Molly's Cop (7 page)

"That is amazing."

"They love each other, Molly. Pop always says that there was something special about Ma the second he set eyes on her. Just like when I first saw you," he added with a smile. "I wanted to blister your cute little backside right then and there."

"I am sure most men don't think of spanking before they think of kissing!" she declared.

"I thought of that, too," he assured her, and then he kissed her. When he pulled away he said, "I have plans for this evening, Molly, but I will see you tomorrow. Get settled in, and if you need anything, tell the folks." At her bereft expression, he added, "I promised a friend I would participate in a volunteer basketball game at the youth center. I can't let those kids down, and you would be bored. I will be too busy to spend any time with you. It's pretty much just the kids and the volunteers... all male."

"It's good of you to volunteer, Michael," she said with a smile, overwhelmingly relieved that another woman wasn't a part of his plans for the evening.

She found Mary after Michael left and asked to be put to work. Mary gave her the task of washing the 'good dishes' so they could be used the next day. "They can't go in the dishwasher, dear. I hope you don't mind...?" she asked.

"I would love to help," Molly replied with a smile. Doing dishes was a comforting act and she knew how to do it well. Mary finished putting a pretty tablecloth on the table and then came to help dry dishes.

"Are you feeling better now, Molly?" she asked. "Feeling more at home?"

"I'm not used to being part of a huge family, but I feel safe and happy," she acknowledged. "I really do care about Michael," she added, wanting to be honest.

"Oh, I know that, my dear. I know my son very well. He is in love with you, but it will take him a while to admit to that. He is so much like his father!" Mary blushed and then giggled, "Right down to the spanking!"

Molly had to laugh. "He told me how you and Mr. O'Keefe met. I'm surprised you didn't throw the flowers in his face and refuse to go to the movie with him!"

"Oh, goodness! I was afraid to do that, Molly! Seamus would have spanked me again, and I was much too sore to permit that to happen again. Besides, he was the first man I met that made me feel special. My temper didn't frighten him, and I found that refreshing. I felt safe and cherished with my Seamus, and I still do."

Chapter Five

Molly surprised Michael when she came to Mass with his family. On the Sundays he did not have to work he always arrived at St. John's before the others in his family, and like his Father, he wore a suit and a tie. He gave the pretty redhead a smile when his Ma gave her a gentle push inside the pew to take a seat beside him. "I didn't know you are Catholic...?" he whispered, and she nodded. She'd surprised his parents, too, when she asked the night before what time they attended, and if she might have a ride. And, Molly admitted that she'd been surprised when all but one of the O'Keefe children still living at home got up early and accompanied their parents to Church. Mary told her that once their children turned eighteen they were free to decide on their own about such matters.

Once Mass was over they all went back to the O'Keefe house to get ready for their guests. Mary had no qualms at all about putting every pair of hands to work, and she even sent Seamus upstairs to wake Sabrina so she could pitch in, too. Molly didn't have time to fret over the fact she was about to meet so many people she didn't know, but when the kitchen door opened and Aunt Jenny walked in first and gave her a big hug, she felt pleased to see at least one friendly face she already knew.

"My three will all be here, Mary, and they are all bringing potato salad!" she said with a laugh. "Did my daughters-in-law talk to each other first? No!"

"And what did you bring, Jenny?" Mary asked. "A pineapple salad and some baked beans, of course. Michael's favorites."

"Thanks, Aunt Jenny!" Michael leaned down to kiss the petite woman. "See, Ma, I'm Aunt Jenny's favorite, too!" he declared, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Today is your special day, young man!" Jenny said with a laugh. "Now you run down to the basement and put this in the fridge down there until it's time to eat. Your Ma doesn't need to be making a thousand trips up and down those creaky steps."

"Those steps are not creaky, Jenny," Seamus informed his sister-in-law. She loved to jab him with those kinds of comments.

"You finally got around to fixing them, huh?" Jenny teased mercilessly.

"Twelve years ago!" he responded dryly.

