Ten months later...
The clinking of glasses against the bar greeted Katie as she entered The Anvil and she grinned as she saw the glass pyramid that Murphy had built. Moving quickly to the bar, she hopped up on the stool across from him and raised her eyebrows.
"Is this what you do at work?"
"No, he's actually bein' semi fuckin' productive now." Connor's voice came from behind the bar and he stood up with another box of glasses. "It's amazin' just how much of this shite Uncle Sibeal let go."
"Like I don't fuckin' do anythin' already. Who re-polished the fuckin' floor?" Murphy scuffed but his concentration was on the glass he was carefully arranging on the top of the pyramid.
"That's my Murphy. Hardworking and creative." She grinned as he gave her a look, tossing her the towel in response. "Can I get what I came here for?"
"Ah, ye want me ta leave the room?" Connor's chuckle made her turn red and she rolled her eyes.
"Your wife?"
"I'll get Sara. Her ankles were swellin' again so she's layin' down." Murphy shook his head again at Katie before going through the doorway to the backroom.
"Hey barkeep, can I get a drink?"
"I'm on me honeymoon." His response was muffled again as he ducked below the bar.
"Fuck, Conn. You've been off your honeymoon for six months now. Your wife is eight months pregnant. Wake up." Katie laughed as he gave her a look identical to the one she'd already received from Murphy. Sighing dramatically, he moved to lean against the counter before her.
"Shh. I'm fuckin' pretendin' here." He took the glass off of the top of Murphy's pyramid and gestured to her. "What do ye want?"
"The usual. Without the kick."
"Fuck, Katie. Ye can get that down at the grocery."
"But the grocery doesn't have cute barkeeps to serve it to me." She started taking down the now lopsided pyramid as images of it falling and glass flying began to bother her. Lining them up on the bar, she smiled as she caught Connor watching her with a raised eyebrow.
"First, we are fuckin' bartenders, not barkeeps. Welcome ta the new millennium. Second, what the fuck are ye doin'?"
"You know you're going to have to clean up your language once the baby comes, right?" Drinking the orange juice, she finished lining up the glasses in a neat little row before looking up again. Connor was still watching her with raised eyebrows. "I'm organizing. Doc taught me well."
"Thanks for takin' home with ye, Kat. She's drivin' the both o' us nuts all day." He lowered his voice but she didn't miss the smile growing across his face. His words and his expressions were battling but she understood. Pregnant Sara had been a unique experience the whole time. And as much as she loved her friend dearly, she understood the need to escape the mood swinging drama.
"What a friend you are, Katie! I'm going to drink right in front of you the whole nine months you're pregnant." Sara moved slowly from behind the bar, leaned against the counter near Katie with a glare.
"Think she can have some, Conn? I'm feeling sorry for her here."
"Sure." He laughed in response as Sara's eyes widened.
"Connor! I can't drink."
"Relax, Sara. It's O.J."
She took Katie's glass with a suspicious look and sniffed it before taking a sip. Setting it back down in front of Katie, she leaned against one of the stools. "I'll take the same."
"I thought the two o' ye were leavin'." Murphy leaned in from the doorway, his grin wide. "Ye're goin' ta scare away the customers."
"Yes, because they've never seen us before. It's a good thing you've done such a good job of hiding us away." Katie said dryly, sharing a look with Sara.
"Ye took down me glass castle." He moved in and swiped her glass, draining it before looking at her strangely. "That was fuckin' orange juice. New rule: we don't serve drinks ye can get at Ma's."
"Murph, I've seen your mother's liquor cabinet. There's very little you'd be able to serve if you went by that rule." Sara laughed softly as she set her empty glass down. "Can I get another to go?"
"Christ, Sar. We've already got an entire set o' swiped bar glasses ye've taken home already." Connor came up from behind the bar again to look at her.
Katie patted his hand. "But I don't have any at my cottage. And that's where we going." She winked at him. "I'll bring it back. I promise."
Murphy filled the glass and slid it back down to Sara who nodded toward the door. "Let's go. I'm ready to cut my feet off at the ankles."
"That'd be pretty." She squeezed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "But we do have a date with a hot actor and a tub of Ben and Jerry's."
Sara stopped short and shot her a look. "It's not Patrick again, is it?"
