Chapter 26: Into the Lion's den… again.
Marco stood at the cooker in the Quinn house and surveyed the brewing sauce he'd made. Joe regarded the attention to detail that Marco had paid in the preparation. After stirring the sauce for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Marco came and sat down next to Joe and they drank some tea.
"Ye sure know you're around the kitchen, son." Joe said, and Marco smiled at the old man's compliment.
"Comes from watching my Nanna all those years." Marco said.
"I'm sure she's proud of ya, son. In many ways." Joe said. "Only problem now is what are ye gonna do wit ya future?"
"I don't know." Marco replied sadly.
"No word from Sister Michael?" Joe asked. Marco shook his head.
"Seems like you'd really like a reply. Wouldn't ya?"
"I would, just so I knew where I stood." Marco admitted.
"Give it time, son. You're getting yourself back together. That's not easy given what you've been through."
"Take it you know as well?" Marco asked, Joe stared at him.
"Well let me put it this way; when a possible prospective boyfriend comes into my granddaughter's life, I make my business to know everything about him." Joe said. Marco acknowledged the second time he'd been referred to as boyfriend.
"It's not the real me, Joe. It just… happened."
"Ya not trying to defend some cowardly bastard, are ye?"
"No! I hate the bastard."
"So, you're happy that ye punched his lights out?"
"It was… just a reaction."
"They say the first reaction is usually the right one." Joe assured Marco. "There's a huge difference in defending yourself instead of thinking ya can bully someone cos they're bigger than you."
Marco looked at Joe, he recognised the wisdom that was being imparted onto him. His mind flashed back to times when his own grandfather had taken a moment to impart his experience on.
"But the one thing I also know…" Joe continued; "…is that you see the path you want to follow, and it doesn't need anger and hatred. What you decide to do now, will impact your future. It always does. Not just you, but those around you, like James, Erin, Michelle, Clare…. and Orla?" Joe suggested.
Mary and Sarah had been sitting quietly in the lounge this whole time. Now the subject of Orla had been brought up, their ears had perked up. Sarah listened intently as Marco took in what Joe had said, he closed his eyes, and smiled as he thought of the cooky, quirky, free-spirited Derry Girl that had stolen his heart. Marco then opened his eyes and looked back at Joe, who was waiting for a response.
"Joe…. I've got something to tell you.…. I have…. feelings for Orla." Joe looked at him, awaiting for more, as if he already knew.
"But I'm scared of these feelings…. I've never felt this way about anyone before." This caused Mary and Sarah to get up from their chairs and observe the supposed private conversation between Joe and Marco.
"What's scaring ya, Marco?" Joe asked.
"Losing her. Not being with her. Not seeing her every day, Not ever feeling the same way that she makes me feel." Marco confessed. "The other day when Sister Michael told me about this friend of hers at Belfast College. She gave me that prospectus, and for a moment, I… I thought that I'd be that much closer to Orla; to here." He corrected himself, but his eyes welled up as shook his head, in his mind, he'd conceded defeat. Mary and Sarah frowned sadly as they listened to Marco pour his heart out over Orla.
"Huh…. Stupid." Marco beat himself as he shook his head.
"No, it isn't. Let me tell you something young man; Life, and love are very scary things. When I first met my Marie; I was petrified. I felt like I found the most incredible person that I will ever meet in my life. I had fallen so deeply for her, that the thought of existing one day without her scared me to death. But every day that I was with her felt like an eternal gift. Now, back in them days. I faced a lot of opposition from people who said I wasn't good enough for her, but I said to myself "Feck 'em." No matter what they said, it only made my love for my Marie stronger."
Marco smiled as Joe told his story. He respected the frankness of the same man who only two weeks prior threatened to smash him with a poker stick. There were trinkets of familiarity when Joe spoke, it felt as if he was talking to his own grandfather again. Marco stayed quiet as Joe continued. Mary and Sarah smiled admirably at their father.
"Now, when James comes over after school; I have to let that dose Gerry be the one to have the final say on James and Erin. But he'll be alright, James will. I know our Erin will fight for him, and he will too for her. So, Gerry will most likely roll over, that useless shite." Joe's quip made Marco chuckle.
"You don't really hate him that much, do you?" Marco dared to question, sniggering as he asked.
