Page 58 of Myla: The Hawthornes

“I like my balls, too,” Sean said around a mouthful of cereal. “I got a green one.”

“Your balls are awesome, Seanie,” Aisling said placatingly. “I like the purple one.”

“That’s your fave-rit color.”

“Yup,” Aisling said, smiling carefully. “Purple’s my favorite.” She glanced over at Cian. “Uncle likes blue.”

“You like blue balls, Uncle?” Sean asked innocently.

Dad choked and coughed while Aisling silently snickered. My lips twitched as I watched her. It was a bit of relief to see the Aisling I remembered shining through, even if it was a brief glimpse.

“How old are you again?” Cian asked his sister. He looked at Sean. “Yeah, bud, I like blue.”

“Where’s my Seanie?” Aoife called. The front door banged closed. “Where’s my boy?”

“Mam!” Sean screamed excitedly, knocking into his bowl of cereal and spraying it across the table as he clambered down from the table.

“There he is,” Aoife said, scooping Sean up as she reached the kitchen. “I missed you! Were you good for Aunt Ashley?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his face pressed against her neck.

“That’s my guy,” Aoife replied softly. “That’s my big guy.”

“Sit,” Cian ordered, carrying over a stack of paper towels to clean up Sean’s cereal. “You want some coffee?”

“Please,” Aoife replied, smiling tiredly at her brother as she dropped into Sean’s seat. “Add an extra sugar.”

“You need sleep,” Ashley said worriedly. “Not caffeine and sugar.”

“Caffeine and sugar will have to do for now,” Aoife replied easily. “How are you, Seanie?”

“I’m good.”

“Yeah?”

“Uncle likes blue balls.”

The entire kitchen seemed to freeze.

“I’ve noticed,” Aoife said after a moment.

“Nice,” Cian said dryly as he set her coffee down on the table. “Thanks, Mam.”

“How’s Richie?” Aisling asked, her arms wrapped tightly across her chest.

“He’s doing great,” Aoife lied, a bright smile for Sean pasted onto her face. “Getting better and better.”

“Aoife,” Aisling said.

“Later,” Cian ordered his little sister.

“I just—”

“Later, Ash,” he repeated, not unkindly. “Come on.”

“You wanna take a shower with Mam?” Aoife asked Sean. They were looking at each other, nose to nose, like they were in their own little world. “You can take a few cars in there if you want.”

“No soap?”

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