Mam, however, was completely unfazed, and moved through it all like this was exactly what she’d planned. Ever the hostess. Pots bubbled, trays were lined up along the counter, and she barely broke stride as she stirred something on the stove.
“Next time,” she said, talking to me, “I’m going to invite the Valkyries too. Make it a tradition. That’d be grand, wouldn’t it?”
“As well as the lads?” I asked. Then my mind immediately skipped ahead to Teddy being here, meeting my family, and everything in my body warmed, my cheeks especially.
It was rare lately that she wasn’t on my mind. I’d tried to give her space after she met with her dad. That lasted all of an hour and I’d messaged her to check in. She said things went as wellas they could have. Then later that day, we walked on the beach together, and ended up at Micah and Bobby’s place for dinner. It was the most couple-y thing we’d ever done, and it fueled my desire to do more with her.
Mam patted my cheek, breaking my daydream. “Yes, love, I want a house full of people celebrating the sport we all adore.”
“Now that, my lovely Siobhan,” Jake said from somewhere behind me, “sounds like the greatest dinner party in recorded history.”
“Thank you, Jake. I agree.”
“We should get Nate to bring his sister too,” Jake added, clearly choosing violence.
“I swear, I’ll kill you,” Nate said, seeming to appear out of nowhere.
Mam finally turned then, spoon still in her hand. “Is yer sister not nice people, Nathaniel?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Jake cut in before Nate could answer. “He won’t let me meet her.”
“For good reason,” Nate huffed, but didn’t elaborate. Then again, he didn’t have to…
Mam narrowed her eyes at Nate and pointed her spoon. “I want to meet her, if that’s alright with you and yours?”
Nate rubbed his chin, weighing his response. “She’d like you very much, Siobhan.”
“Then I have to meet her. I’ll have your people call my people.”
“Oh sure,” Jake guffawed. “You’ll let other people meet her, but not me.”
“One more strike, Jake, one more,” Nate hissed, and I wondered how next season would go if his sister did end up joining the Valkyries and sharing our stadium. Things would be interesting, that’s for sure.
Dad appeared in the doorway then, beer in hand, surveying the kitchen like a man who’d long ago accepted chaos as apermanent fixture of his life. A faint smile tugged at his mouth, the kind that said he found this whole thing deeply funny.
“If you lot keep hovering,” he said mildly, “Mam’s going to start handing out jobs.”
“Connor,” Mam called out, “tell Ramirez to stop stealing olives from the bowl. They’re for later.”
“I’ve only had four,” Ramirez protested, already chewing.
“Fourthat I saw,” Mam replied. “And wipe your hands on a towel, not your jeans. I’m not raising animals in this house.”
Jake laughed, loud and delighted, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “I’d die for this woman,” he announced.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mam said, waving him off with the spoon as she reached for a tea towel. “You’ll live longer if you set the table instead.”
It wasn’t long before dinner was ready and everything was moving fast.
Dad stepped aside to let a procession of hungry rugby players funnel toward the dining room, like they’d been released from a holding pen. The table—really, two tables pushed together and extended as far as they’d go—was already half dressed, Mam having planned for this. Trays followed in steady succession: roasted chickens, a dish of potatoes crisped to within an inch of perfection, bowls of greens slicked with butter, bread stacked high. My mouth watered at the scents.
When Mam finally nodded, satisfied, she clapped her hands once. “Right. Eat before you start chewing the furniture.”
The lads didn’t need to be told twice. There was immediate chatter and movement as all the players dove for the table and spoke between mouthfuls. It took Mam ten times longer to cook than it did for us to eat almost everything, and before long, we were all outside, enjoying the sunshine.
I ended up beside Dad on the old wooden chairs, Mam on my other side, slightly away from the rest of the lads. The lateafternoon sun warmed my skin as we talked about everything that was going to happen over the next few weeks. Everything I’d been looking forward to telling them about.
Dad patted my shoulder, his eyes glassy as he looked at me. “I’m so proud of you, son.” He sniffed as Mam did the same, hugging me after the conversation we’d just had together about my future.
