Chapter Sixteen

"Hello?" Ste called out as he walked through his front door. "You better be here."

"Where else would I go?" A voice replied, appearing from the front room.

"Declan Brady." Ste sighed, grinning widely at the teenager. "I still can't believe you're here."

"Does dad know?" Declan asked. Ste was still getting used to how deep his voice had gotten. He towered over Ste now in height and there was a light spattering of stubble across his jaw.

"No, you told me not to."

"Still." Declan said, shrugging. "It's you and dad, init?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ste asked defensively, hanging up his jacket.

Declan rolled his eyes, smiling. "Nothing bad, chill."

Ste sighed, moving towards the kitchen. "You eaten anything?"

"Only something on the plane." Declan said, eyeing Ste's cupboard with interest.

"You'll be hungry then." Ste said, taking a frying pan out and layering it with cooking oil. "Egg and chips do ya?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Declan grinned, rubbing his stomach for effect.

"You still a veggie?" Ste asked, cracking some eggs open in a mug.

"Sort of." Declan replied, leaning against the counter top. "I might turn vegan you know."

Ste stared at him blankly. "What am I making these for then?" He asked, annoyed. Declan laughed loudly at him.

"I'm kidding! Jesus."

Ste blinked, taken aback by how familiar he sounded when he spoke like that.

"What?" Declan asked.

"Nothing. Sit down and help yourself to a drink or something."

"Can I have a beer?"

"No!" Ste said indignantly. "Course you can't have a beer!"

"I'm practically an adult now, Ste. Mum lets me."

"Yeah, sure she does." Ste rolled his eyes. "I don't want your first meeting with your dad happening with alcohol on ya breath. Imagine what he'd think?"

Declan lost some of his boyishness at Ste's words. "He'll be glad to see me though, right?"

"Course he will." Ste murmured. "Be a bit of a shock but…"

"Why isn't he living here anyway?" Declan asked, glancing around the flat. His eyes roamed over a pair of Sam's trousers left on the drying rack. "You got another bloke, Ste?"

"What? Wind ya neck in. It's me dads."

"Your dad?" Declan frowned. "He lives with you? Bit weird init?"

"Why?" Ste asked defensively.

"You're what, thirty or something?"

"Oi! I'm in my twenties, me!"

"Yeah, whatever. Still though, bit sad." Declan lowered his voice for the end of his sentence, grinning cheekily at Ste.

"Do you want to eat or not?" Ste countered, waving a spatula in his direction. "You're as bad as your dad."

"Well, he does like his food." Declan agreed, grabbing a coke from the fridge instead. "Do your kids still live here?"

"Full of questions, you." Ste sighed. "But no, Amy's got them."

"Bit harsh." Declan said, cocking his head to the side. "They're your kids too."

"Don't even go there." Ste replied. "Amy's not been exactly… easy these past few years."

"She's never seemed easy." Declan said with a sly grin.

"That's the mother of my kids you're talking about!" Ste chastised him. "I'll be eating these in a minute."

"Aw no, don't." Declan sat back down, putting on his best innocent expression. "When's dad coming?"

"I said an hour." Ste said, growing nervous at the thought. "Gonna be dead weird, you two meeting after all this time."

"Tell me about it, I have a tonne of questions."

Ste paused then, wary. "Don't push him too far, Deccy. He's still a bit…" Ste flailed with his hands, searching for the appropriate phrase. "Edgy." He settled with. It didn't seem adequate to explain Brendan's mood.

"But he's got you, right? So he's okay?"

Ste smiled then, loading his eggs onto a plate. "You trying to flatter me?"

"Ew get lost, I don't swing that way!"

"Declan!" Ste reprimanded him. "Here, I only had micro chips."

"Suits me." Declan said, tucking into his food the minute the plate hit the table. "This is good, better than mum's."

"Oh yeah?" Ste smiled smugly. "She'd hate you saying that."

"Tell me about it. She hates you."

"Charming." Ste muttered, sitting opposite Declan. "Listen, Brendan's gonna want to know what she's told you."

Declan frowned. "You know what she's told me."

"I know I do but he doesn't. For all he knows you all think he's a murderer." Ste swallowed, neglecting to mention how true that was, except in Seamus' case.

"He wouldn't have killed granddad. We know that. I never believed he could."

Ste looked at him carefully. "Did you see a lot of your granddad?"

