Bianca
As I sat there, sobbing at the enormity of what was happening, I felt like doing what my Dad had done; run away and end my life. But …I could not.
Heather, for all her sins, was a good soul, kind-hearted and sweet but utterly clueless. And Anna and Rose, my sweet younger sisters, who were five years younger than me, deserved a better life. Nelson would not hesitate to prostitute them, I thought grimly if I was not around.
A soft hand on my shoulder made me look up. It was Heather.
She sank to her knees beside me, so that we were on eye level.
“I’m sorry Bianca,” she said and I melted.
I threw my arms around her and wept.
“I failed you, I failed my husband, your father. But…I loved him and he never told me…”
I pushed away and smiled,
“It’s ok, Heather, I’m trying to get someone to help me.”
A pair of brilliant blue eyes and a set of tawny eyes flashed into my mind’s eye and I shivered.
Heather looked at me in concern.
“No, darling,” she said and I felt Rose and Anna beside me, their hands on my shoulders too.
“We’re a family, girls, all of us,” declared Heather,” and we shall fight this thing together!”
And she pumped her fist in the air.
The twins looked at her and smiled, but there was a world of understanding in their eyes, blue like Heather’s when they looked at me.
I smiled, despite my blue mood.
Heather had a flair for drama, I had to admit.
*
But later that night, I lay sleeplessly tossing and turning on the narrow bed I shared with Heathe, for the twins ah another small cot for themselves.
Would O’Grady help me?
Because I could not think of any Plan B.
*
The next morning, as I prepared breakfast for the twins with Heather sipping chai at the little table in the kitchen, Anna rushed in.
“There’s a shiny black car, a big one, outside our door,” she cried excitedly.
I looked around in irritation. Was that creep Nelson back again?
Then Rose ran in, her pale face alight as she cried,
“Bee, there’s a man here, and he is asking for you.”
I frowned. I was still in my old tee shirt and shorts, for I was yet to change to go to the bakery.
The task of preparing food for the family fell on my shoulders; Heather had almost burnt eh house down when she tried to cook one evening. Ever since I made her sit down where I could keep an eye on her while I cooked.
Irritated now, I stormed out, yelling over my shoulder at Anna to flip the pancakes.
*
And came to an abrupt halt.
Liam O’Grady stood in the center of the room, his hands in his perfectly creased, expansive trouser pockets. He was in a solid beige linen three-piece suit, double-breasted and tailored to fit. On any other man, I thought faintly, it would look silly. But Liam with his powerful shoulders straining under the material, and his well-trimmed beard, made me weak a the knees, just looking at him.
And he looked so out of place in our shabby little home, I wanted to scream.
To top it all, Finn St Just sat on the old armchair, lounging like he owned the place. To offset his tawny eyes, he was in a charcoal grey suit, as immaculate as his brother. But their eyes were on me as I stood in the doorway, my mouth open.
‘Close it, lass. Don’t want to catch a fly or two, eh?” mocked Liam and I felt my face flame.
I was uncomfortably aware that I was in my old shorts that came up to my thighs, upper thighs, that is. The large old T-shirt I was wearing, had pancake mix and a couple of stains that had become part of the outfit.
And my long hair was in an untidy topknot at the top of my head…
I looked like the maid. All I needed was a mop.
**
I shifted from foot to foot as I stood, uncertain and embarrassed.
“Come in lass,’ said Finn and it was more like a command.
I walked in, thinking how weird it was. It was my house, but Finn had ordered me to come inside like he owned me. And I had unhesitatingly obeyed him.
The thought made me blush.
Liam indicated a chair that he had pulled out, between the both of them.
“Sit down, lassie, you might need it,” he said with a faint smile and I felt the familiar shiver, the flutter in my belly as I met his eyes.
I sat, placing my hands primly in my lap, my knees together, for I was aware of how the t-shirt had ridden up, exposing my thighs. I pushed a tendril of hair off my face and met O’Grady’s eyes.
Dredging up a confidence I did not feel, I said in as firm a voice as I could manage,
“Yes Mr O’Grady?”
Finn drew up his chair but before he could sit down, Heather swayed in tipsily.
I groaned, she had sneakily had a shot of whatever she had hidden away, though I had thought I had confiscated all her vodka.
Now, swaying a little but beaming brightly, she said gaily,
‘Well, well, well! Gentlemen visitors! And you did not tell me, Bianca dear!”
Here she smiled coyly at Finn who stared at her stonily.
“Shall I get you some …coffee?”
She simpered.
I slapped my forehead and made to rise but Liam gripped my shoulder and squeezed lightly.
‘I’ve got his, little dove,” he said in a low voice and I sank back, astonished
He stepped forward, extending his hand with a rakish smile on his handsome face.
“You must be Bianca’s mom. Ah, such a lovely lassie, eh, Finn?” And he looked at his grim-faced brother who stared ahead.
“I’m Liam O’Grady and this here is my brother, Finn St Just.”
As Heather looked from one to another, eyes round, her mouth open in an O, I sighed.
Liam had her eating out of his palm by now.
Stroking her care-worn hand, he added, in a conspiratorial voice,
“We’re here with a job offer for Bianca.”