There was a time when I would have been shocked to hear her say that about her husband. I had long been under the impression I was merely tolerated by the majority of my wife’s family, especially her parents. I couldn’t be sure of all the factors surrounding the negative sentiment, but I knew the primary reason was because of my religious beliefs since I had been told as much. In fact, I had even been accused more than once of corrupting Felicity, which was laughable given that she had been a practicing Witch long before I ever met her.
However, very recently, some of the dynamic had radically changed due to an O’Brien clan secret that had been brought into the light. With it had come a personal revelation that, while minor in comparison to the secret itself, was monumental to me: it was the fact that Shamus was really the only one who truly had the issues.
Unfortunately, his self-righteous attitude where I was concerned hadn’t dulled in the wake of the shakeup, even though he was actually the one harboring the dirty deeds. It didn’t seem to matter to him that the family skeleton revealed was the fact that he had carried on an extramarital affair with his sister-in-law, Caitlin, and had even fathered a child with her. Granted, something like that certainly wasn’t the end of the world, but it wasn’t exactly nothing either. However, Maggie had apparently forgiven him since she had found out about it early on, and they had still stayed together all these years. So, in that sense, it was all water under the bridge. The real problem was that his lapse of fidelity went far deeper than simple betrayal. The child the union had produced was instantly given up for adoption under pressure from the family. Again, not a truly big deal until you considered the fact that she had eventually grown up to become a twisted serial killer named Annalise Devereaux.
While Shamus couldn’t necessarily be blamed for her sociopathic tendencies, I would have thought such an outcome would at least give him pause. Especially given that a partial DNA match had prompted murder charges being brought against his daughter with Maggie-namely, Felicity.
But, it hadn’t. And, since he still tried to twist everything that had happened to somehow be my fault, I was firmly convinced I would never be able to understand his particular level of arrogance.
“Are you certain you’re okay, Rowan?” Maggie finally asked.
“What?”
“I asked if you’re certain you are okay,” she repeated. “You seem a bit disconnected.”
I sighed. “I suppose I am. I have quite a bit on my mind. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
“Thanks.”
“So here we are. I understand why you want to avoid Shamus, but what about Felicity, then?” she asked, cocking her head to the side and giving me an odd glance. “Are you keeping secrets from her now?”
Her question was honest and direct, so I answered in kind, “Only when I don’t want her to worry.”
“What is it you aren’t wanting her to worry about?”
My inability to broach the subject I had come here to discuss was now moot. Thankfully, Maggie was providing the opening, even if she didn’t realize it.
I dug in my jacket pocket then extracted a small jar that had originally held some herb or spice. At first glance, the capped glass cylinder appeared to be filled with nothing more that tiny white granules. However, I gave it several rapid shakes, and the crystals shifted to reveal a delicate chain, at the end of which was a pendant. I continued carefully tapping the jar against the edge of the table until I had successfully uncovered the small half coin ornament, bringing its face fully into view.
Holding the container at an angle, I showed it to Maggie. “I need for you to tell me whatever you can about this necklace.”
My mother-in-law looked through the glass at the piece of jewelry. Her face had bordered on being expressionless as she leaned forward, but I caught a quick smile that was immediately followed by a frown tugging hard at the corners of her mouth. With a quiet sigh she sat back and looked up to my face then shrugged while shaking her head as if there was nothing to tell.
“I’m used to seeing Felicity wear that. Does she know you are carrying it about in a bottle?”
“As a matter of fact, she does.”
“What is in there with it?” she asked. “It looks like salt…or maybe sugar.”
“You were correct on the first guess. Salt.”
“Do you mind if I ask why?”
“It’s complicated, but trust me, I have my reasons.”
She glanced back at the bottle for a moment as if her eyes were drawn there, then looked up and stared over my shoulder. “Honestly, I try not to think too much about that necklace. Of course, that’s hard when I see it around my daughter’s neck.”
“Why?”
“Like you, I have my reasons.”
“I see. Felicity said you gave it to her,” I offered.
“Yes, years ago. When she was a teenager.”
“So, it’s a family heirloom then?”
She finally brought her gaze back to meet mine. “Yes and no. I’m sure that it was for someone,” she mused. “But, not my family. Shamus gave it to me for my birthday a long time ago.”
I nodded. “So then it didn’t belong to his mother or someone else on his side either?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head again. “It’s definitely an antique, but he bought it while he was away on business in New Orleans.”
The reference to the Crescent City alone was enough to make me catch my breath. Less than three months ago I had been there in search of Annalise, and more importantly, Miranda. It was starting to look like my suspicion may be closer to the mark than I originally imagined.
“If you don’t mind my asking,” I began, “if this was a birthday gift…”
She interrupted and finished the question “…why did I give it away?”
I shrugged. “Well…yes.”
“Unpleasant memories,” she replied, a coldness in her tone. “You see, I later found out my sister was with him on that trip. I think you know the rest of that story.”
“Which would be your reason for not thinking about the necklace,” I stated the obvious as my brain did the math.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I’d be dredging that up again.”
She gave me a thin smile. “It isn’t your fault, Rowan. It had been dredged up anyway. Don’t worry about it.” She bobbed her head toward the necklace. “In retrospect I really should have taken it to a jeweler or pawnbroker years ago, then I would actually have been rid of it. But I didn’t and that is my fault. Felicity found it in my jewelry case when she was borrowing something.” She shrugged then added, “She was just so taken with it that I gave it to her. I regret the decision every time I see her wearing it.”
I nodded. “I can understand that.”
“My turn for a question then. Why do you have a sudden interest in this particular necklace?”
I glanced at the bottle as I turned it in my hands, then stuffed it back into my pocket and cleared my throat. “It’s hard to explain, Maggie. And I don’t mean to sound secretive. Really. Let’s just say I’m trying to get something straight in my head is all, and the necklace is a part of it.”
“I see,” she replied. “And this something would in some way make Felicity worry?”
“Yes, I’m certain it would.”
“But she isn’t already concerned that you are carrying the necklace around in a bottle of salt?”
I sighed. “Like I said, it’s hard to explain.”
She let out a flat chuckle. “Actually, I understand… Your motivation at least… I know it hurt Felicity to find out what her father had done. If she knew the story behind that necklace…”
“I won’t tell her,” I said as her voice trailed off. “I promise.”
“I won’t press you about your reasons then,” she said. “I may not believe the same things you and my daughter apparently do, Rowan, but I know that you love her just as she loves you. And I believe that you are convinced that you are doing what is best for her.”
“Thanks, Maggie,” I said with a smile. “I appreciate that. And, you’re right. On all counts.” I paused for a second then continued. “So, I only have a couple more questions, I promise. Since the necklace was an antique, do you know if Shamus received any sort of paperwork with it? Something that might have given a history or identified
