Page 138 of Keeping 13

“Yes, well, it’s out of our hands,” a female voice interjected in a neutral tone. “The law is the law, and unfortunately, we don’t get to make it. We’re only here to uphold it.”

“The law is a fucking joke,” both Joey and Tadhg muttered at the exact same time.

“Jinx,” Tadhg whispered with a small smile tugging his lips.

Joey rolled his eyes and locked an arm around Tadhg. Dragging him onto his lap, he rubbed his knuckles against Tadhg’s head. “There—touched wood.”

“Shh,” I warned them and strained to hear more.

“Look, we won’t take up any more of your time,” the male Gard said. “Good night, Mr. Lynch.”

“Yeah, good night,” Darren replied. “Thank you.”

The sound of an engine roaring to life came a few moments later and then slowly faded away in the distance.

“I’m going inside—” Tadhg began to say, standing up again, only to be pulled back down by our brother once more. “I want answers, guys!”

“Just stay put,” Joey instructed calmly. “They’re not done.”

Huffing out a breath, Tadhg crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.

Joey shook his head. “You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.”

We waited until Patricia and the other women emerged from the house, got into their cars, and drove away before Joey stood up. “Okay,” he announced, inclining his head toward the house. “Nowwe go get answers.”

Tadhg steamrolled ahead of us, making it into the kitchen before Joey and I had our feet through the front door, screeching, “What the hell is going on?”

“Listen, let me handle it,” Joey said in a low tone, giving my shoulder a small squeeze before walking into the kitchen ahead of me.

As I stood in the doorway, my eyes went straight to my mother, who was sitting at her usual perch at the table, with an ashtray in front of her and a cigarette balancing between her frail fingers.No surprises there.She had her standard cup of coffee set in front of her—the one doused in vodka or whatever her choice of liquid medicine for the night. She was weeping quietly into one hand while she sucked on her cigarette.Again, no surprises.

There was a small stack of white envelopes on the table beside her. One of the envelopes had been opened and the piece of paper lay on the table beside the ashtray.

“What’s going on?” Tadhg was demanding as he stood in the middle of the kitchen, glaring at our oldest brother and completely ignoring our mother. “I want to know!”

“Be quiet, Tadhg,” Darren snapped. “I’m trying to think—” He paced the floor, clenching a white envelope tightly in his fist. “I can’t think!”

“Tell me what’s happening and you can go back to thinking,” Tadhg spat out, not missing a beat.

Hovering in the doorway, I watched Joey stroll straight past Darren without a word and snatch the piece of paper off the table. My heart felt like it had stopped in my chest as I watched him read, brow furrowing deeper and deeper, until he clenched his eyes shut altogether. Rigid, he balled the piece of paper up and flung it at the wall. “Fuck!”

“That’s not helping,” Darren admonished quietly.

“No, you know what’s not helping?” Joey shot back. “You, Darren. You’re not fucking helping!”

“Do you think I want this?” Darren hissed, glowering at Joey. “You’re fucking crazy if you think I wantedthis.”

“Oh god.” Mam sobbed loudly. “I can’t take this.”

“Just shut up with the crying!” Tadhg barked, pulling on his hair in frustration. “We’re all sick to death of listening to you whining!”

“Cop on, Tadhg,” Darren barked. “Don’t speak to her like that.”

“Don’t tell him what to do.” Joey was quick to jump in and defend. “The kid’s right. We’re all sick of listening to her, you included. He’s just got the balls to say it.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, remaining exactly where I was, with the front door to my back and the option to bolt available if necessary.

“Tell them what’s going on, Darren,” Joey sneered menacingly. “Go ahead and tell Shan and Tadhg the good news. Or better yet—” Pausing, Joey stalked over to the table and grabbed the stack of envelopes. Sifting through them, he tossed two back down on the table before stalking toward us. “Let them read it.” Thrusting an envelope into Tadhg’s hands, Joey walked over and handed me the one withShannonscrawled on the front, before shoving the last envelope he was holding into the pocket of his blue overalls. “Makes for a good read, lads,” he added, tone laced with sarcasm. “Best fucking fiction I’ve ever read, isn’t that right, Mam?”

---