Chapter Seven: The Odds Are Stacked Against You
I woke up with a pounding head about a week and a half after Ronan was born, and rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I sat up, throwing my covers off and stumbling over to Hailey's crib, where she was standing, waiting for me to take her downstairs for breakfast. I checked her and changed her, after figuring out that she needed cleaning up, doing my best to focus on her as she merrily kicked her legs upwards without a care in the world. To say the I was hungover and still wearing last nights' clothes from going clubbing with Franny was an understatement, but I managed to keep a good grip on my daughter as I left my bedroom. I bit my lip as the wood floor slightly swam in my vision, but I managed to climb down the stairs without falling as I headed into the kitchen.
"You look like a raccoon!" Carla chanted as I stepped into the kitchen and put Hailey in her highchair, and I stuck my tongue out at her as I walked towards the pantry where Hailey's baby food was kept.
"Morning, honey," Mom said, shooting Carla a look as she stood by the stove. "Want some eggs and sausages?"
I cleared my throat as I got the box of baby oatmeal out from a high shelf on the pantry. "Yeah, thanks a lot, Mom," I said, quickly pouring a little milk from the fridge into a bowl, as well as the oats, and popped it into the microwave.
"You okay?" Fionn asked, watching as I put the majority of my weight against the counter. "I mean, you don't look like yourself…"
I yawned, shuffling over to the fridge as I waited for the microwave to beep and opened it, seeing a bottle of vodka that Dad snuck drinks out of when he thought we weren't looking. "Yeah, fine," I told him, taking a swig before either of the parental units could tell me not to.
"Uh, sweetheart," Dad said as I quickly put the bottle back into the fridge, and as he lowered his newspaper, "you sure you're okay to do that?"
"Hailey quit the bottle, so I'm dry," I told him, smacking my chest, knowing I wouldn't be so brazen with him if I didn't have the blood alcohol content of Frank. I turned around at the sound of the microwave going off, and quickly grabbed a baby-safe spoon before I retrieved it. I also took a bib from the drawer and secured it around Hailey's neck before I sat beside her, blowing on a bite of oatmeal before I gave it to her.
"Yeah, but, honey, I think…"
"Nicholas," my mother said, her voice firm as she brought the platter of eggs and sausages towards the table, shooting him a look as she set them down.
"Fine," he muttered, getting to his feet and serving everyone.
I did my best to watch as Hailey ate her breakfast, and then when Carla and Charlie's carpool arrived, I shouted goodbye to them as Mom walked them to the door. When Hailey finished eating, I took a towel and cleaned off her face, shoving a bite of breakfast into my mouth as I took her bowl and spoon to the dishwasher. I continued eating, managing to scoop Hailey out of her highchair and hold her about her middle while I ate the rest of my breakfast and did my best to do so one-handed.
"Hon, I know you have off today," Mom said as she took hers, Carla, and Charlie's dishes to the dishwasher and put them inside, "so, do you want me to run Hailey to daycare, or do you want to keep her today?"
I sighed. "Could you run her over, please?" I asked. "I know I need to keep her at home with me now and again, but she can socialize at daycare, in a way that she can't do with me."
"That's understandable," Mom replied, kissing my forehead and shooting Dad a look as he looked as if he wanted to say something. "I'll run her in on my way to the diner."
"Sure you're okay?" Fionn asked.
I looked over at him; Clayton was absorbed in his cell phone, while Dad had returned to the paper, and Mom was doing the breakfast dishes. I shrugged. "How do you mean?"
Fionn, who by this time had finished his breakfast, reached over and took Hailey from my arms so that I could finish my own meal more easily. "I don't know. I mean, Franny dropped you off pretty late last night."
I shrugged, still tasting the vodka at the back of my throat as I popped more scrambled egg into my mouth. "So?"
"And you're still in your club dress," Fionn continued, and I rolled my eyes. "You hardly ever wear dresses, and your makeup's smeared."
