Page 112 of Quiet Longing

“How exciting,” Nuala exclaimed, full of supportive enthusiasm.

Jo seemed less enthused. “Are you sure this is the right step? I’ll admit I’m being selfish because Padraig and I love having you at the house. We’d be sad to see you go.”

“And I’ll be sad to leave, but I need the independence,” I said, inhaling deeply as I met her gaze. “It feels important I prove to myself I can go it alone, you know?”

Understanding tinged with sadness filled her eyes as she nodded, “No, I do know that, and we’ll support you every step of the way. Whatever you need, Padraig and I will be happy to help.”

“Living next door to Rhys, though,” Nuala said, some of her enthusiasm fading a little. “Are you sure about that?”

“Why would living next door to Rhys be a problem?” Jo questioned. “He’s basically another member of the family, and it’ll be good for Charli to have a friend close by if she’s going to be living in town.”

“Right,” Nuala scoffed mildly. “Afriend.”

I shot her a glare, but it was too late. Her tone had already garnered her mom’s attention. “Is there something I’m missing?” Jo asked, confused.

Nuala glanced at me, eyebrows raised. Oh great, so she wanted my permission to reveal mine and Rhys’ history to her mom. I sighed and waved for her to go ahead. It wasn’t like myaunt would judge me for having a teenage romance with Rhys. Not when it was so long ago.

“That summer when Charli came to visit,” Nuala began, “she and Rhys became close.”

“Close?” she said then looked at me, realisation dawning. “Oh,” she breathed. “I had no idea.”

“Yes, mother. If my brothers’ antics are any sort of marker, you can be fairly oblivious to teenagers secretly shagging under your roof.”

“Nuala,” Jo exclaimed. “I am not oblivious.”

“Oh, really? Then how come Derek and Tristan had about five or six girlfriends each stay the night, and you never found out about it.”

Jo’s eyes flared wide. “Excuse me? Five or sixeach?”

Nuala chuckled raucously, and I couldn’t help releasing the grin that was tugging at my lips.

“And that’s a conservative estimate,” Nuala added. “Though, you’ll be relieved to hear I never broke the rules like my very naughty brothers because I’m a good girl.”

Jo narrowed her eyes like she didn’t entirely buy that statement, and it made me wonder if Nuala had ever had a boy stay over back in the day. As far as I knew, she hadn’t been with anyone the summer I’d visited.

Jo pressed her fingers into her temples. “I think this might be one of those things I’d rather not know about.”

“Hey, my brothers turned out okay in the end despite their youthful ho phases, right?” Nuala remarked with humour.

Jo shook her head in exasperation, and I sensed from her expression that she might bring the topic up the next time she had an argument with one of her sons. Nuala looked entirely too mischievous and pleased to have thrown them under the bus, and I realised that sibling rivalry continued no matter your age.

A small quiet passed before my aunt brought her attention back to me. “So, you and Rhys were together back then?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t serious.” The lie came easily. “Just a summer fling.”

“Well, you’re lucky you’re currently too old for me to reprimand you for doing whatever you did with him under my roof.”

“Come on. You and dad invited Rhys to stay at our house that summer. Charli’s room was right down the hall from where Rhys was staying in Derek’s room. What did youexpectto happen?” Nuala put in.

“Okay, I think we need to change the subject,” I interjected, a flood of embarrassment sweeping forward to have my aunt thinking of Rhys and me “shagging,” as Nuala put it, in the very same room I was currently sleeping in.

“Yes, I think that might be wise before my daughter reveals more secrets and gives me a coronary.”

Nuala grinned and shook her head. “So dramatic.”

***

The following week passed in a blur of work and sorting through a possible mortgage application. Rhys and I exchanged texts most days, but we were both busy at the hotel, so we didn’t cross paths much.

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