Chapter 15 #2
We walk into the boys’ shared bedroom, and they go through a list of items they expect me to complete: three books, one bedtime story I have to come up with myself, five minutes of back scratches, and a rousing rendition of “We Will Rock You” by Queen—complete with stomps and claps.
I complete everything on the list and sit on the edge of the bed as they climb into the bottom bunk together. “That was way more than I got when I was your age. My Ma used to tuck me in with an Irish blessing and kiss me goodnight.”
“What’s a Ma?” Micah asks.
“It’s what we Irish call our moms. Ma for mom and Da for dad.”
“I wish Mama was here to tuck us in,” Micah says through a yawn.
“I know, lad. But you’ll see her in the morning. Would you like me to recite the blessing my Ma used to tuck me in every night?”
“Okay,” Micah says.
Levi scoots over, making room for me between them, and I duck my head, careful not to hit it on the top bunk, and crawl up toward them. The bed isn’t large, maybe a full-size, but I squeeze my big body between them, putting my arms around their shoulders so they don’t fall out of the bed.
“May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true, and the kindness you spread keep returning to you.”
“That rhymes,” Micah says.
“Aye, it does, like a poem.”
“What’s a poem?” Levi asks.
“It’s a—”
“Do another one!” Levi says, not giving me a chance to answer his first question.
“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks, may your heart be as light as a song, may each day bring you bright, happy hours that stay with you all the year long.”
“We drew shamrocks in Miss Carlisle’s class today,” Micah says.
“You did?” I ask, pretending to be surprised.
“Yup. St. Patrick’s Day is in two weeks, and we have an assembly at school.” That must be the program Lucy mentioned earlier.
“You do? What’s it like?”
“It’s cool. We’re gonna sing songs and wear costumes, and Miss Carlisle said we get to show off our drawings.”
“That sounds fun.”
“You should come.” His voice is quiet, and my gut fills with hope at the possibility, but I don’t want to insert myself any further into their lives without Lucy’s approval.
I know what a big deal this is to her. She’s mentioned not wanting the boys to get attached to temporary people, even though I’m determined to become a permanent fixture in all their lives. “I’d love to, as long as it’s okay with your mom.”
“She’s gonna say yes.”
“How do you know?” I wish I had this kid’s confidence.
“Cuz I heard her talk about you with the moms when we were at Miss Raven’s house.”
Before I can process his words, Levi lets out a long, loud fart.
“I tooted!” he exclaims proudly.
Micah and I laugh at his antics.
“You sure did, pal.”
“Did you know it was going to sound like that?” Levi asks.
“I didn’t know it was going to happen, so no, I didn’t.” Fuck, I love these kids.
“You should guess what it sounds like before I do it.” Levi leans against me in the bed, and I wrap an arm around him.
“Oh no, I have to toot now,” Micah says.
Levi makes a fart sound with his mouth in response.
Micah’s eyes flick to mine. “Hurry, Lucky Charm, it’s coming!”
I decide to go in a different direction than Levi’s rumble sound as I make a trumpet noise with my lips adding a brassy whine at the end.
Micah lifts his leg up and rips one, making a noise that sounds like neither of our guesses.
We all break into a fit of laughter until Levi wrinkles his nose and waves his hands in front of his face.
“It was a stinker,” he cries, falling back onto the bed as he pinches his nose and holds his breath.
The stink hits me seconds later, and I grab my throat, pretending to gag as I cross my eyes and fall back onto the pillows.
Muffled giggles erupt from either side of me as the stench slowly dissipates.
“My fart was better!” Levi says, popping his head up.
“Yeah, but mine was stinkier,” Micah adds.
I squeeze out from between them, scoot down the bed, and sit on the edge.
“Alright, boys. I promised I’d get the pair of youse to bed and you have school tomorrow.
So please help me out with your ma, yeah?
I want her to see that I can do a grand job with you, and then maybe she’ll let me do it again. ”
“Can you tuck us in tomorrow?” Levi asks through a yawn as he crawls under the covers and snuggles up to Micah.
“I wish, lad.” I pat Levi’s leg as he blinks slowly, eyelids drooping.
Micah stares at me, examining my face as I pull the covers up around them. “Do you like our mom?”
“Aye, I do,” I say with no hesitation.
“Do you want to kiss her?” Micah asks.
I think about what to tell him, unsure how to answer his question honestly so it won’t open the door for further questions.
“Can you do a blessing about farts?” Levi asks, interrupting the moment, and I mentally thank him for saving me.
Micah laughs. “Yeah, do a fart blessing!”
“Hmm, let me think.” I tap my chin as I wrack my brain for the right wording. “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may your underpants stay clean as the air comes out of your crack.”
A chorus of laughter erupts from them. “Do another one!” Levi demands.
“Greedy wee man,” I mutter, grinning. “Alright. Alright. May the luck of the Irish be always at hand, and good friends always near you. May your farts always be silent, even when you’ve got to go poo.”
“Another!” Levi shouts.
“I think two is plenty, lad.” I ruffle his hair as I stand from the bed.
“Poo is number two,” Levi says, and we all laugh.
It hits me, sudden and sharp, why my parents wanted this so badly.
I spent most of my twenties looking for the perfect girl to start a family with so I could give my Ma and Da the big noisy clan they always dreamed of, the legacy they craved.
By the time I hit my thirties, I was wrecked, tired of searching for the one, so I threw myself into a career and friendships instead.
For the first time I realize, I don’t want a life dreamed up for me by my parents for their sake—I want it for myself.
I want bedtime chaos and fart blessings and sleepy cuddles…
feckin’ all of it. And I want it with Lucy, with her two brilliant wee lads, and every tomorrow they’ll let me have with them.
——————
Lucy’s voice startles me an hour later. I shut off the TV, standing to greet her.
“Thank you for helping with the boys. I’m sorry I bailed tonight. I’m not sure what’s come over me lately, I’m normally more on top of things. But we can reschedule. I won’t count this as one of your four dates.”
“Nonsense, it counts. And I was happy to help. We had a good time. Might be the best date I’ve ever had, actually.”
She crosses her arms over her perfect tits and smirks. “Oh my God, you’re actually serious, aren’t you? I pity the women you’ve dated that two kids were more entertaining than them.”
“Well, I’ve never had a fart contest on a date before. Not sure any woman will ever live up to that.”
She laughs, and I relish the sound. “They did not.”
“Aye, they did.”
Her responding smile warms my heart. “They really are good kids.”
“They are. I even recited two Irish blessings about farts. Not sure how you’re going to top that one, Lucky.”
The light in her eyes dims briefly, like she’s pulling away right in front of me, and I reach out for her arm, desperate to keep the connection.
Before I can make contact, she takes a step back.
“I should go check on them, make sure they’re really asleep.
Levi’s known to pretend and then sneak out. ”
I let out a deep exhale and shove my hands in my pockets. “Yeah.”
“Friday,” she says as she backs away.
“What’s Friday?”
“When you get a redo at date number two.”
I want to tell her that’s not necessary, but I nod in response, not willing to turn down any opportunity to spend time with her.