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He hteen, but to me, he would always be my baby brother

“Buck up, little brother, it’s all in hand”

“You signed?” he asked

I sat down next to him

“Of course I did Was there ever any doubt?”

“Well—”

“Don’t answer that”

“So, he’s gonna live?”

“Can’t tell,” I said with a shrug “The doctor didn’t even know, but they couldn’t do anything without my consent, which they now have I’ve cleared the they need to do”

“Oh, thank St Brigid!” he said, relief filling his face

I nudged his shoulder with mine

“No, thankthe pen”

“You knohat I ht you were at the end of your rope with him”

I rested my elbows on my knees

“Maybe you showedhim, it was hard for it not to rub off, at least a bit Maybe there are so up on”

I had been referring toof Maggie

I was holding on pretty hard I’d never done that before, even with real relationships, what few there had been, anyway, since I had always been more of a player than the commitment type

It only went to further prove that Maggie was someone special I loved her in a way I hadn’t loved anyone before

“Well, if it isn’t the prodigal son!” someone shouted

Eoin and I both looked up to see three of our brothers co doors

“Hey, fellas,” I said, getting up and hugging all of the Noel to Little Jim

Medium Sean stood between them

“You ready to get outta here?” Noel asked rhetorically, knowing full well hoe all felt about hospitals

“Hell yes!” I said

There was a flurry of gasps fro out of a nearby break rooether, we tended to have that effect on women

“Patrick couldn’t make it, hey?” I asked as we headed outside

“Couldn’t get a flight,” Liam said

“The rest of us are going to take you out on the town,” Noel said “We’ll celebrate the big star you’re about to beco to pour a few beers down your throat”

“I think I recall how to do that,” I said, trying to remember the last time I’d been out with my brothers

“Oh, co to tell us you haven’t been to any wild Hollyrap parties?” Liam chided

“I’m only on one shohich hasn’t wrapped yet,” I admitted