A.N.: This chapter is dedicated to Leash for being the first to review to my story. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and if you've read any of my stories, you know that I dedicate the chapter to the first person to review after my update. Also, I usually give special thanks to everyone who reviews to every chapter. And I'm sorry for the long delay, I've been too preoccupied.
Summary: After the ferry accident, Morgan went back home to Widow's Vale. Colm proposed, but Morgan rejected. Now she's living her life without her love and with their daughter who knows nothing about magick.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, Cate Tiernan has that honor.
Leash: Oh, Hunter will most definitely come back. And I can't wait to get that far in this story. It's going to be awesome.
maliaphire: Um…I'm actually not quite sure about this, but I think the series is called Sweep because in the thirteenth book, Morgan's ancestor, Rose says, or thinks rather, that and it echos in Morgan's head when she's done reading Rose's diary. It's just a guess though.
HunterAndMorganForever: Yeah, sorry about that.
SummazStar: So do I actually.
mimeaba: Thanks so much for trying to support me.
Kates Master2: Sorry it took me so long.
Lies, Secrets, And Betrayals
Moira (One)
"Moira, do you want to go with us to Starbucks?" I turned around when I heard my name to see my two best friends, Tess and Vita running to catch up to me. School was out for the day and I'm not one to stick around after the final bell.
They came up to me panting and I said, I told you earlier that I couldn't. Mom's still at work, and I have to feed the dogs."
"But she's now home. She would never have to know," Tess pleaded. I was always jealous of Tess. She has beautiful blue eyes and short black spiky hair with magenta tips. She was gorgeous compared to my plain looks.
I opened my mouth to reinforce what I had said, but Vita gasped loudly and whispered, "Moira, there he is!" I turned around to look at the person she had pointed at and saw Ian. My eyes widened and I turned back to face them quickly. Ian Delaney, the new student from Ireland. He wasn't the cutest guy in school, but he was pretty close. And my friends know that I had a huge crush on him.
Okay, act cool, I thought. In our tiny little town of Widow's Vale, nothing interesting ever happens. You really have to go to the city to get any action whatsoever. But Ian Delaney had come to Widow's Vale with a bang. He always found something to do even when there was nothing to begin with. Mom could never know that I have a crush on him, it would be disastrous.
"Hello, Moira." Okay, so I wasn't acting cool. I'm not very good at being carefree when guys were around.
"H-Hey." And my voice stuttered. Great, just great.
He shifted his backpack and said slowly, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to Starbucks."
"Sure," I said gazing at him like a love-struck teen. Ian took my hand and started guiding me towards the school gates.
We started walking toward the Starbucks across the street when Vita yelled after us, "What about the dogs?"
I turned around and stuck my tongue out at them. They laughed. I could hear it echoing as we walked into the café.
Now, Starbucks was the place for every teen in town to go to. It had only been built about five years ago, so it wasn't even here when my Mom went to school here. But it you wanted to be cool, you go to Starbucks.
Ian led me to an empty table near the back of the coffee shop and asked me what I wanted. "Um, I think I'll just have a cup of black coffee with three spoons of sugar. Thanks." Wow, he's even going to pay for my coffee. How sweet.
My eyes followed him as he walked up to the counter. Actually, walked is the wrong word. Glided is more like it. Ian Delaney doesn't walk, he glides. I gave a humongous sigh and started toiling around with my three green streaks. It was supposed to have been wash-out dye for St. Patrick's Day, but it turned out to be permanent. Mom had refused to let me dye it again with my natural hair color. She said it would be "character-building." I, for one, think of it as the worst thing that had ever happened to me.
Ian came over a minute later with both our coffees. I muttered a thanks and tasted it. It burned my tongue instantly. A second later I felt the prickling behind my eyes. Great, just great. This is really acting cool. Burning myself on my coffee.
I swallowed hard and said, "So, how do you like it in Widow's Vale so far?"
He put his cup of coffee down on the table and nodded, "It's been nice. Everyone here treats me well, but I feel like I'm missing something."
"Oh, really? Do you miss Ireland?"
He laughed and said, "No, not really. The weather over there is horrible. It's so much better here. What I meant was I'm missing something that will keep me occupied while I'm here."
"Sorry, I can't help you there. I've lived here for fifteen years and I've never found a something." I tried to take another sip, but it was still too hot, even when I blew on it first.
"Here, I think I can help you with that," Ian put one of his hands over mine and his other hand over the top of his cup. He muttered something that I didn't catch. Actually, I think it was in another language altogether. But, I really didn't pay attention to that. All I cared about was Ian Delaney. The boy sitting across from me at the town Starbucks who is right now holding my hand and looking into my eyes like he can see my soul through them. "Try that."
I did and it was amazing. "Hmm. How did you do that?"
He gave me a teasing smile and said, "Magick."
I laughed and took another sip of coffee. I didn't really believe him. I knew he was just joking and not wanting to tell me the truth. Magick isn't real. But instead of lingering on that, Ian and I started talking about our families and interests.
"Well, my mother is a very sad person really. I feel bad for her mostly. My father, who was the love of her life, died in a ferry accident before I was born. Actually, it was before she even knew she was pregnant. It actually happened in Wales. Mom doesn't talk about him much, but she misses him so much. It's kind of scary actually. Other than that, all I can say about Morgan Rowlands is that she's very mysterious. Every once in a while we have some guest come over to the house and they go talk in another room where I can't hear what they're saying and they end up yelling. I never know what it's about, she always tells me it's about something that happened in her past that she doesn't want to bring back. But, she's an awesome mother. We have a lot of fun together."
"It seems to my Miss Niall that you adore your mother."
"It seems to me Mr. Delaney that you could be correct." He is so interested in me, I just know it. Inside, I was cheering. Outside, I was keeping my cool face trying to impress him.
He took both my hands in his and squeezed them lightly before saying, "Well, I think your amazing." Then all of a sudden the wind picked up in the café and everyone looked around wildly. The door hadn't been opened, but all of a sudden, it seemed a wind had started inside the Starbucks. Ian stood up in the midst of it and after a few seconds the wind died down and everyone went back to what they were doing. "I'm impressed, Moira Niall. You may turn out to be you mother's daughter after all."