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Together is how we’ll get through all of this.
I’m tryingto gain some perspective about what happened at The Mission a couple weeks ago.
Jace has done his best, but as far as the press is concerned, LTZ is done. We’ve flamed out. Exploded. Broken up. Never to be heard from again. Most of the negative stories might focus on Ty and his meltdown, but the rest of us haven’t fared very well either.
It’s funny how fast people want to take you down. I’ve been riding on the success of my band for a decade. Ty’s taken the brunt of any negative publicity we’ve ever had, but it’s all added to his mystery. His allure.
Not so much now.
It’s not like any of us are speaking yet. Ty and Zoey are at some clinic in Arizona, he’s in an intensive rehab program. Zane and Fiona are at their house in Maui for the rest of the summer. Alex is dealing with some significant health issues. We’ve offered to take Lena , but they’ve gone radio silent. I get it. They keep to themselves. Seamus told me what he can, but he’s Alex’s surgeon. He won’t divulge much. It was touch and go, that much I know.
Which leaves Ronni and me in Seattle. We’re thinking about house hunting. Halfheartedly. The reason we planned on moving here was to be with my family and the band. My family’s still a draw, don’t get me wrong, but our little family is a bit unanchored at the minute.
Tonight, we’re having dinner at my folks’ place. Everyone’s in town. Ma’s making a feast.
“Rory, let me set these guys on your lap so I can get a picture.” Ronni’s positioning Torin and Tristan on my da’s lap. His movement is mostly back, so he clutches the boys around their middles. Miraculously, they settle instead of squirm and Ronni’s able to get a shot.
He’s surprisingly adept at handling them. Liam and Padraig prepared him years ago. “What nice wee lads.” He boops them on the nose.
“Okay, now all of you brothers gather by the fireplace.” Ronni attempts to herd us and is met with various intonations of grumbling. I clasp Brennan and Cillian by the neck and guide them to where I want them. The twins follow. Seamus trudges over, looking exhausted as usual. Surgical residency is grueling.
The six of us plaster big smiles for my wife. “Perfect!” She claps gleefully and shows all of us the snaps. “I’ll get these pics blown up and framed for your mom, Connor.”
“She’d like that, my love.” I lean down and place a kiss on her sweet lips. She’s been handling the stress of everything like a champ. I know she’s disappointed—no, devastated at the state of her own career, but she’s helped me navigate some extremely bleak days.
Ma calls us to dinner. We get the twins situated in their highchairs and take in the tremendous spread. Roast ham. Roast beef. Dressing. Roasties, of course. Mashed potatoes. Parsnips and carrots. Fresh soda bread. I can’t help but pile my plate high. It’s been a long time since my entire family’s been together for such a feast.
“How’s the Amazon project, Cillian?” Ronni asks my brother. He took over McGloughlin Construction and has grown the business to, quite possibly, the biggest game in town.
He chews thoughtfully. “It’s insane. I’ve hired three project managers just to keep up with the expectations.”
Padraig and Liam are quiet. Liam hasn’t come out with his relationship to the family yet. Padraig’s still uneasy about the entire situation. I steer clear of their own band drama. “Is your tour set for this album, guys?”
“Yep.” Padraig glances at Liam, who nods but doesn’t say anything. “We’re getting slotted into some of the LTZ shows on the festival circuit.”
“Oh, aye?” I’m surprised, mostly at how much the news sends pangs to my heart. We were supposed to take our families on the road for some shows this fall. It was one of the scheduling situations Ronni and I were dreading, considering she was supposed to be in Ireland filming the movie.
Liam shrugs. “Paddy didn’t want to do it, but he was outvoted. You understand, brother? Right?”
“Of course.” I swallow a bit of a lump. “You should take the opportunity. As of now, LTZ is through.” The words burn my throat when I say it out loud.
Ronni grips my knee under the table and squeezes. I don’t look over at her, though.
“You lads will find yer way back, so you will.” Da’s raspy voice surprises the feck out of me.
“Da?” I steeple my fingers under my chin.
He looks over at my ma, then flicks his eyes to me. “It seems like the lot of you have dealt with yer share of personal shite. Taking time off can give yous all perspective. Yer talented. They’re like yer family. Give it a bit of time, lad.”
In all honestly, it could be the nicest thing my da has ever said to me. It means a lot, considering what a shit show the past couple of weeks have been. It helps me out of my funk, truth be told.
On our way home, Ronni takes my hand across the console of the Range Rover. “Let’s take the house hunting seriously. Regardless of what’s going on with LTZ, I feel like I can breathe here. Your family is here. We should be here, don’t you think?”
“Aye. If that’s what you want, it’s what I want.” I glance over at her. “The money from your house burning a hole in your pocket?”
“Ha. Ha. A twenty-million-dollar profit is nothing to sneeze at. Can you imagine the house we can get here for half that much?” She leans back against the seat rest. Turns her head to check on the boys, who are sound asleep in their car seats. “In all seriousness, your mom’s still young, Connor. I know your dad’s health issues have taken up much of her time, but she’s not even sixty years old yet. We were talking, and she’d love to be there for her grandkids. She’s so sweet with them. We’d never have to worry about a skanky nanny again.”
“You’ve got a point there, love.” I smile at her. My breath seizes for a moment at the mention of Yolanda. Nothing’s happened since the day she showed up on our front door in Malibu. We haven’t heard a peep. Still, something niggles at me. It may be trite, but it feels like the calm before a storm.