"Would you two behave just once!" Mary scolded fondly. "Jenny, would you check the scalloped potatoes for me?" she asked when the doorbell rang. She and Seamus went to see which of their relatives was arriving, stepping around all the tables and chairs blocking their way.

"Don't worry, Molly. I'll stick with you and keep you safe," Michael said. "Come with me so I can introduce you. Now that Aunt Jenny has taken over the kitchen, you won't be needed out here."

Molly was truly shocked when the people kept coming and coming. There were lots of children, and people in Seamus and Mary's age group, and lots of people in between the two groups. Michael introduced her to all of his siblings she hadn't yet met, and all of them, with one noticeable exception, greeted her warmly and made her feel welcome in the family. Michael's oldest brother, Patrick, leaned down and kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for coming into Michael's life. You are very special to him, and we are happy to have you as part of our family." Molly thanked him, her green eyes misting over with tears. Did all of the O'Keefe family believe in love at first sight?

It was only a few minutes later that Patrick's wife sought her out and said with a smile, "I am Linda, Patrick's wife. I was overwhelmed the first time I met all of them, too. This family is huge, Molly. No one expects you to remember who they are today. It will all come gradually. They were all very patient with me, and they will be with you, too. Don't you just love Mother Mary?" she asked. "No one believes me when I tell them I love my mother-in-law, but I do love her. She has been so supportive of Patrick and me, and when I've needed advice, she is a wonderful sounding board."

"I like her a lot, and I'm not usually so open with strangers, but I honestly feel as if I belong already," Molly confessed.

"Good. I was hoping you would say that. It's the way all of us in-laws have felt when introduced to the family. Oh, Pop Seamus is wanting to say grace!" she whispered and hurried to go and stand with her family.

Michael made his way to her side and took her hand in his, and Molly noticed that all of the families had gone to gather together in small groups. Aunt Jenny was standing in the middle of her sons and their wives and their children. Molly felt grateful for Michael's presence. She wasn't used to being included.

Seamus started by welcoming everyone and telling them how proud he and Mary were of Michael for working so hard and earning his promotion. Everyone clapped and cheered, and Seamus said, "Such hard work deserves a reward, and son, this envelope is from all of us here. He crossed the floor and handed it to Michael with pride, and Michael said, "I wasn't expecting gifts, Pop!"

"Open it, Uncle Michael! I want to see!" one of the nieces said with a giggle, making everyone laugh, and then she added, "You forgot to wrap the present, Grandpa!" The laughter grew even louder as Michael opened the flap and took out a gift certificate to one of the local building suppliers.

Michael showed it to Molly, his eyes full of surprise and shock. "This is too much, Pop!"

"No it isn't!" Aunt Jenny said firmly. "You deserve every penny of that, young man. We are all very proud of you."

"Thanks, Aunt Jenny," he said emotionally, giving Molly's hand a squeeze. "Thank you, everyone. I am stunned."

"Your brothers and I expect to help you install a new kitchen, son. You should be able to make it real nice with that gift certificate."

"It should be the show kitchen in the family!" Michael stated with a whistle. "Thank you all. When it is all done, I'll have you all over for a party to celebrate!" he promised. There were lots of nods and comments, and then Seamus invited them to say the blessing together.

They did, and Seamus invited everyone to eat, telling Michael to lead the way since the dinner was in his honor.

"Pop, let the little ones go first. They're starving," Michael suggested, having overheard a couple of his nephews begging to eat. "I feel honored just having my family here with me today."

"You heard the man; kids first. Parents, you help them," Seamus bossed with love, and wasn't surprised when Mary and his single children went to help the parents. It always seemed like a mass scene of chaos, but in relatively short time, everyone had made a trip through the dining room and helped themselves to food from the heavily laden dining room table. The desserts were on the buffet, and the drinks were on a table he'd placed in the corner of the dining room that very morning. Mary had covered its surface with a pretty cloth, and everything in the room looked wonderful. Tables and chairs were set up everywhere, including several kid sized tables that Seamus turned out in his workshop. He and Mary always filled their plates last, and he was not a bit surprised that Michael and Molly waited for everyone else to be served before they got in line. Michael was a lot like his Ma, and like him, too. He was unselfish like Mary, and he took care of others, like Seamus was used to doing. It was a good feeling, and of all his children, Michael chose the career in which he could be of the most help to the community as a whole. The others were good, too, and made a difference in many ways, but he felt Michael's career was the most difficult. He put his hand on his son's shoulder and when Michael turned to smile at him, he smiled back.

