Page 5 of Stronger Than Love

“Just leave it, Mum,” I whispered. “I need to move on with my life and I can’t do that while living in the past.”

“I’ve missed you, Oonagh.”

“Me too, Mum.”

She squeezed my fingers and left me to get ready. The shower pounded down on me until my skin wrinkled and I finally emerged to dress myself in something that made me look remotely human.

***

Chapter Four

Liam – Fourteen Years Ago

Two more days until the summer holidays started. Niall and Oonagh would return to their summer home before disappearing from my miserable life for another year. I’d just turned sixteen and nearly finished my GCSE examinations. My career advisor wanted me to start my A levels next year, but I needed to get a job to support my brothers.

Callum worked every hour god sent, but it wasn’t enough to pay for everything six brothers and their wayward parents needed. Being the next eldest, the responsibility fell to me to help him. I already had two part-time jobs alongside my studies.

My pencil skimmed the page, my latest sketch of the ocean coming to life. Art was the only subject that I took just for me, losing myself in creating places I would prefer to live or visit.

“Liam?” I glanced up from my corner in the library to find the principal’s secretary standing there. “We can’t reach your parents and Dean’s been in a fight again.”

Niall thought I lived an exciting life surfing or dating girls. Neither were true. Where would I find the time?

With a heartfelt sigh, I followed her to the principal’s office. Mr Munroe sat behind his desk with his round glassesperched on the end of his nose. “Ah, Liam. I know you’re revising for your next exam, but…” He nodded to my brother who was sitting with his head down and shoulders slumped.

Dean was sensitive about our situation. There was never enough money or food, we passed clothes among each other, but the six of us were all we had.

“It would appear that someone ripped his school blazer,” Mr. Munroe explained.

Crap! Where were we going to find the money for another one? Callum would go mental.

Mrs. Delaney coughed discreetly. “I found one that would fit him in lost property if you want to swap it?”

My back straightened but it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. I’d spent years having to bite my tongue and say “thank you” to those who gave us charity because life had dealt us crappy parents.

A false smile spread on my lips. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

She nodded, leading Dean toward her office.

“I was speaking to your career advisor. He recommended that you continue your studies,” Mr. Munroe started. I opened my mouth to tell him I was leaving this summer to get a permanent job, but he put his hand up to stop me speaking.

“I’ve been looking into it and there are grants available for fulltime students who need funding.” My cheeks burned with every word he spoke. “Think about it, Liam. You may think I don’t understand, but we all have family secrets thatwe try to leave in the past. You’re a smart boy who deserves better.”

“I’ll speak to Callum about it.” Everyone knew my brother was the adult in our family. He’d stolen to put food on our table from an early age, getting into trouble more times than I could count. His saving grace had been a police officer who’d seen beyond the scruffy, hungry boy and decided to help him.

“I phoned him about Dean and mentioned it to him. We could try and get help for your family…”

I slumped into the chair on the other side of his desk. “They’ll separate us and we’re all we have. Callum’s trying to get legal custody of our youngest brothers to keep them safe.”

“It’s too much for you and Callum.”

That may be true, but family was everything and I would do anything in my power to keep us together.

***

Every year, Oonagh got even more beautiful. When we were twelve, I acted like a complete ass because I didn’t know what to do when I arrived at their house to find not the friend I’d spent every summer with, but someone who made my wayward adolescent dick take interest.

Now she had curves in all the right places, her breasts evident under the flimsy vest top she wore. She’d been my best friend, not Niall, from the day she found me alone on the beach after Ma had thrown me out of the house for eatinga biscuit. She took me home and claimed me from that moment.

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