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I frowned at him. “But I thought…“
“You’re a grand lad, Joey,” Tony added, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “A lad I would be happy to see look after my Aoife.”
“No.” I shook my head, brows furrowed in confusion. “I’m really not, Tony.”
“You forget that I’ve known you since you were a small boy of twelve,” he reminded me, as he steered us towards the back door. “I remember looking at this small scrap of a lad standing in the garage, down on his luck and with the weight of the world on his shoulders. That small boy asked me for a chance that day,” he added, voice thick with emotion. “I took a chance on that boy, and I’m glad that I did, because the man that small boy turned into is a man who I am damn proud of.”
MEETING MAMMY AND MAKING PLANS
AUGUST 22ND 2004
AOIFE
My parents were farfrom perfect, but as I sat at the dinner table and watched them embrace Joey, I was glad they were mine.
The only skeptic in the midst was a very wary looking Kev, who seemed to have a nervous disposition around my boyfriend.
I couldn’t blame my brother, not when the same hands that made me feel so good had almost throttled him.
Somehow, through the jigs and the reels, we had managed to broach the subject of what would happen after all three of us finished secondary school next year.
“That sounds lovely,” Mam said after dinner, when we were all in the sitting room, with bowls ofVienettaon our laps. Yeah, Mam had brought out the fancy ice-cream. “And you’re happy with the qualification you’ll get from that course, yeah? You’ll get a good job from it?”
“Absolutely. They also have a fantastic campus, and the curriculum seems solid, which is vastly contradictory to what they have on their pamphlets and website,” my brother continued to drone on, almost boring me to tears, as I sat on the couch between him and Joey.
The same Joey who looked incredibly uncertain, as he looked from one face to another.
Stretching my leg out, I discreetly nudged his foot with mine.
His wild green eyes flashed to mine, and I gave him a reassuring smile.
“So, Joey, love,” Mam said, when Kev finally decided to stop blowing his own trumpet. “Kev’s aiming to get into UCC. Aoife’s hoping for hairdressing. What are you planning to do after sixth year?”
“What do you meanwhat’s the plan?” Dad interrupted, a spoon full of ice-cream held in the air. “He’ll complete his apprenticeship and come on fulltime with me at the garage.”
“Would you stop, Tony,” Mam admonished, reaching over to slap my father’s leg. “I was asking the young lad whathewanted to do after school, not whatyouwant him to do after school.”
“I, ah…” Roughly clearing his throat, Joey set his bowl on the floor beside him and turned to my mother. “Well, ah, I was hoping that Tony would consider taking me on for an apprenticeship.”
“See now, Trish.” My father beamed like the cat that got the cream. “And there’s no hoping required, son,” he added, this time addressing Joey. “I didn’t spend the last five years training you up for some other fella to swoop in and steal you off me.”
“Holy fuck.” The tension in Joey’s shoulders seemed to melt away as he looked at my father like he just told him he won the lotto. “Are you serious?”
“I am,” Dad replied. “Just finish off this last year of school, do the best you can, keep your head down and out of trouble, and we’ll talk business then.”
“Jesus.” Exhaling a ragged breath, Joey dropped his head and cupped the back of his neck. “Thanks, Tony.”
“Don’t you go scaring him off now, ya hear?” Dad said, eyes on me. “I can’t be losing my apprentice if you two decide to part ways.”
“You won’t,” Joey assured him. “I won’t mess this up.”
“Yes, good lad,” Dad said. “But I was talking to her ladyship alongside you.”
“Me?” I laughed. “How am I responsible for this metaphorical parting of ways?”
“Probably because you’re such a demanding pain in the hole,” Kev offered dryly. “And Dad’s having a hard time understanding why anyone wouldvoluntarilyagree to set up house with such a princess.”
“Ha fucking ha,” I shot back, digging both of my couch buddies in the ribs when they erupted with laughter. “Aren’t you all just sohilarious?”