Declan chewed thoughtfully. "Not really. Maybe at special occasions with the rest of the family. Paddy got quite taken with him one Christmas, wanted to go round his for New Years for the night. Dad flipped out, never seen him so angry." Declan paused, expression darkening. "I never liked him much to be honest. He made dad dead weird, more than usual."

Ste bowed his head, chest tightening at Declan's words. It seemed all the more real now that Declan was practically an adult and could look back on these events with more clarity and understanding than he would have before.

"I didn't like him either." Ste said, grinding his teeth together.

"That makes two of us then." Declan agreed. "Three if you count dad."

"And Cheryl." Ste added, then wished he hadn't.

"Auntie Cheryl? But she never shut up about him."

"Yeah, well… things change." Ste said lamely, standing up. "Come on, eat up. He'll be here soon."

Declan did as he was told, finishing within a few minutes and licking his plate clean.

"I could get used to this." He groaned in satisfaction, patting his stomach.

"You planning on staying then?"

"For a bit, yeah. Mum's not keen but what can she do about it?"

"She's still your mum." Ste said.

"Yeah but do you listen to yours?" Declan countered. He took Ste's silence as confirmation.

There was a sudden knock at the front door, making both of them jump.

"You ready for this?" Ste turned to the lad, lips pressed in a firm line.

"I think so." Declan said, standing and wiping his mouth. "Let him in."

Ste went to the door, plastering a smile onto his face to reassure Brendan. When he opened the door to him it didn't have the desired effect.

"What's wrong?" He asked immediately, swooping inside. Ste closed the door after him, sighing heavily.

"Nothing's wrong. Look, we have a guest…" Ste began, watching as Declan came into view, smiling sheepishly at his dad. Gone was the cocky demeanour he'd worn with Ste moments before; now he could have been a young lad of fourteen all over again.

"Deccy?" Brendan asked in disbelief.

"Hiya, Dad." Declan replied, scuffing his shoes against the carpet. "Miss me?"

Brendan chuffed out a laugh, moving forwards as though to embrace him but then seemingly thinking better of it. Declan sensed his hesitation and made the first move, striding forwards with purpose and throwing himself into his dad's arms.

"I missed you." Declan said, muffled against Brendan's shoulder.

Brendan clung to his son; hand wrapped protectively around the back of his head. "Me too, Deccy. Ye have no idea how much." Eventually they pulled away from each other, Brendan holding him at arm's length. "What ye doing here, hm? Does yer ma know you're here?"

"Yeah, course." Declan said dismissively. "Don't matter anyway, I'm a man now."

"Is that right?" Brendan smiled in affection and amusement.

"Yeah." Declan shrugged away from him, once more slipping into the typical teenage habit. "Ste wouldn't let me have a beer though."

"Too right!" Ste piped up, stepping closer.

Brendan kept smiling, looking from Ste to Declan. "Ye kept this one quiet."

Ste shrugged apologetically. "Only got the call this morning. This one wanted me to meet him at the airport. Told me to come alone and not tell anyone. Wanted it to be a surprise." Ste rolled his eyes. "You don't think he's had enough surprises, eh?"

"One more won't hurt." Declan grinned.

Brendan's smile didn't leave his face as they talked, doing the usual catch-up. Eileen was fine; now married to Michael. Paddy was doing well in school and was starting to notice the girls. Declan didn't have a girlfriend anymore; he was playing the field.

"That's my boy." Brendan ruffled his hair, lighter than Ste had seen him since he returned from prison.

"Oi, you got me." Ste huffed, crossing his arms.

"And I'm ever so grateful." Brendan flashed him a brilliant smile which made Ste a little weak at the knees. He tried not to let it show but infuriatingly Brendan noticed and slipped him a wink.

"How long you staying for, Deccy?" Ste asked.

"Dunno really, for as long as you'll have me?"

"I'm back at the old place." Brendan said quickly. "That okay with ye?"

"Course." Declan shrugged. "Is Ste gonna be there too?"

Brendan glanced at Ste, hesitating.

"Well, you only have to ask." Ste replied, smile beginning to form on his lips.

"Ye wanna? Just for a few days?" Brendan seemed impossibly hopeful, like all his Christmases had come at once.

"If you don't mind, you two might wanna catch up."

"We can do that with you there as well." Declan pointed out.

Brendan looked completely stunned, staring between the two of them in wonder.

"What?" They asked in unison.

"I just can't believe ye are both here." Brendan said wonderingly. Ste returned the look of adoration while Declan stared at the wall, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Shut up." He mumbled, but he was still smiling.

