“She is an old lady, though,” I shout at his back.
“At least that’s something,” he rejoins.
I laugh out loud.
Looks like I passed the O’Shea family welcome.
CHAPTER 8
JEANIE
It could have gone worse, I suppose. They beat on each other, and now everything is fine. Mum and I clean them up, berating them, but from the way they are grinning at us, I guess that they aren’t in the least bit worried about our anger.
I’ll never understand men. I know Sam went through a similar thing when he and Ally got together. Although, I don’t recall him getting a beating.
And now they are drinking together! As if the both of them turning black and blue is nothing.
Granda cracked open a new bottle of whisky the moment Dad and Bolt came back inside. And now the men are huddled at one end of the table, slapping each other on the back and congratulating themselves for mine and Ally’s pregnancies, like they’ll actually be doing the hard part. The women stick to tea, and we sit at the other end, quietly enjoying the show.
Taking comfort from my mum, I rest my head on her shoulder as we watch Dad, Bolt, and Sam bond with shot after shot of whisky, ignoring the bruises that are developing as they look at baby scans.
“Men really are a different breed,” I mutter quietly, but I’m happy they seem to be getting on now that they’ve beat the tar out of each other.
“I’ll drink to that,” Aunt Sera says, tipping her head at me. “Congratulations girls. A new era is starting. You picked good men, though. Tough men, but good men.”
“Yeah,” I agree softly and smile when Bolt turns to look at me and winks with the eye that isn’t swelling.
“Who’d have thought that we’d be welcoming the next generation so soon. I can’t wait to be a great-aunt,” Maya says, a little tearfully.
“Holy shit,” Mum exclaims, sitting up and knocking me off her shoulder. “I’m going to be a grandmother.”
There’s a stunned silence at her words, then we all start to laugh.
“I guess you’ve just realised what you meant when you said your babies would be having babies.” Sera cackles. Mum snorts out a laugh, nodding her agreement.
The men are now looking at us like we’ve grown two heads, probably wondering what’s set us off.
“At least our men will make fantastic looking grandpas,” Maya says a little dreamily.
“Yeah,” Mum agrees, eyeing up Dad in a way that I know from experience means that they’ll be leaving soon.
“Ew, can you two stop it?” Ally grumbles. “You’re making me feel nauseous. Stop looking at them that way, or I’m going home.”
“Best you get on home then, baby girl,” Mum tells Ally as she stands. Ally and I share a look, and I gag a little as we watch our mother walk up to our dad and whisper something in his ear. He stands, throws back his whisky, grabs her hand, and they disappear out the door with a hurried goodnight.
Sera and Maya roar with laughter at us. Ally and I exchange grimaces as they leave. “Watch and learn, girls,” Sera tells us as she and Maya stand and walk towards Uncle Liam and Uncle Johnny.
“Thank feck, Uncle Andy and Uncle Tommy left earlier,” Ally sputters with laughter. “I’m not sure I could watch that two more times.”
“Same,” I agree, but I’m happy for them. I’m hoping I’ll still be as hot for Bolt when we get to their age.
After the men in my family leave the room, Sam and Bolt stand and walk over to us. Well, Sam does. Bolt, not so much. His walk is more of a stagger.
“You’ll have to drive, sweetness,” Bolt says as he hands me the keys, his voice slurring slightly. “I’m not sure how much whisky I’ve had, but I can’t feel my face.”
“Probably just as well.” Sam smirks. “It looks fucking painful, man.”
“Eh,” Bolt answers, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. “Jeanie’s worth it,” he continues as he stumbles against the table, putting his hand out to catch himself.
