Just a Taste (23 page)

“I want you with me.” He stood then and went to the bathroom to try to feel more human. He needed to get his shit together for his family. Having Carmen with him made it easier, made him feel stronger.

After a shower, two cups of coffee, and the toast Carmen had made, he felt marginally better. He checked his phone. A text from Moira had come in letting him know that Jimmy was on the way to the house with Maggie. Colin had stayed at the hospital, and everyone was meeting to develop a plan for Mom.

Carmen sat quietly at his kitchen table the entire time. After reading the text, he kissed the top of her head, once again, so grateful that she'd stayed. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” She hesitated. “Are you sure you want me to come with? I can drop you off and pick you up later. I don't mind.”

He touched her cheek. “I'm sure. I want you to meet my entire family. I want them to know you. I need you with me.”

He thought speaking such words would be hard, but it wasn't. Honesty was something he'd always valued, something his parents taught him was important, but he'd never been big on discussing his feelings. Carmen made it easy. He wanted her to know how he felt.

Somehow, he knew she needed to have every reassurance because she didn't have faith in herself. He needed to have enough belief for both of them until she understood.

Carmen drove to his mom's house. The street was lined with his siblings' cars. They strode up to the door, and Jimmy had it open before they could knock. In the living room, Moira sat on the couch, holding Maggie, who was sobbing. Liam had hoped to miss this scene. He nodded at Moira and walked away.

Ryan, Michael, and his wife, Brianna, sat at the dining room table. Liam went to the kitchen to make more coffee. Ryan's wife, Quinn, was already there with the pot brewing. “Need any help?”

She turned and looked at him with the same tired, puffy eyes everyone else had. “No. Go sit with Ryan. I'll bring the coffee when it's ready.”

Liam paused for a minute and turned to Carmen. “Quinn, this is Carmen, my girlfriend.” He grabbed Carmen's hand and tugged her forward.

Quinn smiled. “Nice to meet you. Thank you for bringing food. We all needed it.”

“It was the least I could do.” She gripped Liam's hand tightly and he wanted to continue to reassure her.

He pulled her back toward the dining room. Before taking a seat, he introduced her to his other siblings. From the far side of the room, Moira stood and smiled. Maggie was no longer with her.

Everyone greeted her and then Ryan said, “Take a seat. We need to figure out what to do about Mom.”

Liam pulled out a chair for Carmen, who sat hesitantly, before he sat beside her.

“Colin called and said the doctor will probably release Mom by the end of the week. She'll be home for Christmas Eve. You all know she'll still want everyone here, but—”

“I'll take care of the meal. I'll cook everything so she won't have to worry about it,” Liam offered.

Ryan smiled. “That's what I was hoping for.” He glanced at his other siblings. “She'll want the tree decorated.”

They all looked to the living room, where the tree should be standing. Mom usually decorated well before Christmas week.

“We also need to take turns at the hospital until she does get out. Quinn is on break, and she's already agreed to fill in wherever we need her. And Maggie's home.”

Just then Maggie bounded down the stairs like she'd never left. Her face was still tear-streaked, but she was calm. “Yes, I'm here.” She slid into a seat across from Liam. “Who are you?” she asked Carmen.

Liam looked at his baby sister. She still had a habit of being rude. “Maggie, this is my girlfriend, Carmen. Carmen, my youngest sister.”

Maggie stared at Liam. “I thought this was a family meeting.”

Carmen's jaw clenched, and Liam laid a hand on her thigh. “I asked her to come with me.”

“Maggie, stop being rude,” Ryan said.

She rolled her eyes. Liam wondered if Jimmy had gotten a similar comment. Quinn and Brianna were technically family now that marriage was involved. He'd never thought Maggie would be so much like their mother.

Carmen pushed away from the table. “I'll help Quinn in the kitchen.”

As soon as she was gone, Liam leaned forward on the table. “You're being a brat.”

“I'm being a brat? My mother is in the hospital, and you brought your little hoochie mama to hang out in our house. There are more important things than getting laid.”

Liam shot out of his chair, but Ryan rose slowly. Everyone in the room was silent.

Ryan spoke first. “We're all upset about Mom, Maggie. That doesn't give you the right to be a witch to anyone.”

“Watch what you say about Carmen. She's not some girl I'm fucking. I love her.”

Again silence filled the room, except for Jimmy, who snickered in the corner.

Ryan took his seat and added, “Well, then, we'll expect to see her at Christmas dinner.”

Over the next hour, they squabbled over a schedule and who would do what to make sure Mom wouldn't be left alone while she recovered. Then they argued over what should happen after the holidays. Without more information, they couldn't decide what else they needed to do. Maybe their mom would need someone to move in to take care of her, maybe she wouldn't. Only time would tell.

But for now, Liam settled in with the knowledge that she was okay. She was coming home.

CHAPTER 14

C
armen listened to the O'Learys bicker and fight for hours. How were they not all exhausted? While they had argued, she warmed up food to feed them and kept the coffee flowing. No one had spoken to her since Maggie's outburst, but Liam acknowledged her with small touches. He held her hand, put his arm around the back of her chair, squeezed her knee while it was tucked under the table.

