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He will come back, Joey. You know this. Stop lying to yourself.
“Yeah.” I chewed on my nail, contemplating his reply for a moment before saying, “What are we going to do if Mam doesn’t come back, Joe?”
That was where my worries rested. With my mother. Because she had never left us overnight like this before.
“We’ll manage, Shan,” Joey replied, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Like we always do.”
“And school?” I whispered.
“Nanny will be home from Beara tonight,” Joey stated in a no-nonsense tone of voice. “She’ll sort the boys the same as she always does with school and all that stuff.” He scrubbed a hand over his face before adding, “All we have to do is keep the house, pay the bills, pack them a lunch in the mornings, and be here at night when Nanny drops them off.”
“I was supposed to go on the school trip after Easter, but if she’s not home I’ll cancel—”
“No,” he barked. “You won’t.”
“Joey.” I sighed. “If Mam isn’t back by then, you can’t take care of the boys on your own.”
“I won’t be,” he countered. “I’ve already told you Nanny will help—Aoife too. There’s no way you’re missing that trip. You need out of this shithole, Shan. More than any of us.”
“Are you sure?” I squeezed out.
He nodded.
Inhaling a steadying breath, I said, “I know I don’t say this often, but I want you to know that I love you and I’m so bloody grateful that you’re my big brother.”
Joey pulled a face. “Are you going soft on me, baby sister?”
“No.” I blushed. “I just want you to know that you’re important to us. And we appreciate everything you do for us.”
Don’t leave us. Please don’t ever leave me.
“Well, right back atcha, kid,” he replied, looking a little awkward.
“You’ll make a great dad someday.” I decided to tease and make him even more uncomfortable.
Joey snorted. “Yeah, that’s never fucking happening.”
I winked. “Never say never, Joe.”
“Believe me, I’ve had more than enough of playing daddy to another man’s kids to last me a lifetime,” he shot back. “Now, go upstairs and throw some clothes on and we’ll hit up the deli for a chicken fillet roll.”
“The fridge is full now,” I informed him.
“Yeah.” He grinned. “But my girlfriend left me a direct order and I’m not nearly thick enough to ignore that.”
I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday and my stomach growled in anticipation.
“Hash browns,” I practically purred as I thought about what I was going to have. “And some jellies and a can of Coke.”
Springing off the chair, I hurried for the staircase with food on my mind.
“Hold on, Shan. I almost forgot—” Breaking off midsentence, Joey padded into kitchen, returning a few moments later with a small gift-wrapped parcel in his hands.
Joey handed me the gift and then ruffled my hair. “Happy sweet sixteenth, Shan.”
“Thanks, Joey.” I beamed, clutching what I already knew was a CD beneath the pink wrapping paper.
“I’d get you more if I could,” he told me with an embarrassed shrug. “And I forgot to get a card—”
