You Found Me (Warrior)

12. Some Things Can't Be Forgotten

December 1996

"Mom?"

She was sitting on the floor with a pile of Brendan and Tommy's childhood photos.

"It's Brendan's birthday today...18"

"Yeah." Tommy didn't like talking about Brendan because he hated to see his mom upset. Usually he tried to avoid it at all costs, but today he didn't. He knew she felt guilty…guilty for leaving him behind.

When they left that night, Paddy didn't bat an eye. He foolishly thought that they would come back. He thought Carol would come crawling back to him after running out of money, but that wasn't the case. It had been over two years and there was no way in hell Tommy would let his mom go back there.

"I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision...coming here."

"Don't talk like that, mom. You know we had no choice." He said, while kneeling beside her.

"I shouldn't have left without him..."

"Don't blame yourself. It's his fault. He chose to stay."

"Tommy, don't say that. I'm his mother. I shouldn't have left him with Paddy. I should have done more. Children need their mothers."

Tommy didn't say anything this time.

"I should call...just to find out how he is..."

"No...You know we can't do that. Grandma said its better if he doesn't know where we are."

"I know."

"We're going to be just fine." She looked up at him and smiled

"Look at you." She laughed. "Now you're the one reassuring me."

"Yeah, well someone has to." He laughed.

"Come here." She pulled him into her arms. "My sweet boy. You always take care of me."

PRESENT - March

"So, what's new?"

"Nothing, really. Tommy's good. He's settling well into his place.

Paddy nodded.

"He's also about to renew his license this week."

"About time..." Paddy looked at Brendan. "What about you, son? Anything going on with you?"

I wasn't really in the mood to talk about me. I tried to change the subject.

"Nothing that comes to mind..." I shrugged, then looked up. "You know that Tommy and Danielle...they got together. " I smiled. "That's news."

"Wow, it sure is." He agreed, loudly.

"I think it's going well. They look good together." I added.

At least from what I could tell. The last time we were together was last weekend. They seemed happy enough. The girls loved Tommy and Danielle as well.

I could tell Paddy was happy about this. After all, Tommy in a relationship meant a second chance. A second chance at all the things he missed with me. His son's wedding, grand-kids...finally getting to see them grow up.

"Well good for him." He

I was only doing this for Tommy.

He tried to act like it didn't matter to him if he saw Paddy at all, but I knew he wanted to see him. After all, Paddy was sober now and Tommy felt guilty for the way he treated him during Sparta. I knew he wanted us to be a family again, but I also knew there were some things about our past that he couldn't forget…just like I couldn't.