The second box is a new iPad and keyboard. Niall had been promising him one for ages, but kept putting it off. After Hughie saw us writing and finishing Michael’s book, it had inspired him to start writing more. I had suggested finally getting him the iPad so he could write on the go, like when he came to Trinity and sat in my classes after he got out of school. Although, with Hughie turning twelve, it’s hard to imagine how long that will continue.
The final gift, I reach out and grab Niall’s hand. Hughie takes an excruciating amount of time tearing the paper, finallylifting the lid. He pulls out a stack of papers, along with a framed photo of the three of us.
Hughie looks back and forth from the photo, to the papers, flipping through the pages. He looks up, tears in his eyes. “I’m going to have two dads?”
***
It took a while, but about two months ago we were able to find Nora. She had disappeared after Hughie came into Niall’s care, and looks like she had gone on the bender of all benders. When we found her, we contacted Irene and the three of us went down to meet her.
She was in a desperate way. She had track marks going up both arms, her face sunken in and lips chapped to hell. She looked like she hadn’t bathed in weeks.
I could see the anger bubbling up in Niall. He had many times went off on tangents about how irresponsible his sister had been with her life, how she has a child she doesn’t care about. I explained to him that yes, Nora’s initially to blame by getting involved in the wrong crowds and starting to use. But, the end result, is out of her control. Some people are born with more addictive personalities and, while some people can control their urges to use drugs or drink alcohol, Nora is someone that doesn’t have that same control. She’s stuck in an endless loop if she’s left to her own devices.
I pull him to the side. “We need to get her somewhere for help, get her in the right state of mind.”
Ultimately, after some resistance, we get Nora admitted to the local hospital. They start her on a course of drugs and IVs to start her detox, with Irene footing the bill. Irene spends most of the time with Nora in the room, while Niall and I split the remaining time, while also covering my classes and the bookpub hours. We have Leo and John helping cover shifts, but also implemented limited opening hours until we get this figured out.
And Hughie is with Anders, and with Leo by default. When asked what we’re doing, we tell him we have some meetings with booksellers in London.
Niall didn’t want to tell Hughie where we were going, or the reason behind it, yet. That we wanted Nora to sign off Hughie’s parental rights to Niall and, hopefully, me.
After a couple of days, Irene tells us Nora requested Niall to be in the room with Irene present. I come in the room as well because, according to Niall, ‘I have every right’ to be there.
“Who’s this?” Nora asks, pointing in my direction.
“This is Daniel. He and I have been dating for quite some time, and he also plays a pretty pivotal role in raising your child.”
“I didn’t know you’d gone and settled down Niall.”
“Well, that happens when you disappear for years at a time.”
“Niall,” Irene’s tone cuts deep, “that’s enough.”
“That’s right baby brother. I’ve got some news to share. Turns out I’ve got liver cancer real bad. Looks like I picked up Hep C somewhere along the way, and now I’m Stage 4. Doc seems to think I only have a year, maybe two to live. I also have a pretty nasty infection in my lungs they’re trying to clear up that hasn’t seen much improvement.”
“They’ll get it,” Irene says, “this hospital is the best.”
“Maybe,” Nora turns back to Niall. “I know I’ve been a right shit to you my whole life. When I was clean and even more so when high. I do want to say I appreciate all you’ve done for Hughie over the years, especially lately. I know it probably wasn’t easy taking on the responsibility.”
“He’s a good kid,” I say, before Niall can respond. “He’s really kind, and also very smart. He often outshines the students in my classes.”
“You’re his teacher?” Nora asks.
“Oh, no. I teach at Trinity College. He just often sits in my classes after school and reads the materials. He loves all the attention he gets from the girls in class. He also ‘became friends’ with a couple of the rugby players for the school, and often gets special treatment at home matches.”
Nora smiles. “That sounds so nice.”
Niall takes a step forward. “And that’s why we spent the last few months trying to track you down. I…we. We would like you to sign over Hughie’s parental rights to us.”
Nora looks from Niall, then to me. “Is this,” she gestures between us, “serious? Serious enough to want to both be the parents to my child?”
“More than you’ve been,” Niall says, “and—”
“I think what Niall is trying to say is that, I love Hughie. I never thought kids were in my future, but since meeting this kid it’s…well, Hughie’s changed my mind. I don’t think of just Niall. I think of Niall and Hughie. So, if anything were ever to falter here,” I point to Niall, “I would still be active in Hughie’s life. I have a life here in Dublin now, and Hughie is a part of that life. Whether he likes it or not. But, between you and me, I think he likes me more than Niall.”
“That’s pretty easy to do.”
Irene clears her throat. “What about the father? Do we need to worry about him?”
