Page 80 of Scotch & Dreams

"Ye're no better." Lachlan threw Alex a pointed look, and he raised his hands in a truce.

Their mother shot both her sons disapproving looks. “Ye both let Lachlan think the worst? Shame on ye two. How could ye?”

Alex tried to put an appeasing arm around his mom, but she batted it away.

Drew had his hands up. “I swear I didnae even think about it. I just told him to get his fuckin’ arse down here.”

"Language, Drew," Mam scolded.

Lachlan held back a grin. His poor mam, it was a losing battle with his uncouth brothers. As he looked at Drew, though, all Lachlan could see was the kid brother he once knew. He stood up from Orlagh's bed and walked over to him, pulling him into an embrace.

“I still love ye, ye arse,” Lachlan said.

“I love ye too, Saint.” Now it was Drew who was choked up.

"Ach, Christ, damn ye both," Alex said, putting his arms around them and yanking their heads in. The brothers embraced in shared relief over their sister.

“I’m sorry, guys, especially to ye, Lachlan,” Drew croaked.

“Aye, ye bastard,” Lachlan quipped, still embracing both of his brothers.

Drew’s laugh was a hearty one. Lachlan knew that it was an apology for the years that had gone by. For the pain, the distance, the blame. None of that seemed to matter now.

“Right, are we sure I’m alive then? I didn’t expect to see this reunion in my lifetime,” Orlagh teased, although she was wiping away a stray tear too.

“Och, my babies,” their mam cried, squeezing herself into the group hug while their da stood back watching on with a quirk of a smile.

“Oh, brother,” Orlagh groaned, and even though Lachlan wasn't looking at her, he was certain she was rolling her eyes. “All right, all right, oot with ye all. I need a nap.” She shoo’d them.

The relief and joy in the room were palpable. They stayed for a few more minutes and then left Orlagh to rest.

Outside her room, Lachlan talked with his parents and brothers to get the official update on her condition. She had awoken in the morning. Drew had been there and immediately called his parents to come before texting Alex and Lachlan. Alex had just gotten off a night shift and wasn't far from the hospital when he got the text. Whereas Lachlan had been in his meeting.

The doctor had since examined her and was pleased with Orlagh's progress, noting that the prognosis looked good. It would still take some time for her incision to heal, but it was expected she would make a full recovery. Not only that, but as long as she continued to do well, they hoped to release her from the hospital before the week was out. The family's relief was palpable.

The sun was shining as Lachlan walked out of the hospital with his family, and his thoughts turned to Violet. So much had happened today since he'd seen her just a few short hours ago, and he found himself eager to see her.

"Right then, I'm headed home for a kip," Alex said, yawning as he hugged his mam and gave each of the men a pat on the back. "Glad ye're back home, Drew," he added and strode across the parking lot to his car.

"See ye lads later," their da said as he and their mam went to their car. "And stay outta trouble, aye," he added, leaving Lachlan and Drew standing there.

“Shall we go huv a wee drink then?” Drew asked. His lips were tugged in a smirk.

Hearing his brother actually wanting to spend time and hang out with him felt surreal. He wanted to see Violet, but she mentioned having plans for the day anyway.

“Aye,” Lachlan replied with a grin.

Chapter 49

The Lads

LachlanandDrewheadedto one of their old favourite pubs near town, The Coo’s House. It was a larger pub out in the country. It was rustic casual, like a good ol’ family barn party, but it had a certain urban trendiness that was more typical of the gastro pubs in Glasgow.

When the pair walked in the door, their friend Kian hollered out, “Nooo, it cannae be! Tell me I’m not seein’ things!”

“Ye better open the good stuff, Kian. We’ve got some celebrating to do!” Drew hollered back.

Lachlan and Drew spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and reminiscing over good memories and laughing over some of the bad ones. It was like the wall that had been built up over the last few years came crumbling down. As soon as the one piece of brick fell loose, the rest easily tumbled down. It was so good to reconnect with Drew. Lachlan had forgotten how good it was to talk with his brother and to share a good dram. He’d missed him more than he’d realized. When Helena died, it was like Lachlan and Drew's relationship died, too.

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