I giggle into my hand watching mamaí and Declan trying to get their secrets ready in front of each other.
I ask Crag if we should just tell them that they’re planning the same thing on the same day, but Crag said, “Let the chips fall where they may, darlin’.” I’m not sure what that means, but I kept both my secrets like I promised I would.
“Aggie-girl,” Dec calls, “Can you help me with something in the backroom, love?”
I skip to the backroom, Declan’s holding Alex, galloping around the room like a horse. I laugh, Alex’s face is so cute when he giggles and smiles.
“Look, it’s your sister,” Dec says to Alex, “She’s come to join our secret meeting.” He lowers Alex to the floor, where his wooden blocks are stacked, and he promptly knocks over. “Would you like to see the ring I’m giving your mama tomorrow?”
I jump up and down, too full of excitement to be still, “Yes!” I scream. I lower my voice. “Is it the most beautiful thing, Dec? Let me see, let me see!”
Declan chuckles, pulling a small red box from his pocket, “I think it’s pretty beautiful,” he holds out a golden band with sparkling green jewels circling it. “What do you think, is it pretty enough?”
I touch the green jewels sparkling in the dim lighting, they look alive, like they’re glowing, “What is this green jewel called?”
“It’s an emerald, it’s been handed down in my family from generation to generation,” he shines up the ring with the corner of his shirt, “And now, it’s going to be your mama’s.” He taps my nose, making me smile, “Do you think she’ll like it?”
I nod, “She will love it, it looks like Scotland, like the green hills and edges of the cliffs. It will make her happy because it will remind her of our old home.”
Dec looks at me, tilting his head to one side, “How is it Aggie, that you’re so wise for one so small, hmm?” He pulls me close, my head fitting just right on his shoulder, “I’m so happy we’re going to be a family.”
Tears come in my eyes, I quickly swipe at them, trying to hide my tears from Dec, “Me too.”
“Ah, darlin’, what’s the matter, why the tears?”
“I want to call you my pop, like Corky calls Harry, but does that mean that I didn’t love my daidí? Does it mean I’m supposed to forget about him?”
Dec rests his head on top of mine, Alex is still playing with his blocks, tossing them in a basket sitting next to him, “No, never,” he taps a finger to my heart, “He’ll live here, in your heart, forever, Aggie. Never to be forgotten.”
“Ok,” my heart feels happy again, “And it’s ok to call you pop?” I ask Dec hopefully.
“It’s more than ok. Would it be ok to call you my iníon, my daughter?”
“Yeah, I like that, and Alex will be your mac, your son. We’ll be like a family.”
“A family,” Dec picks up Alex, both of us squished on his lap, “I like the sound of that.”
“Umm, Dec? Let’s make mamaí dessert for Saturday and put the ring inside it, that would be the most best surprise, don’t you think?”
“What’s you mama’s most favorite dessert?”
“Cream puffs.” I tell him, smiling mischievously.
YOU ARE READING
On The Other Side
Historical FictionImmigrating from Scotland, her husband passing away suddenly on their crossing to America, a pregnant Claire Birrell and her daughter Aggie try to carve out a life for themselves in New York during the Great Depression. Can Claire find courage, hope...
