Paddy drives slowly but attentively through a quiet, low lighted neighborhood. There's not a body in sight as the sun still avoids the rise. His head pokes out his window glancing over at each house. He parks in front of a small house equipped with two chairs rocking lightly back and forth on the porch. He climbs out of the car and adjusts his grey, worn out watch cap as he slowly climbs the 5 step entrance toward the door. He takes a deep breath as he raises his hand and gently taps three times before lowering his arm.
No response.
He turns to stare at his old, rundown car thinking against his idea of a surprise visit. Right as he forces his body to hop into the car and drive off without turning back, the door swings open. "Paddy?" Paddy turns around and sees a beautiful, young face standing in front of him, door cracked enough so her face can be seen.
"Sarah." Paddy takes in her familiar face. So many flashbacks. "So it's true. You really did come back to the burg." She nods, completely unsure of what to say. She hasn't seen this man in 13 years. Now to her, he's just a stranger with a history. "Paddy, what are you doing here?"Paddy looks down at his calloused hands. "You're not gonna invite an old man in?" He laughs. Sarah is taken back. She can't remember hearing such a genuine laugh from him before. The only ones she was used to were the ones that would follow a drunken opens the door wider signaling Paddy to enter.
The entrance into Sarah's home adjoins to her kitchen which forces Paddy to walk through it before entering her spacious dining room. Sarah trails behind and notices Paddy surveying her home. "Sit…please." She walks over to her coffee pot. "Nice place," Paddy says as he pulls one of the dining chairs around to face Sarah and sits. "Thanks. You want a cup of coff…" She stops, remembering . This is not his kind of drink. Paddy notices her change in thought. "Yea I'll have a cup. Black if you don't mind." "Umm ok," Sarah stammers as she slowly starts putting two and two together. He sobered up.
She pours two glasses, one for him and one for her. She leans on the counter while they both quietly sip their coffee. After long moments of silence, Sarah slams her mug down and folds her arms as she glares at Paddy. "Paddy, why are you here?" Paddy places the mug down giving his full attention to her.
"Tommy's back."
Her hearts starts to race, her palms start to sweat, and her eyes forces tears but she fights them back. "Tommy's back?" Paddy nods, knowing this hit her harder than he thought it would've. "He just got back a couple days ago. I thought you'd want to know." Sarah drops her arms and sips her coffee, anxious of the answer to her next question. "Did he, uh, ask about me at all? Did he mention me?" Paddy shakes his head. "I'm sorry Sarah." Paddy says with a hint of apathy.
"Did you tell Brendan? Does he know?" Sarah asks as a tear rolls slowly down her rosy cheek. "No. He was going to be my next stop." Paddy says. She sniffs and wipes her face. "I think you should go. I have work in a little bit so…," she trails off unable to look him in the eye. Paddy rises from the chair and walks to the door. He turns back to give Sarah one last glance. "We both know Tommy holds grudges. He'll forgive you quicker than he'll forgive me." He turns the handle and exits. Sarah walks up to the door and leans her head on it, hoping this will help keep her from falling apart. She slides down against the door and cries into her hands, memories flooding back to her. Seems like yesterday she was standing with him at the airport five years ago staring at his pained face…