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I blinked in confusion. “Like what?”
“You two have been spending a lot of extra time together.”
“And if he takes her to the ball, then I presume that means he’ll take her to his prom next summer.”
“Is it called the prom now? It was called the debs back in our day.”
“True.”
“It’s called the grads now,” I explained, and then beamed when I registered what had been said. “Oh my god, I’m going to the grads!” Excitement bubbled over inside of me. “Yay! Two dresses!”
“Then you better start saving all your money from that job you started today,” Mam teased.
“Nah, I think I’ll keep my money and spend Dad’s instead.” I laughed. “Where is he? I better get a start on my swindling.”
“At home in the office,” Mam replied with a cheerful smile. “Deadline, remember?”
Another pang of sadness struck me square in the solar plexus, but I quickly shook it off, reminding myself that if I had been the one to lose my best friend that day then I, too, would have locked myself away from the world.
Okay, so maybe not for an entire decade like my father had, but I understood the sentiment behind his actions, even if I didn’t understand the depression he battled on the daily.
Walking over to where my mother was standing, I wrapped my arms around her from behind. “Love you,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Queen.”
Because my mother was a queen. How she continued to love my father through his dark times was beyond admirable. I was sure they had their moments, but never once in the ten years since Joe’s passing had I heard Mam raise her voice to my father. Mam was a nurse, and because of that, I knew she had a certain level of understanding into what was happening in Dad’s mind, but the way she unconditionally loved him through it all not only proved to me that people could be kind, but also that true love could prevail.
My parents had loved each other since childhood, and Mam continued to love Dad even when he didn’t have the strength to love himself.
The sound of the front door slamming filled my ears moments before the man of the moment himself strolled into his kitchen, swinging his car keys. “Mothers.”
The minute my eyes landed on him, standing in there in faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt, a fierce blast of white-hot heat ricocheted through my belly.
Aw, crackers.
“Claire-Bear,” he acknowledged with a polite nod.
“Gerard.”
“Where in the name of Jesus is your jumper?” Sadhbh demanded. “It’s raining cats and dogs out there.”
“I lost it at the disco last night, Mam,” he joked, referencing a Sultans of Ping song. “When I was dancing…”
“Gerard.” His mam narrowed her eyes. “You’re not funny.”
Proving Sadhbh wrong, my mam choked out a laugh. “Dancing in the disco.” She chuckled. “Very good, Gibs. I just got the reference.”
Gerard grinned in victory before training his attention. “I’ve been given orders by your bestie to chaperone you to the manor—and bring your costume.”
My heart leapt. “You have?”
He nodded. “Apparently, all the girls are getting ready over at the manor after Sean’s party.”
47
Shut Up and Let Me Go
CLAIRE
Tension.
