Louisa found it harder and harder to sleep since she went blind. She had asked if someone who went blind could still see when they dream and her doctor told they do. But her dreams soon turned into nightmares. Nightmares of pain. Nightmares of blood. Nightmares of blinding flashes of light. Nightmares of him screaming her name. She had woken up screaming more times then she could count and she had to be sedated a few times due to her becoming hysterical from crying.
"Are you awake?" Dorothy asked while she lightly shook Louisa's right shoulder and Louisa sighed, opening her eyes.
"Aye," she said. Her Irish accent tended to be there when she woke up and she heard Murphy's voice echoing "aye" in her head. She let Dorothy help her get out of bed as Dorothy led her into the bathroom and Louisa leaned against the counter. "Tell me something."
"What do you wish to know?" Dorothy asked, placing the toothpaste on the toothbrush before she placed the toothbrush in Louisa's hand.
"Those neighbors you told me about…"
"You don't have to worry about them. I made sure they will keep their distance."
"That's not what I wanted to know. I want to know what they look like."
"Why? Do you think they are working for…?"
"No, that's not what I am thinking!" she shouted, tossing the toothbrush across the room.
"Please. You need to calm down."
"No! What I need is to be allowed to live my life!"
"I am going to get your sedatives."
"Ye do an' I'll punch yer fuckin' face in!" she shouted, her accent growing thicker.
"Calm down!"
"No!" she shouted as she tried to shove her, but missed and Dorothy grabbed onto her wrists. "Let me go!"
"Not until…," Dorothy said when she heard someone pounding on the door to the apartment and she let go of her. Louisa shoved her when Louisa stumbled out of the room and Dorothy followed her. Unsure where everything was, Louisa held her hands out when Dixon ran to her and she felt him bump into her right leg. Reaching down, she took hold of his collar as she headed toward the banging sound then she felt the wood of the door. "Don't you dare!"
"Fuck off!" Louisa shouted after she found the locks and the security chain and she felt the door vibrating from the pounding.
"Hullo!? Is everythin' alright?!" Murphy called out as she figured out how to unlock the door then she turned the door handle. She pulled the door open just as Murphy was about to knock again and he moved his fist back. He had heard her shouting through the thin walls between their apartments and he and Connor stood side-by-side in the hallway. Both of them were dressed only in their boxers and bathrobes and Conner was holding onto a white coffee mug with a cartoon frog wearing a leprechaun hat on it. Murphy saw the anger and frustration on Louisa's face as she held her hands out and he slowly took her hands. She walked into him after he let go of her hands then her arms went around his waist and Murphy looked at Connor. Shrugging, Connor watched as Murphy slowly held onto Louisa and Connor smiled. Her face became buried in Murphy's chest after she lowered her head and Murphy felt her shaking. Connor noticed the anger on his twin's face as he placed his right hand on Murphy's left shoulder and Murphy glared at Dorothy.
"Get away from her!" Dorothy demanded.
"No."
"If you do not release her, I am calling the police."
"Geh weg," Louisa mumbled in German against Murphy's chest. His brain reminded him that he and Connor had taught her and Norman how to speak German as well as some other languages and he gently rubbed her back.
"Look at me," Murphy said in a soft voice and Louisa raised her head. He hadn't expected to see the scars around her eyes or the faded scar on the bridge of her nose, but the face looking up at him belonged to the young girl in his dreams and he gave her a tiny smile. "Hullo, Lou."
"I am right. It is you," she said.
"It's me, too," Connor chimed in and she laughed.
"I'd be surprised if you weren't here," she teased, reaching out her left hand and he took her hand.
"Who are you two?!" Dorothy demanded, walking into the doorway and Murphy carefully moved Louisa away from her.
"They're my best friends," Louisa said as her sightless eyes locked with Murphy's eyes. Connor noticed the sincere look on his brother's face when he remembered something and Connor sighed.
"I hate t'break up this little reunion, but Murphy an' I have t'go t'work," he said.
"Call up an' say I'm sick," Murphy said.
"I can't do that. They know I wouldn't go t'work if you're sick."
"Tell them I'm hungover."
"Murphy?" Louisa asked.
"Aye?"
"Go to work."
Murphy became silent as he examined her face with his eyes and he resisted the urge to brush some of her hair behind her ears.
"I'll go, but only if you tell me what all that yellin' was about."
"You heard that?" Dorothy asked.
"Th'walls between th'aparments are really thin," Connor said.
"Why were you yellin'?" Murphy asked again while looking deeply into Louisa's sightless eyes.
