First let me thank you all for the votes and emails. And as I've said before, this is not meant to be the next great novel, so if that's what you're looking for, I'm sorry to disappoint. I'm sorry it has taken so long to post this, but my semi retired boss got bored, and all of a sudden there is money to be made. With that in mind, if you haven't read all of the previous chapters, I suggest you do so before proceeding.
If I haven't already scared you off, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it. All mistakes are mine. All people, places and institutions are made up, this story in no way reflects reality and any similarities to it are coincidental. Enjoy.
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Chapter 09
Mason had hoped to take a longer ride with Pat on Veterans Day, but by Tuesday morning it was pretty clear it wasn't going to happen. A massive storm front was threatening the east coast and was expected to hit them by that evening. When Mason's Chevelle got pelted by marble sized hailstones on his way home from school, it just drove the point home. Pat agreed when Mason called him, saying bikes and weather never mixed well, but that he wanted to come out and see Mason the next day anyway, saying something about a turkey run down in Daytona.
They'd finally heard from Allan the night before, he and Aida were in Scossicci, Italy. It was on the east coast, a bit touristy like all of Italy, but Aida's family was there. Had been for centuries. Allan was surprised that Brigid was upset at not getting an invite to the wedding, and they were all surprised to learn that Allan had taken Aida's last name. But as he explained it, his family had become estranged over the years, and they'd been in America so many generations they no longer even knew what part of Scotland they were from. While Aida had a close and loving family that was steeped in heritage. Both of them were old enough that they weren't likely to have children at that point, so he'd wanted to join her family. After hearing this, Brigid forgave him the invitation.
They were returning to the states before Thanksgiving, but would be spending some time in Charleston, so that Allan could start moving the office to the Boston area. He was hoping the people who actually worked out of the office would be willing to move with it. Luckily most of the employees already lived in other parts of the country or abroad, but he had two associates and his secretary that he didn't want to lose. Mason told him to offer whatever incentives he needed to. Saying the extra rooms at the hall were available to use until something more permanent was found, for anyone that agreed to relocate. Allan and Aida would stay in her apartment while his house sold, then look for a place to buy. Mason wished him luck, remembering his own dismal time with the local realtors.
Jess was sitting at the table with Marcus and Cindy. She'd missed dinner, but had happily accepted a bowl of the beef stew Katey had prepared, as well as a couple of soft rolls when she came in from the breaking storm. Marcus was telling Cindy the story of King Fiachna the Blonde and his army being decimated by a huge black ram, and how they had been forced to climb trees to escape death from the woolly monster. Jess was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Her cell rang and listening to it briefly she turned to Mason. "Abigail Turner is at the gate." She told him, then told the guards to let her through at his nod. Mason got up and crossed to the door, wondering if he'd ever get used to dealing with the new security measures. Brigid joined him, she had only met Abby once, when Mason had talked to her about using the truck from the dealership, but she'd heard the stories. They stood in the doorway and watched her little Fiat Spider come up the drive, a huge umbrella proceeding Abby out of the car and all but hiding her as she ran up the steps.
"It's getting bad out there." She told them as Brigid helped her out of her coat, hanging it with the dripping umbrella by the door. "Not much chance of selling anything at the dealership in this weather, and I didn't feel like sitting at home. So I came to see how things are shaping up around here." She sounded half apologetic, but visibly relaxed when Mason grinned at her.
"Well your always welcome here." Brigid assured her, then offered her a bowl of the stew. So Mason introduced her to the others at the table, while Brigid went to get her some.
Abby blushed at the slow smile that crept across Marcus' face as he stood to greet her. "Sometimes I wonder at the boy," Marcus told her, shaking his head sadly, "he's mentioned you a half-dozen times, but forgotten to warn me of your beauty. Now I'll be walking into trees and such, my mind all befuddled by it."
Abby's smile was radiant. "Well, I can see where Mason got his charm," she told him, "he couldn't be around that much bullshit without stepping in some of it." But she took the open seat next to him when he pulled it out for her. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself too badly."
Cindy waited until Abby had her food and was eating, before asking Marcus how Fiachna the Blonde had defeated the ram. Abby listened to the tale as she ate, interrupting at one point to clarify that it was Mananann, son of Lir, the lord of the seas, that slew the ram. And grinning when Marcus looked at her again, this time speculative, before telling Cindy that she was right.
"Mananann took a night with Fiachna's wife as his reward." Abby went on to tell Cindy. "Going to her in the guise of her husband and leaving her with a son that became king of all Ulster. The story probably contributed to all the Arthurian romances."
Cybil and the others slowly joined them as the evening went along and they finished their respective homework assignments. There was a lot of grumbling about the storm ruining any outside plans for their day off until Cybil suggested they have a hurricane party the next day.
