Emerald Green Eyes

Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

The next morning, the sun was shining, I could hear birds singing, why did the whole world have to be so happy? I climbed out of bed still exhausted, muscles aching; I stepped in the shower, scrubbing off the smell of the hospital and washed my hair. I looked in the mirror, my hair was black, long and curly, my eyes a vivid green, I was tall and very slim. I put on my jeans, and a t shirt, and threw on a pair of roman style sandals. I looked again at myself in the mirror, would I look like my dad?  It was time to do a few chores before heading back to the hospital.

I shopped and stocked up the fridge and freezer, I gave the house a clean, had a bite to eat and headed back to mum.

As I walked towards her room I heard another voice, someone was in with her, a male, perhaps it was the doctor, but the accent had a warm lilt to it, it was definitely Irish. I opened her door and saw a man staring at her tears in his eyes, she looked up at me, “Cass, I want you to meet someone, this is Sean, your father!”

The man turned to look at me, he had my green eyes, my black hair and he looked to be tall as his long legs stretched out to eternity in front of him. I looked at him, his eyes showed a depth of sadness I had never seen before, his voice when he spoke so gentle I barely heard him, “Cass, I am so sorry, I never knew, I would never have given up searching for your mother had I known about you.” His voice so full of sincerity I didn’t doubt his words.  “I searched for your mum for a full year, I want you to know I loved her, I never meant to hurt you or her, I am so very sorry!”

I looked at him speechless, I didn’t know what to say, I looked to mum for guidance, she smiled, “It’s OK Cass.”

I moved towards the opposite side of the bed to where he was sitting, I nodded, gave a brief smile, took hold of mum’s hand and watched and listened.

They spoke of old times, I don’t recall seeing mum so happy for a very long time, he held her hand, his gaze never leaving her face. I listened to a time before me, filled with happiness when love blossomed, I listened to her giggling like a teenager, I watched her smile, her eyes not dull but with a sparkle, this was a man she loved, my father.

A doctor arrived to give some drugs, mum suggested we go get something to eat, spend time together so we headed down to the restaurant side by side in silence.

We queued up, chose our food, a sandwich and a hot drink, he paid and we headed to an empty table, he looked at me, “Cass we have so much to catch up on, I am here for you and I would really love to get to know you, I know your mum doesn’t have long.” The sadness in his eyes as he spoke obvious; “Please will you spend sometime with us when this is all over, you have a brother and a sister, they would also love to get to know you.”

I looked up at him, “A brother, a sister?” I hadn’t even thought in terms of a family, “What are their names?”

“John and Roisin,” he said smiling.

So much for me to take in, I nodded, “May be once mum has,” I stammered, a lump forming in my throat, I couldn’t bring myself to say die but he knew, he just nodded.

We ate talking about where he lived, a place called Dromoland, in Clare in Ireland, he said there was lots of space, we spoke about me, my passion for art and photography, its’ amazing how much you can learn about a person and how quickly you can grow comfortable in their presence in an hour, I had a bond, not sure what sort of bond but I felt close to this man that called himself my father.

We headed back to mum, the doctor was waiting outside the door, he told us she had become very weak and he didn’t think she would have much longer, a day or two at the most, I felt my heart being crushed and then I felt a pair of arms wrapped around me and for the first time in a long time I took strength and felt a ray of hope that maybe just maybe I wouldn’t be alone after she had gone.

We headed into the room, my mum smiled at me, she took my hand, she made me promise to spend time with my father after she had gone, she made me promise a year, she didn’t want me going to college until I had had time to reflect, time to recover, time to get to know my new family. She looked at my father, she asked him to help me sort out the house, the rent would be put into a fund for me to allow me to live, to put away for college, for my future, he promised. She said she was tired, I held her hand until she fell into a deep sleep.

I looked at my father, “Time to go, you must be tired as well, you only arrived today.”

We headed out I went to walk towards the bus stop but he called and said he had hired a car, we headed over to it, hopped in and I directed him home. We parked up outside the house, climbing out the car I looked at him, “Come on I will show you to mum’s room, you can sleep there.” He grabbed his bag and we headed in. I showed him mum’s room, he sniffed the air, I thought it odd, may be the house was musty after the long, hot summer days and no windows open to air it. I left him and told him, I’d meet him downstairs once he had a chance to freshen up.

Dad’s POV

I could smell her mother in the room, her smell was intoxicating, not as much as my mates, but I had loved her, when Cass left the room I picked up a pillow taking in her fragrance. After what seemed ages, I headed to the bathroom and took a quick shower I was starving, I was after all a wolf and at some point Cass had to know that. In a few weeks she would be one as well, as soon as she turned 18. I headed down stairs, Cass told me to go into the sitting room, to relax supper wouldn’t be long, when I walked in there over the Fireplace was a painting that literally took my breath away.

Cass’s mum with a huge black wolf sitting by her side looking at her, I remember that moment, I remembered her happiness, I felt a tear slip down my cheek. Cass came in and saw me staring at the painting, she looked at me, “That is mum, she said she loved that wolf so much, she also told me that at the moment that photo was taken she didn’t know it but she was pregnant with me, she looks so happy,” she turned to the photo again, “I love the look of the wolf, his green eyes are so bright and shining, they remind me of my eyes.” She looked at me again, “Actually they are like both of our eyes, where you around then? Do you know anything about the wolf? I would love to meet such a tame wolf.”

I looked at her, “Yes, I definitely was there, and yes I promise you will meet the wolf, once we are home and you feel ready, I will introduce you to the wolf and his family.”

I smiled, “That would be so special, to meet the wolf my mum loved so much.”

He looked at me, “Who painted this they really captured the moment?”

“I did, I copied it from an old photo as a birthday present for mum, it has had pride of place there ever since.”

“Wow! You really do have a gift; we need to make sure you get every opportunity to develop that.”

“Come on let’s eat,” we headed into the kitchen and ate.

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