I rolled my eyes again. "I'm fine," I assured him, knowing I'd need to get another beer in me before the morning was out.
Fionn sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere with me. "What are your plans for today, then?" he asked, turning Hailey to face him as he made funny faces for her amusement. "I hope you'll get some sun today…"
I scoffed aloud then, just as a clap of thunder was heard in the distance. "Might go over to see Pops and Uncle Ian later," I replied, hopping to my feet as I popped my last bite of breakfast into my mouth, and putting the plate and fork in the dishwasher. "It's been a couple days since I got over there, and I should make more of an effort…"
"How's Yev doing?" Mom asked.
"He's adjusting to life on the outside," I replied, going over to the coffee pot and pouring myself a mug, hating the taste, but knowing it would perk me up.
"Tell him we got a busboy opening down at the diner," Mom said casually.
"What happened to Carlos?" Dad asked, lowering the paper.
"Promoted him to a waiter," Mom replied, flashing Dad a smile, who nodded, returning to whatever story he'd been reading, before she turned back to face me. "I know it's only been a little while, hon, and he's still adjusting, but he'll need a job."
I nodded, sipping my coffee and not enjoying how my stomach rolled as it hit my tastebuds. "I'll let him know when I head over there today."
"Great," Mom replied, checking her phone. "Okay, boys, chop-chop," she said, moving back towards the table as she let the sausage pan soak in the sink. "Your bus'll be here in ten so you need to move your asses out there."
"Jeez, Mom," Clayton said, making a face at her as Dad forked over a ten for his lunch later that afternoon. "Quit it."
"Hey," Mom said, grabbing him and pulling him back into the kitchen, before kissing his forehead and squeezing his shoulder. "I love you."
Clayton sighed at her. "Yeah, I love you, too," he replied, getting his backpack on and turning to face Dad. "Bye, Dad," he said.
"See you later, Clayton," Dad replied, fist-bumping Clayton, who made a hasty beeline for the front door. "Bye Iana, bye Hailey!" he shouted.
"Bye, Clayton!" I yelled back.
"Bye, Mom," Fionn said, handing Hailey to Mom and accepting Mom's forehead kiss. "Bye, Dad," he said, shaking Dad's hand and accepting the ten bill before grabbing his own backpack and walking towards the door. "Bye Iana. Bye Hailey."
"Bye, Fionn," I replied.
"Love you, sweetie!" Mom called after him.
"Be safe, son!" Dad concluded.
"Bye-bye!" Hailey cried out.
"And, that's my cue," Dad said, checking his watch then before folding up the newspaper. He got to his feet, bringing his briefcase with him as he walked up to Mom, and, in barely two seconds, they were grinning like idiots at one another. "Hi, Murph," he said.
"Hey, Nick," she replied, and something flashed behind his eyes.
"I'll deal with you later," he said, his voice a growl. "We still on for lunch?"
"Your office or mine?" she countered.
"Okay," I said, stepping forward and taking Hailey back from my mother. "It's enough that you had to scar me and the boys for life, but there is a child present," I said, rolling my eyes at them as I walked through the living room. "Here, sweetheart," I said, putting Hailey on her stomach in her little play area.
"My office works," Dad replied. "Mom and Dad are going to be in court today, so you won't run into them, if you're worried about that."
"Franny wanted to go over the books for a preliminary check today, so she can use my office for that, I guess," Mom said with a shrug as I turned back to face them. "I've gotta work a couple of hours after I drop Hailey off at daycare…"
"See you around noon?" Dad asked, putting an arm around her waist and dragging her towards him, so that she was pressed, lengthwise, against him.
Mom giggled without hesitation. "Yeah," she replied. "I'll probably want you by then."
"Hey!" I said, successfully snapping them out of it as they turned to face me, with Dad letting Mom go, after a kiss on the cheek. "I know you're madly in love, and I'm grateful for all that, really, but Hailey will repeat stuff now, so please. A little consideration here," I said, nodding at her as she futzed with the toys around her.
