This reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to ask. “Hey, on that note, did all of you guys serve in the military?” I know Grant did, and Declan just moved home earlier this year.
“Oh, has the Ryan family lore not reached you yet?”
“Ryan family lore? I’ve gathered you guys are a big deal here based on context clues, but I don’t think I’ve heard much more than the Irish roots of your names.” I sip my latte and watch the smile grow on his face.
The guy is genuinely handsome. So is Declan. Neither of them touches Grant, obviously, but the masculine features and dark hair paired with bright blue eyes are akiller combo that bears the repetition down the brotherly line quite well.
“Hmm, what context clues could you possibly see? Was it the Ryan amphitheater? Or the Ryan-Shawnessy Mill? Or the small memorial set up for Ulliam Connor Ryan at the corner of the park?”
Those blue eyes absolutely sparkle with humor, and I wonder whether Finn has ever had a bad day in his life.
“Yes, those were a few of the things that tipped me off.”
We share a smile and he leans back, resting an ankle on his opposite knee in a polite-ish version of manspreading.
“So the lore isn’t so much lore as it’s a legit requirement that each of the Ryan kids serve the country in some way. The deal is, we don’t get our inheritance, which is sizable thanks to my mom’s side of the family, though obviously the Ryans weren’t suffering over here after they got their feet under them. If we choose not to serve, that’s fine, but we don’t get the gravy train, as Dad calls it.”
Wait…wait.A gut-level suspicion kicks in and I have a horrible realization. The Ryans are rich.
Like, genuinely wealthy.
Is Grant?
He must be, right? His home is gorgeous, but it’s not ostentatious. I don’t know. But his language, the obligation to serve, it can’t be minimal funds Finn’s talking about here… can it?
Finn’s watching like my face is a movie. I reel my brain back to the moment and work to recall what he said right before the gravy train mention. “So you all served in the military?”
He beams and nods vigorously. Even his movements encapsulate enthusiasm. “Eirinn did four years in the Air Force and she took Davis with her. He’s from here, and thenthey came back together, pretty close to the same time. Then you know Grant was in for about fifteen years, I think? He would’ve stayed longer…” He makes a face betraying the cruel reality. I know he loves the girls, but he seems to genuinely feel for how the events back then changed his brother’s plans. “I know he wanted to retire, like full-on, after twenty years, but I think he’s made his peace with the time being cut short. Took a minute, but I think he's there.”
“He’s an amazing dad.” That has been clear since the first minute I saw him with his daughters.
“He is. And he’s a great sheriff—even though he never jockeyed for the job, and sometimes I worry he took it out of that need to ‘do the right thing.’ In the end, he’s the right man for the job—both of them.”
I widen my eyes, though I don’t doubt it.
“What’s that look?” Finn’s gaze sharpens.
“Nothing. He tried to help me when I had a flat and I was so nervous. Let’s just say I didn’t trust him at the time, and I’m still kind of embarrassed.” In theory, anyway. In practice, I could actually acknowledge that I had every reason to be nervous, and no obligation to act like we would be best friends someday. Or that he’d be a part of my life at all, though I did have the foresight not to be a total jerk.
“He’s intense. But I promise you he’s a good guy. Through and through and sometimes to a fault, he does the right thing.”
Interesting words there, but before I comment, he launches into the next sibling’s service.
“So Dec just got home; he did a bunch of time after med school but our dad had a little medical scare that made him come back. He’s fine now—don’t worry.”
Worry does strike, but he’s so reassuring that I nod, and he continues.
“Then you know Mac is still gone. He’ll end up doing twenty. And then I did six years. It was fine, and I’m proud I did it, but I never expected it to feel like my whole future and after a year or two in, I knew that for sure. So I’ve been back in JV for a few years now, figuring my crap out.”
He’s an interesting person for sure, and I want to know more about what crap he’s figuring out, but there’s one more sibling. “What about May?” I glance over to see her beaming at a customer as she hands them a drink.
“May? She couldn’t serve.” His gaze is on his sister before he drops his voice low. “Did she tell you about any of that?”
My completely vacant look must be answer enough because his lips thin before his face flashes back to something easy and charming. “Well, that’s hers to tell, but basically, she couldn’t, and our folks gave her a pass, which we all completely agree with. She wanted to do Peace Corps, but—well, yeah. So anyway, that’s the story.”
I want to know everything about May’s story, but I understand he won’t tell me. It actually makes me like him more.
“So what about you, Sam Ellis? What’s your story?”