"That is me being a bitch before my mornin' coffee," Louisa teased and he and Connor laughed. She gave Murphy a hug then she let go and she reached out for Connor. Handing the white coffee mug to Murphy, Connor gave her a hug then he let go and she smiled at him. Her smile faded when she realized what they were wearing and she titled her head to one side. "Are you really going to work in your bathrobes?"
"Maybe today's "Wear Your Boxers an' Bathrobes t'Work Day"," Connor teased and she laughed. Dorothy noticed how calm and relaxed Louisa was with the twins as Louisa reached her hand out and Murphy handed Louisa the coffee mug. Louisa held the coffee mug out as Connor took the coffee mug and she turned her head toward Murphy.
"Go," Louisa said. Murphy gave Dorothy a warning look before he walked by Louisa and his fingers grazed against hers. Connor gave Dorothy the same warning look before he gave Louisa a quick kiss on the cheek then he followed Murphy back into their apartment.
"Why do I have a feeling those two are more than just your best friends?" Dorothy asked, walking to her and she watched the door closing.
"Not that it's any of your business. Connor is my friend. Murphy….," Louisa said with a sigh.
"Is your old boyfriend?"
"He's my first love."
Dorothy watched her reaching for the doorframe as Louisa went inside and Dorothy looked back at the door to the twin's apartment before she went inside.
The wind blew through his hair while Murphy stood outside the meat packing factory and he took a long drag on the cigarette. His mind replayed what happened that morning and he could still see the scars around Louisa's eyes and the faded scar on the bridge of her nose. He also wondered who Dorothy was. Why were they in Boston? Why was Louisa really screaming? So many questions moved through his mind as he closed his eyes and he lifted his face toward the sky.
"What th'hell happened t'you?" he whispered, lowering his head as he opened his eyes and he flicked the ash off the end of the cigarette.
"Who're you talkin' to?" Connor asked while he walked up to Murphy and Murphy turned his head to look at him.
"Jus' thinkin' out loud."
He held out the pack of cigarettes as Connor took a cigarette and Murphy lit his lighter so Connor could light the cigarette. They stood in silence as they watched the cars going by and the wind moved through their hair.
"You thinkin' about Lou?" Connor asked, taking a drag on the cigarette.
"Did you see her eyes an' her nose?" Murphy asked.
"Aye, how'd you think that happened?"
"Dunno."
"Maybe we should go see her after work an' ask her."
"If Nurse Ratched lets us see her."
"I don't think she's really a nurse. Aye, she's dressed like one, but I got this feelin' she was Lou's guard."
"I think you're right."
"And we can't jus' bang on th'door an' demand she let us see Lou."
Connor went silent as he took a few drags on the cigarette then he dropped the cigarette onto the ground, crushing it out with his boot.
"I have an idea," he said and Murphy rolled his eyes.
"What sort of idea?" Murphy asked.
"Like I said. We can't jus' bang on th'door and demand t'see Lou. But…. If we bring, say, some food, she might let us in."
"We're gonna invite ourselves over fer dinner?!"
"Look at it this way. She slams th'door in our faces, I don't have t'cook."
Murphy thought for a few seconds when he made a small smile and Murphy flicked some ash off the end of the cigarette.
"Th'question now is what should we bring," Connor said.
"I won't say "no" t'some Chinese," Murphy said.
"Chinese, it is."
Murphy watched Connor walk off then Murphy leaned against the wall, dropped the cigarette onto the ground and he crushed the cigarette with his boot. He pressed his lips into a thin line as he shook his head and he headed back into the meat packing factory.
The sound of someone knocking on the door made Louisa looked toward the door and Dorothy got up from the recliner. Dixon barked, but its tail was wagging and Dorothy signaled for the dog to move away from the door. Dorothy looked through the peephole when she unlocked the door then she opened the door.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Murphy and Connor had changed into work boots, jeans, black t-shirts and their black Navy peacoats and Connor held onto the white paper bags in his hands.
"We're here fer dinner," Connor said, carefully walking by her and he smiled at Louisa. "Hey, Lou."
"Hey," Louisa said, carefully getting off the couch and Dixon walked to her. She reached for the metal leash while Murphy walked by Dorothy and he headed for Louisa.
"Hope you like Chinese food," Murphy said, reaching out and he took Louisa's left hand.
"You have no idea how long it's been since I've had Chinese food," Louisa said with a grin.
Closing the door, Dorothy watched Murphy carefully leading Louisa to the kitchen and Connor was trying to find where the plates, glasses and silverware were.
"Do you always barge into other people's apartments?" Dorothy asked, walking to the kitchen and she helped Connor find what he was looking for.
