The announcement came from the door, and the tone was flat.
I turned to face Conor who didn't look to be in the best of moods.
"You okay, Con?"
"Been better. I’m hungry."
"More like hangry. I feel your pain."
"You're always hungry," Aidan mocked.
"What can I say? I burn a lot of calories." I winked at him again then jumped when he kicked his leg over the sill and climbed in through the window.
Immediately, his hand found mine and he tugged me into him. With one arm going around my shoulder, his heat sank into me, and I let him guide us out of the small sitting room and toward the dinner table.
As we made our approach, I saw that a place had been set at the head.
Though I frowned, and I knew it gave Aidan pause, he went to his usual seat, but Lena, her voice weird, spaced out, commanded, "Head of the table, Junior. That’s your place now."
"I'd prefer not to, Ma."
"Sit where you're told," she grated out.
Aidan clenched his jaw, but I tugged on his hand as she retreated to the kitchen to collect more dishes. "Do it. Just to keep the peace."
He rolled his eyes and took the seat where his da used to sit, but I knew his irritation belied his unease.
I sat at his side, to the left, and Aela found her place to his right.
Everyone lined in, and they all shot a surprised glance at Aidan.
"I didn't suggest this," he grumbled.
Conor drawled, "Ma's in self-destruction mode."
"I heard that, son."
"I meant for you to," he retorted. "I was thinking that this house isn't good for you, and I reckon you just gave me the proof I needed."
"I agree," Paddy said as he sidled in and sat beside Lena. "It's fucking massive, and you rattle around the place."
"This is my home," Lena grunted as she took a seat, snapping out a white napkin that practically glowed against all the black she was wearing.
As usual, she reached for the first dish, the silent catalyst for everyone else to pick up the dishes in front of them and to serve themselves then to circulate each bowl around the table.
"I think you should move in with Uncle Paddy for a while." A dull thud sounded from under the table, and Conor laughed. "Did you just kick me, Paddy?"
"Yeah, I did." He glowered at Con. "Don't be forcing nothing on your ma. She can stay wherever the fuck she wants, but I agree, she needs to be in the city. Not out here on her own."
"Maybe I want to be alone."
"Nah, Lena, you're not meant for solitude. All these fucking kids, noisy little bastards, then Aidan and me and Frank... plus all your brothers. Nope. It's not right. You need the chaos."
Lena wriggled her shoulders. "What I need is a vacation."
Aidan nodded as he served himself mashed potatoes. "I think you're right. You do. Take a cruise to the Caribbean, Ma. It's nice and hot. Get some sun."
She hummed. "Maybe."