Chapter 16
Eamonn
It was early afternoon by the time they finished breakfast. The five of them enjoyed a leisurely meal under the canopy of trees blocking out the sunshine, complete with stories about how little Eamonn liked to urinate in thebackyard.
“Particularly when we had guests over,” his mumadded.
Eamonn couldn’t leave without replacing the now-broken middle step. He had wood in the shed to cut a new step from. Then of course, becausethatwasn’t embarrassed enough, while he put in a new step, his sisters showed Rafe old pictures of naked little Eamonn running around thehouse.
“We really should get going.” Eamonn shut the photo album and placed it back on theshelf.
“But we haven’t even showed Rafe your old One Direction pillowcases!” Oliviapouted.
“Oh, I think there are pictures of Eamonn dressed up as Harry Styles,” Marysaid.
“For Halloween?” Rafeasked.
“No!” Mary said, and she and her demon twin exploded into giggles yet again. Eamonn wondered if his sisters spent their free time thinking of ways to torture him. As a big brother, that washisjob.
“Rafe doesn’t want to see any of that. If we don’t get on the road, Stonehenge is going to crumbleapart.”
“Maybe next time,” Rafe said. Eamonn cocked an eyebrow at him.You’re supposed to be on myteam!
“Eamonn, can I talk to you for a second?” His mum called from thekitchen.
He eyed his sisters. “Just so you know, I’m already thinking of ways to humiliate you in the future when you bring homeboyfriends.”
“I thought Rafe was just your flatmate?” Maryasked.
Bugger.
Eamonn clomped into the kitchen. His mum put away the last of thedishes.
“Do you need some help?” Eamonn grabbed the large skillet and placed it in the cabinet above thestove.
“I have it. You already washed all the dishes. Thank you.” His mum kissed him on the cheek. “Uncle George called me to say how well-received your application was. The human resources director raved aboutit.”
“Brilliant.” Eamonn had Rafe to thank for that. He turned a shite C.V. into a work ofliterature.
“With such a strong application, and your uncle’s push, you’re a sure thing for the management trainee program.Congratulations!”
Eamonn managed a politesmile.
“You don’t seem happy aboutit.”
Eamonn looked out the window on the beautiful day he wanted to be enjoying withRafe.
“It’s a great company,” she said. “He treats his employees well. He says they have a work hard, play hardpolicy.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I don’t know if I want to work there.” He kept thinking of what Rafe said about non-profit work. He had done a little bit of research to see what was out there. He would have the chance to make a difference in people’s lives, but the pay was awful or non-existent. It was an adventure, not acareer.
“It’s not glamorous, but it’s a good place to be. What would you rather bedoing?”
“I was hoping I had more time to figure itout.”
“People who spend too much time figuring it out wind up lost. That’s what happened to your dad. He’s still finding himself in that stupid band ofhis.”
Eamonn clenched his jaw. He wasn’t going to be likehim.