"Nope. I took your suggestion. Our character de jour is named after his dog."
"Oh, dear sweet Indiana. I've missed him. Chunky Monkey?"
"And Cherry Garcia." Katie opened the door but paused as she heard her name.
"Wait, girls. We've got a question ta ask ye." Murphy moved toward them from behind the bar, followed by a sighing Connor. "We heard Ma had a talk with ye."
Katie shared a laughing look with Sara. This was a moment they'd been waiting to come since Ma had sat them down two days ago, offering to share the big family secret. They knew the twins would find out about it and they knew they would in turn badger them to know the truth.
"Yes?" She raised her eyebrows innocently, smiling widely as Murphy and Connor exchanged an annoyed look.
"And did she tell ye?"
"Tell us what?" Sara sounded bored and Katie had to force back another laugh.
"Well, which one o' us is it then?" Connor crossed his arms over his chest.
"Which one of what?" Katie took the answer this time, and she could hear the shared exhale of the two men.
Murphy tried a charming smile this time. "Give it up already. Which one o' us is the fuckin' first born?"
"Oh." She glanced over at Sara, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, you want to know about that talk with Ma. I'm afraid we can't tell you the answer."
"Katie. Sara. Come on." Connor sighed again, and she could tell he was trying hard to not be annoyed. Sara put her hand on his arm and Katie knew she was going to cave. She always gave in sooner when they were teasing the guys, especially after marrying one of them.
"We can't tell you because we don't know."
"What do ye mean ye don't know, Sara? Da said that Ma was goin' ta tell ye."
Katie laughed softly. "She tried. We refused to be told."
"Fuck, Katie." Murphy eyes widened. "Why'd ye go and do that? We want ta know. "
"We have a right ta know." Connor added.
"You already know." Sara patted his arm again. He turned his head to share another look with Murphy.
"We want to know which one o' us is fuckin' right, then."
"You already know, Conn."
Smiling again, Katie looked both of them. "You both decided long ago who was older. It wouldn't be right for us to tell you differently."
There was a pause of silence before Murphy sighed. "Ye really aren't goin' ta find out for us, are ye?"
Sara started laughing first and Katie found herself joining in as she caught Sara shaking her head.
"Katie, I told you they wouldn't see it our way."
"They will. We just haven't trained them yet." Grinning, she put a hand on Sara's shoulder and pushed her gently toward the door. "We told 'em what we know. Let them fight it out."
"Night boys!" Sara waved, still laughing. Both brothers waved their hands in response and turned their glares to Katie, who smiled sweetly back.
"Have a good night." She turned toward the door and heard identical sighs of frustration.
"I'll come get 'er when we close." Connor said as she opened the door. Katie turned back.
"I don't mind sharing my bed for the night."
"Aye, I know ye don't. But how about I trade ye Murph for Sara? He can share yer bed instead."
"I didn't know you were Murph's pimp."
Murphy cleared his throat. "I'm me own fuckin' pimp. But I've got ta let him in anyway, so I may as well stay the night."
"Okay, but I'm not leaving money on the nightstand for you." She stepped out of the doorway and kissed him. His arms snaked around her and Katie found herself dipped in his arms.
"If ye're lucky, I'll let ye make me breakfast instead."
She just laughed as he brought her back to stand up and she shook her head at Connor. "He's yours for the night. And that's what makes me lucky. Good night, boys."
"Night, Katie." Connor grinned and waved her out the door. "Me wife's goin' ta steal yer car if ye keep stayin'."
"Wish me luck." She flashed them another grin as she headed out the door. She heard Murphy's laugh and the crash of a chair and knew instantly what they were doing. And she couldn't help but wonder which one would end up pinned and muttering 'Ye're the older twin."
In the end, it wouldn't matter, she knew. There'd be a winner tonight, and a different one next week, and on it would continue as long as possible. The only thing that mattered was that they were brothers, twins and that they were happy. If they had it their way, they'd fight, drink and love the best way they know how, and probably break a few more laws along the way. But that didn't matter either. Not to those who loved them most. Because, after all, they were men and sinners at best, not saints.
Kinda, actually, maybe...
The End (of Paying for Vengeance)...
Coming soon...Depth of Faith