Page 57 of Love Thief

“Don’t mess with us, then. It’s that bloody pony. She’s feral, she played them.”

Bug calls to his brood, “Right boys, saddle up. Let's get back to Cornhill. Kitten, come home. Nikki sent me to tell you dinner’s not far off.”

The boys all get on their little motorbikes, and Colm turns to ask Kellen, “You won’t send her away, will you, Uncle Kellen?”

“No, Colm, no. I won’t.”

“Promise, Uncle Kellen,” says Oisin.

“God in heaven, lads. No, she is going nowhere.”

They all grin at him. “Just checking,” says Oisin.

Bug comes over and kisses me. “Give ‘em hell, Kitten.” He laughs and takes his three young sons off towards the road and back to Cornhill.

“Crop again, Kitten? You’re getting a bit handy with that thing,” Kell laughs out.

“I like it,” I tell him, and bat my lashes at him.

Xander laughs, “Oh god, that was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t know how you manage it, you always get in ridiculous situations.”

“Pot and kettle,” I retort. “We have a problem, though, with the girls. They hate me, and I don’t know why. I’ve invited them to tea and all sorts this week, but they aren’t interested. I don’t get it. I literally have done nothing really.” I’m shaking my head in disbelief.

“Ah, but you married the golden goose,” says Xan, “how dare you.” He drags me out of Kell's arms and into his. “You didn’t do anything, they just don’t like the fact you’re different. Look at you today and look at them.” He gestures around the pool area, littered with empty wine glasses, discarded beauty products, drug paraphernalia.

“It doesn’t make me better or worse, just different. You can’t see Tiff on this bike? With these goggles on? Three savages on her tail and a delinquent pony?” I ask. “I don’t know what I can do to make it better. I’ve tried, honestly, I’ve been nice.”

Kellen starts to laugh, throwing his head back and finally gets out, “You smashed a dining room up with a baseball bat, flattened my Ferrari with a tractor, then tried to drown them with a pony, motorbikes and three wild children. Not sure you’re coming back from that.”

Our phones all ping in unison. Kell gets to his first and his face pales as he reads out the messages.

James

WTF Dad? You did not try to send mum away. Colm just WhatsApp me

Bucky

leave Pinky alone. She needs love from Tubbs. And Mum’s going nowhere. Eamonn phoned

“Fucking kids,” Kellen scowls.

I check my message.

Sunshine

MUM stay put. I’ll come back. Eamonn is crying.

Xander’s phone rings and he looks at it. “James,” he answers and starts to laugh. “Yep all true. No you don’t have to, she’s going nowhere. Eamonn’s like his daddy, over emotional when it comes to your mother. No, they're here. Do you want to speak to them?” He nods and hands the phone to Kellen.

Kell puts the phone to his ear. “James, stop shouting. I never said she was to go, she never gave me a chance. No, why would I do that? I'm married to her, of course I love her.” He rolls his eyes at that. “James, those women are history. They started it. Pinky wasn’t to blame really either. Yes she’s here.” He hands me the phone, blowing out a breath. “He wants you.”

“Hey, baby,” I say to him.

“What the fuck, Mum. Did he tell you to go?” James is up a height.

“Not really. He just didn’t say things fast enough,” I placate him.

“Are those women leaving? They’ve wanted you gone since Vegas,” he says.

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