Xxx

Brendan took Declan home while Steven went to find his dad to let him know where he'd be staying for the next few days.

"That'll go down well." Brendan had murmured. Thankfully Steven hadn't heard him but Declan did.

"You don't like his dad then?" Declan asked him now as they walked through the village, Brendan carrying Declan's rucksack over his shoulder.

"Well…" Brendan began evasively.

"No then." Declan answered for him. "What's wrong with him? He some kinda control freak?"

"Spot on, Deccy." Brendan replied, mounting the steps. "When did ye get so perceptive anyway?"

Declan shrugged. "Just the vibe I got from Ste. Plus I had a little root through his dad's things while he was gone and-"

"Declan!" Brendan said in disbelief. "Ye can't do that."

"Oh come on. You'd have done the same!" Declan rolled his eyes. "Besides, I thought he was some new bloke. I wanted to get rid for ya."

"That's… sweet." Brendan said, oddly touched. "What did ye find then?"

"Nothing too exciting at first; sock drawer was all ordered in colour and size. Proper weird. But then I found this underneath." Declan passed him a few pieces of paper.

"He'll notice this is missing." Brendan said, but he couldn't help being glad for Declan's discovery. "What are they?"

"Well that's the thing; they're notes… on you." Declan stared at him carefully.

"Me?" Brendan frowned, having a quick rifle through. "Villagers say volatile temper, incidents of violence, drug dealing…" Brendan trailed off, eyes skimming the rest. "This is ridiculous."

"But true." Declan pointed out, giving a little nervous laugh. "Listen, Dad. I know you won't want to talk about it but I just wanted to say that I never believed you did it, neither did mum, or Paddy." Declan glanced at the ground awkwardly.

"I appreciate that." Brendan said quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't let ye visit, I know ye tried to."

"I get it." Declan said gruffly. "You didn't want me involved in all that, Ste said."

"He did?" Brendan said in some surprise, opening the front door.

"We talked now and again, well, texted mostly." Declan walked in before him. "He was pretty cut up you know."

"I know." Brendan said soberly, closing the door after them. "I hope I can make it up to him somehow."

"I think you are already." Declan said, smiling a little. "Keep an eye on this dad of his though."

"Oh trust me, I am."

"Good." Declan nodded, flinging himself onto the sofa. "You got anything to eat? I'm hungry again."

Brendan laughed. "Me too. I'll see what we've got in." He went to the kitchen, opening a few cupboards. "Ye know, nothing's gonna be as good as what Steven makes. We should wait for him."

"Let's just go find him, meet this dad of his." Declan said, swinging himself upright.

Brendan grinned, amazed at the confidence in his boy. The conversation between them was easy, it felt right. Perhaps Brendan was always going to be better at this when he was older, for reasons he didn't like to think about.

"Sure, put yer stuff upstairs and we'll go."

"Ace." Declan bounded up the stairs. It was like music to Brendan's ears, hearing noise again in the place. He hoped that Declan would stay a while. They had a lot of catching up to do.

Xxx

Steven was sitting by the bar when they arrived. He jumped out of his seat to greet them like an overexcited puppy.

"What are you doing here?" He asked happily, giving Brendan a sloppy kiss. Brendan batted him away. Declan was preoccupied however, glancing around the club in disdain.

"What on earth have they done to this place?" He said, nose wrinkling.

"Is there a problem?" Samuel appeared from the office, looking none too pleased about their arrival.

"You the dad?" Declan held out a hand. "Declan Brady, at your service. Or not."

Samuel shook his hand slowly, eyeing him. "Brendan's son I take it?"

"The one and… oh no, I have a brother too." Declan winked, leaning casually against the bar. "Nice place, this."

"Quite." Samuel said coolly, fixing his gaze on Steven now. "You had something to tell me?"

"Oh right, yeah. I said I'd stay with Bren and Deccy for a few days, while he's here and that."

"I see." Samuel said, face giving nothing away.

"That alright?" Steven asked warily. Declan opened his mouth as though to say something but Brendan fixed him with a stern look before the words left him.

"Yes, Steven. No need to ask permission." Samuel smiled then. "We should have dinner tonight while these two catch up."

"Oh I was kinda hoping Ste would have dinner with us." Declan piped up. He wore a look of regret but Brendan could tell he was anything but regretful.

Steven stared between them, looking torn.

