“I’d like to spend time with her, get to know her, seeing as you never thought of introducing her to her own family.”
“Thanks, Rian.”
“You’re a disaster, Niall. You know that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Are you planning to try to fix that disaster?”
“I’m working on it.”
I don’t know if I like my little sister talking to me like that, but right now, she seems better-prepared than me for anything life might throw at her. She seems to genuinely care about Skylar – so I’m not complaining.
I need all the help I can get. I’m a complete disaster – as a father and as a man – and I’m scared that I’ll never be able to make things right.
Niall
Tyler came over after his shift. My parents had already gone to bed, and my daughter locked herself into her room two hours ago, saying that she was tired; I know that she’s nervous about tomorrow, but she doesn’t want anyone to know that.
I wonder how much space I should give her, whether or not it’s the right answer. Maybe it would’ve been better to insist that she talk about it, make her open up, or see someone who could help her.
“Just see how it goes at school,” Tyler suggests.
We’re sitting on a bench in my parents’ back garden, surrounded by darkness and the sounds of the countryside.
“Sometimes I feel like a coward. Like I’m too afraid to face up to reality.”
“It’s never easy.”
“But that’s not an excuse.”
“You have nothing to prove, Niall. Not to anyone.” Tyler, as always, get straight to the point.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Give yourself a chance.”
“A chance,” I comment, taking a sip of my whisky. “I’m not even sure I deserve a chance.”
“What could you have done that’s so bad?”
I’ve done many things in my life that I’m not proud of, but now, a particular thought is pressing down on me.
“Do you believe it? The rumour about Mary Hannigan?”
“What is there to believe?”
“The version that everyone seems to believe: that I fucked her in the changing rooms then told everyone at school.”
“That’s a horrible rumour, mate. Good thing you left the county.”
“So youdobelieve it.”
“I’ll believe whatever you tell me.”
“I never slept with her.”
“Okay.”
