Page 57 of Tender Temptation

“Uncle Cillian!” Tristan and Toran, Connor and Ronni’s twin boys, come barreling toward me, nearly knocking me over.

“Hey, you two!” I laugh and gather them to me. “Been behaving for your parents?”

Connor chuckles, shaking his head. “Define ‘behaving.’”

“They’re a handful, as always. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Ronni cradles wee Teagan who’s nestled in her arms.

I catch Brennan’s eye across the table. He nods, but is quieter than I thought he’d be considering his role in getting me here. I make a mental note to check in with him later.

Liam and Padraig are bickering about something, their low-level jabs are laced with an unusual snark. Something seems to be causing tension between them.

Ma holds up a glass of sparkling apple juice. “I’d like to make a toast.” Her eyes brim with tears. “To my husband and my son. It’s not easy for a man to make a change and turn his life around from addiction. It takes a special kind of fortitude, and both of you have shown such strength. I’m proud of you, Rory, for the man you’ve become. And Cillian, your journey is just beginning, but you’re on the right path. I love you both.”

We raise our glasses, the clinking sound echoes in the dining room.

“To family.” My voice is thick with gratitude. “Thank you all for being my support. I went to a dark place and it’s a relief to be on the other side.”

“Cillian, do you want to share what’s next for McGloughlin Construction?” Da passes me the mashed potatoes.

“Yeah, we’re in the bidding process for a big shipping project in Long Beach.” I can’t help the excitement creepinginto my voice. “Peter Vander and I are finalizing the proposal. We have a few new buildings on the slate and Stan wants us to build another office by the Port of Tacoma.”

“Busy times.” Connor, who is currently on a break from touring with his band, LTZ, raises his glass. “Slante.”

We clink glasses again and I take a moment to soak in the easy camaraderie. Our family has gone through tumultuous times. It’s nice to have moments like these. It keeps me grounded.

As dinner winds down and the dishes are cleared, I see Brennan furiously texting in the living room.

“Everything alright, Bren?” I approach cautiously.

He sighs, then pastes a smile on his face. “Investor bullshit. I’m also dealing with some news from an old classmate. It’s nothing, really. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ve been my rock, Bren. Let me be yours. Whatever it is, I’d like to help.” I recognize the same guarded look I used to have. I’m not worried about his drinking, but we McGloughlins all tend to hold our problems close to the vest.

“Yeah, I appreciate it.” He looks around. “I’ll talk to you about it later. I promise.”

Liam and Padraig’s banter continues, their playful insults carrying an undercurrent of tension. Without warning, the situation escalates and before anyone can intervene, Liamstorms out, slamming the door behind him. Seamus and Padraig are now huddled in the corner, deep in conversation.

There’s never a dull moment in a family of six brothers. Despite the chaos—and the occasional fight—there’s a warmth in the air. A sense of belonging I wouldn’t trade for anything. Especially after I lost many of these nights to the bottle.

Eventually, everyone but me heads home. Ma settles on the couch to watch aReal Housewivesshow and my da and I find ourselves on the wraparound porch.

“You’ve done well, son. I’m proud of you, so I am.” He claps me on the back. “One year sober. That’s something to be proud of, so it is.”

“Thanks, Da. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it.”

We stand in comfortable silence for a moment, the sounds of the night enveloping us.

A few years back, Da took a step back because he trusted me. The processes I implemented helped increase revenue and helped manage staff accountability. He knew McGloughlin Construction was in good hands.

After I hit rock bottom, he was back in full force, showing me that facing your demons and coming out stronger on the other side is something to be proud of. He stepped up and seamlessly took the lead on the Bright Shipping project and our other jobs. When I came out of rehab, I was able toease back in.

Yeah. Working regularly with my da again has been special. His support and guidance have taught me a lot about business, resilience, and commitment. It’s brought us closer in ways I never expected.

“I’m going to sell the loft,” I admit, breaking the quiet. “It doesn’t serve my needs anymore. In thinking about my future, I’d like to build a house. I’m considering moving into my townhouse for the time being.”

Da glances over. “Well, it’s important to move on if the time is right. You deserve happiness, Cillian.”

“I’ll never forget the day we learned you built them for us.” I recall my parents distributing a deed to each of us almost a decade ago. “I didn’t understand it then, but now I realize it was your apology for the trouble you’d put the family through during your battle with alcohol. It was such a cool gesture.”

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