Page 137 of Keeping 13

Joey sighed wearily. “I better go—”

“I sorted it,” Tadhg cut in. “It’s done.”

My heart broke.

Babies taking care of babies.

“And Ollie’s having more nightmares. He keeps waking up crying, saying that Da’s going to come back in the middle of the night and get us,” Tadhg added, tone hard. “I can’t get a fucking wink of sleep with the crybaby.”

“Tadhg,” I said wearily. “Please don’t curse.”

“Why?” he snapped, glaring at me. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Because you’re eleven and too young to be cursing,” I replied sadly. “And I’m not going to do anything about it. It just shouldn’t be happening.”

“Fuck you, Shannon,” he sneered. “I’ll be twelve on Friday, and there’s a lot of things in my life that shouldn’t behappening.”

“Pack it in,” Joey commanded in an authoritative tone, locking eyes on our little brother. “You want to be pissed with Mam and Dad—with the whole damn world? Then go right ahead. Feel it. It’s real and it’s justified. Youshouldbe raging. It’snotfair. But don’t even think about taking it out on her, me, or those two kids upstairs, because we didn’t do shit to you, kid. We didn’t do a damn thing to deserve this life, the same as you, so remember that before you come out here aiming your pain at us.”

Tadhg stared hard at Joey for a long moment before shuddering violently. “I don’t want him to come back,” he finally said, voice cracking. Springing onto his knees, he lunged at Joey. “I don’t want this,” he cried, wrapping his arms around Joey’s neck. “I want it to be gone. I just want it to be over!”

“I know, kid,” Joey choked out, holding him tightly. “I know.”

“And you left me,” he sobbed, crying harder. “You can’t leave me. I need you tostaywith me.”

“I’m here,” Joey whispered, shuddering now, eyes full of anguish and locked on mine. “I’m right here.”

“And so am I,” I choked out, wrapping my arms around my brothers. “We’re a team, guys,” I added, pouring as much enthusiasm as I could into my voice for my little brother’s benefit. “We’ll get through this.”

“Exactly,” Joey agreed, voice strained. “We’re going to make it.”

“Together?” Tadhg sniffled.

I locked eyes on Joey and mouthed “Together?”

“Sure, kid.” Joey clenched his eyes shut. “Together.”

We sat there like that, on the soaked grass with rain drizzling down on us, until the sound of loud voices disturbed the silence.

“Thanks for coming to speak to us.” Darren’s muffled voice filled my ears and all three of us stiffened in unison. “I appreciate the update.”

Tadhg moved to stand up, but Joey and I both grabbed his pajama top and dragged him back down.

“Don’t move,” Joey instructed quietly.

Tadhg frowned. “But they’re—”

“Justlisten,” Joey urged.

He had a lot to learn yet.

“No problem, Mr. Lynch,” a male voice that I presumed belonged to one of the Gardas replied. “I’m just sorry it wasn’t the news you were hoping for.”

My heart sank. Actually, no, it didn’t sink. It remained exactly where it was, in the pit of my stomach. Because, just like Joey and Tadhg, I knew that nothing good was happening. When it came to our father, nothinggoodever happened.

“Your mother should find some comfort in the fact that he’s accepting his responsibilities,” the Garda continued to say. “At least it’s progress.”

“Not quite the progress I expected,” Darren replied, tone a little harder than normal. “Or my sister and brothers, for that matter.”

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