Keeping 13: Boys of Tommen #2

"Now –" Turning to face me, Mam said, "Do you have any more surprises for me?" There was a teasing lilt to her voice. "You don't have any more of her children hiding in my house, do you?"

I shifted around awkwardly. "Ah, maybe one or two."

Mam laughed.

I didn't.

I refused to hand that kind of power over to her or anyone else.

I refused to hand that kind of power over to her or anyone else.

after Shannon's accident. They wouldn't have been returned to their mother's care without an investigation and of course, being asked about their mothe

involved found some merit in Mrs

"Shannon like the river," I called out to her, unable to stop the smile that was spreading across my face, as I climbed down the rocks to get to her. "Are you gonna come hug me or what?"

"Oh my god!" she literally squealed as she untangled herself from Claire and sprang to her feet. "You're back!"

Tits, that was all I could see as Shannon broke into a run.

"What did you do, Shan?" Hughie asked, tearing his lips away from Katie's to look at us. "Were you brawling?"

"Definitely not," I choked out, still trembling. "I'm not a fighter."

"Oh, I think you are," Feely replied. "Muhammad Ali right here, folks."

"Shannon's getting fat," Ollie tossed out. "She loves Dellie's food, too."

"I'm a size 8, you thug," I choked out, offended. "I weigh 7 and a half stone. I'm not fat."

"You don't call girls fat, Ol," Tadhg groaned. "Remember what Joey told us? They're always skinny – even when they're whales."

Like he had when she was alive, Joey remained right by our mother's side, staring into the hole in the ground that would be her final resting place. A lone tear drop fell from his cheek and I watched it as it disappeared into the grave with her.

turning my back on the treehouse and mouthing, "You better run, bitch," to Gibsie who was already legging it in the direction of the house.

"Don't hurt him too much, Cap," Feely called out as I broke into a run after Gibsie.

"Don't listen to him, Cap," Hughie chuckled. "Torture him."

"Look – it's like a Hippo trying to outrun a Cheetah," I heard Tadhg and Ollie laugh, and even though I was mad as hell and had blood dripping down the back of my neck, I had to admit, it was a lovely sound.