Till a’ the seas run dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee well, my only love!
And fare thee well awhile!
And I will come again, my love,
Though it were ten thousand miles.
Joshua fell to his knees in front of Colin’s chair, and Colin embraced him, lifting him into his arms with all the strength he possessed. “Every word,” he choked out, his own cheeks wet with tears. “I meant every word.”
“I could have lost you,” Joshua choked out against Colin’s shoulder.
“Never.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
DAYTRIPPERS
Colin and his three cousins stayed awake singing Irish folk songs until nearly four a.m. Eventually, the wives and Nora quietly left, heading for Nora’s house for the night. Aileen remained for almost the whole session but finally tiptoed off to bed. Joshua, David, and Nate listened to every song. The exquisite harmonies created by the three brothers and their exquisitely matched voices were elevated to heavenly perfection by the addition of Colin’s crystal clear tenor.
Enthralled, Nate sat cross-legged on the floor at their feet, requesting one Irish song after another. “Oh, Colin! Do ‘Wearin’ of the Green’! Then ‘Fields of Athenry!”
“Nate, we’ve done ‘Fields’ three times!”
“Just once more time, Colin. Please!”
“You been teaching this boy?” Danny asked, grinning as he ruffled Nate’s hair.
“Now, that would be a pointless waste of time,” Colin teased. “He’s unteachable.”
Danny laughed, then bent to hug Nate. “We’ll do ‘Fields’ as often as y’want it, lad.”
“I hope so,” Joshua said, lolling against Colin’s shoulder, struggling to stay awake. “It’s my favorite Irish song.”
The following morning, the four cousins stood on Aileen’s porch to bid farewell. Randy, Erin, and Cory hugged everyone and kissed Colin’s cheek. “We’ll see you again before you go, won’t we?”
“We’ll be in Limerick on Friday to see the Cliffs. Can you go with us?” Colin asked, referring to the Cliffs of Moher.
“Sure!” Randy told them. “Come to the house, and we’ll go from there. Cory and I know a shorter backway.”
“We’ll be there Friday morning.”
After Randy, Cory, and Erin left, Danny took Colin’s arm and led him off the porch and down the sidewalk. For a long time, the two cousins spoke. Colin’s hands were jammed into the pockets of his jeans, and as Danny spoke, he stared down at the ground, nodding his head. Finally, the two cousins hugged, and when they rejoined the family, Joshua could see tears on Colin’s cheeks.
“You OK?” he whispered, linking his arm with Colin’s.
“Yeah,” Colin whispered. “Tell you later.”
Danny moved to Joshua’s side and wrapped him in his arms. “See you in a few days,” he murmured, then leaned back and met Joshua’s eyes. “I won’t tell you to take good care of our boy here. I know I don’t have to.”
“You don’t. And believe me, Iwill.”