"Ach, keeps him on his toes. He's alright really. I just like making it difficult for him. But don't go telling him I said that." Joe pointed his finger at Marco, who crossed his chest. Mary smirked at Joe's admission.
"I see the same in yourself. I see you come alive when our Orla is with ya. But even if things don't work out with this Belfast business; let me to ask you Marco; London, Belfast, or Derry, are ye really gonna let a bit of distance stop you from seeing our Orla?" Joe asked.
Mary and Sarah awaited the response. Marco sat and contemplated what Joe had asked him. Astonishingly, the answer came into his head immediately but before he could say anything; the group had arrived home from school along with Gerry.
"Alright, Love. Picked up some strays on the way." Gerry called.
"Hi there, Love." Mary called back.
"Speaking of the fecking devil." Joe grimaced.
Marco stood and sorted himself out as the huddled group walked in, as they were talking amongst themselves, Marco felt Orla embrace him from behind, and he cracked a smile. He turned and saw her frown and wrapped his rms around her. He then spied that Erin and James had walked in closely together, with their hands locked together. Mary spied the same thing.
"Alright, wains. Before anything. I need ye all to step into the lounge. Except you two, I… well, we want a word with ya both." Mary glanced at Gerry as she pointed at Erin and James.
The group fell silent at Mary's request. James's face had a look of worry, but Erin squeezed his hand tight. She was more prepared than James was. Marco looked at Orla and tilted his head in the direction of the lounge, Orla nodded, and they walked past Erin and James. They both gently gripped Erin's arm in support, Marco gave James a single pat on his shoulder as he walked by, Orla lightly gripped James's hand as she walked with Marco. They walked within Michelle and Clare and sat in the lounge. Michelle and Clare sat on the sofa, while Marco and Orla sat in Joe's armchair. They all glanced at each other, but didn't wish to miss a word, so they stayed silent amongst themselves, expect Orla who pulled a bag of sweets from her blazer, ruffling the paper bag, she chose a soft chew, so she didn't make any loud noises. Gerry and Mary regarded the sight before them, Erin, a nervous frown on her face began to squeeze James's hand harder.
"So. How long has this been going on?" Mary asked with her arms crossed.
"Only since last Saturday, Mammy." Erin replied, looking up towards James, and then back towards her parents.
"To be honest…. We've liked each other longer than that. Mrs Quinn." James chimed in.
"How long, exactly?" Mary asked.
"Does that make any difference? I don't think it does, love."" Gerry said.
"You shut ya hole, boy. My Mary asked a question." Joe barked.
"It does make a difference, Gerry." Mary snapped.
"Aye. For all we know, this could have been going on for ages, and for all God knows, they could have been getting up of all sorts of funny business right under our noses, and we wouldn't have had a clue, until…" Sarah said, motioning at Erin.
Erin gawked at her Aunt Sarah's insinuation. Orla's eyes and mouth widened.
"Are ye pregnant, Erin?!" Orla called out from over the armchair.
"NO! We've not done anything like that! We've only just kissed, Mammy." Erin insisted.
"And that's all. Honest!" James said.
"We swear!" Erin's voice pitched higher.
"On Dolly?" Mary said sternly, pointing towards the wall.
"Aye. we swear on Dolly!" Erin also pointed. Her face was aghast. James nodded.
Marco turned his head to see what they were on about. He peered past Orla's side and his eyes shot wide in astonishment at the picture of Dolly Parton. He turned back to face the girls in disbelief.
"What's that thing doing up there?" He whispered.
"Don't ask." Michelle said.
"What, ye never noticed it before?" Clare whispered.
"No!" Marco whispered. Which gained a peculiar glance from Michelle.
"Alright. Everyone just calm down for a minute." Gerry said.
"Calm down? Our Erin could have been pregnant, and you stood idly by and let it happen!" Joe shot at Gerry. Who shot his own look of confusion.
"I am NOT pregnant, Granda! I've never even…." Erin then felt her face blush, she turned and buried her face into James to hide her embarrassment. The parents sighted what Erin was saying.
"Ach, is it because the lad's gay?" Sarah piped up.
"Gordon Bennett!" Marco said quietly.
"He is NOT GAY, AUNT SARAH!" Erin emerged to shout at her auntie.
"For God sake! How many times? I AM NOT GAY!" James shrieked.
Michelle couldn't help but snigger at James's high-pitched reaction. Marco clenched his mouth. He shot a look at Michelle, barely able to contain his own laughter.
