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“O-ee.” He didn’t hesitate to scramble onto my lap. “Seany loves O-ee,” he whispered in my ear as he stroked my cheeks with his chubby little hands. “O-ee make Seany happy.”
“Joey loves Seany back,” I replied, wrapping him up in my arms, overwhelmed by just how well his speech had come on since the beginning of summer. “Seany makes Joey the proudest brother in the world.”
“Okay, okay, everyone back up and let your brother breathe,” John instructed, when all three had thrown themselves on top of me—which wouldn’t have been a problem if it wasn’t for the big overgrown blond bastard who had decided to get in on the action.
“Jaysus, Gibs, can’t you let them have their moment?” Kav growled, yanking his friend off the top of the pile before helping my sister to her feet. “I swear to god, you’re like a bleeding puppy craving attention.”
“Not attention, Johnny, just a little belly rub,” Gibsie replied before turning his attention back to me. “Well, would you look at the comeback kid in all his glory.” He winked. “Howdy, friend.”
I narrowed my eyes. “It’s you.”
He beamed back at me. “It’s me.”
And then he had the gall to hug me.
He actually motherfucking hugged me.
I was so taken aback from the sudden move that I didn’t react.
I couldn’t.
Not when he had my arms pinned to my sides in what I could only describe as the most uncomfortable bear hug of my life. “Believe it or not, Lynchy, I was half-lonesome for your big druggie head over the summer.”
“Believe it or not, Gussie, I will take your rugby-ball-shaped head clean off your shoulders if you don’t let go.”
“Oh no,” Johnny sighed and covered his head. “Oh, sweet Jesus, here we go.”
“I knew it!” Gibsie declared, yanking away from me and turning to Kav. “I fucking knew it. That’s the second time someone has said that, Johnny.” Clutching his head, he let out a pained wail. “Twice, Johnny. Two times. That’s a pattern.”
“That’s a coincidence,” Kav tried to reassure him. “I’ve already told ya a million times, Gibs. Your head is in perfect symmetrical proportion.”
“Symmetrical?” Gibsie blanched. “What in the name of Jesus are you bringing up maths at a time like this? When I’m having a fucking complex, Johnny!”
“You are a complex, Gibs.” Rolling his eyes, Kav offered his buddy a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before stepping toward me with his hand outstretched. “Joey the hurler.”
“Mister Rugby,” I replied, lips twitching up in a smirk that mirrored his, as I stepped forward and accepted his handshake. “Thank you.”
With steel-blue eyes full of unconcealed emotion, he offered me a stiff nod. “Anytime, brother.”
And that was all that needed to be said between us.
He knew it and so did I.
The respect he directed toward me was returned in a handshake.
“Joe,” Darren acknowledged with a smile when I approached the picnic table. “You look great.”
“Darren,” I forced myself to respond, offering him a clipped nod. “Thanks.”
“This is Alex,” he said then, gesturing to the man sitting beside him. “You met around the time of Mam’s funeral, but I don’t know if you remember…”
“It’s good to see you again,” I said, offering his boyfriend my hand. “And Darren’s right, I have no recollection of us meeting.”
“Aye, that’s not a bother,” he replied with a thick northern accent. “You’re looking well in yourself there, lad.”
“Yeah.” Clearing my throat, I turned my attention to the old woman whose eyes were burning holes in the side of my face. “Hi, Nanny.”
“Joseph.” Her green eyes were full of unshed tears as she reached for my hand. “Our little Joseph.”