Michael was pleased that Molly seemed to be having a good time. He had watched as most of his siblings approached her and spent a couple of minutes getting to know her better... all except Kathleen. His sister looked like she was a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. Michael didn't think that Lloyd looked upset in any way, so he doubted that he and Kathleen had a fight just before they came. In fact, Lloyd seemed unaware of his wife's simmering anger, which was unusual.

The only two seats available in the living room were with Kathleen and Lloyd and against his better judgment, Michael led Molly over to their table and they sat down. "Thanks for saving us a seat, Kathleen," he said with a grin. When she shot him a look that would singe hair, he asked, "What is your problem today, honey?"

"I don't have a problem," she immediately replied, giving him a meaningful look.

Lloyd immediately gave his wife a stern look and said, "Kathleen, have you tried the ham? It's delicious; I think Mother Mary made it."

"Everything Mama makes is delicious, Lloyd," she said with exaggerated patience.

"Kathleen, Michael told me you helped him landscape the yard at his house. It is beautiful; you are very talented," Molly hoped a compliment would ease the tension at the table. Kathleen was the one who gave her a hate-filled look when they were introduced earlier. She honestly didn't know why Kathleen took such a dislike to her, but it did not feel good, and Molly could see that Michael was puzzled, too.

"I was happy to do it for my brother; I love him."

"Of course you do," Molly agreed, and then asked, "Just what is your problem with me, Kathleen? As far as I know, today is the first time we have met? You haven't been a client in the law firm I work for, have you?" Molly asked, deciding to face the problem at once.

"I don't even know where you work... or that you even have a job. What I object to is that Michael met you on the job and then brought you into my parents' home! You are some kind of criminal, or--"

Michael cut his sister off. "That is enough, Kathleen," he said quietly but firmly. "Molly is in no trouble at all. I rescued her from a roommate who was using Molly's situation to lie to her father and get money from him. Molly had nowhere to go and no family except her Grandmother, who has Alzheimer's and is in a care facility. You might as well know right now that I recognized Molly, and I won't tolerate your rudeness towards her." Michael knew that some of his other siblings and their spouses were listening to his words. "Do you honestly think I would endanger the folks or the kids?" he demanded.

"Kathleen, you will apologize right now, and we will be discussing this further when we get home today," Lloyd said quietly, and Molly immediately knew what he meant, as did everyone else sitting close enough to hear.

"No!" she spoke directly to Lloyd. "In Kathleen's place I am sure I would feel the same way!" She looked at Kathleen and stated, "I promise I am no threat to your family or to Michael. I have no way to prove that to you except through time. If not for Michael I would literally be on the street right now," she whispered.

"Why? If you have a job in a law firm, you should be able to afford housing," Kathleen was persistent in her dislike of Molly and the situation.

"I support my Grandmother. Gram raised me, supported me, and now I do the same for her. Her care is very expensive."

Something melted within Kathleen and she said, "I am so sorry, Molly. I had no idea."

"If you had been home on time like you promised, you would have been able to call your Mother and she would have told you all of this," Lloyd stated with a frown. "Instead, you made assumptions that were not true and embarrassed yourself by making a fool of yourself."

"I love Michael, Lloyd!" she retorted, her temper flaring again.

"He is a grown man, Kat. Now eat your food before it grows cold." She gave him an angry look, which he pointedly ignored in favor of telling Michael, "I am sure Kathleen will apologize tomorrow, Michael. Please accept my apologies in the meantime. Molly, Kat's biggest fault is her temper and her tendency to jump to conclusions that are not always true. She will soon grow to love you and see you as the beautiful young woman you are; I am truly sorry your first impression of Kat is this one."