"Fine, fine," Dad grumbled sarcastically, quickly kissing Mom on the lips. "I'll see you later, baby," he told her.
"You too, hon," she replied, waving to him.
"Iana," Dad said, kissing my forehead.
I scoffed, but rewarded him with a smile. "Bye, Dad," I replied.
He squeezed my shoulder then before he bent down to Hailey, who immediately grinned up at him as he kissed her own forehead. "I'll see you later tonight, angel," he said, squeezing her little foot before he got to his feet. "Bye, my girls!" he called out, advancing towards the front door and letting himself out.
. . .
I said goodbye to Mom and Hailey and immediately went upstairs to shower off the club from the night before. It had been a challenge to trip up my ankle bracelet, and then to sneak in my window after curfew, but Franny and I managed to figure it out. I didn't know if either of my parents knew how late I was out, but since neither of them mentioned it, I think I was okay for the time being.
I got off the mascara and washed my hair, and slipped into some jeans and a sweater before I blow-dried my hair. I stuck my feet into a pair of my sneakers before heading across the street, and let myself in automatically, hearing Pops, Uncle Ian, and Yev talking in the kitchen. I walked through the living room and directly to where the voices were, smiling at them all as I stepped into the room and opened the fridge.
"Morning," I said, getting a bottle of Old Style out of there and opening it up effortlessly. "What have I missed?"
Pops looked at Uncle Ian, but decided to say nothing about the notion that I was literally drinking a beer at nine in the morning. "Nothing. Just hanging out before Ian has to go into work in an hour or so," he replied. "You doing okay, kid?"
I nodded, swallowing my first sip of beer. "Great," I told him, crossing my arms. "Never better. I have off today, and Mom took in Hailey to daycare, so I'm free until three when I'm going to head over to pick her up."
"Saw you sneaking in your place last night," Uncle Ian said, and Yev quickly hid his smirk as I watched Uncle Ian sip his mug of coffee.
I shrugged. "So?"
"You don't want to get your house arrest revoked, Iana," Pops said, his voice firm. "Last thing you need is to go to prison."
"Hey, your mom said something about having a job for me," Yev said, saving his ass from possible incrimination.
I nodded, my eyes snapping to Yev's. "Yep," I replied. "Carlos got promoted to waiter, so you've got a job at the diner as a busboy, if you want it. Mom said you start on Monday."
"Great," Yev said. "On days that we have matching shifts, or similar ones, you mind if I catch a ride with you?"
I shook my head. "No, that's fine. But I usually drop off Hailey at daycare beforehand, if that's not a problem for you."
"Should be fine," Yev replied.
"How's things with Axel?" Uncle Ian asked.
I sighed, vaguely listening to Yev muttering to himself, whereupon Pops turned and looked from one of us to the other. "What?" I asked him.
"You wanna tell me what's going on here?" Pops asked.
I scoffed. "Not really," I replied, tipping the bottle back into my mouth.
Pops turned to look at Yev. "How about you?"
"Son of a bitch fucking grabbed her, that's what," Yev said, shaking his head.
I swallowed, glaring at him. "Yev!"
"Sorry, Iana," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "He needs to know."
I rolled my eyes. "Shit," I muttered.
"What the fuck do you mean he grabbed you?!" Pops demanded.
"Mick," Uncle Ian said.
"No, she needs to tell us!" Pops said, looking scared shitless as he turned back to me. "Did Axel get rough with you?"
I shook my head. "No," I told him.
"Don't lie, Iana!" Yev said, throwing up his hands as Pops turned back to him. "The fuckwad was holding her by the arms and pretty much yelling in her face. Thank god I got over there when I did; who knows what he would've done to her?"
"Son of a bitch," I muttered. "It's not a big deal."
"This isn't funny, Iana," Uncle Ian said firmly.
"You're sure as shit it's not!" Pops yelled. "Did he hurt you?"
"No," I told him, my voice firm. "No, he hasn't hurt me. It's all okay. Promise."
