Alexander
Burke was one of the first settlers in the Town of Camden Corners .
He had come to New York City from Ireland as a young man only to find
himself missing the green meadows of his home in County Donegal. He
worked diligently at what ever job he could find ending up at a
brewery near Five Points. There he met Duncan Mackenzie who had left
his home in Glasgow two years before. The two young men hit it off
immediately. They both had their memories of a quieter life in their
native lands.
They
were roommates in a brownstone operated by Mrs. Geraldine O'Sullivan
who told them stories of growing up in the town of Greensboro. Her
memories included going to a place called Camden Corners for summer
holidays. Geraldine was the only girl in a family of six boys and
had learned how to rough it long before it was proper for a young
lady to do so. She talked about the hills and lakes and how
beautiful it was to see the sun come up over the water. Alexander
and Duncan listened to Mrs. O'Sullivan tell stories of all the
animals and birds in the area and the trout that she and her brothers
caught for supper. They decided they needed to explore Camden
Corners and worked hard and saved their money until they had enough
to purchase a horse and buggy. They packed their few belongings,
hugged Mrs. O'Sullivan goodbye and started their trek to their new
home. They would miss some of the hustle and bustle of New York and
a few of the pretty girls they had met while there but the excitement
of seeing another part of the country kept them going on the long
trip to their new home.
They
were surprised when they arrived in Camden Corners. It wasn't quite
the wilderness area Mrs. O'Sullivan had described from her times
there. It wasn't a big city but it did have a general store, a post
office, church, some homes and even a library. As the boys drove
into town they noticed a railroad station was being built. This was
going to be a fine place to settle down. They were lucky to find
work around town helping the construction crews.
The
railroad itself was almost completed and would go through Camden
Corners from New York City to St. Louis. Alexander and Duncan were
grateful to Mrs. O'Sullivan, without her they would never have known
this lovely little town existed.
For
the next few years, the town grew, the boys were busy with their
construction jobs and had learned a great deal about the building
business. They knew it was time for them to start their own business
and what better business than a pub.
Miss
Isabelle Simon was the town's librarian. Even with her hair tied
securely in a bun at the nape of her neck and her prim and proper
attire, Miss Isabelle was a beauty. Alexander took a shine to her
the first time he saw her. Alexander and Isabelle were married in
the Hilltop Chapel with Flora Marshall and Duncan Mackenzie as their
witnesses. Three months later Flora and Duncan were married in the
same chapel.
Between
the two couples, they had twelve children.
The
years went by swiftly and the two chums continued running the very
popular pub they named O'Sullivan's after their good friend Geraldine
O'Sullivan. Their children all married and kept their fathers happy
presenting them with grandchildren on a continuing basis. Alexander
and Duncan had a hard time remembering which grandchildren belonged
to them and which belonged to the other. Even the grandchildren were
confused since the two families were happiest when they were all
together.
Alexander
and Isabelle's oldest son, Liam married Nadine West. Nadine loved
making candy even when she was a young girl. It was only natural she
would open a candy shop. Liam and Nadine's oldest child was a girl
named Maddie.
Duncan's son, Gordon married Fiona Rourke who made the best Irish
stew Alexander had ever tasted. Fiona was delighted when her
specialty became a very popular choice on the O'Sullivan's menu.
Gordon and Fiona's first child was a son they named Gordon, Jr. but
he was always called Mack.
Mack
and Maddie were the best of friends for many years. Mack comforted
Maddie and her broken heart when she saw her heartthrob Tommy Jones
holding hands with Melinda Sue Reynolds. Maddie cheered Mack up when
he broke his arm and couldn't pitch for the big game in his senior
year in high school.
They
were the best of friends until the summer after graduation when
everything changed. Maddie had inherited her mother's love of candy
making. She read about a candy making class in the Greensboro Weekly
News. It was the only one of it's kind in the United States. Maddie
showed her parents the article. They knew it was an opportunity for
their daughter to learn a skill beyond what her mother would ever be
able to teach her. Maddie's Aunt Grace lived in New York City and as
luck would have it, she was very close to the culinary school where
the classes were held. It seemed like such a perfect plan. She was
excited and couldn't wait to break the news to Mack.
Mack
was working at the pub when Maddie came in to tell him of her plans.
Instead of being happy and excited for Maddie, Mack blew his top.
How
could she do this to him? How did she find out he was going to the
same culinary school to become a chef? Was she doing this just to
keep an eye on him? He was looking forward to being on his own and
not having to answer to anyone and now Maddie, his constant shadow
was going to be following him to New York City. He could see the
hurt in her eyes as he ranted and raved but he couldn't seem to stop
himself. He was the oldest of 8 children. His aunts and uncles and
all of Maddie's family had been around constantly while he was
growing up. Even his job at the pub didn't bring the solitude he
craved. He was tired of family, tired of friends and especially
tired of Maddie.