"We didn't barge in. We knocked," Connor said, handing the plates to Murphy. Murphy placed the plates on the round table while Connor placed the silverware into Louisa's hands and Murphy helped her walk to the table. He then helped her placed the silverware on the table while Connor placed the glasses on the counter then he removed several bottles of beer from the first white paper bag. "Lou, can you drink beer?"
"No, she cannot and I do not drink," Dorothy said with a curt tone.
"More fer us," Murphy teased, carefully moving around Louisa so he could grab one of the beer bottles. Dorothy gasped after he used the edge of the counter to open the bottle and he took a long drink of beer.
"Murphy. Manners." Connor scolded after he found the bottle opener and he used the bottle opener to open a bottle of beer.
"Sorry," Murphy said while Louisa reached out for the second white paper bag and he placed her hand on top of it.
"What did you get?" Louisa asked, opening the bag.
"A little this an' a little of that," Connor said as he scooped the white paper bag off the counter.
"Hey!"
"Now who's not usin' good manners?" Murphy scolded.
"Sorry, Lou," Connor said and Louisa smiled.
"You're fergiven," she said and Connor laughed. He walked around to the other side of the counter while Murphy led her to the table and Dorothy watched him help Louisa sit down. Dorothy walked to the table and she was surprised as Connor held the chair out for her to sit down. She sat as he carefully moved the chair in toward the table and she nodded her head.
"Has anyone fed th'dog?" Murphy asked as he looked down at Dixon and the dog barked, wagging its tail.
"His food in the cabinet and his bowl is on the floor near the refrigerator," Dorothy said and Murphy made a small whistle. Dixon followed him when Murphy opened the cabinet door and he removed a small can of dogfood.
While Murphy fed the dog, Connor removed the white paper containers and a small, white plastic container and he removed the lid.
"Here we go," Connor said, placing a few of the dumplings on Louisa's plate then he placed some dumplings on Dorothy's plate and Murphy placed the dogfood bowl on the floor. Dixon started eating as Murphy washed his hands and he used a paper towel to dry his hands off. He placed the crumbled paper towel in the small trash bin when he walked to the table and he picked one of the dumplings off Louisa's plate, placing the dumpling in his mouth. "Murphy!"
"What? I'm hungry," Murphy said after he had chewed and swallowed the dumpling.
"What did he do?" Louisa asked.
"He nicked one of your dumplin's," Connor said.
"Sorry, Lou," Murphy said with a hurt tone to his voice and he winced at the angry look she gave him.
"Jus' fer that, you're not gettin' any dessert."
Snorting a breath of air, Murphy sat down next to Louisa when her right hand moved toward his plate and he watched her fingers moving toward the dumplings on his plate. She carefully picked up a dumpling then she slowly moved her hand toward her mouth and she slid the dumpling into her mouth. She smiled while chewing then she swallowed and she gave him a smug look.
"Now we're even," she said and Dorothy covered her smile with her fingers.
"Aye, we are," Murphy said.
After Connor had served the food and he placed the bottles of beer on the table, he reached out his hands and they took hold of each other's hands then they closed their eyes. Connor lowered his head as he said grace and Murphy was a little startled by Louisa gently squeezing his fingers. After grace was over, they opened their eyes and Louisa moved her hands over the table as she tried to find the fork.
"Here," Murphy said as he moved her right hand over the fork and she nodded. He saw the angry look on her face as Louisa started eating and he felt a cold knot in his stomach.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you two meet Louisa?" Dorothy asked. Connor and Murphy took turns telling the story as she nodded from time to time and she noticed a small blush on Murphy's face when he told his side of the story. Connor noticed as well as he tossed a dumpling at his twin and Murphy glared at him. Murphy lobbed the dumpling back at him, but Connor ducked and the dumpling landed on the floor. Before Connor could pick the dumpling off the floor, Dixon ate the dumpling and Connor laughed.
"What happened?" Louisa asked and he told her. Smiling, she shook her head and they continued eating.
They spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing and drinking beer until Dorothy looked at her watching and her eyes slightly widened.
"Is that the time?!" she gasped. Connor looked at his watch as his eyes tried to focus and he smiled.
"Fuck," he said and Murphy looked at his own watch.
"Guess we better go," Murphy said.
"Not until we clear th'table an' wash up."
"No, I'll do that after I put Louisa to bed," Dorothy said.
"What am I? Five? I can put myself t'bed," Louisa said with a small giggle. Dorothy had reluctantly allowed her to have a few beers and Dorothy sighed, rolling her eyes.
