Forced into Love

Chapter Seven

 

Sunday Morning

Liam sits up in the buggy watching as the people pour out of the white building. He notices a couple moving slowly down the steps and his fists tighten on the reins. He feels a overwhelming desire to pummel the young male from the tavern as he escorts his very pregnant wife from the church. Liam is only calmed by the vision of blonde hair descending the steps and looking towards him.

He leaps from the buggy and moves toward the two women. He smiles his most charming as he extends his arm.

Buffy: Thank you.

Liam: My pleasure.

He glances toward the cemetery.

Liam: Do you want to make a visit before we go home?

Buffy: Would you mind?

Liam: Never.

He escorts her over and again steps back to give her privacy. She glances at him and smiles.

Buffy: I wish you could have met her.

Liam: I do too.

She kneels down and whispers a few words to the ground. She slowly stands back up and faces him with tears in her eyes.

Buffy: I am ready to go.

He resists the urge to take her in his arms and wipe away her tears but only holds out his arm. She wraps her hand around and lets him guide them back to the buggy. Willow follows them quietly. He helps the ladies into the buggy and drives them home. It is a silent trip back to the cedar house.

 

Late that evening

Liam and Buffy sit in front of the fire in the living room.

Liam: Buffy, tell me about her.

Buffy: About who?

Liam: Your mother.

Buffy: My mother? She was an amazing beautiful woman. There is a painting of her in their room. She had a soft voice and a sweet smile. She made you smile just knowing her.

Liam: She sounds wonderful. I can tell you love her deeply.

Buffy: I do. And she loves me…..loved me.

Liam: She still loves you. She may not be here but that doesn’t mean she will ever stop loving you.

Buffy: I know.

She looks at him and smiles.

Buffy: Can I get you anything?

Liam: I am fine.

Buffy: Then I shall retire.

He stands up and holds his hand out to her. She takes it and rises.

Buffy: Good night.

Liam: Good night to you.

She walks away and he lowers himself back into his chair. He places his elbows on his knees and rest his head on his fists as he stares into the fire. He sits for a long time thinking about his own mother and how he may never see her again and also of Buffy and how she knows she will never see hers. He frowns into the fire as he stands up and adds a log before heading down the hall.

He stops outside Hank’s room and steps inside. By the light filtering in the window he looks at the painting on the wall. He looks at her dark blonde hair and light eyes. By the soft light he takes in her subtle beauty and he has no problem seeing the strong similarities between mother and daughter. He smiles as he thinks about Buffy and how her youthful beauty is mirrored in the older woman before him. For the tiniest of moments he thinks about a daughter with that same lovely smile. It is only a fleeting thought before it is rapidly forced out.

He sighs and moves to their room. He quickly readies for bed and climbs into the warmth of the covers. He lies listening to the sounds of her breathing. He rolls over and props himself on his elbow and looks down into her serene face. He gently uses his finger to brush a strand of hair off of her face. He smiles at how peaceful she is. He watches her sleep for a few minutes and finds himself drawn to her slightly parted lips. When he finds himself wondering what she would taste like if he kissed her, he closes his eyes and rolls over.

He bends his knee and his foot accidentally rubs against hers. He takes a moment to rub his toe across the silky bottom of her foot before pulling back and shoving his face deep into his pillow. He again wants to curse his father for placing him here. He reminds himself why he can never give into his own physical desires. Eventually he is able to relax and fall to sleep.

 

Monday

Liam stands on the dock and watches the large ship move up the river. As she gets closer, he can see the crimson letters declaring her the Lady Scarlet. Liam watches as she pulls into the slip farther up stream. The men on board move quickly to secure her to her berth. As they lowers her gangplank, he sees a large imposing man step on deck. His confidence and demeanor let Liam know he is Captain Markham. Liam watches a few more minutes as the crew begins to unload the cargo before returning to his office.

He is still reading over Hank’s records when he hears a knock on the doorframe. He looks up to see the Captain of the Lady Scarlet filling the open doorway. Liam stands up and moves around the desk.

Markham: Looking for a Liam O’Connor.

Liam: You found him.

Captain Markham holds out his hand as he speaks.

Markham: Captain Pete Markham.

The men shake hands.

