William Francis Kelley

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“Oh, I completely believe you. One day I’ll just do it. I’ll just pack some shit up and leave for a month or so,” he chuckled. “Classic mum guilt. I’m sure she appreciates that you are back, even if it’s not for that long. It’s always nice when mums miss you and make you feel right at home,” he grinned. “If it were up to my father, I would be some kind of lawyer that made a lot more money. Maybe even be in parliament. I have been so anti anything my father wants for so long that the idea of that sounds atrocious to me. I’m honestly not sure what I’d do instead. What do you do for a living?”

“Growing up in a small town that has the pace of molasses, when it’s not summer time at least, is something I’m really happy I had the experience of. I got to have one of those Hollywood childhoods,” lost childhood sweetheart and all, she thought. “Ah, so you don’t have an office cat? I should say–we don’t technically have an office cat–but someone in the neighborhood lets their cat wander during the day and he likes to sleep on our floor in the sunshine,” she grinned. “Ah, so you’re a busy guy–I hope you don’t mind me asking what you do. Oh, and I’m Ada by the way–should have probably said that earlier. I’m not great with introductions,” she said waving coyly. 

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“That sounds like it would be nice. A different change of pace from growing up in a big city, that’s for sure. And you get to know people on a different level when you’re all from a small town. I can see that just from being here a year. People know each other well here. It’s intimate,” he said. “Oh no. There’s no office cat. But it’s good to know just in case there ever is one.” Will didn’t think that would happen, but stranger things have happened. “I’m terrible with introductions as well. I’m Will. Nice to meet you, Ada. And I’m a lawyer at Liberty. It’s a human rights nonprofit if you’ve never heard of it.”

When Ari reached forward a bit more, she felt a slight nudge from his arm. She took it gently as they began to move towards the till.

“Thank you so very much, you’re very kind to protect the blind from those horrible things,” she exaggerated. She stifled a giggle before asking, “What should I call our brave hero?”

___

Will started walking slowly at first, then picked up to a normal pace, just so she wouldn’t trip over him or anything else. “You’re welcome. It is all in a day’s work,” he laughed a bit. “Wow, I’m so rude. I’m Will Kelley. Pleased to meet you.”

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Will was really enjoying the night out more than he thought he would. He though he would just end up at the bar and strike up a conversation with some random people he happened to sit near. But that was before he saw his ... She wasn’t quite an ex. They never dated. He didn’t really know how else to refer to her in his head, other than an old friend. “That’s good for you then. Keeping busy. I guess if I don’t run into you here, I might run into you at the book store,” he grinned. But maybe now he didn’t just have to run into her. Planning things was good, too. “It’s a coffee date,” he nodded and finished off his drink. “Yeah, it’ll be really good to sit down with you and properly catch up. I know I can’t take up too much of your time here. There are other people who will need your attention as well. You’re not my own personal bartender,” he chuckled a little. “I’m really glad to see you again, too.I thought I never would again, honestly. And I’ll make sure you have my number before I head out.”

She reached out sheepishly. “Would you mind putting my hand around your arm so I’m not waving it around like some nutter?” she laughed. “And then, you just tell me if there’s a step or some other obstacle, like another display for a new protein bar – as if we need any more of those disgusting things.”

__ 

 “Oh, okay, great,” he said, glad he had been paying attention to some training he had on the job at some point. He certainly couldn’t have come up with that on his own.

Will shook his head. Then he said it out loud. “No, of course I don’t mind. Whatever you need to do to feel most comfortable,” he said and held his elbow out for her to take. “I promise not to let you trip over anything. Especially those gross protein bars.”

