Rain and Revelation Read Online Free

family. Paddy McDonald.” He shakes Dr. O’Brien’s hand.
    Dr. O’Brien steers us down the hallway, outside the hearing of others waiting for news. “I’ve recommended that Mrs. Conroy be admitted to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin. They do an excellent job treating people with depression and have an in-patient program for which she qualifies. I’ve already been in contact with them, and they can admit her once we are confident she can travel.”
    “Annie’s always been a bit off in the head, but she’s not a nut job,” Da bellows. Paddy grabs his arm and tells him to mind himself.
    Dr. O’Brien grimaces. He says, “Mr. Conroy, your wife needs help. This isn’t the first time she has done this.”
    “What?” I say.
    Dr. O’Brien turns to me. “There are scars on her other wrist. It doesn’t look like it was a deep cut, but still I am concerned that if she doesn’t receive treatment, she may try to harm herself again.”
    Da shakes his head. “Hell, that was when she was a wee thing. She was just twelve or thirteen. Just playing around, she said.” Da turns to Paddy. “Didn’t she tell us about that? Her ma was pissed and gave her a beating for it. Remember?” Paddy shrugs.
    “I don’t think she’s playing around, Mr. Conroy. She needs help.”
    “Jaysus. What will people say? They talk, you know.”
    I swat the sleeve of Da’s jacket, which nearly knocks him over. Paddy steps forward and steadies Da.
    I say, “Can I see her?”
    Dr. O’Brien shakes his head. “I’m afraid she doesn’t want to see anyone, including you and your father. I’m sorry. She has agreed to go to St. Patrick’s—so, Mr. Conroy, your permission is not necessary.”
    Da huffs and staggers back to the chairs. With cap askew, he stretches and closes his eyes.
    Dr. O’Brien digs out a piece of paper from his pocket and holds it out to me. “It’s an excellent facility. Here is the name of the contact person. They will arrange transfer.”
    I take the paper. The small, nearly illegible writing blurs through a veil of tears. I nod. Paddy thanks the doctor, who excuses himself to see other patients.
    Tucking the paper in my pocket, I turn toward the door. “I’m out of here.”
    Paddy puts his arm out and stops me. “How are you getting back? Let me drive all of us home.” He tries to hug me, but I dodge his embrace and shake off his sympathy. Casting a glance at Da, I see he’s now spread himself over two chairs and has closed his eyes.
    “Don’t mind me. I’ll take care of myself.”
    I walk outside, through the now empty hall and out the main entrance. Then, I call Mikey.

Chapter Five
    The mist cools my puffy, tired eyes as I sit on the bench across the street from the hospital. In the shadows, under the burned-out street lamp, I wait for Mikey. It’s nearly eight o’clock now. Eventually Da and Paddy come out. They don’t see me. Paddy is holding Da up and saying something that I can’t make out because the wind has picked up and is whistling through the trees. They get into Paddy’s car.
    I watch Paddy’s taillights disappear.
    Mikey O’Neal eventually shows up, sounding his horn and pulling over. He lowers the window and smiles. “Fancy a lift?”
    I walk around and open the door of the car. It creaks. A carton of Benson and Hedges, mud-caked work gloves, and an assortment of candy and crisp wrappers clutter the stained cloth seat. Pushing them aside, I get in. On the floor is a six-pack of Harp.
    Mikey leans over and kisses me, but I don’t kiss him back.
    He pouts. “Why the puss face, love?”
    “How do you expect me to look after everything?”
    He stares at me blankly.
    “Did you even listen to my message?” I snap the seat belt into place, cross my arms and glare at him.
    “Ah, it was so long.” He reaches for my hand and puts it in on his crotch. “But a little Mikey love can fix anything. You know that.”
    When I yank my hand away and move closer to the door, he grins and leans