Liam: How can I help you Captain Markham?

Markham: I have a shipment for you.

Liam: What kind of shipment?

Markham: Not quite sure. Picked up the crate in Galway.

He glances down at the paperwork.

Markham: It’s from a John O’Connor.

Liam: My father.

Markham: Well you got a wagon to pick it up?

Liam: I do.

Markham: Then bring it round. The men should be unloading it soon.

Liam: I will be there shortly.

Markham: So I hear you’re running Summer’s port office here.

Liam: I am.

Markham: That’s good to know. Hank and I have worked together over the years. I hope that can continue.

Liam: I hope so too.

Markham: Well just bring the wagon over.

 

 

At the house

Buffy sits at the kitchen table peeling apples. A cool breeze comes through the open back door and cools her heated flesh. She sighs and uses her arm to sweep her damp hair off her face.

Liam: Hello

She jumps at the unexpected voice and turns toward him.

Buffy: Angel, what are you doing here?

Liam: Sorry, I scared you. Seems my father sent a crate.

Buffy stands up and wipes her hands on her apron. She follows him to the front doorway and watches as two dock workers unload the large crate onto the porch.

Worker: Mr. O’Connor, it will not fit through the door.

Liam: That is okay. Leave it there.

Worker: Do you want us to open it for you.

Liam: Please.

The men use a pry bar to remove the lid.

Liam: Thank you. You can take the wagon and return to the warehouse. I will see you in the morning.

Worker: Okay.

The two men drive off as Liam and Buffy glance into the crate. He picks up four pieces of paper from the top of the contents. Each bears a wax seal. He turns them over and looks at the names scrawled on them. Two are in his mother’s elegant penmanship and two are undeniably his sister’s shaky script. One from each bear his name and the other are addressed to Buffy. He hands them to her. She frowns and looks at him. They walk inside and sit down in the living room.

She slowly opens one and begins to read:

Dear Buffy:

I know we had so little time to get to know each other before you had to leave. I wish it could have been different. If there had been more time we could have celebrated your marriage in a more traditional manner. Angel’s grandparents and aunts and uncles were very disappointed they were not able to meet his beautiful bride. They were unable to attend the wedding but each of them wants to welcome you to our family. So they have all combined to send you these wedding gifts. It is their way of showing their love to both you and Angel.

I know you will take wonderful care of my son and you both will have a very happy life. Please give him both a hug and a kiss from me and let him know I love and miss him.

All my love,

Colleen

 

Buffy looks over at Liam and swallows.

Liam: What did she say?

Buffy leans over and places a soft kiss on his cheek while holding onto his shoulders in a gentle hug. He lightly wraps his arm around her waist and hugs her back. Buffy leans back and smiles.

Buffy: She loves you and misses you.

Liam turns his head so she can not see his face as he tries to control his emotions. He looks at his own letter and decides he will read it later in private.

Buffy: The crate contains wedding presents from all your family.

Liam: Oh.

Buffy opens her second note and begins to read.

Dear Buffy:

Hello. My name is Kathy O’Connor and I am your new sister. Mom says you don’t have any brothers or sisters so now you do. I only have Liam and I miss him so much. I love him so much. But I guess you do too. Well I hope you and he are very happy and I can not wait to be an aunt. Please write me so I can learn all about my new big sister.

Love,

Kathy

Buffy looks sad as she looks up at Liam

Liam: What did she say? Is everything okay?

Buffy: She also loves and misses you.

Liam: Is that all?

Buffy: And she is happy to have a sister.

Liam: Oh.

Buffy: You going to read yours?

Liam: Maybe later.

Buffy looks toward the door.

Liam: Want to see what they sent?

Buffy: Of course.

He stands up and offers her his hand. They step onto the porch and begin removing the contents. Buffy is awed as she lifts out the first piece of fine china. She holds up the plate and looks at the soft green floral design.

Liam: Reminds me of the color of your eyes.

Buffy looks at him surprised.

Liam: But then your eyes remind me of Ireland.

Buffy: What? My eyes remind you of Ireland?

Liam: Yes. They remind me of all the green hills and valleys. So alive and green.