“Aye, but we’re idiots who clean up nice,” Charlotte took a sip from her glass of water–she didn’t drink very much if at all anymore, but especially not while on the job. Too many drunk men around to drop her guard, she thought. “We did have our fair share of fun–some of my happiest memories of Uni were messin’ about the gaff with you. You were good craic, Will. I bet you still are,” Charlotte tossed Will a wink. Will had been one of the few people at school who didn’t think less of her for everything she’d been through–or the stupid shit that she did. Being around him again only reminded her of the happy memories of their time at school together. If this had been last year, she thought, I don’t think I’d be smiling this much. “Well, you should be proud of yourself. I mean, everyone should always be proud of themselves, but you should really be proud of yourself,” she smiled. Conversation quickly turned to Hemmy and Charlotte couldn’t help how her face lit up at the mere mention of that wrinkly boy. “He’s a character that’s for sure,” she chuckled, “He’d love to meet you–he loves everyone. Maybe we can get together for coffee sometime? We can take him for a walk down by the water if you’re not too busy saving the world,” she said quickly before returning the conversation to Hemmy and not her shooting her shot, “It’s really helped to have him around when meeting new people in town–everyone has a million questions about him and I’m happy to talk about him for ages,” she said with a grin. “Oh, Chris and Charlie? They’re grand. Back in Dublin–from what they’ve told me they’re looking to move here. They miss me too much I guess–can’t really blame them, can I?” Charlotte struck a pose. “Would be nice to have them around again–talking to them on the phone while I’m walkin’ home at night isn’t the same as havin’ them around to walk be home.”

“You’re not wrong about that,” Will smiled, taking just a moment to look at Lottie. She really did clean up nice. She looked fantastic. And there was much more life behind her eyes than there had been the last... several times he saw her. “Yeah, those were some of my favourite moments, too.” Whether they were in or out of bed, they had a lot of good times together. And when she winked at him, he couldn’t help but blush. Will was fairly sure Lottie would always have that effect on him. It didn’t take much to make him blush, and Lottie surely remembered that. “That’s kind of you. I am proud of myself. And you should be proud of yourself, too. You’re really out here doing school and working. That shit’s not easy,” he grinned. When the conversation turned toward her dog, Will saw just how much her expression changed. That pup was clearly the source of a lot of happiness - as he should be. Dogs had a way of making people feel loved just for existing. Who wouldn’t like that? “Coffee? Yeah, I would really like that. I drink copious amounts of coffee these days.” It was how he got through long days at the office. Will had coffee to thank for some of his better Amicus Briefs that he had written. “And I’m not too busy saving the world for a walk.” Especially with you, he left out. “Having a dog seems like a good way to meet people. And that’s great! I’m glad to hear they’re doing well. If they ever move here, I’ll be sure to say hello to them. At least there is technology so you can see them when you talk to them sometimes.”

“Well, that’s very nice. I always tell myself that I’ll travel more, and then I never do,” he shrugged. He knew he should take more holidays out of the country, but he didn’t love traveling alone. He didn’t exactly have a travel companion who would want to go around with him. “Oh, I can absolutely see that. The Cove is beautiful. It does look like a postcard come to life,” he chuckled. “Yes, for real,” he grinned. “Thank you very much. And no offense is taken. If the world becomes a good enough place that I am no longer needed, I wouldn’t mind having to look for another job. I would feel incredibly accomplished if I was no longer needed.”

“I don’t blame you for that. I lived there most of my life, and I think I’ve mostly had my fill of it. I actually really enjoy the pace of this place,” he explained. Though if he ever moved back to London, he was pretty sure he would want to live on one of the outskirts of the city - away from where the tourists stayed. “Oh, it wouldn’t be near any cats. It’s an office plant. Anyway, I don’t have pets. I’m a bit too busy for them. And even though I know cats are more independent than dogs, I would still feel like i am neglecting them.”

“I would be the absolute last person to deny that. We really were fucking idiots, but we still managed to have a little bit of fun,” he shrugged. Not everything was fun, but the beginning of their friendship certainly was. “Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t incredibly proud of myself for that. It’s a good time working for Liberty.” He laughed a little when she called it ‘galaxy brain level thinking.’ The longer Will looked at Lottie, the more he realised how much he missed her all these years. And it simultaneously felt like no time and a million years had passed since they lap: lost spoke. “You’re welcome,” he grinned. As she pulled out her phone, he smiled at the picture of the pug. “He is so wrinkly,” he laughed. “That’s a very you dog. I feel like you have always mentioned wanting a pug.” He pushed the phone back over to her. “I’d like to meet him. How are your brothers?” The question came up easily after she mentioned Chris and Charlie.

“I don’t know about that, but you’re welcome,” he grinned. “Oh, no I wouldn’t mind doing that. Er, what’s the best way to help you over there?” he asked. “Should I just offer you my elbow or something?” he wondered. He never physically helped someone who was blind before.

