Sadly, Iseult never got to find out Daniel's eventual decision to become nonbinary; she passed away shortly before Daniel's fifteenth birthday, and Liam was devastated when he heard of her passing. Patrick - who'd remarried Kate shortly after Iseult's committment - was equally heartbroken, but Kate, who had proven herself admirably in the years following Iseult's departure to the countryside, said it was a good thing, much to the dismay of those around her. "It's true," she said. "There's no sense mourning someone who died inside, and now her body's gone to join her mind. Let's remember her for who she was before the shit hit the fan, and not for the slightly crazy woman she became at the end."
Her bluntness, though well intentioned, did not win her any favours, and within two weeks of his second wife's death, Patrick divorced his first (second) wife in disgust. Kate was genuinely bewildered at this, but showed no remorse for her callous remarks, and Liam admitted that maybe, just maybe, his mam had been right about Kate all along, particularly when she tried to crash Iseult's funeral. She was firmly shown the door, and when she tried protesting that she had just as much right to see Iseut as anyone, she was told off in no uncertain terms that was not the case. She kicked up enough of a stink to be carted off in handcuffs once the police were called, and Liam was disgusted that she'd make such a spectacle at his mam's funeral. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOytW0bRDL
"I can't believe she'd be so thoughtless," he said crossly afterwards, as he and his family regrouped in a cafe. "God. Mam might've been on the money after all, even if her intentions were a bit murky."
Patrick sighed. "You might be right," he agreed. "And given Kate's ... less than kind remarks about Daniel's gender expression, I'm not sorry for showing her the door."
Daniel rolled their eyes. "She called me a freak," they said. "And that I was 'confused', given how young I am. I know what I want to be, and if Kate wants to be an eejit about it, she can go take a running jump at herself."
"That's the spirit," Niamh said, smiling proudly at her eldest child. "I just thank God she never met Sophia - her attitude became a bit, well, possessive when she found out I was pregnant again."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EMbdbVWIz
"Thank God indeed," Liam said, shuddering as he recalled his birth mother's behaviour on discoveirng her daughter-in-law's pregnancy only days before Niamh gave birth to her daughter. "You did the right thing telling me not to let her near Sophia, and I'm glad I listened to you."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGxSfB8mfz
"Let's hope Kate doesn't resurface again," Patrick said soberly. "Personally, I'd rather she got locked away for a very long time, and I don't think her release from prison was as above-board as it appeared on the surface."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZnsdbBb5O
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Sure enough, Kate was sentenced to life in prison, after it came about that her prior release had been on false pretences. But she never saw out her sentence; she was found dead in her cell two weeks after beginning her life sentence, much to the relief of all involved. Most telling was her older sister Quinn's reaction; unlike Kate, Quinn had genuinely worked to turn her life around while in prison, and she was very blunt when it came to her sister's failings. "Kate got the best of everything, while I was left to muddle about," she said. "I don't pretend my shit didn't stink as badly as hers, but being in jail really helped open my eyes to how actions have consequences. If Mam had given me half the attention she'd given Kate, I might not've resorted to half the shit I pulled just to try and make her proud of me." She shrugged. "But done is done, and Kate is gone. Good bloody riddance, if you ask me."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqD87AJHt0
"Let's just hope that's the last of the bad apples," Patrick said, smiling warmly at his sister-in-law. "I don't want any more ghosts of Christmas past coming along and fucking things up. I think we've all had a gutful of your mother and her ilk."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW1obeCB4q
"Hear hear," Quinn agreed. "My kids have got good heads on their shoulders, and Aunty Ella is a good egg. I don't think anyone's going to try and claim vengeance on Mam's and Aunt Leah's behalf. Well, I hope not, anyway!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBERKSXwrZ
Patrick chuckled. "You and me both," he said. "At least Kate didn't have any more children, not that I know of, and if she had, I hope they're in a better place and were or are being raised to be more decent."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnnobVM47i
