When Calum and Fergus returned home, however, Bridget was seated at the kitchen table alone, tears in her eyes. "Murder-suicide," she said, biting her lip hard to keep the sobs at bay. "The place was crawling with officers when I got there, and they told me there'd been a shooting with two victims." She wiped her eyes, only to have fresh tears spill down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry," she said to the stricken Calum. "I do wish I could've brought your mam here safe and sound, but Barry was determined to drag her down into hell with him rather than let her go free, for all his philanderin' ways."
Calum took a deep breath, trembling from head to toe. The death of his father wasn't too shocking, but to lose his mother ... he took a deep breath. "Wasn't your fault," he managed to get out, clenching his fists to keep from punching a wall. "T'was me father's for bein' such a c... you know."
Fergus gripped his shoulder hard. "I've spoken to Grainne," he said. "She's ready for you and your friends to move in any time you wish, and she's got staff there ready for your every needs. I can sign the boat over to you tonight, and then you can take it up to Carrickfergus any time you wish. The season's almost over, and the squid have moved on, so you can have the winter months to get settled."
"I'd appreciate that," Calum said, struggling against the urge to break down in tears. He knew Fergus and Bridget would fall all over themselves to comfort him, and while he wasn't entirely ungrateful, he needed to be alone. "May I be excused?" he asked, minding his manners the whole while.
Fergus and Bridget shared a look. "Of course," his uncle said. "Just be careful."
Calum managed a weak smile. "I'll be carerful," he promised.
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Night dark water closed over Calum's head, shutting out the roar of the wind. Bubbles filled his vision as he sank, until he felt the sand and rocks under his feet. Overhead, lightning split into otherwordly fragments on the water's surface, and the boom of the accompanying thunder rang hollow and distorted in his ears. Though his lungs were on fire from lack of air, he stayed under, watching as the waves broke overheard, running high and dangerous as the storm raged, welcoming the cold as the wild currents bore him along, tossing him about until he felt like a sock in a washing machine. He knew he was close to drowning; the airlessness in his lungs was growing unbearable, and though he longed to let the sea take him, he had an obligation to his friends. That gave him the impetus he needed, and he broke the surface with a gasp.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe8BldoZM5
The storm continued to rage overhead, and Calum was soon plunged under again as the waves broke in great foaming crests, driving him deep underwater. But he let himself go limp, riding each wave until the pressure eased enough for him to come back up for air. Rain fell in sheets, while lightning and thunder continued to rage across the sky, but the storm was already passing over, and when the stars came out, Calum rolled over onto his back, looking up at the sky. The waves were still running high, but he no longer had to worry about being dunked every thirty seconds, and he watched as the stars wheeled across the sky in familiar constellations. It was bitterly cold, but he welcomed it, allowing the chills to chase each other over his skin, reminding him he still had so much to live for. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99As6ctwjy
And his mother was safe. Calum wasn't Catholic, but he did believe his mother was in a better place, while his father was likely suffering quite a few torments. And as he floated there, he was almost certain he could hear his mother singing, as she'd done for him when he was a little boy. Calum smiled despite his tears; his mother was continuing to look after him, and he took a deep breath before diving under once more. His heart still hurt over losing his mother to his father's spite, but he knew she'd always be there with him, even though her body would soon be committed to the earth.
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