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“I don’t take orders from you,” she squeezed out. “You should know that by now.”

“Because you’re crazy stupid,” he whispered. “You’re wasting your life on me. You know this. Everyone keeps telling you, but you won’t listen—”

“Because it’s my life to waste,” she shot back defiantly. “Now, you get your sexy ass better and come home to me.” Reaching a hand behind him, she pinched his ass for emphasis. “Because I’m going to need you healthy, okay?”

“Aoife, I’m a bad bet—”

“Okay?”

He heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

“Now, give me a kiss and tell me you love me,” she instructed, lip wobbling. “And make it a good one.”

“Come on, Shan,” Johnny said, distracting me from Joey and Aoife as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s leave them be.”

“Yeah, okay.” Shivering, I leaned into his side as we walked away from the graveside. “Thanks for today,” I told him, slipping a hand around his waist. “For everything.”

“Shan, you were so amazing these last few days,” Johnny replied gruffly. “I don’t know where that strength comes from, but it’s so humbling.” He shook his head and blew out a breath. “I don’t even have the words to tell you how fucking incredible you are, Shannon Lynch.”

“I’m not an incredible anything, Johnny,” I croaked out. “I’m just trying to keep my head above water and not drown.”

“You won’t drown. You’re a survivor,” he told me.

“I’m not a good swimmer,” I admitted.

“Then I’ll throw you a life jacket and swim out to get you,” he shot back, tucking me into his side. “Because I’m an excellent swimmer.”

“You talking about your swimmers on a day like today?” Gibsie quipped when we joined him and the rest of our family and friends at the gates of the cemetery. “Christ, Johnny, you sure do pick your moments, lad.”

“Oh, shut up, you big eejit,” Lizzie grumbled, slapping the back of his head. “You need to pickyourmoments.”

“It’s called looking on the bright side,” Gibsie shot back, glaring at her. “And that’s called assault.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Don’t talk to me.”

“Fine,” Gibsie countered. “Don’t touch me.”

“No problem,” Lizzie muttered. “I need hand sanitizer anyway.”

“Yeah,” Gibsie bit out. “For your tongue.”

“Can you two pack it in for one bleeding day?” Johnny hissed, bristling. “Christ, look at where you are.” He inclined his head to where my younger brothers were standing with his parents, watching their interaction with curious eyes. “Just call a truce for an hour,” he added, smoothing a hand up and down my arm. “We don’t need any more fighting.”

“Yeah,” Lizzie said, cheeks reddening. “Of course.”

“Ignore them, chickie,” Claire said, stepping forward to wrap her arms around me. “You did such a good job today. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Claire.” Shivering, I hugged her back tightly before stepping back and smiling weakly. “Thank you all for coming.” I looked up at Feely who was standing between Hughie and Gibsie and said, “Thank you so much for doing that for my family.” Clasping my hands together, I nodded to the guitar case at his feet and smiled. “You have a very beautiful voice.”

His cheeks turned bright pink. “I was honored to be asked.”

“He’s our dark horse, this fella,” Gibsie interjected good-naturedly, slapping a hand on Feely’s shoulder. “Pa’s full of surprises.”

“John, did you have to give him chocolate buttons?” Mrs. Kavanagh groaned loudly and it caught my attention. “It’s twenty-four degrees Celsius outside and he’s wearing a custom Ralph Lauren.” Kneeling down in front of Sean, she pulled a tissue out of her designer handbag and dabbed at my baby brother’s chocolate-covered face and fingers. “What did he give you, Seany, hmm?”

“He wanted a snack.” Mr. Kavanagh chuckled, not sounding one bit sorry. “And you’re worse for putting a six-hundred-euro suit on a toddler, baby.” Slipping his hand into his tailored suit pants pocket, he pulled out a handful of mini bags of chocolate buttons and passed them around to Tadhg and Ollie, who were grinning in delight.

“Don’t be jealous,” Johnny warned Gibsie who was scowling at my brothers. “You’re on a diet—andyou’re a grown-ass man.”

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