"The Duachais" was the dream of Shane and Kian. They wanted to create the perfect environment for dancing, fine eating and great music. The dream first started with a small building, room enough for the a DJ and dance floor that they invested in right after graduating from Summer Hill College. They started small but their big dreams led them to the number one club and restaurant in Sligo winning numerous awards. Shane and Kian were the perfect partners. Shane loved the entertainment part of the job. He took care of the performers, the music and made sure that the guest were having a great time. Kian was the business man of the two. He ran the kitchen, dining part of "The Duachais" and the accounting books. He was more behind the scenes where Shane was out in the front. They complimented each other like a married couple. The thumping of the music from the DJ and the excitement from the guest were heard downstairs. Shane was giving his usual sales pitch to the singer on the phone about performing at "The Duachais". Kian fulfilled his supervisor duties in the kitchen checking the daily specials making sure that every ingredient was perfect as Mark played bartender for the foursome. Sidney began eyeing the pictures on the wall in the office as she waited for Shane to finish. There were several holiday and family pictures that she recognized but the rest of pictures were of singers who had performed at the club. Sidney found herself focused on a picture of a very handsome blonde man. He had the brightest smile with deep blue eyes that seemed to be reaching out to her. He stood tall and confident showing his firm built as Sidney couldn't help but get lost in his beauty. He reminded her of Michael, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that would warm any cold day. But then everything was reminding her of Michael.
"I noticed that you were chatting it up with Andrea." Sidney said as she finally broke herself from the picture.
"I was talking to your parents also, Sid." Shane said looking up from the paper he was writing on.
"Didn't noticed my parents. Just noticed the smile on my best friends face while you were talking to her." Sidney said making herself comfortable on the couch.
"We were just talking about old times." Shane didn't even look at Sidney, he knew exactly where she was heading with the conversation.
"Maybe rekindling some old romances?" Sidney asked trying to pry into Shane's thoughts.
"Sid, we are just friends." Shane said finally looking up at Sidney.
"But you two are meant to be together, you can't fight destiny."
"Sid, it's been too long." Shane said as he thought about Andrea, hearing her laughter in his mind and seeing her smile as he gently touched her.
"You do know that she hasn't had a serious relationship since you two split up." Sidney said interrupting his thoughts. Shane didn't say anything but smiled. "And I know that you haven't been in a seriously relationship."
Sidney could sense the awkwardness she was creating in her words about Andrea but she always felt that they did belong together. Distance should never be a factor between two people who love each other. Just as Sidney was about to push the issue more, Shane was saved as Kian and Mark entered the office with drinks in hand.
"The bartender has arrived." Mark said with a big smile as he handed Sidney her wine.
"Don't think this conversation is over Mr.Filan." Sidney said as she took a sip of her wine.
"I know better then that." Shane stood up from the desk and walked to over the couch as he sat down next to Sidney. Mark and Kian took their seat in the circle as they drank their beer. The silence was deafening and awkward.
"Alright guys, what are you wanting to talk to me about?" Sidney asked finally breaking the silence. No one said a word but stared at each other waiting for someone to take the lead. They had a purpose for bringing Sidney to the club but now they lost their courage to begin the conversation. They wanted to let their heart do the speaking but wasn't sure what Sidney's reception would be. They weren't sure what her state of mind was as Sidney tried reading her friends faces. She took pride in knowing Mark, Kian and Shane so well that she could sense their mood by simply looking at their faces but as they stood silent, her senses were clouded by her own emotions. Her own pain and anger. Sidney sat quietly, knowing that when they were ready, one would speak their heart.
"We were wondering what your plans were, Sidney." Shane said finally getting the courage.
"My first plan is to get through this without a nervous breakdown and to help my little boy deal with the loss of his daddy." Sidney took Shane's hand and held it. "I will probably go back to California. I mean, it is my home. I hate to take Bailey away from John and Evelyn at this time but I just think it would be best."