"She did have one child in jail," Quinn said. "Luckily Grace was taken from her, and she's been raised by a couple in Galway who've taught her how to be a decent person rather than a cow like her mam and grandma. I see her fairly often, and she's got a good head on her shoulders. If you'd like, I'll speak to her parents and you can meet her for yourself."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rqmNmNyq6
"I don't think that'll be necessary," Patrick said thoughtfully. "Thank you all the same. It's enough to know she's a better person than her mam and grandma, and I'll take that as proof my family can finally put all this bullshit behind them."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhdfugkA2c
Quinn nodded. "Understood."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW87ZdiS2k
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Life went on peacefully afterwards, and as the sun set on the tenth anniversary of Iseult's passing, Patrick stood looking over the land that had been in his family for so long. Calum and Aoife's twin girls were running amok in the garden, taking turns chasing Sophia - named after her great-grandmother, who had passed away not long after her namesake's birth - and each other, shrieking in delight whenever one of them was "caught". Daniel was out with the squidding boats, having taken a keen interest in the family business, and Flynn's daughter Hannah had taken a bit of shine to them, much to everyone's amusement and approval. They were walking out now, and Patrick was glad his grandchild had found their place in life after such a horrible start to their childhood. Niamh and Liam had moved to Dublin, but they visited reguarly, and Sophia had asked to join her older sibling on the squidding boats when she was older, to which Daniel and their parents had wholeheartedly agreed.
Patrick smiled sadly as he left the children to their playing. He still missed Iseult, and though the end of her life had been a tragic one, he chose not to remember that part, choosing instead to remember the spirited girl he'd fallen in love with so long ago. Sometimes he thought he'd caught a glimpse of her spirit, especially when he was down by the lake where they'd first confessed their feelings, but he kept it to himself, not wanting anyone to think him addled in his old age.
The sun gilded the lake's surface as he sat on the grass, knees tucked up, listening to the water lapping on the shore. He still regretted the temper that had spoiled his early courtship with Iseult, but he knew it had been a necessary thing, bringing them back together once they'd both matured. And they had two wonderful children to show for it, as well as a growing brood of grandchildren. And the family business was going from strength to strength, with Murray squid in high demand the world over. "Not a bad showing for a man who decided to make good on his odd name," he said aloud.
"Not bad indeed, boyo."
Patrick turned and blinked. Calum stood there, but as Patrick studied him, he realised this Calum was different to his brother-in-law, being a bit shorter and fairer-skinned. "What brings you here?" he asked his great-great-grandfather-in-law.
"Taking you home," Calum Senior told him. "Haven't you caught on yet?"
Patrick blinked again, then sighed. "I've been trying to put it off," he said. "I didn't want to leave them so suddenly."
"Hush your whist," the old man chided affectionately. "Your family's well able to cope with it. And you haven't been the same since Iseult crossed over. And your family aren't as blind as you think. They know you've been ready to cross over for some time, and they're goin' to be thankful you got to go on your own terms. If any of them overmourn you, well, they're damned selfish, if you ask me." He held out his hand. "I had help crossin' over, and I want to do the same for you."
"Well, in that case, thank you." Patrick took Calum Senior's outstretched hand and stood - and almost wet himself when he saw his body, lying on the ground, eyes closed, a look of peace on his face. "What the hell...?"
His great-great-grandfather-in-law chuckled. "It's an unsettlin' process," he said. "I had the same thing happen when I crossed over. My advice? Don't look too long at your body; it'll give you the willies and you won't be able to take the high road with as much ease."
Still shaken, Patrick turned away from where his body lay on the grass, and felt a sense of relief come over him, almost as if he'd shed a great weight. "Thanks," he said gratefully. "But why did you come?"
"Because, boyo, two people shorten the road," Calum Senior said matter-of-factly. "Now, come you with me. You've got people waitin' for you."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBztRR3W2B
"Then let's go," Patrick said, and Calum Senior smiled as he led the younger man away, into the sunset.
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END
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