but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[allotments]

Absolute any. You and Beck chose a ride from the librarian without informing your mother or I. We're still banned from the local.

( He jokes, but he and Catroina were beside themselves when two of their kids up and disappeared. )

I wouldn't worry in Cal's hands, but I don't know this Mr. McNally.

( "A hello to you, too, Mr. Ford," Niall says, behind him as everyone shuffles along into the parking lot. )

Alright, everyone. Who is riding with who. Last call.

[fullpockets]

[Bradan leans against the hood of his car and Ciara's hand is already on the back handle, leaning off it with her all her weight like she's waiting for him to unlock it. Maeve hangs closer to Cole because of course she's going to go with Cole.

It's just up to Quinn, and Bairre looks over at his oldest with an eyebrow raise.]

Up to you, love. If not I'll enjoy that nice quiet car all to myself.

[allotments]

Hold on, why are the grandparents out of this. We'll let you play whatever you want, kiddo.

( He makes his best offer to Quinn, who hedges, looking back between her dad and grandparents. But, where her grandparents go lie questions and lore and conversation.

"I'll go with dad," she says, finally. Sorry, glitterbomb. )

[fullpockets]

[Works for Ciara.

That does get her a warm smile from her dad, though, and he tucks his arm around her shoulders once she's close enough and they head back to the car. Everyone else shuffles off into their respective vehicles and they fall into the post event traffic, waiting for them to make their way back out into the streets.

Bairre will give it a gentle beat before bringing up gently:]

Danny came in the bakery the other day. Seen him much since he got back?

[interferences]

( Fatherly affection is allowed several times a year, it's Christmastime, she'll allow it. )

And his girlfriend, but between her English assimilation and his coventry, our time together has been light. Much more there, than here. But I take what I can get. You like her?

[fullpockets]

She likes that I'm a girl dad.

[So yes, he does like her, if their one off conversation is anything to go by.]

I think she's sweet. And I think he is very sweet on her. And if my eavesdropping skills are anything to go by, she may be becoming more of a permanent fixture not too long from now.

[interferences]

You win over people too easily, baked goods and all.

( But she knows her father doesn't do that, not unless he has to. She's heard stories as he perfected and avoided his family power. )

You're describing her like lighting or furniture.

[fullpockets]

Well, love can be a bit of both.

[Sometimes it can feel like lightning striking, and sometimes, once the person has been in your life long enough, your space feels strange without them in it. Like someone's stolen your favorite armchair.

It's that part that he's been wrestling with over the last few months.]

But she was talking about transferring to Oxford.

[interferences]

( She squeezes him in closer. He would know. She's never felt it. Maybe she's never let herself. She has an uncle that can't ever let himself feel anyone and one who connects people but not himself. And then her younger uncles. )

Then it's serious. More than a winter fling. Spring fling? What happens in winter. A flaking. I did. Like her.

[fullpockets]

Good.

[That she likes her.]

If she does move here, she's going to need friends. And I think he misses you.

[If the frequency that he shows up at the bakery is any indication.]

Trying to make up for lost time.

[interferences]

You're pawning me off and I haven't even graduated yet. You're going to miss me when I move out.

( She'll miss him and her sisters. )

[fullpockets]

Of course I'm going to miss you.

[She was his first child, remembers the day the doctor put her in his arms and he can't believe she's nearly an adult already, but he's always been proud of her, and he's always known this was coming.]

But you're going to have to go eventually. You're almost at the point where you're going to have to start figuring the world out for yourself.

[interferences]

But, not after my A-levels.

( She knows she's been considering the states and has several applications in, including Tulane, but, that makes it real. )

And Cair and Maeve. ( They'll miss her, too. ) I miss her, dad.

[fullpockets]

Me too, love.

[Every day. He knows there will come a day when he'll wake up alone and it won't be a body blow, it will be normal, but he's in no hurry to rush to that day.]

She'd be so proud of you, though.

