60

We entered this decorated Irish pub and Odran was immediately greeted by several men who appeared to be my father's business partners.

I didn't know anyone and probably no one knew who I was either, because I didn't think Cathan would ever mention me.

But that didn't bother me. It wasn't easy for a man like that to talk about such a misstep. I also suspected that every time he looked at me he hated himself for betraying his wife.

With these thoughts in mind, I looked around more closely and saw a large picture of him in the far corner of the room, surrounded by candles and small glasses of liquor.

Yes, the Irish took really strange parting words from loved ones...

Or was it just us? No idea...

The rest of the great room had been cleared. The wooden tables and chairs were all moved to the edge so that the mourners had enough space to unfold.

Since Odran stayed with the men and they all expressed their condolences, I made myself comfortable at the dark counter, where the slightly chubby barmaid with the red hair smiled at me immediately.

"What can you do, little one," she winked encouragingly and I pointed to a bottle of beer behind her, which she kindly placed on the counter in front of me. I was just about to take it in my hand when I was shocked when I felt her hand on mine and looked at her questioningly.

"Your father was a good guy," she said sympathetically, stroking the back of my hand with her finger, before turning to the other guests with one last wistful look at me.

Apparently some people knew me...

I kept sipping my drink while listening to the quiet Irish music and watching Odran, who was full of painkillers. He couldn't have stayed on his injured foot for so long otherwise.

Although... Probably yes. Odran was indestructible...

And then, after some time when I felt completely lonely, Odran was asked to tell something about the deceased.

I straightened up, looked just like the others in the direction of Odran, who was standing next to Cathan's picture, and I was excited to hear what he had to say.

Luckily he had fonder memories of our father than I did because I couldn't have said anything about him.

Odran nervously smoothed his suit, staring at the picture and, with a trembling hand, took one of the glasses to fill with brandy before holding it in front of him and looking at me.

"He was a great businessman who always went out of his way to make things possible for his sons. He was a loving husband and a loving father and it pains me so much not to have Rian here today. Surely he would have more to say, or rather said, he can think of better words in such situations. I...."

I wanted to keep listening to Odran, but I suddenly felt a hand on my back and turned to look straight into Mandy's blue eyes, who smiled encouragingly at me and rested her head on my shoulder while turning to Odran.

Chiara appeared behind her with tears in her eyes as she saw her lover standing there.

They both wore black clothes and although I wanted to say something, I silently turned back to Odran and was more than just grateful that Mandy had come here.

Odran's gaze wandered to Chiara and when he suddenly faltered in his speech, caught in her eyes, he shook his head almost imperceptibly and held the shot glass in front of him again.

"To my father."

Odran drank first, turned to the picture again and placed the one just in front of it before wiping a few tears from his face and walking straight up to Chiara next to us, who hugged him comfortingly.

"Shall I accompany you?" Mandy wanted to know, but I immediately shook my head and then gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll go first when everyone else is done. The best comes last, after all," I smiled tormented and when Odran suddenly stood in front of me with his sad expression, I hugged him tightly and tried to be there for him for the moment being. "That was a nice speech, brother."

"Rian should have held her," he whispered softly in my ear and then took a deep breath while he broke away from me and gave Chiara his hand. "I want to introduce you to some partners."

The two disappeared between the people and Mandy sat down on the stool right in front of me to look me over from top to bottom.

"No shirt?" she asked with a grin and tugged at my dark shirt, which also made me smile.

"No, he shouldn't roll over in his grave out of shock. It's best to dress like he just knew me."

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head slightly at my statement before turning to the barmaid and ordering a white wine.

We then just sat in silence for a while, listening to the music, caressing our hands and watching Chiara standing shyly between all the people and Odran introducing her as his future wife.

"Oh my God!" Mandy said, but suddenly she was looking at a man and tossing her blond hair forward to immediately turn to me as if she were running away from something.

"Don't say that you have another crazy ex-husband?!", I immediately wanted to know, looking over her shoulder and taking a closer look at the man.

He had a fucking mustache and gray hair. Was that really Mandy's type?!

"No you idiot!" she suddenly laughed, covering her mouth in shock at herself, which only let out a choking grunt that was so cute I almost laughed out loud as well.

"Let's go have a smoke," I tried to pull myself together and pulled her outside where the sun smashed my face. "So who was that?"

I faced her and lit a cigarette while she slowly calmed down.

"I'm not allowed to talk about it," she suddenly said apologetically and I just put on an expression that showed her only too well that I didn't care if she was allowed to talk about it, which she understood immediately.

"He's a patient," she explained, and now I really pricked up my ears.

"And? What's so funny about that?"

"He's not a man."

I stared at her in confusion and looked at the door next to us because I just couldn't understand what she was talking about.

"Was?"

"My God, Senan. He's a woman posing as a man."

"He has a mustache!" I contradicted her statement.

"She has a mustache you mean," Mandy giggled again and I really didn't see what was supposed to be funny about that.

"Say Mandy," it slowly dawned on me because I knew what Keeva was up to today and saw it in Mandy's eyes too. "Did you happen to eat some of the muffins Keeva made for Rian and his pain?"

"Yes, why?" she suddenly laughed so loudly that I even jumped slightly from the sound.

"We have to go home," I said and put my hand on her back to stifle a laugh myself. I knew Keeva wanted to make hemp muffins because she wanted to take away some of Rian's pain, but I didn't think Mandy would eat them.

"No, I want to stay," she giggled, pointing to the pub, which she suddenly stared at for far too long, as if she wasn't really there anymore.

"How many did you eat. From the muffins, I mean," I wanted to know and looked at her questioningly, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"On the way 2 pieces, why?" She explained slowly and turned her gaze back to me. "What do you have with those muffins all the time? If you want some, Keeva forgot them. Chiara brought the basket. It's inside on the counter."

"Whaaat?!