The Aishling Cafe

Part 2

The next morning, Martha awoke to the sound of a knock on her door. She sighed, knowing Uncle Kevin was probably here to try giving her some animal he had come across last night. Martha threw her covers off of herself and rolled out of the bed heading towards the door to her room. She opened it slightly and peeked through the door in order to meet Crazy Uncle Kevin's gaze. His hands twirled around each other and his blue eyes skittered around the hall, almost nervously. He shifted on his feet constantly, too. His gravelly voice spoke out loudly, "That boy from the city is here for you."

"Tell him I'm not available, I'll be going out with my friend later." Martha said tiredly as she went to close the door once again.

"Is it that Lorcan fellow?" Uncle Kevin yelled the moment the door was about to click shut. Trust Uncle Kevin to come snooping around in my room while I'm asleep, Martha thought as she dropped her head just wanting to fall back asleep and not be talking with anyone in this moment.

"Yes, Uncle Kevin. You really need to stop snooping around in my room while I'm asleep." Martha cracked the door open again to send her Uncle a scolding gaze.

"I don't trust a man who has that pretty of handwriting!" Uncle Kevin basically growled.

"Well, Uncle Kevin, he asked me quite kindly and I believe it is best if I repay him by joining him for lunch." Martha shut the door quickly before Uncle Kevin could do or say anything more. She walked back to her bed and pulled the covers back up to the headboard and then set about getting ready.

Once again her hair was piled on her head and her dress reached the floor. She looked at the clock to find that it was only seven in the morning, she groaned and went outside to the foyer- knowing that Uncle Kevin had probably let her friend from the city in. She walked in and instantly spotted her friend, Alfonso Cornello, who stood at the door in worn out slacks and a button up. Martha smiled in greeting. She asked, "He let you in?"

"Uh, yeah. Is that alright?" Alfonso asked.

"I have something to do with a friend at noon. You can't stay for long." Martha stated, trying to be polite.

"Oh," Alfonso said- disappointment coated his voice. "That's fine."

At that moment, Martha's parents joined them. Martha's mother smiled at the two and asked, "Alfonso! Would you like to join us for breakfast?"

"If you don't mind." Alfonso gave a bright smile to her parents.

"Well, come along then." Martha's father stated, waving Alfonso through the foyer. Alfonso followed Martha's father through the doorway leaving her and her mother in the room.

"Why didn't you invite him in, Martha?" Her mother questioned delicately.

"I will be going out with a friend at noon, I do not believe it would be very kind to invite him in and then leave a few hours later." Martha answered carefully, she made sure not to mention she just wasn't in that big of a mood to entertain guests.

"Well, you could've entertained him for a while." Her mother commented, motioning for Martha to continue into the living room with her. Both women made their way into the dining room where there were servants setting up breakfast for five people at this moment. Martha's father sat at the head of the table speaking with Alfonso who had taken a seat to the left of her father. Martha took her seat next to her mother, allowing Uncle Kevin to take the seat next to Alfonso.

Martha didn't bother to listen to the conversation that her father and Alfonso had taken up, and was instead watching the clock tick by. She was actually quite eager to see Lorcan again, although he did stalk her, she couldn't wait. Especially since it meant getting out of her house without her parents or Uncle Kevin.

Once the servants had finished setting up the meals, the group of five set to eating the breakfast. Alfonso was sure to keep polite conversation with Martha's parents, Martha only intervened when she was asked to by her father or mother.

The breakfast lasted an hour, and after they had finished with breakfast the group moved to the living room with the exception of Uncle Kevin. Martha had taken a seat on one side of the couch, and Alfonso sat directly next to her a smile on his face as her father went through the collection of antique things that the family owned. Martha watched on, boredom causing her to space out and think forward to this afternoon.

***

A butler walked in, a quarter to noon and moved over to Martha's father. The butler made sure to speak in a low voice so only her father could hear. Her father's gaze drifted to Martha and he asked, "Martha, are you expecting to go out today?"

"Yes," Martha nodded. "I was expecting a friend, is he here?"

"Yes he is." Her father glanced at Alfonso. "I will be right back, Mrs. Brooks will be able to entertain you for a moment while I walk my daughter to the door."

"Alright, sir." Alfonso smiled at her father before turning to Martha, "It was nice to be able to see you before you left, Martha."

Martha just nodded a goodbye back, standing up quickly she followed her father to the foyer to find Lorcan standing there casually. His hair was neatly combed to the side and his face was cleanly shaven. He had dressed in a dress shirt and some slacks and dress shoes. Martha's father held out a hand, introducing himself, "Thomas Brooks, Martha's father."

"Lorcan Murphy, I live right across the street." Lorcan smiled a bright smile and grasped her father's hand shaking it. "I love your home, by the way. I was planning on changing mine around someday."

Martha couldn't tell if Lorcan was being a suck up or was telling the truth, either way- her father liked what Lorcan was saying because he responded with an, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, my family moved here a little while ago. Started up a nice business with one of our close friends. We were able to buy the house and it needs to be fixed up quite a bit."

"I've seen the inside of every house on this street except for that one, I wouldn't know." Her father had tucked his hands in his pockets and it seemed that now Lorcan and her father would be talking for a while.

"Oh? You should come by soon then. I would offer you come by now, but I seem to have a date at noon with your daughter if that's alright with you, Mr. Brooks." Martha's father laughed as if Lorcan had told a joke.

"Of course you can. You seem to have everything in order, I'd like her back by dinner though." Her father's joyus face made Martha realize Lorcan was charming him.

"Possibly." Lorcan teased, causing her father to laugh again as Martha moved over to Lorcan's side. He held his arm out, and Martha tucked her hand into his arm. The two left the house and moved to Lorcan's car that waited on the gravel driveway. Lorcan opened the door for Martha, allowing her to get in before he went around and got in the driver's seat.

He started the car and Martha asked, "Were you charming my father?"

"Possibly." Lorcan glanced her way, "I need to ensure the rich people favor me and my group. It helps quite a lot."

"You mean your mafia." Martha bluntly put it.

"Well, it's not mine per se." Lorcan took a dramatic pause. "It's Maeve's."

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