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″So far from home,” Ma agrees. “Does your mother miss you?”
Haley clears her throat and looks down at her lap. A tint of red dusts her cheeks before she gathers herself and looks up. “My mother and I aren’t close. She probably doesn’t even know I’m here.”
″Abandonment issues.” Sean’s voice travels from down the table as he butts in. “Makes sense why you chose Cal over me.”
Saoirse groans, pressing her hand to her temple. Sean’s got no fucking filter.
″Son, don’t be so rude,” Da says. He coughs between words.
″It’s okay, Mr. Murphy,” Haley smirks, flashing Sean a smile. “Who said I’ve chosen him? Maybe I’m just here to see you again?”
″Don’t ruffle his feathers, love.” My cheeks burn, annoyed that she is humoring my youngest brother.
She senses my irritation, because She glances my way, her eyes sparkling. And I can’t be mad at her, because I long to see that warmth radiate through her soul, she can do whatever she wants.
Fuck, if it doesn’t satisfy me to see her happy.
Her hand rests on my thigh, squeezing tightly as she and Sean continue to flirt. And yes, I would say it’s flirting, because she smiles at him, laughing as he tells her a nerdy joke.
That’smylaugh. He doesn’t get to bring it out. My teeth clench, trying to remain calm.
″Mrs. Murphy, this is delicious,” Haley says as she digs into her food. Haley’s gaze stays on Da, and he’s wiping his forehead where there’s a bead of sweat dripping.
″My girl knows how to cook,” Da winks as he glances at Ma. He coughs, leaning forward, and wipes his mouth.
″Thank you, love,” Ma smiles.
″Hey,” Haley whispers, leaning into me. Her mouth is against my ear. “Has your dad been sick lately? He doesn’t look too good.”
I shrug. Aside from his anger outbursts he’s seemed no different to me. “I don’t think so.”
″Haley. How long have you been out of the military?” Saoirse asks.
Haley shrugs, turning back to Saoirse. “A little less than a year. I’ve been in Boston about four months now.”
″Oh. Where were you in between?”
Haley swallows a bite of her food. “Napa Valley. My friend owns a vineyard out there. I was visiting her while I tried to figure out the next step.”
Da lets out another cough, his head falling forward. Ma lets out a shriek, wrapping her arms around him.
Haley stands immediately and rushes toward Da. She presses her fingers against his wrist as she checks his pulse and looks to Ma. “Does this happen often?”
I should be worried, but Haley is calm. Her focus is on Da, so I stay seated to give her space. She brushes some hair from her face, beautiful as ever in her element.
″He’s been getting dizzy spells and the likes. More so at the end of the day,” Ma says.
She nods. “When he skips a meal?”
″Yeah,” Ma says. “What is it?”
″I think he is hypoglycemic. Low blood sugar. Do you have some juice?”
″I’ve been telling him to go to the doctor,” Ma sighs. “He’s too stubborn to listen.”
″Yeah, well he’s lucky we had a doctor here!” Saoirse jumps out of her seat to head for the kitchen.
″What else has been happening lately? Is he hungry more often? Using the bathroom more frequently? Nausea? Tell me everything different with him.”
