“And on that note, I should tell you all that I have decided to retire.”
Say what you will about the man, but I’ve never thought he had much in the way of comedic timing. Can’t deny it to him now, though—that’s fucking hilarious delivery.
I raise my eyebrows in shock. So does Kian. The only one who doesn’t look remotely surprised is Sean.
“Retiring?” I gape at Da. “But why?”
“I’m going to be sixty-seven soon,” he explains simply. “It’s time I pass the baton, Cillian.”
I nod numbly, waiting for him to tell me that I need to do my best to be there for Kian.
“It won’t always be easy. But I know you can do it.”
It takes me a moment to process his words. “I… you want… you’re passing the baton to me?”
I turn to Kian immediately. It should be him, shouldn’t it?
“You’re surprised?” Kian asks, rolling his eyes. “So much false modesty.”
I’m shaking my head. “No, you’ve got it all twisted. Kian should be—”
“Sean never wanted to be don,” Da says. “And Kian doesn’t, either. But you do.”
I’m lost for words.
“Finally, someone’s managed to shut you up,” Sean laughs. “Definitely an auspicious day.”
I throw him a glare, but my expression irons out into seriousness. “Da, you can’t be serious?”
“I am,” he says. “This is right.”
And that’s that.
I swallow the lump in my throat and steel myself against the challenges of my future. I’ve got big fucking shoes to fill, but I know I can do it.
I won’t be alone.
I have Da and Ma.
I have Kian.
Hell, I even have Sean again.
But most importantly, I have Saoirse.
Da stops at the threshold on his way out and glances back over his shoulder.
“You should know that I’m removing the fenced garden out back,” he tells us. “It serves no purpose anymore.”
I smile as Da walks out of the room.
“Fuck,” Kian laughs.
Sean frowns. “What was that?”
Kian and I exchange a glance. I, for one, am glad that Sean will never see the headstones with our names on it. I’ll probably have to explain it to him at some point. But for now, it’s only important for him to know one thing.
“I think that was an apology,” I tell him. “I’ll explain later. But right now, I need to go get married.”