"OI! Don't ye be talking to ya Aunt Sarah like that!" Mary shouted.
"How can she think James is gay, when he's going out with me?!" Erin shouted back.
"He might be Bi?" Sarah continued.
"I am not Gay, or Bi or Lesbian!" James protested.
"Clare's a lesbian!" Orla piped up again.
"Ach Thanks Orla!" Clare snapped.
"You letting your daughter go out with a Bi- fecking sexual?!" Joe shot at Gerry.
"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! WILL EVERYONE PLEASE JUST STOP MAKING THIS FUCKING RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS! THEY HAVE BOTH JUST SAID THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING! AND I BELIEVE THEM! NOW CAN WE PLEASE STALL THE FUCKING BALL ON ALL THIS?!" Gerry shouted; his face contorted with utter annoyance. He'd reached the end of his tether once again.
Everyone froze at Gerry's outburst. Marco had felt Orla bury her face into him during Gerry's tirade, he turned and saw her covering ears again. He cradled her head and stroked her hair gently. "It's alright. Orla. He's stopped." He whispered to her. Orla slowly looked up towards the kitchen.
"I think everyone just got a little bit ahead of themselves there, don't ya think?" Gerry said more softly. "Can everyone please just leave this for me and Mary to discuss with Erin and James?"
At Gerry's request, Joe and Sarah left the kitchen to sit with the others in the lounge. Marco patted Orla's leg and they jumped out of the armchair so Joe could sit. Sarah sat with Michelle, Clare and Orla, while Marco stood behind the sofa, everyone was still listening. Gerry and Mary sat at the table opposite Erin and James.
"Right. First. I am just going to say this. As far as we go…. we will have no problem with you two seeing each other, in fact we'll very ok with this." Gerry smiled to the young couple, looking at Mary, who nodded slightly. This helped break the tension, and Erin smiled hopefully at her Dad.
"But we need to lay some ground rules first." Mary then added. Erin frowned at the notion of more rules.
"Erin, please try to understand. Me and ya Mammy are only laying these down because you both have a very important year ahead of ya with your A-levels. Gerry stated.
"As much as we'll approve, ya both need to give us your word that you will stay focused. The weekends are there for ye both to see each other, and date. But school and homework come first, is that clear?" Gerry said.
Erin and James both nodded.
"We just want to make sure that neither of you will distract the other. If we see or hear that either of ye begin to fall behind, or your grades are suffering, or you break Sister Michael's rules; then this… is off the table." Mary warned.
Erin felt a lump in her throat. James slid his hand away from their intertwined lock and placed it gently on her knee. Erin leant on his shoulder as she felt his touch.
"We're saying this, Erin, because we think James is a grand lad, and we're happy that you have a fondness for each other. Truth be told, we've suspected there was always something there." Gerry smirked at James.
"But we are putting our trust in you both to be responsible. If you come through on this, we'll be very proud of ya both." Mary said.
"I… we don't want to let you down, Mr and Mrs Quinn. And we won't" James said. Smiling at Erin.
"Aye. We promise, Mammy, Daddy." Erin said.
Mary and Gerry looked at each other. They then turned at the young couple, they nodded and smiled. "Well then, I guess there's nothing more to say, other than we're very pleased for ya both." Mary said. Finally dawning a smile.
"Thanks Mammy." Erin got up and kissed her parents.
As James followed, Mary gently hugged the wee English fella. Gerry patted James's shoulder, giving his approval. Erin wrapped her arms around James's side. They smiled at each other as they joined the others in the lounge who were all smiling at them. Clare was the first to hug them, she was practically bursting with happiness for her friends. Orla joined in the hug as well, she squezzed Erin tightly, and then James. Michelle smirked and nodded at the loved-up couple as she hugged them both. Joe moved from his armchair, and patted James's back.
"You'll be alright, son." Joe said to the wee English fella. Giving his approval. James smiled with relief.
As Joe and James exchanged words, Erin walked towards Marco and hugged him tight.
"I take it you're a bit relieved, right?"
"Aye, just a wee bit."
"There, you see, told you there was nothing to worry about."
"Catch yourself on!" Erin laughed happily as she held her friend.
Marco looked and saw James walked towards them. Marco then twisted Erin around and directed her in James's direction. She saw her wee English fella and hugged him. The two best friends smiled at each other.