Maggies face was unique, too. Different from the British girls hed grown up around. Staring at Maggie, he decided her looks were even more exotic than his mothers. Where his mothers hair was an Irish bright red and her skin as milky colored as clotted cream, Maggies hair was deeply auburn, with shiny copper highlights, and her skin tone was the golden color of summer sunlight.
Shed been right. Her looks were as much of a mishmash as her accent, but the total effect was stunning. Particularly her eyes. She looked at him for a moment, and once again, Colin found himself drawn into their mystical, green depths. The intimate exchange left him shaken.
Why had he ever considered traveling home with her? Yes, he was desperate to know more about his brother and the way he had died. But he should have found some other way. It seemed she was one of those vivacious and fiercely independent women, the kind that ran over everyone with her own plans. And that made her trouble. Just like his mother.
How much farther is it to your home? he asked, wishing he could have walked, rather than ride in this confining vehicle with her any longer.
She shot him a sideways glance. Zavala Springs is nearly a two-hour drive from the San Antonio airport, she admitted. Just relax.
Relax? Not a chance. He folded his arms and gazed into the complete darkness outside his window.
Colin, you never finished telling me about your brother. Why dont you tell me now?
Why not, indeed. At least it would take his mind off the woman sitting beside him.
JohnJohn was rather a sickly lad, he began gruffly. But when he was a child, before he turned six and became ill, I wanted to take him everywhere with me. He was sweet and charming. Everyone liked him and fussed over him. I wanted to show him off.
Come to think of it, Colin had always thought of his baby brother as a kind of trophy. Some wonderful possession. A pet.
But he had never considered his feelings toward John in this way before, so why the devil had he thought of them like that now?
He cleared his throat. John couldnt keep up with me after a while. Im not sure what his health condition was, I was too young to understand. But my mothers mother came from Ireland to live with us so she could cure him. She used natural healing techniques and other kinds ofumremedies.
Did it work? Did he get better?
I suppose so. But it took several years, and by that time my mother had decided she didnt want to live with us anymore. She and my grandmother took John and returned to Ireland.
He rubbed at the ache in his chest.
I guess I get the idea that sometimes husbands and wives go their separate ways, Maggie said softly. But I dont understand how your own mother could leave you behind. Did she explain her reasons to you?
He shook his head again, then realized she couldnt see his actions in the dark while concentrating on the road ahead. No. But I know my parents had a big row about it. In fact, theyd begun arguing every day. I never wanted to overhear their arguments, and tried to hide when the shouting began.
His eyes clouded over at the memory, but he set his jaw and continued. One day I heard them say my name. Later, when I went to my mother for an explanation, she was gone. Shed taken John and my grandmother and disappeared from my life.
Oh, Im sorry. Maggies voice held a note of deep sympathy that Colin would have rather avoided.
Hed never spoken of this with anyone. Why would he do so with a woman who made him uncomfortable?
What did your father have to say? Did he explain?
Well, hed been the one to start this. He had no choice but to finish the tale.
My father was a broken man without her. He lived another fifteen years, but he was never the same. We never spoke of my mother again. But I could see the hurt in his eyes every time he looked at me.
Looked at you? Why?
I have my mothers eyes, he answered as he shifted under his seat belt. So doesdidJohn. My father and I would speak of John often during those years. John wrote to me, you see, wrote all about his activities and asked about mine. The two of us carried on a grand correspondence throughout school. He was smart and funny in his letters, but we never spoke of Mother. Colin exhaled deeply. After graduation I suddenly became too busy to bother with a brother I barely
knew and wouldnt recognize. And then, while in the army, I lost track of him.
Youre too hard on yourself. I think its normal for young people to want to find themselves for a few years. I know both of my brothers did the same thing.
Colin had the distinct impression Maggies family would never be able to completely lose track of her.
But I dont understand why you two didnt try to see each other, she continued. After you were adults, I mean. Yall are family.
Not much of a family, he thought. But he wouldnt say so. He had already said more than he should.
We were never in the same hemisphere at the same time, he told her dismissively.
Maggie apparently understood his need to end the discussion of John for now. But that didnt mean she was done prying.