“I wouldn’t put anything past that prick.”
“Well, that prick came bearing the most amazing news.”
“Which is?”
I sucked in a deep breath before blurting, “Shane Holland is in prison.”
Another long stretch of silence followed.
“Did you hear me, Joe?” I repeated when he didn’t respond. “The drug squad caught him up in a massive drug bust. According to Paul’s dad, he’s looking at some serious time.”
“Can you, ah…” I heard him exhale shakily before adding, “Can you say that again?”
Not leaving anything out, I told him word for word about the conversation I had with Paul at The Dinniman. “Of course, I wasn’t entirely sure if he was being truthful,” I added when I finished. “So, I did a little snooping of my own and it’s all true, Joe. He’s gone.”
“Fuck.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“How do I feel?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I mean, I know you had this weird bond with Shane.”
“Aoife, I feel like the weight of the world has just been lifted off my shoulders,” he interrupted me to say. “I was dreading having to deal with him.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I agreed. “Every time I had to pass him on the street since you left, he would wink or leer, or make some snide comment about how he couldn’t wait for his best customer to come back to town.”
“He didn’t threaten you, did he?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” I replied honestly. “He was just being Shane. His usual asshole self.”
“I can’t believe he’s actually in prison.”
“Well, now you have one more thing to look forward to when you come home in three weeks,” I told him with a smile. “A Shane-less Ballylaggin.”
More silence.
It unsettled me.
“Joe?”
“Listen to me,” he said, tone thick and gravelly. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, okay, but there’s talks of them keeping me here a little longer.”
My heart sank into my ass. “How much longer?”
“I don’t know.”
“What?” My breath hitched in my throat. “But you’re supposed to get out on the 22nd of August, right? Fourteen weeks, Joe. That’s what they said. The first two weeks for detox and then the twelve-week treatment plan afterwards. I’ve been marking it off on the calendar. That’s what they said.”
“I know, baby,” he groaned, sounding pained “But Darren went meddling in shit he has no business meddling in, and apparently, I can’t sign myself out. I have to be discharged, and the doctor heading up my treatment thinks it’s a good idea.”
“But if you stay, that means you won’t be home in time —”
“I’ll be home before you have the baby,” he cut me off and said. “I will be there for you.”
“Joe,” I squeezed out, clutching the phone with a death grip. “I can’t do this on my own.”
“You won’t have to,” he vowed. “I’m coming home to you, Molloy. I promise.”
FOSTER MOTHERS
JOEY
Ridiculously nervous, I dialed the number on the piece of paper in my hand and listened as it rang.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
“Hello?” The sound of her thick Dublin accent was momentarily foreign to my ears. After all, it had been a while since I had heard her.
“Edel?” I cleared my throat. “It’s ah, it’s Joey Lynch.”
“Joey!” she squealed – actually fucking squealed – down the line. “Oh love, it’s so good to hear your voice. How are you? Are you well? Are you eating? Have they been treating you kindly? How’s the detox going? Now, don’t you worry about a thing down here. The boys and Shannon are in safe hands. How are you fixed for underpants, pet? Do you have enough of them? And socks? I sent up more tracksuits, but it you need more, I can —”
“I’m grand,” I quickly said, preventing her from continuing her ramble. “I’m ah, I’m better than grand, actually.”
“Ah, love, that’s the best news I’ve heard all year.” Her tone was laced with affection and emotion. “John and I never doubted you for a second.”
Her response momentarily took me aback, and I had to compose myself before I could speak. “I just, ah, I finally earned phone privileges, and I, ah, I wanted to call to check in.”
“Well, I’m delighted to hear your voice,” she replied. “You sound so well in yourself, pet.”
“Yeah.” Feeling like a tool, I leaned against the phone attached to the wall of the day room and clenched my eyes shut, second guessing myself throughout the entire conversation. “I’m a lot more clear-headed these days.”
“Well, John and I have a big surprise for you when you get home next week.”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Joey.” Her voice was laced with concern now. “You’re coming to live with us, and that’s final. I don’t want to hear a word of protest, and if you even think about going out on your own, I should warn you now that I have the nose of a bloodhound. You need only ask Johnny and Gerard. I will sniff you out and bring you home.”
“No, that’s not what I’m…” Pausing, I pinched the bridge of my nose, as I strived to say the right thing. “I don’t have any plans to go out on my own for a while.” Couldn’t afford to if I wanted to. “I’m grateful for the roof over my head you’re offering,” I added, chewing on my lip. “I don’t want to be separated from them.” The kids.
“You’ll never have to be,” she soothed down the line. “Once you’re home, love, you’ll stay home. With your family.”
“That’s the problem.” I gnawed on my knuckle as a surge of anger rose inside of me. “Darren went talking to my team behind my back.”
“Darren?” I could hear the surprise in her voice. “What did he say to them, love?”
“He was discussing my treatment plan with them. Apparently, he’s down as my next of kin – by the way, can you get that changed for me? Because it’s supposed to be Aoife.”
“Of course, I can. That makes sense.”
“Thanks. Anyway, they were talking, and they want me to stay on at rehab.”
She was quiet for a long moment before asking, “And what do you think, Joey love?”
“Honestly?”
“Always.”
“I’m ready to go home now, but the fact that the doctor is agreeing with Darren has me second guessing myself.”
“In what way?”
“She hasn’t put me wrong yet.” I chewed on my nails, beyond anxious. “What if she’s right? What if I’m wrong? What if I fuck this up?”
“How long are they wanting you to stay for?”
“I don’t know, Edel,” I forced myself to say. “But I can’t do it. I can’t stay any longer than I already have. I can’t do it to Aoife. Not after everything I’ve put her through.”