[interferences]

What would she be proud of?

( This is an eighteen year-old high-grades girl, yes, but she's abandoning her family, soon. She's an artist. One without quite of a direction. And one who leaves the house whenever she can because she has such a big family.

But she does love that family.

She just thinks she's difficult to live with. To know. Are all girls? )

[fullpockets]

[Bairre pauses, turning to face her more.]

You. She'd be proud of you. Like I'm proud of you.

[He considers his words carefully, as he looks down at her.]

Not that she'd need a specific reason, but we had a really hard year. And there's a lot we're still working through. We made it, though. And that's reason enough.

[interferences]

Yeah, yeah it is.

( She hasn't gotten in trouble, or been reckless, she's stayed true. She's always been on the knife's edge, she's the dramatic Ford girl. )

Come on, let's beat the others there. Access to the best appetizers.

( And she can open the best bottle of wine. )

[fullpockets]

[He smiles before nodding.]

As is our right as the winners.

[And with that they will head home where the house will be full of all kinds of noise as dinner is dished out and served. Catriona is more than happy to keep chatting with Niall, allowing Bradan to keep a little more distance until he gets his head on straight.

He sees his brother approaching however and he tries to wave him off. "I'm fine."]

[overlaid]

( The kids can look after one another, and with Bairre Sr. not far behind when he has the energy, so Niall does have a glass of wine with the Ford matriarch.

Around his family, Callahan wouldn't be gloved up, but he has one of-age unknown with a previous romantic history with his brother. The driver glove hands a beer to his uptight brother that is not fine. )

You were a bad liar as a kid and you're a worse liar now. Take the beer and follow.

( He navigates his way back through the empty rooms, out to the little fire pit adjacent to the backyard, flipping the switch. It comes to life as he closes the door, flames roaring. )

Sit.

[morethanfaith]

[Bradan takes a long pull on the beer before moving to sit with his brother outside. It would have been better if it was whiskey, but beggars can't be choosers. He leans back in the lawn chair, letting his eyes wander up to the starry Christmas Eve sky, and sighs as he tries to relax.]

I am fine. It's awkward, but I can manage running into an old friend. I got my head on straight in the car. It's fine.

[Maybe if he keeps saying it, it will eventually be true.]

[overlaid]

( He grabbed what he grabbed, and yeah, beggars, choosers, and puppy dog faces come last.

He takes his own seat, waiting for his brother to say something. He takes a pull from the beer, glancing up at the night sky, too. )

This big wide world feels real small sometimes. ( He'd called him Mr. McNally, because everyone called him Mr. McNally. It's a parent-family member thing. ) Him being Cole's dad threw you for a loop. Honest, I thought you knew.

[morethanfaith]

[He shakes his head.]

My own fault. I never asked.

[He could have. The number of times he's taken Cole places, you would think he would have come across his parent. But maybe things happen the way they do for a reason.]

I also wouldn't have expected it to throw me for a loop. It's been almost fifteen years.

[overlaid]

The heart wants what it wants. I remember you coming back that night. And the next morning. Had to pry it out of you. You were disappointed. That line of relationship fate really took the wind out of your sails.

( He looks back down again and over to his brother. )

Maybe this is a second chance. Maybe you and him have the same line. Always have. You just can't see it.

[morethanfaith]

[Maybe.

At the same time, all his years in the matchmaking industry has had him starting to wonder. People don't seem to really want real connections anymore. They want instagram moments and the story, and the status - but no one actually wants love.

And maybe it's made him a bit of a cynic.

Not that he thinks that's what Niall wants. In fact, Niall seems to have walked away from it - or had it walk away from him. But that isn't really the question. The question is if Bradan can still look at his own relationships the same way.]

I'm not the same kid I was fifteen years ago.

[overlaid]

Trust me, Mr. McNally's not either.

( He uses his parent name to illustrate, none of them are, are they? )

Tell me, was it a good surprise? At least?