"An' our ma didn't raise no piggies," Connor said as he and Murphy stood then they started clearing the table.
"You don't have to put things away after you wash them. Put them in the drying rack," Dorothy said and the twins nodded.
Louisa carefully stood up as Dixon ran to her and she reached down, taking hold of the metal leash. She headed for the kitchen as they watched her reaching for the sink and Murphy helped her. She reached for the bottle with the dish washing soap as Connor placed the bottle in her hand and she nodded. Murphy filled the sink with water after she had squeezed some of the dish washing soap into the sink and Connor picked up the dish towel.
Dorothy smiled while she watched them washing the dishes when Louisa placed two fingers under the nozzle and she had sprayed the twins.
"Shit!" Connor said.
"What th'hell!" Murphy said.
"Gotcha!" Louisa said then she yelped when the twins tickled her.
"Alright. That's enough," Dorothy said with a laugh. She helped them clean up the mess then she went to get them some towels to dry off.
After the dishes were done, Louisa stood in front of Murphy and Connor while Dorothy stood in the doorway and Dixon sat next to Louisa's right leg.
"G'night, Lou," Connor said as he gave Louisa a hug.
"G'night, Connor," she said. He let go as she looked toward Murphy and Connor gently nudged him.
"Night, Lou," Murphy said as he gave her a hug and his head leaned against hers. They slowly moved back as his eyes locked with her sightless eyes and she gave him a small smile.
"Night, Murphy," she said. He let go as he and Connor walked down the hallway and she heard the door to their apartment open and close. Dorothy walked up next to her as she gently placed her right hand on Louisa's left shoulder and they walked in the apartment.
The soft sound of Connor's snoring filled the darkness while Murphy looked up at the ceiling and his hands were behind his head. His mind replayed the dinner as he saw Louisa' eyes appearing in front of him and he sighed. Even though her eyes were still a shiny blue, they looked so sad and lifeless and he wanted to bring them back to life.
"Shit, you have it bad," he thought and he moved his hands to rest on his chest. "Fer all you know, she has a boyfriend. If she doesn't, do you really think she'd want anythin' t'do with you?"
He moved the blankets back as he got up and he carefully walked to the refrigerator. He opened the door as the soft light moved over him and he reached in for a bottle of beer. Looking down, he looked at the tattoo on his chest when he thought of something and he stood straighter, placing the beer back in the refrigerator. He carefully walked toward the mattresses when he knelt down next to Connor's mattress and he shook Connor's right shoulder.
"Wha'?" Connor mumbled. He shook his head as he blinked his eyes open and he sat up. Murphy was sitting on the floor and he had his knees up. His wrists were on his knees and Connor could just see the confusion on his brother's face. "Murphy?"
"Where is he?" Murphy asked.
"Where's who?"
"Where's Norman?"
"Where's Norman?"
"Aye, where is he?"
"What do you mean where is he?"
"Lou's his twin."
"So?"
"Ok, let me put it this way. Where would you be if I was blind an' I had t'move here with some woman neither of us know?"
"You wouldn've moved here with her. I'd be th'one takin' care of you."
"Then where's Norman?"
Connor went silent as his mind tried to figure out where Louisa's twin brother was when he yawned and he rubbed his face with his hands.
"Th'way I see it, it's up t'Lou t'tell us things like that. Now go back t'bed," Connor said. Sighing, Murphy crawled back to his mattress as he crawled under the blankets and he rolled over onto his right side. Connor looked at him then he went to rest on his right side and he could barely see Murphy's back. "Stop worryin'. She's fine."
"I know. Jus' don't trust what's-her-name."
"Lou said her name's "Dorothy"."
"Whatever. There is summat off with her."
Connor listened to Murphy's breathing even out when Connor moved the blankets up, closed his eyes and he drifted back to sleep.
Dorothy sat at the table as she looked at the screen of her laptop and she looked through the emails. She saw IRISH ROSE on one email as she looked at the bed where Louisa was sleeping and Dorothy opened the email.
Is she safe? Has anything happened?
Dorothy looked at the words when she typed on the keyboard then sat back in the chair.
She is safe. But I need information on Connor and Murphy MacManus.
She sighed while looking at the door to the apartment then she pushed the delete button.
She is safe. Everything is fine.
She sent the email when she turned the laptop off, closed the lid and she got up. She placed the laptop away when she went to turn the lights off, carefully walked to her bed and she crawled under the covers. She listened to the barely audible sound of someone snoring coming from behind the wall when she yawned, closed her eyes and she drifted off to sleep.