Meghan appreciated the clean look of the white home with its symmetrical windows flanking the white pillars on the front porch, giving the place a grand air. Sunlight gleamed off the leaded, decorative glass in the massive front door.
Flowers bloomed from window boxes attached beneath the five windows marching across the second floor. Shed only seen the house from a distance and had admired it.
Now here she was entering into the Fitzgerald inner sanctum. Something she had never expected. Yet couldnt deny shed watched the family and yearned to belong to the tight-knit clan. If only she were visiting under more pleasant circumstances. A part of her wished she didnt have to do this. But the other part of her knew it was the only way to find Georgina and gain justice for her cousin.
The sound of children laughing came from the gated backyard. Meghan caught a glimpse of Irene Mulrooney, the Fitzgerald family housekeeper, picking up Charless son. A deep longing for a child of her own tugged at her heart. Shed always wanted kids. Her ex hadnt. She hoped maybe one day
Ryan ushered her inside the house. She heard voices as he closed the door behind them. Others had already arrived. She followed Ryan, barely having time to appreciate the beauty of the wainscoting in the entryway, the intricately carved staircase leading to the second floor or to catch a peek of the antique-filled living room.
The house had been built on a solid foundation and filled with lovely items. She hoped the family was strong like the house to weather this news.
He led her to a high-ceilinged dining room with a long wooden table and a sea of chairs around it, several of which were occupied. She halted just inside the arched opening as everyone in the room quieted and stared.
Trepidation dried her mouth.
She noted with a tiny bit of relief she wasnt the only non-blood Fitzgerald in the room. Pretty, strawberry-blond Merry OLeary Fitzgerald stood next to her husband, Police Captain Douglas Fitzgerald. The man closely resembled his older brother Ryan. Enough so that Meghan had at one time thought maybe they were twins.
Victoria Evans, Owens ladylove, and Demi Townsend, the woman who took over nanny duties after Olivia died, were both seated at the table. Meghan liked Demi, theyd become sort of friendly over the past few months. Though Meghan owed her an apology for trying to warn her off Charles. Since he wasnt guilty of any crimes, Meghan was happy that Demi and Charles had fallen in love and recently announced their engagement. They made a cute couple.
Near the window, Nick Delfino, another outsider, took a post, looking forbidding with his arms crossed over his chest. Meghan had only met the former Boston Internal Affairs officer once. He was nearly as intimidating as Ryan. Beside him, Keira Fitzgerald, Ryans youngest sister, regarded Meghan with a curious stare. Meghan wondered how Ryan felt about his baby sister falling for the man whod been secretly planted in their department to determine if the Fitzgeralds were legit or corrupt.
Ryan moved away from Meghan to stand near his brothers, Owen and Charles.
Meghan stepped aside to allow Fiona Fitzgerald and firefighter Hunter Reece to breeze past her and enter the room. It was rumored Fiona and Hunter were quite the item of late. Apparently the gossip was true if the way they were holding hands was any indication. Fiona had been widowed two years earlier, leaving her to raise her six-year-old son, Sean, by herself. When an arsonist had recently targeted Fionas bookstore, Hunter had been the one to save not only the store but Fiona and her son, as well.
Sorry were late, Fiona said as she stopped to take stock, her gaze landing on Meghan. Hi.
Hi, Meghan managed to croak.
Decidedly uncomfortable at being the focus of so much attention, Meghan edged closer to the doorway. Shed never had a big family. Her father, Phinn Henry, had arrived in Boston from Ireland as a young man and hadnt kept in touch often with his younger sister, Tara, Olivias mother. Dad had met Mom while working in a brokerage firm. Candice Henry had been an orphan so when Meghan was born it was just the three of them. Until they both died in a car accident when Meghan was twenty-one.
At the head of the table sat Ian Fitzgerald. The current sitting mayor and the clan patriarch. His observant eyes turned Meghans way. She willed herself to fade into the woodwork. Didnt happen.
A moment later, Aiden Fitzgerald swept into the room, blessedly taking everyones attention away from Meghan. Tall, distinguished looking, he carried himself with a proud bearing that Meghan had found comforting. Until shed read Olivias letter.
Moving to the end of the table opposite his father, he stood facing his family. Im sorry to call you here unexpectedly. His gaze raked over the group assembled before him. Regret underscored sadness in his blue eyes. You all are a part of this family now, so you need to hear.
Anticipation vibrated in the air. Meghan leaned forward, wishing she could claim to be a part of this family. She longed with every fiber of her being to belong to something, to someone. But she was the outsider. That would never change. Because when they learned the truth, they would revile her just as Ryan did.