Maddie
left the pub trying desperately to hold back her tears. She knew if
she told her parents what Mack said it would hurt them and she didn't
want to do that.
She
didn't see Mack again after his blow up. He didn't stop by her house
to say goodbye when he left on the train for New York.
Her
classes started the following month. She knew there was a
possibility she would run into him but she would try to avoid him if
she could.
Maddie
did well in her classes. She learned so much about candy making and
couldn't wait to get back home to show off her new skills.
Aunt
Grace loved showing her niece all the sights of New York City. They
took in a couple of Broadway plays and stopped in at O'Reilly's Irish
Pub and met the proprietor Mr. Sean O'Reilly and his lovely wife
Maeve.
Maddie
never did run into Mack. Her mother asked her about him in her
letters but Maddie kept saying their schedules were full and they
couldn't find the time to get together. Nadine guessed the children
had a falling out and didn't pursue the matter any longer.
Maddie's
time in New York came to an end. As exciting as New York City was,
she was happy to be home in Camden Corners . She taught her mother
all the tricks she had learned and Tempting Treats Candy Shop was
even more popular than it had been before.
Mack
was ashamed of himself for the way he had spoken to Maddie that day.
He didn't know what had gotten into him. Maddie was the most honest
person he had ever known. She didn't deserve what he had said to
her. He'd had an argument with his father that evening. Gordon
couldn't understand why a son of his would need to go to some dad gum
school to learn how to throw a sandwich together.
Mack was determined to go and had saved his tip money all through
high school. He paid for the train fare and tuition himself. Gordon
couldn't stop him and after the shock wore off, he sent him off with
his blessing. Gordon had to be honest with himself. He was afraid
if his son spent any time in the big city he would never want to come
back to Camden Corners .
Mack
was enthralled with New York. He visited every museum he could find
when he wasn't absorbed in his classes. He spent a bit of time in
O'Reilly's and never tired of hearing Sean and Maeve O'Reilly tell
the stories of growing up in Ireland. He got to know the whole
O'Reilly clan and loved being with them. It reminded him of his
family and his home in Camden Corners .
His
studies took up some of his time but he found himself alone many
nights in his room at the YMCA. He didn't even mind the noise on the
streets that seemed to go on all night long. It was better than the
deafening silence. He was missing his family and missing Maddie more
than he thought possible. He knew she had been to O'Reilly's because
he saw her through the window one evening. She was laughing and
having a wonderful time singing Irish songs along with the patrons of
the pub. Mack was embarrassed to see her and a little miffed that
she was enjoying herself so much with all those other fellows. He
walked back to his room and spent the evening alone.
It
was a long hot summer in New York but by the first of September, Mack
had graduated and was on the train heading home. The railroad
station was overflowing with Mackenzies and Burkes. Mack looked
through the crowd and was disappointed that Maddie wasn't among the
welcomers. Everyone else looked wonderful to him and he knew from
then on Camden Corners would always be his home.
Maddie
was busy working in the the Candy Shop. She finally confided in her
mother about the hurtful incident between Mack and her before he left
for New York City.
Nadine
and Fiona had suspected Mack and Maddie had feelings for each other
and were both too stubborn to admit it. Fiona finally had a chance
to talk with her son alone and encouraged him to pay a visit to
Maddie.
Mack
found himself strolling past the candy shop trying to catch a glimpse
of Maddie. Maddie pretended she hadn't seen him the first five or
six times he walked by.
“I
must put an end to this.” Maddie said aloud, “I can't spend the
next 40 years not looking up when he walks by. “
She
went to the doorway waiting for him to walk by again and called out.
“Welcome Home, Mack”.
Mack's
face turned red as a beet. She looked wonderful to him. Was she
always this pretty? He told her how sorry he was for the way he
spoke to her months ago.
Maddie
smiled and told him she knew he didn't mean it and what are friends
for if you can't let off a little steam once in a while.
Mack
gingerly walked towards her and gave her a hug. Did she always feel
this good?
They
talked about their experiences in New York and how foolish it was
that they didn't get together the whole time they were there. They
talked about O'Reilly's Pub and made plans to visit there again
someday.
Maybe
it was that day or maybe it happened years ago but Mack and Maddie
finally realized they were no longer just friends.
They
were married the following Sunday in the little Hilltop Chapel
keeping up the tradition that their grandparents, the Burkes and the
Mackenzies started many years ago.
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