“It was hard not to tell you.” Mam laughs. “Let’s go inside, I made lunch. I have a feeling this isn’t just a normal visit.”
We follow my mam inside and sit down for lunch.
“You’re right, this isn’t just a ‘hey I miss you’ visit. I wanted to talk to you about the cafe—” I start to say.
“You want me to take care of it?” she asks.
“How do you always know what I need?”
“I’m your mam. It’s in the mam handbook.” She laughs. “And yes, I would be willing to help run of the cafe. My question is, do I do it from here? Or move to Doolin?”
“That’s completely up to you. If you want to move to Doolin, I’ll help you buy a house there. And you don’t have to sell this one.”
Mam nods as she thinks. I’ve never wanted her to leave the home she created. My mam worked so hard providing for us as I was growing up. I want to provide for her now.
“I wouldn’t mind renting a place. But I agree that I don’t want to sell this home. It has so many memories for me. Everywhere I look, I see you growing up and becoming the man you are now. I want your children to know this home too.”
Mam looks at Moira and me.
“Grandchildrenarein the picture, right?” she asks as she cocks an eyebrow at us. Moira laughs.
“We haven’t discussed that, but if you’re asking me? Yes. I want babies.”
“Well, I’ve never made it a secret that I want a big family.” I laugh.
“That’s good to hear. Okay then, that’s settled. I’ll get a place in Doolin, that way I can stay there and come back home whenever I want.”
“I’ll make sure you have access to the business account. That way you can pay for your bills and flights. Or a car if you rather drive.”
“I’ll take my car over there. Or maybe I should get a second car? I don’t know if I want to make that drive every time.”
“Anything you need, Mam. You tell me and we’ll get it worked out for you.”
“You’re the best son.”
“You taught me everything I know, Mam. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“You know I’m very proud of you, Callum. And I’m glad I can do this for you. But you both better promise to come and visit me a lot.”
“We promise,” Moira says as she listens to us.
Moira spent two weeks with me and my mam. We spent three days in Saltcoats, then we all headed back to Doolin to get things in order. We started house hunting and finding Mam a car. I really hated taking her to the airport when she had to leave. I’mstill hoping that I can head back to Chicago in the next two to three weeks.
CHAPTER THREE
Callum
It took me five weeks to get back to Chicago, but I’m finally back. I walk into the dining room at the Mancini house and hear some of them talking.
“Has anyone noticed that Callum and Cillian have the same last name?” Lorenzo Mancini asks.
“Sure, but McGregor is a common name in Scotland, and Cillian was born in Ireland. So it’s not unusual that we have the same last name,” I say as I sit down to eat.
“Who has the same last name?” Cillian asks as he walks into the room.
“We do,” I say to Cillian.
“Ohh. Yeah, but that’s not uncommon, considering where we’re from.”
