The O'Brien Way by Carol Lynne Page A

excelled at.”
    “Well, if you’re ever looking for a part-time job, O’Brien’s could use you in the kitchen. As it is, we don’t serve food on Sunday anymore and only easy munchies after seven on two other evenings during the week.”
    Sean didn’t miss the look that passed between Moby and Virginia. Although
Virginia
had been incredibly polite, maybe she still didn’t approve of her son’s gay lifestyle. If that was the case, there was probably no way the woman would feel comfortable working at a pub in
Cattle
Valley
.”
    “That’s a generous offer,” Moby said.
    “Yes it is,”
Virginia
answered.
    Sean wasn’t able to read her expression because he didn’t know her well enough, but he could tell something bothered her about the offer. With the sudden uneasiness at the table, Sean looked for a way out. “Why don’t the two of you go on into the living room and let me clean up.”
    Moby shook his head and stood. “You’re our guest. I’ll do it.”
    Sean wanted to argue, but realised Moby had taken his cue from his mother. He cleared his throat and nodded. “That’s nice. Thank you.”
    Virginia
started to push her chair back, but Sean reached her first and helped her to her feet. She looked up at him with a surprised expression. “Thank you.”
    Sean shrugged. “You’re welcome. Would you like to join me in the living room?”
    Virginia
nodded and took the offered elbow, but glanced back at Moby. What the hell was going on? Sean couldn’t put his finger on it, but there seemed to be an entire conversation going on between the two of them that Sean couldn’t hear. Before leaving the room, Sean turned to look at Moby once more. Moby grinned and winked. Whether the action was meant to flirt or put him at ease, Sean wasn’t sure.
    Virginia
grabbed the remote control from the coffee table and sat in a recliner. The chair was so big it seemed to swallow the petite woman in its cushions. “Do you like House Hunters ?”
    “Excuse me?” Sean asked, taking a seat on the couch beside Jilly .
    Virginia
changed the channel and gestured to the TV. “It’s one of my favourite shows. It follows people around as they look for a new house to buy.”
    Sean nodded. “I haven’t seen it before, but then I’m usually working.”
    Virginia
’s attention drifted from the television screen to Sean. “Did you mean what you said about offering me a job?”
    “Sure. I wouldn’t have said anything if I didn’t mean it. Are you interested?”
    Virginia
worried her chin with her frail-looking fingers. “I’ve never had a job before. I’m not sure I’d know what to do.”
    Sean knew about a little of
Virginia
’s life with her husband, but it wasn’t his place to say anything. “Oh, I have a feeling you’ve worked for years, you just haven’t been paid for it. I can’t offer as much money as some of the restaurants around, but at O’Brien’s, the cook also gets a cut of the tips, so you should come out all right.”
    Virginia
was quiet for several moments. “I heard what William said to you earlier.”
    After an internal sigh, Sean braced himself for the tirade he knew was coming.
    “I can’t lose my son, not again. It nearly killed me the first time. I won’t survive it again. I don’t think I ever hated Bill more than the day William walked out of this house. If being with you makes my son happy, it makes me happy. I need you to tell him that.”
    “No need,” Moby said from the doorway. “I’m right here.”
    Virginia
sat up straighter in the chair. “I didn’t see you there.”
    “Yeah, well, there seems to be a lot of that going around.” Moby came into the room and sat beside Sean.
    Sean put a hand on Moby’s thigh for support when he noticed the moisture in Moby’s eyes.
    “Did you really hate Dad?” Moby asked.
    “Yes,”
Virginia
admitted. “I may go to hell for saying this, but I was glad he died because I knew there was no other way out for me.”
    “That’s not true,