Chapter 54
fifty-four
Linus
One Year Later
The realtor is waiting at the gate when we pull up.
Avonna clocks it first, narrowing her eyes at me from the passenger seat.
“This was supposed to be a drive.” She places her hand on my thigh. “A scenic drive.”
Liam snorts from the backseat. “He’s way too quiet for it to be a scenic anythin’.”
I say nothing and turn off the ignition.
Quinn kicks her heels against the car seat, humming tunelessly. Sloane’s head lolls as she nibbles on string cheese, crumbs from the oat bar I gave her scattered in her lap.
“I mean,” Avonna stares at the sleek black gate, “there’s literally a woman in a blazer waving us in.”
“Could be a coincidence,” I offer.
Liam laughs under his breath. “You scheduled a tour of a house? Devious bastard.”
“Aye.” I shrug and open the door. “We’re here, aren’t we?”
Avonna unbuckles her seatbelt, scoops Quinn out of her car seat and kisses the top of her head. “If we’re moving to LA, I swear to God, you’re cooking every meal for a month.”
“We’ll DoorDash.” I raise an eyebrow. “Unless you want to be poisoned.”
“True,” she replies, sweetly.
Liam climbs out with Sloane, who immediately starts wiggling toward the grass like her tiny sneakers have minds of their own.
The gate slides open and the realtor steps forward, all smiles. “Hi, Mr. O’Donnell. Welcome. You must be Avonna and Liam. So glad to meet you.”
Avonna gives me a look over Quinn’s shoulder. “So this was scheduled.”
“You caught me.” I hold up my hands.
The property rises behind her. A terraced, sun-soaked mid-century with glass walls and a wide wraparound deck. Olive trees flank the sides. There’s a peek of a pool behind a safety fence. And below, in the distance, the city sprawls like a painting.
“This is 3132 Oriole.” The realtor guides us toward the house. “Completely remodeled last year. Five beds, four baths, recording studio space, nanny quarters with a separate entrance. Fully gated, quiet street.”
Avonna walks beside me, Quinn perched on her hip. “Not very subtle.”
“I wasn’t aimin’ for subtle.” I wrap my arm around her. “I was aimin’ for home.”
Inside, the open layout is filled with warm wood and natural light.
Utterly gorgeous, even more so in real life than the website pictures.
I feel calm the second we step in. The kitchen is cozy but modern, already stocked with toddler-proof drawers and a breakfast nook perfect for finger paints and plastic bowls of yogurt.
Liam trails behind, Sloane balanced across his shoulder, her face sticky with fruit leather. He stops at the sliding doors leading to the deck. “Jesus. The yard’s massive.”
There’s a play area already set up. Mulch. A small slide. Room to run.
Quinn points. “Mine.”
“Yours, huh?” Liam grins, setting Sloane down so she can toddle after her sister. “A bold stance for a two-year-old.”
Avonna drifts toward the open living room, soaking it all in. She runs her hand along a sun-warmed beam and closes her eyes.
“I want to say I’m surprised,” she comments without turning. “I’m not. You’ve been talking around this for months.”
“We need a base in LA.” I don’t contradict her. “You both know it.”
Liam leans against the frame of the doorway. “We have one in Seattle, all bought and paid for.”
“A townhouse we’ve outgrown,” I counter.
“We’ve been on tour more than not for the past several months.
The opportunity for Fireball is here in LA.
The producers of The Kerry Line want you to be part of the PR push for the show.
From the Ashes as the official theme for what might be the most anticipated Netflix release in years isn’t something we can miss. ”
I let it hang.
“Fireball is chartin’ across platforms we’ve never touched. There are interviews lined up. Endorsement deals for Avonna, you and Padraig are already rollin’ in. We’re going to be recordin’ at Ty’s in a few months. Do you really want to drag the girls back and forth every week?”
Liam stares out toward the yard. Doesn’t answer.
“The Kerry Line is going to change everything,” I add. “You saw the numbers. From the Ashes is still climbin’. It’s Fireball’s biggest hit by a mile.”
“I know.” He glances back at me.
“This place, or one like it if you don’t like this one,” I gesture around us, “allows us say yes to what’s next without blowin’ up the girls’ routine once they’re in school.”
“We’ve already hired Shannon for the tour.” Avonna refers to the middle-aged nanny we hired a couple months ago. “She’s based in LA too. Ready to go full-time if we move. This is a perfect setup. Detached living space, pool, office for Linus, studio out back. It works beautifully.”
Liam scrubs his scruff. “My parents are gonna be sad.”
“You’re not cuttin’ them off,” I say, steady. “You’ve come a long way these last two years. Rebuilt the relationship. They’re not going anywhere.”
Liam watches Sloane toddle toward him, her chubby fists punching the air. “I know. It’s not them I’m worried about.”
I wait. Let him get there.
“It’s Padraig.” He snatches Sloane up. “He’s impossible to read lately.”
“He’s definitely been quieter.” I pluck Quinn and settle her against my shoulder.
“When he’s tryin’ to convince himself something’s a good idea, he deflects important conversations.” Liam pauses. “Mara, for instance. I get she’s excited about being pregnant. She’s also romanticizin’ bein’ on the road with us.”
“She still wants to come on tour?” Avonna raises her eyebrows.
Liam huffs out a breath. “She essentially declared as much to Padraig. Apparently, she wants to ‘nest backstage’ and write about it for some lifestyle site. She already ordered a custom tour jacket. Black satin. Gold thread. ‘Road Wife’ embroidered across the back.”
I bark a laugh. “Please tell me it has rhinestones.”
“On the collar.” He shakes his head grimly. “And shoulder studs. She showed me a picture the other day.”
I choke back bile. “I threw up in my mouth a little.”
Avonna snorts from a few feet away. “Please keep her away from our wardrobe trailer.”
“It’s not about the jacket. Or the baby.” Liam’s smile fades. “I think he’s goin’ through the motions.”
“Shit.” I smooth Quinn’s hair as she sleepily nestles into the crook of my neck.
He shrugs. “Well, if he’s anythin’ like I was, he’s scared he’s not ready.”
“Or…”
Liam laughs nervously as the three of us move outside to the play area. “I’m more scared he’s realizin’ he’d rather quit the band. We’ve taken so much time off already.”
“I know how he feels.” I set Quinn down and Sloane follows her to the swing set. Sloane falls in the mulch and Quinn sits beside her like it’s a performance piece. “I’ve missed so much of their day-to-day lives. Somethin’ needs to change.”
He meets my eyes. “So let’s buy this place so you can stop missin’ it.”
Avonna slides her hand into mine, fingers squeeze. “I love this house. It can be home base for all of us. Then you’ll be closer to your brother. I think you need some time to reconnect.”
Liam looks between us, then at the girls.
“They’re almost two.” He bites his lip. “How the fuck?”
“We blinked.” I kiss Avonna’s temple.
A silence settles amongst us. Not heavy. Full.
“You think this place can hold all of it?” Liam asks.
“It think it already does.” Avonna takes his hand.
He nods once. Then again.
Liam takes her hand and pulls me in with his other arm. “Let’s do it.”
“I’ll go find the realtor.” I head for the back door.
“Ask if a waffle maker’s included,” Liam calls after me.
From the sawdust, Sloane yells, “WAFFLE!”
We all laugh.
For the first time in a long time, we’re setting down roots.
Maybe the building phase is over.
We’re already here.