"If that asshole tries to…" Pops began.
"Mick," Uncle Ian said, his voice firm.
"It's fine," I told them, feeling my phone vibrating in my jeans pocket. "Fuck," I muttered, and chugged the rest of it before whipping it out of my pocket. "Speak of the devil," I said, tossing the bottle into the bin.
"Let me talk to him," Pops said, stepping forward.
"Uh, how about no?" I said, giving him a look as I turned around and stepped into the living room before answering my phone. "What?!" I demanded. "You think you can just fucking call after over two weeks of going fucking full-silent? What the fuck, Axel?!"
"That's my girl," Pops said under his breath, and I shot him a look.
"Look, I know I was out of line, and I'm sorry," he replied, and I dragged my hand down my face in a moment of exasperation. "I came over to talk, but it doesn't look like anybody's home here… Did you have a shift today?"
"No, I have off," I said, walking towards the front door. "And of course nobody's home, dumbass, because I'm fucking across the street," I said, throwing open the door and hanging up the phone. "You wanna talk?" I shouted.
Axel turned around from where he stood on my place's front porch, and I saw him hanging up his own phone. "Yeah," he called back.
"Good," I said, crossing my arms. "So, get over here."
Axel moved down the stairs and through the gate, before coming across the street. He hesitated for a moment before he stepped onto the sidewalk, but he immediately came forward and stepped through the gate, and into the front yard, but stopped when I held up my hand. "What's the problem now?"
"That's far enough," I told him, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the cold. "So, what the fuck do you want?"
"See you got your ankle bracelet off," he said, nodding to my leg.
"Yep," I replied, shrugging. "My mom got permission from my dad to do it, so no more house arrest for me."
Axel breathed out then, obviously relieved. "So, the charges were dropped?"
I nodded. "Yeah, last week. Took longer because of some goddamned bureaucracy or some shit, I don't fucking know. My dad paid off a judge," I said, the six words just hanging there, suspended between us, and I still couldn't believe them.
"He paid off a judge?"
I sighed, blowing out a puff of air then. "Yeah," I replied, hating it when a pair of tears were suspended by my lashes. "So, all this, it's over. I just have to stay on my new meds this time around, and the charges are all dropped. But my dad… He said that this would be the last time he'd do something like this for me. It was my last chance, because he already did it before, so now I'm really on my own."
Axel nodded. "I can understand that."
"And you think I can't?" I demanded, stupidly walking down the stairs and going toe-to-toe with him, staring up into his eyes as the rage threatened to bubble off my body and burn him. "I mean, let's face it, after that little display the last time I saw you, I think it's pretty safe to say that I don't know a fucking thing about you anymore."
Axel stared down at me then, hesitant. "That's not fair, Iana."
"Maybe not," I countered, "but it sure as shit wasn't fair for you to go all grabby on me when you weren't getting the answers that you wanted. I can't date a goddamned toddler, Axel; I've almost got one of those myself. I need a man, and if it's not going to be you…"
"Don't say that," Axel said then, his voice barely above a whisper then as his eyes suddenly decided to fill with emotion. "Don't say that that man isn't me."
"Well, what do you want me to say?" I whispered back to him. "What do you want me to say right now, Axel?"
"I want you to say you accept my apology…"
I nodded. "Okay," I replied. "Are you apologizing?"
"Of course I'm apologizing," he said, heat behind his tone. "Of course I'm fucking sorry, Iana, for everything. I was totally out of line and I regret it."
I swallowed then, knowing exactly what I was getting myself into. "There can't be a repeat performance of what happened," I told him, my voice firm. "If you think you can get away with that shit with me, you're dead wrong. If there is a next time it happens, Axel Richland, then you're going to be beaten to a fucking bloody pulp, and I'll happily go to jail if charges are pressed in that situation, because I do not deserve to be treated that way in any romantic relationship I'm in. It's a danger to me, and to my daughter, and I won't accept it."