The family dynamic amazed her. As much as the fighting could've been ugly, she never doubted the underlying love and respect they had for each other. Part of her longed for that kind of relationship, but another part of her was grateful that she hadn't had to face the decisions they were facing.

As Carmen moved from the kitchen back to the dining room, most of Liam's siblings offered curious stares; Moira flat-out smiled. But Maggie continued to shoot daggers. Carmen stayed out of the family discussion and focused on feeding them and then cleaning up. It wasn't much, but it was all she could think to do to help. As she worked, Ryan's comment about expecting her for Christmas gnawed at her.

She and Liam hadn't discussed the holidays, except for talking about when to have the truck on the street. Things just seemed to be moving so fast. Even though she'd been in the kitchen, there had been no mistaking Liam's declaration of love in front of his entire family. The sentiment warmed her and scared her all at the same time.

She loved knowing the words were real, not just some drunken comment, but the thought of them rushing things wouldn't leave her alone.

In the kitchen, she ran the water and filled the sink to wash dishes.

Moira came up next to her. “You don't have to do the dishes too. You've done enough.”

“It's okay. I don't mind.” And she didn't as long as it kept her away from the conversation in the other room.

“So you and Liam are serious, huh?”

Carmen offered a slight shrug.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I'm not sure what we are.”

Instead of attacking Carmen, as Maggie might've, Moira laughed. “Liam is kind of intense.”

“That's an understatement.”

This only made Moira laugh harder. “One thing you can count on with Liam, though, is that he won't play games. If he says he loves you, it's the real deal.”

Carmen's heart sped up.

“Do you love him?”

Carmen plunged her hands into the hot water. “I've been asking myself the same thing all afternoon. I think I do, but I'm not sure.”

Moira picked up a towel and began drying the dishes Carmen put in the drainer.

“Don't you need to get back to the conversation?” Carmen asked her.

Moira lifted a shoulder. “They're fine without me. Right now, I like this conversation better.” She paused for a minute. “Liam's a serious guy. He's been a little distracted for a while, trying to decide what he wants. But when he sets his sights on something, there's no stopping him.”

“Is that a warning?”

“Nope. An observation. Maybe a piece of information for you to tuck away. I want you to know that Liam doesn't make a move unless he's sure. So he must be really sure of you to bring you here.”

Carmen and Moira finished the dishes in silence. Moira's information helped, but at the same time it didn't. Carmen believed Liam was sure about them, she just didn't know
how
he could be so sure. But she wanted to let go and trust and believe. Which meant committing to coming to Christmas with his family.

She hadn't thought about a gift for Liam. She'd figured she'd get him something small because they were partners and all, but spending the holiday together as a couple meant she needed to get something better, more personal. It only took a minute before she knew what she wanted to get him. Unfortunately, she would need help.

She looked at Moira and went for it. “Can I ask a favor?”

Moira smiled. “Shoot.”

“I need some help with Liam's Christmas present.”

“Ooo . . . I love secrets.”

“Don't believe her for a minute. She can't keep a secret to save her life,” Liam said from the doorway.

“Shows what you know. I won't tell you what Carmen and I talked about.” She turned back to Carmen. “Give me your phone. I'll program my number in and you can call me later.”

Carmen pulled the phone from her pocket and handed it over.

Liam walked over and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Should I be worried?”

“I don't know. Should you be?”

“Anything involving Moira causes some worry.” He kissed the top of Carmen's head. “Colin called. Mom's awake. We're all heading over to the hospital.”

Moira said, “Are you both going?”

Carmen shook her head. “I'll drop Liam off and go home. Your family takes up enough space all on your own. I don't think you need extra people.”

She waited for Liam to argue, but he didn't.

“Hey, Moira, can I ride with you? Save Carmen the trip?”

“Sure.” She left the room.

Carmen pulled the plug from the drain and dried her hands on a towel. “Give me a call if you need a ride home. I'll come get you.”

“Like you said, my family is big enough. I'm sure someone can give me a ride. Are you okay?”

“Me? Why wouldn't I be?”

“Maggie was rude. I'm sure you heard everything.”

“Let's face it. Emotions are running high. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it.”

“Doesn't give her the right to be nasty.”

Carmen simply held on to Liam's words. “It didn't matter.”

“But then you cooked and cleaned and took care of us like you're the maid. I didn't bring you here for that.”

“You needed to talk with your family. I wanted to help. Did you feel like a maid when you washed dishes and cleaned up after my dad's wake?”

He shook his head.

“You do what you need to do to take care of family.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Go see your mom.”

“Can I come to your house after?”

“I'd like that.”

She followed Liam back through the house and said a brief good-bye to everyone before bundling back up to go out. By the time she reached her house, she was exhausted. This had been one of the longest days of her life, and it hadn't even been her family drama. She curled up on the couch and enjoyed the quiet peacefulness of her house.

