Page 34 of Cillian

“Ten’s so I can, you know? Make sure we both…” I hesitated, hoping they’d get the hint.

“As much as we want that for you, it still means you have to pull your weight. Tadhg’s counting on you. We’re counting on you. We got on without you, but you’re here. The ship sinks if we don’t all do our part.”

Knowing I’d never win an argument with my brothers, I punched the air wondering if they’d wait for me to put on a shirt.

“We’d ask you where it is, but it was pretty obvious walking through the door.” Paddy joked. Not long after, Queenie returned, wearing a robe as she handed Paddy back his jacket.

“Thank you.”

“No problem at all, Elizabeth.”

“Queenie,” she corrected, catching my brothers off guard until she clarified. “Most people call me Queenie. At least family does.”

“Queenie it is then.” She pranced over to me for a hug, but settled for a light peck instead. I wanted to beat all the barks and snickers I got because of it, but if I couldn’t have her one last time before I left, the least they could do is let me get a kiss without ridicule.

“You got five minutes. Anything more, we’re coming back up here to save you from yourself. Plus, you’re a Sullivan. Ain’t no Sullivan started something that ever lasted only ten minutes.

***

Skating to the kitchen, I was relieved to find Queenie by herself, fully taking advantage of her in a tussle of mouths and lips.

“They’re waiting on you,” Queenie said through muffled lips.

“I don’t care.” Knowing I’d be home late, as the start of the weekend had extended business hours. “I don’t know when I’ll be home, but I promise to get back to you as soon as I can.

“Okay,” she said, accepting the kiss.

“Please, please, wait up for me.” Keeping her close despite pulling away.

“I promise.”

“I’m serious. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t even be leaving you. But we never finished what we started. I have every intention on finishing what we started.”

“Cill!” a booming voice from the day room roared.

“Alright!” Leaning in for one last kiss. “Promise you’ll wait up.”

“I already promised!” as just as I was about to leave, she handed me a brown paper bag.

“Promise again,” I teased, before she pushed me away to join my brothers.

The elevator ride was a combination of Paddy’s snickering and inappropriate jokes, mixed in with Bellamy’s laundry list of demands.

“Pub’s already set up, so just hop on the Banshee. You’ve got deliveries to sign for. Declan’s got the opening of the Four Leaf under control. But you should check in since we’re signing it over to you at the start of next year.”

Hopping in Bellamy’s automobile, I’d forgotten Queenie’s gift to me before I left. Having no time to open it before, smiling hard at the “I miss you already” note she left behind.

Looking over his shoulder, Bellamy caught a glimpse of me unwrapping the handkerchief the food was covered in, as my face blushed at the sight of a crisp sandwich. “What the fuck is that?”

“What does it look like? A snack for later.”

“Get up outta that!” Paddy said in disbelief.

“I can’t help it if my wife wants to make sure I don’t go hungry.”

Paddy pointed at me from the front seat. “You hear this one? The eejit that didn’t even want to get married, finally enjoying the benefits of marriage. Might as well drive us off a cliff. I’ve seen everything and I don’t know how much my eyes can stand.”

“You’re a lucky son of a bitch, Cilly,” Bellamy said, his taunting accompanied with a laugh. “Truly a lucky son of a bitch.”

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