Axel nodded. "I understand that," he assured me. "And I promise there won't be a repeat performance, Iana. There won't be."
I nodded back at him. "I'm glad to hear it," I replied, my heart skipping a beat when his hand found mine.
"I missed you," he said quietly.
I nodded then, standing on my toes and kissing him, feeling the heat from his other hand as it came around my waist. "I missed you, too," I replied.
. . .
Thanksgiving dawned a week later, and I was very surprised when Axel made it known that he would be spending it with me and my family that year. I was further pleased that we were having it at Pops and Uncle Ian's place, now with all my siblings represented. As it was Hailey's first Thanksgiving, I wanted to make it as special for her as possible, and it touched me when Ezra never left her side throughout the meal preparations.
"So sweet to have an unofficial babysitter for her," I told Franny as we got the massive table ready to accommodate my parents, Pops, Uncle Ian, Aunt Debbie, Ezra, Clark, Uncle Lip, Aunt Mandy, Ronan, Axel, Hailey, Clayton, Fionn, Carla, Charlie, Yevgeny, Franny, and I. "I wonder if he'll leave her side and run to Ronan when Uncle Lip and Aunt Mandy show up…"
"He loves Ronan," Franny said quietly, "but Hailey he adores."
I laughed then, straightening the placemats my mother had bought for the occasion. "If you say your son loves Hailey, then I'm inclined to believe you," I told her.
"Scout's honor," Franny said, flashing me a grin.
Once Franny made it clear that she could handle the table on her own, I checked on Hailey, but Ezra assured me that they were fine, and that he was teaching her how to say his name. I found the arrangement very amusing as I kissed both their foreheads and headed into the kitchen. "You doing all right in here?" I asked, sandwiching myself between Pops and Uncle Ian.
"Fine," Uncle Ian replied, as he cut up potatoes.
"Killing it," Pops informed me, as he tore apart green beans, although his eyes were fixated on the table in the kitchen, where Axel, Yev, and Clark were talking.
"Pops," I said, taking ahold of his hands, and stopping him from destroying perfectly innocent pieces of vegetation. "Why don't you go and sit down in the living room with Mom and Dad for a little while? I'll take over."
"I've got it, Iana…"
"You're tearing them to pieces," I said, and his eyes lowered to the beans. "If you don't want to sit in the living room, fine. Let's take a few minutes, okay?"
Pops sighed. "Fine," he replied.
"Great," I said, and walked over to the living room. "Mom, can you take over green bean duty, please? Pops and I need a minute…"
Mom nodded, kissing Dad's cheek and getting to her feet. "No problem," she said, moving to stand next to Uncle Ian. "Hi, twin," she said, grinning at him.
"Hey, twin," he replied.
"Come on," I said to Pops, putting my hand on his shoulder and leading him towards the back door and opening it. "Be out in a sec," I told him, turning to Axel. "Pops and I will be just outside if you need us."
"Great," Axel said, and I leaned down to kiss him. "See you soon."
"Of course, of course," I replied, stepping outside and pulling the door shut behind me. I went down the stairs, seeing Pops standing in the middle of the always-dead grass of the backyard. "I guess there's something on your mind," I said, coming to stand behind him. In the silence that followed, I got my pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and lit up two, securing them in my teeth as I re-pocketed the box and my lighter, and handed over one to Pops.
"Thanks," he replied.
"You're welcome," I told him. "Now, what's up?"
"I hate Axel for what he did."
I scoffed, taking ahold of my cigarette and removing it from my mouth before I blew out a serious amount of smoke. "Please. You and Uncle Ian beat the shit out of each other before you fuck, and that isn't healthy either…"
"That's different," Pops replied, and I shrugged.
"Whatever," I replied.
"I guess it just kills me that you don't respect yourself."
"Oh, I fucking respect myself all right, Pops," I replied, rolling my eyes. "I told Axel that it could not happen again and if it did, I'd kill him. Simple as that."