“I have nightmares that I’m back in London. But you’re right. Not all small towns are like this. I’ve been to different small towns that aren’t nearly as idyllic as the Cove,” he said. “I try to use all my productive thoughts when I’m at work” he chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Freddie,” he said and shook the other’s hand. “I’ve been working at the fairly new Liberty branch here. The nonprofit. I’m a lawyer there,” he explained. “So I do all the boring stuff while people are out protesting and making noise.”

OPEN STARTER AT THE GREY GULL. 

Taking a seat next to the other, Nolan raised a hand towards the bartender, fully aware that it was one of his own employees. “Can I get a beer?” Shifting slightly, he turned his attention towards the other. “This place any good?” He asks, copper hues moving about their form for a moment. 

Will shrugged. “It’s a bar with drinks that aren’t too expensive. I’m not going to complain. This place also isn’t that far away from my office so I won’t complain. This your first time here?”

“Yeah, really. I think I would know if I worked here,” he chuckled. “I’ve got the look about me that I work in a coffee shop? I don’t... all right,” he shrugged, still confused, but he did offer to help. And he wasn’t going to take it back. “I’ve been there. Being an intern isn’t the most enjoyable. Do you have their orders written out?” he asked. “If there are too many coffees, maybe I could help you carry them back to .. wherever you work,” he offered. “Oh, I’m not a criminal - though I guess that’s what a criminal would say. But I am a lawyer, which some people say is worse,” he laughed. “Black coffee is fine as long as there is cream and sugar available at the office.”

“Yes, I agree. There absolutely is. Sometimes I miss London, but I love being able to walk here as well. And I live close to the beach, which I enjoy greatly. The good thing about this place is that Americans don’t really know about it. They go to London or Liverpool. So the tourists here are usually not American,” he grinned. Will looked at the plant as the woman wrote down the instructions. “I can do that. That’s absolutely the kind of plant I can take care of,” he said. “I’ll take two of ‘em.”

It’d been a while since she saw him–and yet he hardly looked different. Bit older, dressed far more sharply than he did on their nights out while at uni–but somehow she still got the same feeling in her stomach seeing his face again. “That’s grand, Will. I’m really impressed–who would have thought the two of us would turn out to be proper adults, huh? Will Kelley, a lawyer–and a civil liberties one at that. Brilliant, that’s feckin’ brilliant!” She poured herself a glass of water. She wasn’t much of a drinker anymore, and definitely not while on the job. Who else would be able to eloquently tell handsy men to fuck off away from the young women just out for a laugh? “Aye, mostly school if I’m honest. Stayed at Oxford for a bit for my Master’s. Moved back to the Pale for a bit to work at Trinity and to be with my brothers, of course” she paused, unsure as to whether she should tell the whole story or just the important bits; she never felt she was good enough at knowing what to say. “Been in recovery for a while now, which is fuckin’ great.” she decided on a quick summary, after all, the ending was the best bit of that chapter. “Oh, and got a dog. Hemingway Thaddeus Moore–Hemmy for short. He’s not here tonight–he does come along some nights, but he had a long walk today and I thought it best to let the little bugger nap.” 

“Who would have thought, right? We both know how I was in uni. Never thought I would be a proper adult either,” he said. “I think so, too! You know my father well enough to know he’ll never let me live it down either. But it’s a great job. And I walk away from the office every day feeling fulfilled. That’s all I can ask for, really,” he said and took a sip of the drink she made him. “Lottie, that’s brilliant,” he grinned as she told him what was going on in her life. Sure it was an abbreviated version. But he was pretty sure he lost out on friendship benefits when they stopped talking to each other. “You always talked about how you wanted a dog. Do you have your phone on you? I’d love to see a picture of Hemmy. I don’t have any pets. So I’ll just have to live vicariously through you,” he chuckled.

“'Scuse me, are you employed here?” Winifred asked with an deliberate tap of her index finger on the shoulder. “I was asked to get a few things for my… job. I don’t really know my way around.”

Will turned around when he was tapped. “Me? Um... no,” he said, looking down at the way he was dressed. A button front and slacks weren’t exactly the right clothes to wear if you worked at a coffee shop. “I just need some caffeine. But is there something I can help you with anyway?”