whispered.

‘I think it could,’ Hattie replied.

As the two women studied Patrick they turned to look at Finbar.

Finbar was silent. He stood quite still, the colour draining from his face. James moved forward and reached out to grasp Finbar’s shoulder but his arm was pushed away as Finbar continued to stare. Pete, ensconced on a sofa, looked from one face to other, baffled by the change in atmosphere but aware that something momentous was taking place.

Melissa, still holding Patrick, let her hands drop to her side. She turned to face Finbar, her eyes imploring as she studied his stricken face.

‘Is it true?’ Finbar whispered. ‘You have a son?’ His brain whirled as he stared at the young man, calculating his age, and also the number of years since his encounter with Melissa, on the cruise.

‘Yes,’ Melissa replied.

‘Mum,’ Patrick interrupted. ‘I don’t understand.’ He looked confused as he looked at the familiar features of Finbar’s face.

‘Bleedin’ hell,’ Hattie whispered to Jo as they stared at Finbar and Patrick. ‘They’re like two peas in a pod.’

‘Patrick,’ Melissa put her hand on his arm, ‘I want you to meet your father.’

Tears streamed down Finbar’s face. His felt his legs begin to give way and his body felt like jelly, but as confusion left the face of the young man before him and he smiled, Finbar moved forward and held out his arms.

‘My dad?’ Patrick asked. ‘Are you really… Dad?

‘Yes,’ Finbar replied and he stepped forward, pulling Patrick into his embrace. ‘My son,’ he whispered, ‘my darling, darling son.’

40

‘Well, you couldn’t have written that one,’ Hattie said to Jo, the following morning as they sat up in bed, both nursing a cup of hot tea and a hangover.

‘Did you have any idea that Finbar was the father of Melissa’s son?’ Jo rubbed her sore head.

‘Aye, I had a feeling that there was something between them, with neither one speaking to the other, there had to be an explanation.’ Hattie reached out and took a drink of water.

‘Patrick is a fine looking man.’

‘The image of his father.’

‘I thought Finbar was going to collapse when he realised that Patrick was his son.’ Jo yawned and rolled her shoulders from side to side.

‘I’ve never seen a man look so happy.’

‘And as for Pete, ‘ Jo said, ‘I’ve never see a man look so miserable. I don’t think he’ll be too long before he’s up and off, this morning.’