Who's Your Paddy?

Chapter 17

I was set to meet Liam at the pub for a pint around six, so I hurried home to change and stop at a store to pick up cards to go along with the framed gifts. I pulled into a space in front of the Harp and remained in the car so I could fill out each card personally. Just as I finished, Paul called.

"So you're dating an Irish lesbian now?"

I laughed hysterically. "A what? Oh God."

"You planted that, didn't you?"

"Uh..."

"What the fuck happened today?"

"You wouldn't believe it if you saw it for yourself," I said.

"I did see it! Right after I talked to you, I saw George's notice hit my Blackberry. Within a half hour I was in on the email thread from hell. Jesus, Annie, I'm dying. This is some funny shit."

"Ha! If they're gonna talk shit about me, the least I could do was add a little color and try to distract them."

"Color! April has you screwing your way across Ireland with some best man. Bob's note disagreed. He has you pegged as a repressed lesbian going to meet your lover's family."

I laughed a second time. "That's just sad."

"You know how that works. I scratch my balls and suddenly I have the clap. You would love my response. I called shenanigans. I told them I knew from first hand experience that you were into both sexes...at once. "

I cackled.

"You're evil, Annie. And brilliant. Not one of them is talking about your getting a second feature."

I walked through the front door of the pub and saw Liam playing in the music session. For a second,  uncertainty overshadowed the butterfly sensation I always experienced in the pit of my stomach whenever I saw him. But I pushed that aside, waved at him and took at seat at the bar where Mick had a drink waiting for me.

I was immediately approached by the old codger, Martin. And then a moment later by Roisin when she left the music circle to join us. After all the stress of the day at the office, the sincerity behind their congratulations felt great.

"Really good job of not makin' us look like daft pricks," Roisin said.

"Aye," Mick chimed in. "me wife said ye made me sound like a stud. Gotta thank ye for that. Oh, an Mr. Kelly has already gone out an picked up extra copies. Think we'll be seein' it on the walls here soon."

"Stop it guys, you're making me blush. Oh, and here, I have something for you," I said, reaching into the canvas bag.

"A small token of my deep appreciation." I handed a small framed photograph to each of them.

After reading the card, Roisin sniffled with emotion. I gave her a gentle nudge. "Don't do that, you'll get me started."

"Jayses, ye didn't have ta do that." She hugged me a second time.

"Was the least I could do."

"I look like an old eejit," Martin grumbled. We all grinned when he summoned a wink before turning to return to his booth--stopping to show the photo to everyone in his path.

When Liam finished with the session, he and I took a seat in a booth away from everyone.

"So, I've decided," I say. "It's definite now. I'm going to Ireland for Michelle's wedding."

He raised his eyebrows. "That's great news."

"Yeah, I have to start researching tickets. I don't even know if I can fly from here."