"Nicholas said he wouldn't get you out of anything anymore…"
"I'd plead insanity," I said simply.
"What if they lock you up?"
I turned to Pops and grinned. "Haven't had pussy in a while," I replied. "Maybe I'd make every inmate in the women's prison my bitch…"
Pops laughed, putting an arm around my shoulders and kissing my temple. "You're a fucking Milkovich all right," he informed me.
After calming Pops down enough to get through dinner and dessert, he and I headed back inside to see if we could help with anything else. Things continued in this lull that we'd established, with Dad and the boys watching T.V. in the living room, Carla attempting to keep an eye on Ezra and Hailey close by, Clark and Axel and Yev talking in the kitchen, and Franny and I helping the rest of the real adults cook. Once everything was just about ready, Aunt Mandy, Uncle Lip, and Baby Ronan arrived, and everyone's attention was momentarily drawn to them, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Mom?" I asked, once I'd turned around.
"Got a minute?"
I nodded. "Sure," I replied.
Mom turned and walked up the kitchen stairs and I followed, remembering all those times as a child whenever she and Dad would sneak up there for a "private" conversation. "Look, I don't want to play lawyer ball here or the parent card, Iana, but I want some answers," she said as she turned to face me.
"Okay," I said, crossing my arms. "What do you mean?"
"How serious are you and Axel?"
I sighed. "Not this again…"
"No, honey, please," she said, reaching out and taking ahold of my wrist. "I really want to know what's been going on with you. Ever since the assault on Terry, I feel as if you've been pushing me away again."
I hunched my shoulders. "Maybe because I am."
"Why would you do that, sweetheart?" she asked.
I sighed. "I don't know. More independence, maybe?" I asked.
She sighed back. "Honey, I just feel like I'm losing you too soon," she went on, cupping my cheek in her hand. "I mean, you would've gone to college had Hailey not been the blessing in our lives she was always meant to be, and I would have lost you sooner, but… I don't know. I guess I'm sensing something here…"
I shake my head at her. "You're not sensing anything, Mom…"
"Then why do I feel like you're lying to me?" she asks.
My eyes shoot to hers. "Mom…"
"Honey, just… Tell me," she says, her voice quiet. "Whatever it is, it's okay. Just tell me before it's too late."
I scoffed then, turning around. "Just stop it," I told her.
"Iana Phillipa Milkovich!" she calls after me then, and I stop dead in my tracks, but refuse to turn back around to face her. "I promise, sweetheart, it's not too late…"
I shook my head, dashing the tears from my eyes, but failing miserably to get them all. "It's already too late," I tell her, clenching my teeth to prevent my voice from breaking before making a beeline for the staircase to finish this conversation before it truly begins.
. . .
I did my best to avoid confrontation and, over the next few weeks, I focused on Hailey, work, and my relationship with Axel to the point where I barely had the need to speak with my family at all. When Ronan's welcome-to-the-family party arrived two weeks after Thanksgiving, I did my best to regulate myself to a corner, just keeping a good grip on Hailey, and making sure she was having a good time. I was slightly annoyed that Axel had a shift at the prison that day, so he was unavailable to be my protector from conversation at this gathering. So, there I stood, wearing a matching dress to Hailey's, and hating every minute of it. I would've wanted to wear a blazer of some kind, and a skirt I would've been fine with, but not a fucking dress…
"Iana," Yev said, coming closer to me.
Shit, I thought to myself, and so it begins… "Hey, Yev," I managed to get out, feeling relieved when Hailey didn't reach for him, as she was officially my lifeline now. "How's it going? You excited for another cousin?"
"Sure," he replied, looking around the apartment, which was decked out for the celebration, with numerous gifts covering every surface that wasn't a suitable seat, which were already taken up with members of our family. "Can we talk?"
My eyes snapped to his then, and I immediately felt nervous. "Why?"
"Can you just give Hailey to your mom for five minutes, please?" he asked.