"How about your finances?" Kian asked shyly. He hated prying into Sidney's personal business but he knew that Michael would have wanted them to make sure that she would be taken care of. Sidney loved the fact that they were concerned about her, she knew that they were just fulfilling their obligations to the many times Michael had helped them.
"I think I will sell the house. Bailey and I don't need anything that big, we could even live with my parents for a while. I have two or three permanent clients that will bring in the income regularly." Sidney paused as she looked away. "I get a settlement from Michael's company from the crash." She hated saying the word "settlement", her idea of a settlement would be getting her husband back. "Bailey and I will be fine." Sidney said trying to convince the men but she was actually trying to convenience herself. She never imagined herself in this position, Michael took care of everything.
Kian walked to the desk and pulled out a piece of paper from the top draw. He walked over to Sidney and handed it to her.
"What is this?"She asked as she took the paper.
"Michael was a silent partner in "The Duachais". He backed us with the money to start the club." Shane said as he took a drink of his beer. It was Michael who approached Shane and Kian about being a part of the club. It was the only thing that Michael didn't discuss with Sidney. Michael's reasoning at the time was pure selfishness of wanting to get a piece of the profits that he knew would be coming in but as time went on with his flying, the reason became pure love for his family. Shane and Kian needed the extra money to start the club and were more then pleased to have Michael a part of the club investment. But in Michael's last trip to Sligo, a private meeting was held between the club owners and Mark. It was at that time that Michael left everything to Sidney. Shane and Kian never questioned Michael but Mark did after the meeting was over.
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"I just want to make sure that my wife and child are taken care of after
I'm gone." Michael said as he and Mark walked to the car. Shane and Kian had
already made their way home as the two talked in the club parking lot.
"I can understand that, Mike, but I just think there is something more that you aren't telling us." Mark said as he stood next to his friend.
Michael shifted his weight as he tried to find the words to tell Mark. "I just wanted..." Michael stopped as he couldn't find the words to explain his reasoning. He stood looking at his best friend who he had shared everything with. There was nothing that he couldn't tell Mark or that Mark wouldn't understand. But for the first time, he couldn't find the words.
"Mike, tell me." Mark said as he put his hand on his shoulder. He could see the pain in Michael's eyes.
"My time is just limited, Mark. I just wanted to make sure that Sidney would be provided for. She deserves so much in life and I love her so much. I just couldn't stand the thought of her having to struggle if anything... I mean when..." Michael couldn't say anymore as his words were stopped by the tears that began to fall down his cheeks. Mark stood watching his friend break down and all he could do was be there for him. It would take several minutes for Michael to finally tell Mark that he was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. He hadn't told Sidney because he didn't know how. The doctor reported that it was the rarest form and that he wouldn't have much time left. Mark would be the only one to know about Michael's condition. It would be the only thing that Mark kept from Shane and Kian. Michael would die in the plane crash just a month later after that conversation.
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"Why didn't he..."
"It was his security for you and Bailey if anything would happen to him." Shane said interrupting Sidney. "Kian and I are prepared to buy your part of the contract."
"My part?" She asked.
"Michael left it to you." Mark said as he stood next to her.
"Are you a part of this also?" Sidney asked as she looked at Mark not believing that he would have kept this from her. Mark couldn't look Sidney in the eye's as Michael's words echoed in his mind.
"No, but I was the witness when Michael signed the contract." Mark softly put his hand on Sidney's shoulder as he could sense that all of this new information was almost too much to take in.
"Sidney, we can offer a nice sum but we would rather have you as an active partner. We would still like to have a part of Michael in the club."
Shane squeezed her hand that he was still holding. "We want you to be a part of the every day routine here. Help with decisions and ..."
"Wait, just wait a minute." Sidney said as she stood up. "I don't know anything about a business, let alone running a club. This is just too much... "
"Just think about it." Kian said as he walked over to Sidney. "We would really like for you to stay in Sligo. We would really like for Bailey to stay in Sligo. We just want to help you."
