Shut Up and Talk

Chapter 26

I wanted to believe that I had Ian wrapped around my finger. I liked to think that he had enough respect for me that whatever I advised he'd go along with. And if I made a concerted effort and convinced him that Jamie would be an asset, I'd ultimately be successful.

I took the opportunity to persuade Ian while we hung out at his Roman apartment. I ordered food from a nearby Chinese restaurant and sliced up his favourite dessert. He loved chocolate cake.

"How did the Troubles affect you?"

"What troubles?" He finished off the last of the ginger beef with chopsticks and moved onto the steamed vegetables. He could eat faster with them than I could with a fork.

"Northern Ireland Troubles."

When I looked up from my plate he appeared frozen as though I'd thrown a canister of liquid nitrogen on him. His chopsticks were in mid-attack and I was relieved when he finally blinked. "Why'd you bring that up?" he asked, his voice surprisingly sullen.

"The whole thing seems kind of senseless, don't you think? It's a dispute pitting Christian against Christian."

He set down his chopsticks and his expression became distant, as if recalling some other time he didn't wish to remember. He pressed his lips together and the lines and dimples around his mouth became pronounced. "It's not solely about religion and I think you're simplifying it."

"So what's it about?"

His eyes met mine and it felt like a lightning strike. A part of me regretted bringing it up. We'd never talked about serious politics before because, sadly, I didn't think Ian had anything valuable to add. But on the topic of the 'Irelands', he held the advantage.

"It's a long history that goes back many centuries. Let's just say many wrongs were committed and the British should have never set foot on Irish soil."

"But they did. How would you fix it?"

"Fix it? How do you make a lion and a zebra co-exist? Eventually the zebra can't keep running."

"Who's the lion and who's the zebra?"

"I reckon at one time both sides played each role."

"So you don't see prolonged peace?"

"I dunno. Maybe."

"Are you a Nationalist?"

"I'm an Irishman."

"Aren't you the diplomat."

"Don't want my head shot off," he said, retrieving a piece of cake.

"Have you been to Northern Ireland?"

"Just once when I was small. An uncle worked up there in the Belfast shipyards and we went to visit. I don't remember much except being afraid and not knowing why. What made you think of this?"

"I had a visitor last week."

His body tensed and all the compassion evaporated from his face. "What'd Spencer want? Were you fooled by him? He didn't live anywhere near the Troubles, nor did he live through the toughest of those times, so don't go feeling sorry for him."

"He's looking for representation."

Ian shifted in his seat. "And what'd you say?"

"I didn't say anything. I know how you feel about him."

"Good," Ian said, eating his cake.

"But it isn't a half bad idea. He'd be good for LION and you'd know what kind of cash he brings home in a year."