As some of you already know, we suspect Christina Hennessy killed her husband, Burke Hennessy. He cleared his throat before continuing. And we suspect she may have been involved in the murder of Olivia Henry.
There were murmurs of surprise. Meghans heart sped up.
Christina has run off with her adoptive daughter, Georgina, Aiden added.
You dont think shed hurt the baby, do you? Merry asked, her voice laced with concern.
Meghans own fear reared. Who knew what Christina was capable of?
Im hoping not, but we just dont know. Aiden cleared his throat again, apparently having trouble getting his words out. The truth of the matter is that Olivia Henry was baby Georginas birth mother.
Meghan heard a gasp, saw the stunned expression on each face.
Did Christina know? Fiona asked, her lively blue eyes awash with concern.
Im assuming so, Aiden said, his gaze meeting Meghans briefly.
Meghan noted the grief in his blue eyes. Her fingers curled against the empathy spreading through her.
Tell them, she wanted to scream, but refrained, allowing him time to come clean on his own. But if he didnt say what needed to be said soon, shed be forced to tell them the truth.
Now the letter makes sense, Merry interjected.
Meghan blinked. She knew about the letter?
Douglas nodded. Right. Olivia was writing to her baby not a man as wed assumed.
Confused, Meghan sought Ryans gaze.
Olivia gave Merry a letter before she died, Ryan explained, his voice devoid of emotion. Shed addressed it to her sweetheart saying theyd be reunited soon.
Oh. Meghan digested that information. That supports what she wrote in the letter to me. That she knew her baby was here in Fitzgerald Bay.
All eyes focused on her. All except Ryan who looked away.
You received a letter from Olivia? Keira questioned. When?
It was mailed months ago, before she died, but I only recently received it, Meghan said.
What did it say? Owen asked.
Where is it? Fiona asked.
Whyd it take so long to get to you? Charles asked.
Feeling the force of the several sets of Fitzgerald stares, Meghan shifted her gaze to the elder Fitzgerald, willing him to step up and tell the truth.
I have the letter, Aiden said, drawing his familys attention. He met his fathers gaze across the expanse of the long dining table. Ian Fitzgerald nodded ever so slightly. Obviously Aiden had discussed this with the patriarch.
Aiden placed the letter on the table. Theres something I must confess to all of you.
Meghan held her breath.
Twenty-three years ago I was unfaithful to your mother.
A collective gasp echoed in the stillness of the room.
Charles and Owen didnt look surprised. Meghan saw the slight nod the two brothers exchanged. Interesting. Had Owen and Charles known and kept the information from their siblings? She wondered why.
Meghans gaze shot to Ryan. A muscle flicked angrily at his jaw. His taut expression tried to mask his thoughts, but the deep, welling pain in his eyes tugged at her heart.
But she couldnt regret bringing the truth to light. Olivia deserved justice for her life and death. Her blood relative, Georgina, was missing. And Meghan needed the resources of the Fitzgerald family to find her.
FIVE
Ryan couldnt take a breath. His world was imploding as he stood in his family home, the one safe haven they all shared, and the only place hed ever felt truly at peace.
That peace was now shattered into a million fragments that cut his soul to shreds. Everything hed believed about his father had been stripped away in one devastating blow.
The pedestal hed placed his father upon toppled. Leaving Ryan feeling vulnerable and uncertain.
Douglas, Fiona and Keira peppered their father with questions. Only Owen and Charles appeared unfazed as they stared at their father with sympathy tempered by anger in their eyes. How could they excuse this? How could they not be reeling the way Ryan was? Unless
You knew? Ryan accused his two brothers.
Charles and Owen exchanged a quick glance then nodded. Betrayal sliced through Ryan. How could you keep this a secret?
When did you find out? Douglas demanded.
Aiden held up a hand. Please. He waited until his kids had quieted down. Dont be angry at them. I asked them to let me tell you in my own time and way.
Fury churned inside Ryan. His own time and way? Ha. Like never?
I know this is a shock and I never intended for any of you to find out like this.
Ryan turned away, unable to look at his father. Nausea filled his stomach, making him regret the eggs and bacon hed had for breakfast.
Maureen and I had hit a rough patch. You all were so young. There was so much pressure on me, on her. We were fighting all the time. Your mother and I agreed we needed some distance and time to regain perspective. I went to Ireland for a month.
Each word was like a knife digging deep into Ryans chest. He remembered when his father took that trip. Hed been gone exactly a month. A long time in a childs eyes. His mother had never once shown distress, always saying dad would be back soon with presents for everyone. And he was.
Ryan still had the chunk of rock claiming to be a bit of the Blarney Stone sitting on his desk as a paperweight. The once happy memory was now tarnished by the truth of what his father had done. Hurt burrowed into Ryans heart.