"Kian, I decorate homes. I am a mother. That's what I do." Sidney could feel the tears start to come as she tried fighting them. "I use to be a wife but..." Mark jumped from the ringing of his phone as he quickly answered it.
Sidney words were now just tears as she stood in Kian's arms. Suddenly all the emotions that she had endured in the last few days and finding out about Michael preparing the future for her took control of her. Shane stood behind her, caressing her back as all Kian could do was to hold her. Her mind went blurry with all the decisions that she had to make. She didn't know if she could stay in Sligo. California was her home, she loved the ocean, she loved the warm weather, she was raised there and her family was there. But she loved Sligo and the people that lived there, but the memories...
"Because she needed a drink." Mark said into the phone as he turned his back to Shane. Sidney finally began to collect herself as she gave Kian and Shane a hug and then walked over to the couch.
"She is a friend. Nothing is going on, Briana. Shane and Kian are here." Mark said in a loud whisper. Sidney tried to tune out Mark's conversation with Briana. 'she wasn't right for him', she thought. He deserved so much more. He needed a girl who could love him completely, he had so much to offer, so much love to give.
Shane and Kian gave her some time to herself as they went over club business. Mark continued in his phone conversation to Briana as Sidney could hear soft whispers of pleading. She scanned the room again, looking at the pictures. Sidney suddenly took a second glance at the picture on Shane's desk. It almost took her breath away as she slowly reached over and picked up the wooden frame. On one side of the frame was the four men standing on a hill overlooking the beauty of Sligo. The other side was a picture of Michael and Sidney standing in front of one of the shops at Picadilly Circus. They were both smiling as Michael held Sidney close to him. But it wasn't sadness or joy that brought a tear to Sidney's eyes, it was the image of Michael breaking off their relationship. They had met in London that summer while she was there with Andrea and Kelli. Sidney and Michael were inseparable and were quickly falling in love but just two weeks shy of her going back to California, Michael got nervous and broke it off between them. He couldn't handle the distance between them. He gave her the news the night that the photo was taken.
Suddenly Sidney's hands began to shake as images began to play in her head. It was like a slide show as the images flashed before her. How could she forget? Why did she bury the emotions in her mind? They were images of her and Mark during her last two weeks in London as he comforted her in her devastation of losing Michael. The images then went to the two of them laughing and talking late into the night and early morning. One image froze on Mark holding Sidney's hand as she basked in his reception of her. She could feel his soft touch on her hand as she looked deep into his eyes. The images began moving again as she saw her and Mark walking in the moonlight, holding close to one another. The pictures froze once again as her heart leaped. They stood in an embrace as their lips moved closer to one another. He heart began to beat faster as she could feel the tenderness of his lips. She could feel his hand touch her back as he brought her closer to him, their tongues entwined as Sidney's soul melted into Mark. Sidney closed her eyes as she held the picture to her chest. She couldn't stop shaking as she felt a gentle hand touch her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Asked the deep voice as she turned around to see Mark. She saw the images in his eyes as her face turned white. "You don't look so good." Mark reached out to Sidney and helped her to the couch. Kian ran out of the room for water.
"I think all of this has finally gotten to her." Shane said as he stood patting her hand. "I think she is in shock." Their voices were nothing but mumbles as she could still feel Mark's lips on hers. Why did she forget? It was just a kiss, but it was a kiss that went through her soul.
Kian rushed in the room and handed her a glass of water. She took a sip, hands still shaking as the men stood by helpless.
"I'm fine." Sidney finally said as they all sighed with relief. Her heart began to beat normal and the shaking subside. She said good-bye to Mark that summer, went back to California and tried to get on with her life. But she was lost and confused, not sure who she loved, who she wanted to be with and who her heart belonged it. A few months later Michael came to California and proposed to her. She said yes and the rest was history. She never thought she had regrets to being with Michael, she never thought she still had feelings for Mark. But as the images were playing in her head, her heart began to reach out to Mark. She had buried the feelings so deep that they were lost in her soul. It was just a kiss, a kiss she had forgotten. A kiss she would never get again. But did she want it again?