Darcy sat at her mother's kitchen table the next morning drinking a strong cup of coffee. She crossed her legs elegantly and blew on the hot beverage.
She'd broken the news of Fergal's visit and they were discussing the events of his return.
"He has no right to scold you for your attitude. No right at all!" Her little gray haired mother carefully spoke.
"My thoughts exactly. I wonder why he's come back though? After all these years." Darcy questioned.
Her mother, Diana thought hard and then remembered something.
"Well, Declan Devitt passed away," she paused, "But that was at least two months ago. Why did he wait so long to come back if that's the reason?"
Darcy scoffed, "Its a wonder he returned at all."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She needed to stop letting him get to her. After all these years he could still stir emotion in her.
Her mother shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of her steamy beverage.
"Maybe something needed settled with the will?" Diana suggested.
Darcy just pursed her lips and gave her mother a skeptical glance.
"Fine then. Lets talk about something else. I've been to see Doctor O'Hare yesterday."
Darcy sat her cup down. Her mother hadn't been feeling well lately. To lose her would be an utter devastation. She held her breath and prayed it wasn't anything bad.
"He says I'm healthy. I'm doing fine. I've just caught a bit of a nasty cold what with Autumn approaching a bit faster this year."
Darcy sighed, "It has turned chilly, even in the day. Well, drink your tea and I'll bring you over my electric blanket to stay warm." She patted her mother's hand.
"Thank you dear." Diana smiled.
Her mother was 70 years old. Her parents had had her late in life. Her father, whom she loved very dearly had passed away seven years ago. Ever since then Darcy had been helping her mother out, and checking in on her daily. In a way, it had made them closer.
Diana glanced at the clock. "Shouldn't you be off?"
"Oh! Yes, you're right." She kissed her mother goodbye and headed for her car in a sprint.
That night Finn stepped out of his rental car. The brisk autumn air filled his lungs. He brought his leather jacket closer around him. His boots made a light thud as he made his way into the pub.
He could hear the loud and lively music from the outside. The windows were shining with light and laughter. It was a rowdy and joyful Saturday night at O'Brady's.
He stepped through the door, warmth greeted him. But not for long. He stepped through the dancing and singing crowd to the bar. A young man called to him, "What'll it be?"
"I'll have a Coke." He didn't drink anymore.
The man nodded and turned to fill his glass. Finn scanned the room for Darcy. Was she waiting tables? Was she on her break? Was she even working tonight?
The bartender handed him his glass and Finn sipped on it slowly. His blood was racing. He was a bundle of nerves. She had to be here.
The place was settling down, and some people began to leave. Finn decided to order dinner. He ate in peace. No one caring, or recognizing him apparently. Just as well because he would rather be left alone.
These days, the crowds were beginning to get to him. He hadn't told anyone but he had been suffering from anxiety recently. He was working through it.
The band began to pack up their things, and Finn decided to go.
"Kyle, do you have the drawer for this evening yet?"
He would know that voice anywhere. He stopped and turned. There she was, standing in the office door.
"You've got to be joking. You again?" She slammed her hand down on her thigh. "What do you think you're doing here? I thought I made it clear you weren't welcome." Her voice was calm and steady, but there was a storm brewing on the inside.
"Would you just take two seconds and hear me out? I mean seriously. Its not going to hurt anything. I came here to apologize."
Darcy walked over towards him, "I don't want an apology. Its not worth the time it would take you to say it. It means nothing. Not after 15 years."
She was making him so mad. He tried to remain calm. Tried to keep it together. He was at a loss for words. He just stood there in front of her.
"Get out!" She said sternly.
And he snapped, "No, I won't, you self righteous witch. Just listen, I convinced myself I was in the wrong back then, that I should've stayed, that I was sorry. But it wasn't worth it. I cannot believe I let you make me feel guilty!"
"I wasn't aware you had any feelings at all." She said flippantly.
"You think you're so grand. People all over the world know my name. I have all the money I could ever want. I'm set for life. And what have you done? Nothing. You're a spinster bartender who's never left this island." He shrugged, "I guess I should pity you."
She laughed, "Pity me? You're hilarious."
She hopped up into a bar stool. "First off, don't pity me for having never left Ireland because that isn't true. I've traveled. I've been to New York, Paris, London, Barcelona. But, even with that I don't see why anyone would want to leave Ireland. This is our home."
She sighed, "Second, I've done plenty with my life. I created my own fashion line, and opened my own store. Its the one on Main street, Beautiful You. I sold it a while back, but I still design for them, and they exclusively sell my merchandise."
Finn was taken aback. And tried to interrupt but Darcy kept going.
"And lastly, I do tend the bar, yes, but this is my pub. I own this place, and I'll not tolerate you coming here and ripping my head off in front of employees and customers!"
With that she stared him down, and he retreated leaving the tension in the room at boiling point. The band nervously packed away their instruments. She stormed off to the office and closed the door behind her.
By the time she came out everyone had gone. She glanced at the clock. It was half past one. Her feet and body ached, and she had a splitting headache.
"I'm here." She heard s voice call out from the semi darkness.
Darcy jumped and gasped. "What're you doing?!"
Finn stood from his seat, "I had to talk to you...I just want you to listen Darcy. Please?"
He took a few steps towards her, his hands in his pockets.
She ignored him and briskly walked to the door with him right on her heels. He followed her out, and she locked up the pub as he hovered over her.
"Look, I made a mistake!" He pleaded.
She made her way to her car, but Finn grabbed her arm to stop her. She jerked her arm free of his grip.
"A mistake? A mistake? You've got to be joking. You did a lot more than that, Fergal. You left me. High and dry. You broke your promise." She bit her lip. She refused to cry in front of this pig. "And what's worse, you broke my heart."
He hung his head. Defeated. He was finally getting what was coming to him. Oh, he didn't care to listen to Darcy McBride rant and rave all day long. But when she started going soft...he was done for.
"And then, then you come back here...after 15 years and have the balls to pity and judge me. You don't know me."
Their breath was visible in the cool night air. Finn had the urge to go to her, to hold her, but he wouldn't. Couldn't because she'd never allow him to get that close. Never again.
"I'm sorry, Darcy. For everything. I truly am. I just thought maybe...after all these years you would like to hear me say it."
"Well you were wrong. But, like I said, you don't know me. Not anymore."
"Yeah and you don't know me either. I'm not the same man I was back then. I've grown up a lot obviously. I know it was selfish to call us off, to kill what we had going. I have made mistakes, Darcy... I'm not asking for forgiveness. But I just had to make you hear me say I was sorry...for everything."
Darcy's heart was beating loudly in her ears. She started to speak, but the ringing of her cell phone cut her off and called her back to reality.
His eyes were pleading with her not to answer...