Page 2 of Steadfast

As I hurried down the stairs, I could hear him and Richie scuffling in the hallway. I rolled my eyes. Richie was always up for roughhousing with my brothers. He had two older brothers who didn’t live at home anymore, so maybe he missed the comradery. I thought he probably liked being the oldest for once and able to actually win the little wrestling matches. Though, that was probably coming to an end. Cian had sprouted up so tall over the past year that he had to wear shorts to school every day. He acted like it was part of his style, but I knew his jeans were all just too short. I needed to remind him to hand down the less-trashed pairs to our little brother Ronan.

“My minions,” I called, throwing my hands into the air as I reached the kitchen. “How was your daily dose of education, and what have you brought for me?”

My twelve-year-old sister Saoirse snorted, barely glancing up from whatever teenage vampire romance she was reading. Ronan laughed and tossed a shiny red apple my way. I caught it, barely, and raised my eyebrows at him in surprise.

“It’s too crunchy,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Mrs. Carron said we had to finish our food at lunch, so I stuck it in my pocket. You like the crunchy ones.”

“Thanks Ro,” I said, reaching out to scrub my hand over his short hair.

“You like mushy apples, Ronan?” Richie asked, sliding to a halt beside me. “Nasty.”

“Ripe,” Ronan argued. “I like my fruit to beripe.”

“You’re ten, Ro,” Cian said, panting as he shoved Richie out of his way and stole my apple. “The picky eating shit is getting old.”

“Shut up, Cian!”

“Am I wrong?” Cian asked the room.

“Where’s Mom?” Aisling interrupted. She must’ve really been crying because her cheeks were still flushed, and the little wispy brown hairs that had fallen out of her braid were stuck to her cheeks.

“Haven’t seen her today,” I replied.

“What’s it been, two days?” Cian asked, taking a loud bite of my apple.

“Three,” Saoirse muttered, not looking up from her book.

“Eh, she’ll be back tonight, I bet,” he said, smiling at Aisling.

“Unless she’s dead,” Ronan muttered.

“Ro,” I snapped, smacking the back of his head.

“You think Mom’s dead?” Aisling asked worriedly, her eyes filling with tears again.

“Happy?” Cian asked Ronan, who grimaced.

“She’s not dead,” I assured my baby sister. At eight years old, she was getting too big for me to hold, but I picked her upanyway. “You know Mom, she’ll be back when she’s good and ready.”

“Candy said I look like a jack-o’-lantern,” Aisling said with a sigh, dropping her chin onto my shoulder.

“With that name, Candy’s just pissed her parents only gave her one career option,” Saoirse grumbled.

“Huh?” Aisling said in confusion while I glared at Saoirse.

“Stripper, Ash,” Cian said helpfully. “Candy is a stripper name.”

“It is?” Aisling grinned.

“How do you even know what a stripperis?” I asked in exasperation, putting her back on her feet. “Jesus. You guys are a bunch of delinquents.”

“But they’reyourdelinquents,” Richie said cheerfully, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

“Lucky me,” I sighed.

He kissed my temple.

“What are we having for dinner?” Ronan asked, his head in the fridge. “Can I have this cheese?”

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