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Pops placed his full plate on the kitchen table. They ate with Sinatra’s crooning filling the silence, and Brennan wondered how long it’d take Pops to broach the subject of Errin.
But after polishing his plate clean, Pops took their plates to the tiny sink and washed them both. Brennan dried the dishes before placing them back in the cupboards.
As they stood side by side, doing the day-to-day chore of the dishes, the love and respect between them washed over him. Sudden emotions often overwhelmed him regarding his grandfather. Knowing what it was like to miss a loved one, he was grateful to have Pops still by his side.
His relationship with his father had been strained after his mother died. Pops had filled Sean Jr.’s spot as a father figure and he’d been everything Brennan wanted to grow up as. This strong and burly man who loved his family with all of his heart and fought for them no matter what was what first drew Brennan to Lucky.
The responsibility of running the pub had made his father absent while growing up, leaving Brennan the man of the house at age fourteen. He stepped up to take care of his four younger brothers whenever their dad was out at Lucky or sleeping in after a late night hanging out with the regulars at the bar.
It’s solely for the love of Pops and his love for Lucky that Brennan long ago decided he’d eventually take his father’s place. In a few weeks' time, Brennan will be the third generation Mills running the joint. He was more determined than ever to make Pops proud of him.
Pops slapped him on the back of his head and he dropped a plate on the kitchen counter with a loud clatter.
“Ye can’t treat her like any other lass, ye hear? Errin—”
“Pops—”
Brennan wanted to reassure him he had no intentions at all with Errin, but Pops narrowed his eyes under his bushy gray brows. That look alone shut Brennan up.
“As I was sayin’… seein’ ye holdin’ Errin last night was somethin’ special. Now, I love the Walsh girls with all of me heart. Hell, every one of those Walshes I consider family now. But me Bunny lass….”
Pops shook his head and smiled. He cleared his throat and dropped the smile from his face.
“Right. Just be one hundred percent sure before ye act, is all I say. Don’t want to miss her prettylittle face and big mouth, ye hear. And don’t make me go after yer arse for ever hurtin’ her.”
With a nod of his head, Brennan said, “Understood.”
“Thanks again for taking us home, Cait,” Calum said. He opened the door to Errin and Cait’s apartment building, and Cait motioned for Errin to hop through first while Calum held the door for her. Errin’s other brother Conner pushed the elevator button.
“No problem at all, you guys,” Cait said.
Errin looked up at Caitlin, AKA the brunette bombshell living next door to Errin. When her sister Kayla first had moved into Errin’s apartment, Cait and Kayla became instant best friends.
Errin would often tag along on their girls’ night out. Cait was outgoing, always spoke her mind, and as a cop, Cait wasn’t a dainty girl's girl, which Errin appreciated.
“I can’t believe Kayla won game nightagain. Even partnered up with Dunc, she wins,” Cait said.
Errin grinned.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t get me on ‘shoveling snow’.” Calum chuckled.
“I’m a Texas girl. I figured you were pitching horseshit with a fork. Not snow.”
Everyone laughed.
“What? I can count the times I’ve seen snow on both hands.” Cait shrugged.
“Yeah, okay. We’re used to it over in Jersey,” Conner said.
Her brother Calum pushed the button for the elevator again.
Errin figured he was eager to finally stay over at Cait’s tonight. They’d danced around each other for several months now, and tonight had been the first time Cait invited him over at her place. Calum’s crush on Cait was getting legendary in the Walsh family.
When they got on the elevator, Cait blushed. Calum ground his teeth and was about to combust, as he focused his eyes on Cait.
“What did one plate whisper to the other plate?” Errin asked, balancing on her crutches.
Calum groaned in annoyance, but Caitlin grinned.
