‘Morning Morgan. Thanks for agreeing to this.’
Morgan stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She turned back to Ned. ‘Of course Ned, but what on earth is the matter?’
‘Declan texted me yesterday. He told me he got my number from Tammy when I put in my order food for the rescue crew.’
Morgan’s brow pulled together, her curiosity piquing. ‘And what did the message say?’
‘It just said he had something very important to discuss with me. He asked to meet me in person at Ben’s house. He said Tammy would be with him for moral support and he suggested I do the same thing, bring someone with me.’
Morgan’s eyes widened. ‘Moral support. This sounds very ominous indeed. What time did he say to be there?’
‘He said to go at ten. They’d be there after the morning rush has finished at the tearoom. Tammy has asked Katherine to watch the tearoom for her for an hour.’
Morgan looked at the time on her phone. ‘It’s ten to. We'd better go.’ They both got into Ned’s car. Morgan looked at Ned as she clipped in her seatbelt. ‘And you’re certain you have no clue what this is about.’
Ned looked blank as he shook his head. ‘Not an inkling.’
He started the engine, turned the car around, and headed for Steep Street. To get to it they had to drive past the seafront. Ben was standing at his cart as usual selling fish. He was with a customer and didn’t see them, Morgan wondered if he knew what this was about being as the meeting was taking place in his house.
‘Whatever it is, it appears Ben doesn’t know about it, otherwise he’d be there,’ said Morgan looking from Ben to Ned. Ned just nodded.
The road leading up to Ben’s house was steep. Morgan remembered walking up it when she was younger, before her body failed her and she had to resort to using a cane.
Ned pulled the car to a stop outside Ben’s house and turned off the engine. Morgan grabbed his hand as he checked to make sure he’d left the car in gear on the steep road. ‘Are you sure you want me to come in with you. Whatever Declan wants to meet you about might be sensitive.’
Ned turned in his seat to face her. ‘Morgan, like I told you the other day. Brett and you are the closest thing I have to family. I want you involved in my life. I don’t want you to think I keep any secrets from you. I want a relationship with you.’ Morgan’s breath caught in her throat. ‘And if that means just being the best of friends, then that’s good enough for me, but yes, I want you in there with me.’
She squeezed his hand before she let go. ‘Okay.’
Ned led the way down the stone path to the front door. Ned glanced back at Morgan before he knocked, she could see he was unsettled. A moment later, Tammy opened the door, a small smile on her lips. ‘Come in. Declan’s in the lounge. It’s the door to the right.’
Morgan smiled at Tammy and Tammy smiled back. She could see a nervous excitement behind Tammy’s eyes. She followed Ned and heard Tammy close the door behind her.
Declan was pacing the small lounge. He stopped when they entered and rubbed his hands down the tops of his jeans before offering a hand to Ned. ‘Hello Ned. Thanks for coming.’ He looked past Ned to Morgan. ‘Hello Morgan.’
Morgan dipped her head. ‘Hello Declan.’
Declan looked back at Ned. ‘This must seem like a really bizarre request to meet me here like this without a word as to why.’ He gestured to the two-seater settee. ‘Please sit down.’
Ned waited for Morgan to sit before sitting down himself. He looked directly at Declan. ‘It is lad. I’m rather nervous if truth be told. I’ve been racking my brains thinking of a reason why you need to see me like this, but I’ve come up blank.’
Tammy settled into an armchair, but Declan began to pace the room again. ‘Do you remember me telling you on the beach that I’d been fostered from a very young age and I’d recently got in touch with my mother?’
Ned nodded. ‘Yes. Yes, you said your mother’s name is Etain, and I said I once knew an Irish girl named Etain.’ Morgan noticed the colour suddenly drain from Ned’s face. ‘She’s alright isn’t she lad? Nothing happened to her before you met up, did it lad?’
Declan frowned slightly before nodding. ‘Yes-yes. She’s fine.’ He paused before he continued. ‘I don’t really remember her from my childhood, but she appears to be a very nice lady—a little troubled maybe, but nice.’ Ned sighed with relief and Declan paused, his eyes going up and to the side as if he was reliving the memory of the meeting again. He blinked and looked back to Ned. ‘She told me she fell pregnant when she was seventeen but had no family to help her, or rather, didn’t want her family to know she was pregnant. She tried her best to bring me up, but she couldn’t support me. She told me she got a part-time job and had to leave me for a few hours every day while she worked. A neighbour called the social services on her, andI was taken off her and put into care. She said she sunk into depression and began to drink.’
‘I’m so sorry Declan. That must have been so difficult for her,’ said Morgan.
Declan nodded. ‘She said she tried to get her life back on track. She stopped drinking, got a job and met another man. I was allowed back home to her temporarily while they monitored her. I thought that man was my father. He soon left though, and my mum’s drinking spiralled out of control again, and of course the inevitable happened, I went back into care.’ Declan licked his lips, as if feeling very nervous all of a sudden. ‘She told me who my real father is. She told me my real father didn’t even know of my existence because she never told him she was pregnant.’ Morgan looked from Declan to Ned, the penny dropping. He looked directly into Ned’s eyes. ‘The Etain you used to know was my mum. You are...my father Ned.’
Ned’s mouth dropped open. Invisible electricity zapped around the tiny sitting room. Ned got to his feet and Declan stepped back, unsure of how he was going to react.
Ned took a step forward. ‘I-I have a son?’ His face lit up. Morgan watched in happy astonishment as an enormous smile formed on his mouth. He pulled Declan into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Morgan tried to blink away the brimming tears, but they trickled down her cheeks. Tammy began to audible sob. ‘It’s absolutely wonderful, like a dream come true. Declan has always commented how much he admires Ned.’
Declan’s head lifted and he looked into Ned’s face. ‘You’re not disappointed by the news are you, Ned?’
