With summer looming in the not-so-distant future, the temperatures soared. I was relieved to finally be able to go about my business without bundling up and with warmer weather came brighter spirits.
Life was much the same, yet I’d never been happier, and it seemed I wasn’t alone in that. Just as Ronan had brought a light to my life that I’d been sorely missing, Tess did the same for Declan. They were completely wrapped up in one another, growing closer every day. When Declan had come to me, asking for his ma’s wedding ring, I’d been in two minds about how wise and idea it was to be marrying a wee settled. Tess had eagerly accepted Declan’s proposal and news of the engagement had quickly gotten around the camp.
Whilst I was pleased for my mate, the same could not be said for some of the other folks. No one dared voice their opinion in front of Declan, but Ronan and I often heard the whispers and saw the sideways glances whenever the couple were seen wandering about together.
I supposed in a way, Declan’s relationship with Tess was similar to mine with Ronan. We were both going against the grain, against what was expected of us as men in this community. Whereas I was keen to keep a low profile, Declan was exactly the opposite. He was proud of Tess and took every opportunity he got to show her off around the camp. It was a dangerous game, and I just hoped he knew what he was doing.
The day started like any other. Ronan and I were chilling outside his place whilst Fiadh busied around with chores. The sun was blazing down on us, truly the first day of the year that it really felt like summer was approaching.
“‘Ey, howsagoin’? Ya’ll never guess what I’d just be seein’, like.”
Ilooked up, squinting through the bright sunshine as Darragh approached. He was sporting a wide grin, clearly in good spirits along with the rest of us.
“What’s goin’ on?” Ronan asked.
“Posters f’the horse fair are up around town, now.”
“Jaysus, that’s come ‘round quickly, eh?” Fiadh replied, folding washing. “We’d been here a whole year already.”
That was true for me and Declan, too. We hadn’t halted up somewhere for this long since we were kids. I had to admit, I’d long since grown antsy about being here, but I’d understood Declan’s desire to stay for Tess. It had crossed my mind that once they were hitched, we’d be able to move on to new pastures, and I’d wondered on more than one occasion if Ronan and his family would be up for joining us in a wee change of scenery.
It was something that I desperately wanted to bring up with Ronan, but I wasn’t sure how. I’d long since grown comfortable with him and his family and the thought of leaving them behind was one that I refused to entertain. Hell, if Declan and Tess wanted to go about their lives as newlyweds without my arse hanging about like a wee third wheel, I knew I’d jump at the chance to stick around with Ronan. It seemed inconceivable to me, after all these years of being cleaved to Declan, that we might be soon parting ways. It’d be a sad day, but one that was certain to be bittersweet. Both of us finally had something special in our lives, and perhaps it was time to finally close the door on this chapter and move on – even if that meant taking different paths.
My phone buzzed in my jeans, and I fished it out. Speak of the devil – an unread text from Declan. Whilst the others chatted about the horse fair and how fast the last year had flown by, I opened it up.
DECLAN: Up for a wee drink later, fella? Got something important to ask ya.
I cocked a brow quizzically. I was never sure whether it was a good or a bad thing whenever Declan was behaving cryptically like that. I tapped out a reply.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Aye, come a’knock me?
DECLAN: Sound. See ya later.
My texting had drawn Ronan’s attention and I shrugged, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
“Meeting Declan for drinks later,” I said. “Got the feelin’ there’s somethin’ goin’ on, now.”
“Oh, aye?”
I nodded. “Would put money on it that it’s somethin’ t’ do wi’ Tess, but I guess we’ll be findin’ out soon enough, eh?”
The day passed by much the same as it always did. As the sun began to sail beyond the horizon, I parted from Ronan and headed back to my own place to wait for Declan. As promised, he came by to collect me and we made our way into town on foot.
It seemed like an age since we’d last spent time together just the two of us, and yet we slotted right back into a comfortable routine of ripping on one another and joking around. I felt strangely conflicted, both excited for the good times that lay ahead of us both and yet saddened to perhaps be saying goodbye to fun times like these.
We arrived at the pub – giving the one we’d smashed up a wide berth – and settled on a quiet table near the back with a pint each. I allowed the small talk to continue though my curiosity burnt a hole in my gut. Declan hadn’t asked me here tonight just to catch up, and I was eager to hear what he had to say.
After one particularly big mouthful of cider, swallowing loudly, Declan caught my eye.
“Here, I got a question t’ ask ya, now.” He lookednervous, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him quite so fidgety. He seemed to take a deep breath before continuing. “Y’wanna be me best man or what?”
A wide grin split my face, relief flooding me. “Y’coddin’? O’ course I will, like.”
Declan’s face brightened immediately, that strange tension he’d been holding vanishing. He grinned and took another gulp of his drink. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up for some playful ribbing.
“Y’don’t really need t’ ask, aye? Miserable twat like yourself doesn’t have many mates t’ choose from anyway, eh?” I said with a chuckle that swiftly turned to laughter at Declan’s outrage.
“Oi! Wind ya neck in, y’feckin’ langer,” he snapped playfully. “I can always ask someone else, now.”