Buffy looks back at the plate and carries it to the dining table. Willow joins them and they carefully unpack the entire crate. When done, the table is covered with china, crystal and silver to serve twelve.

Buffy: I still can not believe this

Liam: My mother never does anything in a small way.

Buffy: But who would ever need twelve settings

Willow: My mother would. Well before we all started leaving home

Buffy: But you had nine brothers and sisters.

She picks up a plate quickly.

Buffy: I really love this pattern.

Willow: Where are you going to put it all, ma’am?

Buffy: In the kitchen, I suppose.

Willow: China this nice needs it’s own cabinet where it can be displayed.

Buffy: I know. But that can wait until we can contact Mr. Temple.

Willow: Well I will put all this away.

Buffy: And I need to finish the pie.

She turns to Liam and smiles.

Buffy: You staying home?

Liam: I brought my work with me.

Buffy: If you need anything, please ask.

She steps into the kitchen and Liam glances into it to see Willow arranging the cabinets and Buffy peeling the apples. He watches for a moment before sitting at the secretary and going over the books. He finds himself listening to the soft feminine voices discussing dinner. It reminds him again of his mother and sister. He pulls the folded pieces of paper out and hesitates a second before opening them.

He is still sitting re-reading the words for about the fifth time when he notices a hand setting a glass of water beside him.

Buffy: It is hot today. This might help.

Liam: Thank you.

He reaches for the glass and takes a sip.

Buffy: I am sorry.

Liam looks at her in surprise.

Buffy: I am sorry we took you away from your home and family.

He can not believe she feels responsible and wants desperately to remove her guilt. He reaches over and takes her hand.

Liam: You are my family now and my home is with you.

He can not believe how easily the words come.

Liam: This is where I belong now.

As he watches her smile, he can not help but smile with her. Buffy glances down at his papers.

Buffy: Working on father’s records?

Liam: I am trying to understand what he has been doing. But I can not figure out his system.

Buffy: You can’t. He doesn’t have one.

Liam looks at her perplexed.

Buffy: Father may know ships and shipping but he is very disorganized. Mother use to try to straighten things but she was so sick the last year.

Liam: So how does he know what is going on?

Buffy: He keeps a lot of it in his head. He has the journals and tries to write it all down but some things never are. And then there are Captain Finn and Captain Marin. They both will leave a copy of the shipping records but never take time to write them in the journals.

Liam: That explains why I can not match most of these documents to anything.

Buffy: Mother and I use to go in about once a week and get it straightened up but then she well….

Liam: I understand. I will just have to take time and get it all reorganized. Thank you for your help.

He looks back down at the journal.

Buffy: Angel, I could do more.

He glances back at her.

Buffy: I mean help. I well, know how. But if you rather I not.

Liam: Don’t you have a lot here to do?

Buffy: Not really. Well not when father is gone. Willow does most the cooking and cleaning. My big contribution is desert. Well except on laundry day and it takes us both. But then you might not like me in your office all day.

Liam: Buffy.

Buffy: Sorry, was I rambling?

Liam: Not really. And yes I would appreciate your help. If you are sure you have time.

Buffy: I do.

Liam glances at the letters on the desk.

Liam: Buffy, I need to ask you to do something else for me.

Buffy: Of course, anything.

Liam: I would like to sketch you.

Buffy: What?

Liam: For Kathy. She mentioned in her letter she wanted a drawing.

Buffy: Oh, okay. She was so sweet in her letter to me. She even said I was her big sister.

Liam: She did? (he grins) Well I am not so sure about the big part. I can go for older maybe.

Buffy: What?

Liam: Kathy may be only twelve but she is almost as tall as you are.

Buffy: Are you calling me short?

Liam: No, I would say petite.

Buffy: Well I guess that is okay.

Liam: I think it is.

He glances back at the journal and shuts it.

Liam: This will have to wait for the morning.

Buffy: Do you want me go with you then?

Liam: I do.

Buffy: Then I will be ready.

She glances thru the doorway to the kitchen.

Buffy: If you will excuse me, I need to check on the apples.

Liam: Of course.

He smiles and watches her walk away. He is again amazed at the many facets of the girl that is his wife. He takes a long drink of the cool water and smiles at her subtle caring gestures. He is glad that they have been able to start to become friends.