Page 31 of Paddy
“Traveling ain’t all it's cracked up to be. I miss my son a lot on the road. Only thing important is if your husband at least makes you happy?”
“He does,” Queenie beamed. “We have hard times too, but I feel like I got lucky in that department. He's such a good father, and when I'm drowning, he doesn't just wait for me to sink. Hehelps me more than what I was taught a man would do for his wife.”
“See, that kind of wellness you can't pay for. Having a present father is worth more than seeing the world. You're truly rich when you got a good man in your life.”
“Only real good man is a dead one,” Órfhlaith joined in, lighting a cigarette as she laughed.
“Órfhlaith, don't be so cynical,” Queenie warned.
“What, it's not like I'm talking about my brothers. Besides, they're not really men, more like little devils that wear human skin. They're good uncles, though. Shite at everything else,” Órfhlaith joked. Her signature stare burning holes into my skin as I caught her attention. “So, you're an actress?”
“I'm actually a pianist, but I can sing too. When I've done big studio films, it was mainly musical numbers, but I’ve had decent roles in race films too.
“That's interesting. Only thing my parents ever nourished in me was taking care of my brothers. Only thing I've ever been good at, so I envy you,” she said with a sinister smile.
“Well, your brother, Paddy must have learned from the best, because he's wonderful with Elijah.”
“I'm sure he does his best,” Órfhlaith downplayed Paddy's capabilities. “It does worry me when he's gone for too long though.”
“Why is that?”
“Paddy's decent when he's awake, but he gets those damn bloody nightmares from time to time. He’s got shell shock like a bitch.”
“Órfhlaith!” Queenie interrupted.
“What, I just thought she should know.”
“Paddy stays downstairs in the apartment below ours, so I’ve never seen that side of him. But if it’s really that bad, what should I know?” I asked with genuine concern.
“Convince him that he's here, not on a battlefield. You slam a door, it bloody thunders—he hears the crack of a firework, and he jumps out of his skin. Brings him back there, a place he don’t want to be. Make himsmellsomething.Touchsomething. Something he can only smellhereor touchher.That’s what usually helps mellow him out,” Órfhlaith explained.
Paddy had told me what he was comfortable with about his time overseas. He said that he had had to be a different person to survive it, and that he put it behind him the best he could. If he was having nightmares so long after his time spent, what he went through must have been worse than he described.
Before I could inquire more, Cillian rushed into the room rocking a dark-haired infant in his arms. “Cillian, what's wrong?” Queenie nearly stood, as he advised against her doing so.
“Nothing. It's just Rory woke up his sister. I'm gonna separate them so Eábha could get some sleep.”
“Here I got it,” Paddy materialized out of nowhere, taking the baby out from his brother's hands. Paddy lookedadorablecradling a baby. He was good with kids, but quite possibly the most surprising trait was how good he appeared with a newborn.
“What were you lasses going on about?” Paddy joined us in an armchair not far in front of the couch.
“I was just talking about you,” Órfhlaith said, putting her cigarette out.
“Don't listen to a word the shrew says,” he said in jest.
“We were just asking about her career and roles in movies. I just remember seeing you in Castle in the Sky, and I'd never seen a Colored woman play the piano so well,” Queenie proudly announced.
“She that good?” Paddy asked, jokingly.
“Why don't you play something?” Queenie insisted. “Unless it's too much of an ask. I know you didn't come here solely to entertain us. But it would be nice to hear music for once.”
“We play music,” Cillian said defensively.
“And it's lovely. It’d just be nice to hear something jazzy, every now and again,” Queenie added.
“I could go for something. My current place is soundproof, so I never get a chance to hear you play,” Paddy encouraged. By the time I planned to turn the offer down, half the room was egging me on to play.
Being the center of attention wasn't new for me, but being in such an intimate setting was a little intimidating, given only one host was familiar with my voice and style. I had to tone down the robustness of my voice in white films because a strong voice was too much for an audience to imitate with no church background. Only time audiences heard me really sing my heart out were live performances.