Page 54 of Sullivan

The next thing I knew, I was being hugged ferociously, then she held me at arm’s length. “Look at that hair! And she’s a wee doll next to you, you lumbering eejit. Come, lassie, inside. I have tea and barmbrack waiting. Sully, get the bags. Your wee girl needs refreshments. And I need to get to know her! Oh, so pretty!”

And she pulled me along, leaving Sully behind us, smiling and looking pleased. I glanced over my shoulder, and he threw me a wink as if to say, “Told you.”

I had no choice but to go where she pulled me. I had a feeling it was only the start.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SULLY

Isat back, replete. “Damn fine lamb, Roisin. Never had one better.”

She smirked. “Years of practice.”

Autumn hummed around a mouthful. “So good,” she murmured.

Roisin beamed at her. She’d been doing that most of the day. Feeding and beaming. Autumn, as I’d suspected, loved the barmbrack. The tea. The cake Roisin insisted Autumn needed a slice of. The sweets she put in a bowl, pushing her way every few moments. Autumn adored listening to Roisin tell stories of my misspent youth.

“You’re hardly old enough to be his aunt,” Autumn insisted.

“But I am. I was much younger than Sully’s mum. I was fifteen when he was born, and I’m sixty-three now. I used to babysit the little shite.” She tsked. “And what a little shite he was. Always in trouble—then when Niall and Finn were old enough, he taught them all his bad ways.” She laid a hand on her heart. “My poor, sweet Niall led astray by this one. Such an angel, my boy was.” Then she laughed raucously. “I swore the three of them were gonna be the death of me.”

“And yet, here you are,” I stated dryly, winking at Autumn.

“Niall and Finn are the same age but ten years younger than you, Sully?” she asked. “Is that right?”

Roisin nodded, answering before I could. “I didn’t get married until I was twenty-four. I didn’t want any of that shite,” Roisin explained with a laugh. “A man to cater to and be told what to do? No thanks. But then I met Rory, and I changed my mind. We had Niall a year later. My sister had Finn. They grew up together. When she died, he came to live with us not long after.” She shook her head. “His da was a right piece of work. Took his anger out on Finn. I wasn’t letting that happen.” Her gaze softened. “My Rory was a wonderful man until he got hurt on the job. He was never the same, but I still loved him. He never recovered from it.”

Autumn reached across the table and clasped her hand. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

Roisin smiled. “I miss him, but I have a good life. My lads all look after me. Niall and Finn bought me this house and made sure my best friends were right beside me. They’re gonna meet us at the pub later for drinks.”

I groaned. “Oh God. Not the troublemakers.” I looked at Autumn. “Maggie, Connie, and Roisin grew up together, lived close after they married, and now the three of them are legends. They exhausted Finn and Niall one trip with their demands and love of whiskey. Terrorized the hotel staff.”

“Pfft,” Roisin muttered. “Young pups canna keep up. And the staff loved us.”

I didn’t argue since it was true, but Niall and Finn had been grateful to send them home and get some semblance of normalcy back in their lives.

Autumn grinned. “I look forward to meeting them.”

“We’ll see if you think that way after they drink you under the table,” I muttered.

Roisin pretended to look shocked. “We would never.”

“Ha,” I snorted. “Famous last words.” I looked at Autumn. “And don’t believe a word of the shite out of their mouths about me. None of it.”

She grinned. “Oh, this should be good.”

AUTUMN

The pub was busy, filled with people talking, laughing, drinking, some even dancing. It was loud and chaotic, the old wooden floors showing the wear and tear of thousands of feet stomping on the planks over the years. The walls were covered in pictures and the windows heavy with condensation from the heat inside battling the cold wind that blew against them outside.

Roisin found us a table closer to the back, while Sully went to procure drinks. I excused myself to the restroom, and on the way out, a man stepped in front of me in the narrow hall. He swept his gaze up and down as if cataloging my body. His gaze made me shudder in revulsion.

“You’re new.”

“Yep,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “I’m here with friends. Excuse me.”

“Dance with me,” he ordered, grabbing my arm. His liquor-soaked breath washed over my face, and I stepped back.