Page 54 of Celtic Dragon
“I do too!” I say defensively.
“Yeah, boss, sure you do,” Doc says sarcastically.
Only Rebel remains quiet. He fucking knows better than to comment on this topic.
“Well, if you all don’t want a break …” I say.
“No, no, we do. Really, we do!” Ryder says quickly.
“That’s better! Now, what I was saying is that you all have been going 24/7. But now everything is in place and we don’t need to do anything until Friday. So, if you want to take in the city, do it. If you want to go hang with Declan at our sister club, do it. Take the next 36-odd hours and do what you want to do,” I say. They all look at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “What?” I ask. “Can’t I give you fuckers a day off?”
“Well, Ice,” Doc says, “in all the years you have been our prez, you have never given us a day off.”
“Of course I have.”
“Name one,” he retorts.
“Well, there was the time when … ok, so maybe the time when … oh, fuck it. Never mind. Just take the fucking day off,” I say.
They all start laughing. I turn to Emma, who is laughing right along with them, and say, “You too?”
“Well …” she says sheepishly, “you have to admit, it’s kinda funny.”
“Fuck it, you fuckers can do what you want. My girl and I are gonna do some sightseeing. If anyone wants to join us, feel free.” I pause and say, “Babe, get on the web and check out the sights. Let me know where you want to go. The day is yours.”
They’re still looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind, but they don’t say another word about it. Every one of them gets up from the table and hurries out of the room. I laugh to myself. I’m sure they’re expecting me to change my mind any minute and are trying to get the hell out before I do.
Emma is the only one who remains in the basement. “Do you really want to go sightseeing?”
“I do. But only with my best girl.”
She squeals and turns toward the steps. “Where are you going?” I ask.
“To make a list. There are so many things I want to see.”
I laugh as she runs up the stairs.Life with her is never gonna be dull, that is for sure.
Later that morning Emma comes into the living room and hands me a piece of paper. “What’s this?” I ask.
“My list.”
I look over the list. It’s a page and half long. “Babe, we only have a day and a half. I don’t think we’re going to be able to see all this.”
“Oh,” she says, disappointed.
“I’m sorry, babe. I promise we’ll come back and do all these things you want to do. But right now, this is what we’ve got.” I pause and add, “Why don’t you pick three things on this list and I promise, we’ll make a point to see them. How’s that?”
She takes the list back and says, “Ok.” She plops herself down on the couch and begins to peruse her list. She’s scribbling and writing on her paper and I’m worried that she’s adding more to it. I hate disappointing her, but this isn’t a vacation. We came here for a reason and that has to take first priority.
Handing the list back to me, she says, “Ok, I’ve narrowed it down to three. But you need to sign the bottom.”
“Sign the bottom?”
“Yes, please.”
I glanced down at the bottom of the paper and read what she’s written:
I, Caden Jackson, do solemnly promise to take my best girl, Emma Baylee or Emma Jackson, whatever her name is at the time, to all the places that are circled on this list the next time we’re in Ireland, or within 5 years, whichever comes first.
