Part 48 (1/2)
”Yeah, good. Colin says you're headed for Oklahoma. Jake's widow lives there.”
Patrick gave a humorless laugh. ”Bunch of old women...”
They were quiet for a moment. Finally Aiden said, ”I like your girl. Sweet.”
”Not my girl...”
”You doing her for fun? Does she know that?”
He looked at Aiden with barely concealed rage. ”She's a good woman. It's just a thing, all right? Totally consensual.”
”Look, I know you came here for a break, a chance to take stock of your life. Have you had a chance to do that?”
”Until all of you showed up, that's exactly what I was doing!”
”Really, Paddy?” Aiden asked, his voice quiet. ”Make any progress on that? Because last I heard, you still weren't sure what you wanted. You used to be sure.”
I used to have a best friend, Patrick thought miserably.
”I only met Jake once,” Aiden said. ”He was a lot like you, though. And if you'd gone down, you wouldn't have wanted him to rethink his whole life trying to compensate for losing him. Know what I mean? There's nothing you can do to bring him back, Paddy. You have to grieve the loss, but you'll never change the course of events. He's gone now. I've said this before but I'll say it again-I'm really sorry, man.”
”Yeah, thanks,” Paddy said.
The back door opened and Sean came outside.
”Oh, brother,” Paddy said.
Sean just smiled. ”Franci hates cigars. Got one more?”
Aiden supplied him, handing him the clip and lighter. Once he got the cigar going, Sean said, ”Paddy, you're not really going to give up that sweet little beauty, are you? She's crazy about you.”
”It's really none of your business,” Patrick returned.
”When has that stopped anyone?”
The door opened again and Luke came out. Before the door could close on him, Colin held it and joined him. Without a word, Aiden supplied two more cigars. ”That's it. I brought five. If anyone else shows up out here, they're on their own.”
”If anyone else shows up out here, just shoot me,” Patrick said.
No sooner had he said that than Walt Booth and Sam Sheridan came outside.
”Sorry, man-my brothers ran through all the cigars,” Aiden said.
Walt pulled a couple out of his pocket. ”Not to worry, son. I'm always packing.”
A minute later, Jack and Paul came outside. ”General,” Paul said. ”What are the chances...?”
Walt supplied a couple more.