Mags: Yours truly is currently working on a piece for the president’s wife!
Bébhinn: What?! Was it commissioned? That’s huge.
Mags: Of course not. No one knows me or my talent. Yet. This will be a birthday gift for her. I imagine she’ll love it so much that it will eventually hang on a wall at Phoenix Park. THEN I’ll get plenty of commissions.
Bébhinn: I love your ambition and positivity, Mags. See you in two days. X
Mags was an incredible artist. Her medium was as unique as she was—hand embroidery. Mags was mad for stranded cotton.
Round 2.
Bran: Raven would like you to come home early. We can go out to your favorite pub and celebrate. Early.
Seeing through her brother’s nonsense, she sent off a reply.
Bébhinn: See you in two days. Love you.
Round 3.
Gray: Tell Ciar, Daniel, and Jonathan to stop texting me, Mags, and Blair. Please. I beg you.
Bébhinn: Since when am I the chat president?
Gray: Since Blair is keeping her phone off more often than not, and Mags is still only speaking to the boys with middle finger emojis and knives. They are YOUR family.
Bébhinn: Two. Only two of them.
Gray: I win. Zero are mine. Plus, they’re only still being annoying because everyone hates hurting Blair (and you if we’re being honest).
Bébhinn still winced when she thought of that moment at the party where she’d threatened to tell her dad on them.Damn. Damn. Damn.
Bébhinn: Fine, you whiner. I’ll try to straighten it out when I get home (even though I thought this shit was quashed days ago), but only when I get home.
Gray: I’m sighing and rolling my eyes, but fine. See you soon. x
Round 4.
Daniel: Jon is keeping shit from me. Jesus, Bébhinn, would you come home already? I need you to find out what’s going on with him.
She could only roll her eyes. Jonathan had said the same thing about his cousin not five days ago. “Needy bastards.”
Bébhinn: I’ll be home in two days! Have you and Jonathan considered that it’s healthy to keep a few things from one another?
Daniel: No.
Daniel: Fine. Call me from the ferry on the way home.
Bébhinn: Fine. I won’t have service after tonight until I come out of the last stage. I’ll call you then.
Round 5.
Raven: Your mom isn’t back to being the sister I remember…but she’s getting closer. Packing a few of your dad’s things up has done wonders. I hope your adventure is having a similar effect on you. See you soon, sweetheart. Bran wanted me to remind you about the weather coming your way.
River: Do you have a rash on your butt yet?
Jesus, River.One last text blinked into existence before she could set her phone aside.
Mom: I forgot to tell you to sleep well. Love you.