Liam sat in the uncomfortable chair in the waiting room while his siblings went to see Mom one by one. Maggie had charged into the room and hadn't left the bedside, so everyone else took turns. Since Colin had been there most of the day, he stayed in the waiting room. He took a seat beside Liam.

“I hear I missed a big announcement at the house.”

Liam looked at him. “What?”

“You and Carmen? Not only do you pop up with a surprise girlfriend, but you're in love?”

Liam rubbed his palms on his thighs. “You know how it is. When you're with someone all the time, working together, hanging out, making plans, things happen.”

“Yeah, I know exactly how that goes.”

“Where is Elizabeth anyway?”

“She's at the bar. She told me to stay with the family and she'd handle everything. I don't know what I'd do without her.” Colin leaned his elbows on his knees. He looked as beat as Liam felt, and he hadn't gone on an afternoon bender.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. This place gets to me. I fucking hate it here.”

Liam thought back to when their father had been here. Colin had taken it harder than anyone expected. “How is she doing, really?”

He was afraid of the answer. He knew everyone said their mom was going to be okay, but something like this changed things. He needed to brace himself for whatever he'd see in the bed.

“Surprisingly well. As soon as she woke up, she started barking orders. The poor nurses. I almost felt bad for them, except I knew that if she was snapping at people, she really was okay.”

Liam released a relieved breath.

“Be prepared, though. When Moira walked in, I heard her bubbling with gossip. I'm pretty sure she's telling Mom all about your love life.”

Liam shook his head. “Let's hope Maggie doesn't put her two cents in.” He still couldn't believe Maggie's attitude.

Ryan poked his head in the door. “Your turn.”

Liam stood and stretched. Moving slow wasn't going to change things, so he forced his feet forward. The hall was quiet as he walked toward the room. Moira leaned against the wall opposite the door and Jimmy had his arm around her. Liam pushed the door open.

Maggie sat on a chair beside the bed and held Mom's hand. Machines bleeped and whirred. Mom was sitting up and smiling as she gripped Maggie's hand.

With the exception of her hair being a mess, Mom looked like herself. A little pale without her minimal makeup, but happy with Maggie's company.

“Hey, Mom.” He made his way to the bed and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “How are you?”

“For the fortieth time, I'm fine. A bad spell is all. The doctors won't listen.”

“You had a heart attack, Mom, not a bad spell.”

She waved him off. “I guess a stay in the hospital is what's needed to bring the family together.”

“Don't talk like that,” Maggie said.

“We have dinner together all the time. Sometimes, we even talk to each other when you don't make us,” Liam added.

“You're not sayin' much to me, though. I have to hear from your sister that you have a woman in your life. That you're in love?”

Maggie glared at him. He took the seat across from her.

“Carmen is a nice girl, Mom. I told you about her. She's Gus's daughter, and we work together on the food truck.”

His mother's piercing gaze hit him. It was like being interrogated without words.

“What?” he asked.

“Seems all of a sudden.”

“Isn't that the way love happens? All of a sudden?”

Maggie patted Mom's hand. “What Mom means to say is that it happened awfully sudden with someone who isn't a nice Irish girl.”

“What?” In the back of his mind, he supposed he knew his mom held some strange desire for him to marry an Irish girl from the neighborhood, but she hadn't actually said it. She certainly hadn't brought up the heritage of any of his siblings' significant others.

But they were all white.

The idea struck him so hard and fast that it was painful. He'd known his mother to make inappropriate remarks occasionally. He'd always attributed it to her age, but he never thought of her as a racist.

He stared at her. She looked at her hand locked with Maggie's. He shoved away from the chair and stood. “I'm glad you're feeling better, Mom.”

He left the room before he said something he would regret and that would most likely upset their mother. She was still recuperating and needed to remain calm. Liam was nowhere near calm right now.

Leaving the room, he asked Jimmy to drive him to Carmen's house. Jimmy said nothing until they were in the car.

“Want to tell me what happened?”

“I think my mom is mad that my girlfriend is Mexican.” Saying the words left a bad taste in his mouth.

“It's a different generation. You know that. Look at my dad. He still mumbles crap about my partner, Gabby. I tell him to shut up. You can't change that mind-set.”

“But you're not in love with Gabby.”

“Got me there.”

“My mom just had a heart attack. I can't start a fight with her and tell her to shut up. I also can't bring Carmen to the house and expose her to my mom's attitude. What the fuck am I supposed to do?”

“I wish I knew what to tell you. Maybe you need to give it time. Let her get to know Carmen. You have your brothers and sisters on your side.”

“Except Maggie. I don't know what got into her.”

“She's just upset like everyone else. She's been gone a long time. It's hard when you come back and think everything's going to be the same, but you find out people have moved on and things have changed. Add your mom's heart attack and it's a lot to handle.”

Liam hadn't thought about that. Jimmy had been gone for years in the army. They'd talked plenty and visited a few times while he'd been gone, but Liam didn't think about what it must've been like to return and have everything be different. Maybe he needed to cut Maggie some slack.

It sure would be easier if she were giving everyone else as hard a time, though.