"It's alright, we can do it another night." Samuel said, patting Steven on the shoulder. Another look crossed his face that Brendan hadn't seen before. He looked sad. That was more disturbing to Brendan than anything else he'd witnessed from him. He didn't like to think of Samuel as human, or indeed a rightful member of Steven's life.

"Thanks, Dad." Steven said quietly, giving him a brief hug. "I'll be in for my shift tomorrow, Bren too." He nodded at Brendan. "Deccy can help out a bit can't he? Wash up or something?"

"Hey." Declan frowned. "I'm not a kid you know."

"Course not." Brendan grinned at him, raising his eyebrows.

"Shut up, Dad." Declan gave him an easy nudge. Brendan couldn't believe how relaxed he felt in the banter, the closeness. Samuel stared at them with another emotion: envy.

"We'd best get off then." Brendan suggested, clearing his throat. "What do ye fancy for dinner, Steven?"

"I'll cook something, one of my specialities."

"Jam sandwiches?" Brendan asked hopefully.

"Oh, I'd love a jam sandwich right now." Declan said, groaning.

"Seedless." They said in unison. Steven stared at them with as much pride as though Leah had just won a prize at school.

"I was thinking more bolognaise." Steven said, struggling to pronounce the word.

Brendan's stomach rumbled at the thought. "As long as it isn't pizza…" He groaned. Steven gave him a wide grin.

"How about a panini?"

Brendan shuddered. He had to admit, Steven sounded positively orgasmic saying the word. It was a shame they'd have to wait until later for anything of that variety. Brendan wanted to focus on Declan right now and he knew Steven felt the same.

"Ew." Declan grimaced. "I'll stick to the bolognaise. Veggie though, remember?"

"So just sauce then yeah?" Steven rolled his eyes. "I better get to Price Slice." He moved towards the stairs, Declan in tow.

"Can I have a word, Brendan?" Samuel asked. Brendan had almost forgotten he was there.

Steven glanced between them warily. It was evident he still hadn't asked about the cellar incident. Brendan might have to bring it up again but he was reluctant to do so.

"I'll meet ye downstairs." Brendan told them. Declan fixed him with a look, attempting to communicate through expression alone. Brendan waved him off, not wanting an audience for this.

Once they were alone, Samuel took a few steps towards him. "I envy you, Brendan."

"Yeah?" Brendan wasn't playing this game, it wouldn't lead anywhere good. "Was it the prison stretch that did it? It wasn't exactly a picnic ye know."

Samuel dismissed his comment, pacing beside the bar. "You're really good with Steven."

"He's not a pet." Brendan said angrily. "Or a child." The thought made him suddenly uncomfortable. "What are ye getting at?"

"It's a compliment." Samuel said, fixing him with a look. "We've both known him almost the same amount of time, but the way he responds to you… how he lights up when you enter a room, it's unnerving."

"That's us." Brendan said, words full of weight.

"I know you feel the same." Samuel said, pausing in his movements. "I don't have a problem with you, Brendan. Not as such."

"Then what?" Brendan asked, wanting him to get to the point.

"I see you and Declan and it makes me ache." Samuel said, voice breaking a little. "I know he's not a child either but I missed so much with Steven, milestones I'll never get back."

Brendan shuffled uncomfortably on his feet. "Trust me, I get that."

Samuel looked at him in surprise at how Brendan was attempting to relate. Brendan half expected him to make a scathing reply but was astonished by the small smile he received instead.

"That's reassuring." Samuel said, clasping his hands behind him. "I won't keep you, that's all I wanted to say."

"Alright." Brendan said carefully, moving towards the stairs.

"Just, one more thing." Samuel said, something in his voice making Brendan turn. "It won't work, trying to turn Steven against me, telling him about the cellar." Brendan's eyebrows shot up in surprise at his words.

"I'm just being honest with him, that's all." He said.

"I know." Samuel said, voice soft. "I explained to him why I did it, he… understood."

"Really?" Brendan was shocked by this admission; how could Steven possibly be okay with it?

"My son is very forgiving, as I'm sure you know." Samuel looked at him carefully. "I hope now that everything is out in the open we can move past petty grudges."

"If ye say so." Brendan said, eyeing him.

"I do." Samuel strode forwards, holding out a hand. "It's all for Steven's sake after all."

Brendan hesitated before taking the offered hand. "For Steven." He agreed, still guarded. He had the distinct impression that the games weren't over yet.