Part 67 (2/2)

was lost. There had to be reasons for it.

”Why didn't you ever come?” Brian leaned forward. ”I sent you tickets,

for the wedding, when Daffen was born, for Emma's birthday, for his. For

G.o.d's sake, you never saw him until his wake. Why didn't you come?”

”Running a farm's busy work,” he said between swallows. Liam was a man

filled with regrets so that one easily melded into another. ”Can't go

larking off anytime you please.”

”Not even once.” Suddenly, it seemed vital that he have an answer, a

true one. ”You could have sent Ma. Before she died, you could've let

her come.”

”A woman's place is with her husband.” Liam tilted his gla.s.s toward

Brian. ”You'd do well to remember that, boy.”

”You always were a selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”

Liam's hand, surprisingly strong, clamped down on Brian's. ”Mind your

tongue.”

”I won't run and hide this time, Dad.” His eyes, his voice were steady.

In both was an eagerness. He would have relished a battle, here, now.

Slowly, Liam removed his hand, then picked up his gla.s.s. ”I won't b.u.t.t

heads with you today. Not the day my grandson's been laid to rest.”

”He was never yours. You never even saw him until he was dead,” Brian

tossed back. ”You never bothered, just cashed in the tickets I sent to

buy more whiskey.”

”And where were you these last years? Where were you when your mother

died? Off somewhere playing your b.l.o.o.d.y music.”

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