I gritted my teeth. "Fine," I replied. "Go to the back hallway, and I'll meet you there in a second, okay?"
Yev nodded. "Great," he replied, and moved back there.
I walked towards my mom then, hoping she wouldn't hold Thanksgiving against me. "Hi, Mom," I said, deliberately making my tone brighter.
"Hi, sweetheart," she said, smiling at me. "You okay?"
"Fine," I assured her. "I just have to use the bathroom. Could you take Hailey for about five minutes or so?"
"Always," Mom said taking ahold of my daughter without hesitation and sweeping her into her arms. "Hi," she said, and I watched as Hailey's eyes met hers, and Mom was rewarded with a giant coo that escaped from her lips.
"Gamma!" Hailey shouted.
"Hi, angel!" Mom said happily.
I smiled at the display. "Thanks," I said, quickly turning around and heading into the back hall then, and saw that Yev was pacing. "Okay, you got me here and alone," I said, my voice dripping with annoyance as I stepped forward. "Now, what's up?"
Yev sighed, leaning up against the wall, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Look, I don't know how to say this, but I think we need to stop lying now."
I raised my eyebrows. "Excuse me?"
He sighed. "About the whole thing with Terry…"
"You shut your mouth," I said, cutting across his words as I stepped closer to him. "Are you insane?! Clark is literally on the other side of that wall, and he's a fucking cop! Do you realize what could happen if he heard us?!"
"Iana, this is my family, too," Yev said, his voice firm. "What'll they think of me? They'll think I begged you to take the blame…"
"You didn't," I hissed at him, narrowing my eyes. "It was my idea, all of it, and you know it. I brought you there, provoked you, set the plan into motion. It's my fucking fault, Yev; just mine, not yours."
"I know my own mind," he replied. "I'm the one that beat Terry to a bloody pulp when I found out that he literally paid my mother to rape our father. I know how to process my own thoughts here, Iana, and I didn't ask for your help, because I don't need it."
"Well, it's too late anyway," I shot back. "The charges have been dropped and the case has been dismissed, so congratulations, Yev, you're off the hook!" I said, throwing my hands up into the air in a moment of sarcastic exultation. "You're fucking welcome," I said, turning on my heel and heading back out to the party. I stop dead in my tracks as the door comes crashing open then, and dash over to take Hailey once I see who it is.
"Hello, beautiful family!" Frank booms from the doorway.
"Shit," Mom, Uncle Ian, Uncle Lip, and Aunt Debbie say at the same time.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Pops says.
"Not this again," Franny and I say, each of us holding Ezra and Hailey close respectively, and we've gravitated towards one another to boot.
"Lip, you said your dad didn't know…" Aunt Mandy began, holding Ronan close to her as Uncle Lip immediately moved in front of her.
"Believe me, he didn't," Uncle Lip said, his voice firm.
"Kids, come here," Dad said, and Clayton, Fionn, Carla, and Charlie all gravitated towards Mom and Dad respectively.
"Let's take inventory here!" Frank said, looking everyone over. "Know you, know you… Don't know you yet," he said, his eyes resting briefly on Hailey. "You I'd remember," he said to Yev, who I suddenly realized was standing on my other side, "and you must be my new little grandson! Hello!" Frank gushed then, as Mom and Aunt Debbie rolled their eyes at each other and gagged.
"This is Ronan," Aunt Mandy said, her voice tight, and making no move to allow Frank to hold the baby. "Ronan Ian Gallagher."
"He is just beautiful, isn't he, Lip?" he asked Uncle Lip.
"Sure, Frank," Uncle Lip replied.
"Who the hell is this guy?" Yev whispered to me.
I scoffed. "That's a long story…"
"Give me the short one, then," Yev replied.
I sighed. "That would be Frank," I replied.
"Am I related to him?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No, he's my mother's father, so count yourself lucky you escaped that grandfather, too," I muttered, continuing to hold Hailey close in case she decided to make a jail break and attempt to walk for the first time, and I couldn't let her target be Frank.
