Authors: Natalie Ann
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Carly asked Claire the next morning at the pub.
She and Sean had gotten up a little after eight, and had both showered and made their way to the kitchen for breakfast. Carly was shocked to find out that Claire had been at the pub since six that morning already cooking the turkeys.
Patrick was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the newspaper in front of him. “Hey, Dad,” Sean had said. “Did you have breakfast yet?”
“No, just coffee. Trying to enjoy the peace and quiet before we head over to the pub. I thought I’d catch a ride with you.”
“Sure. You aren’t in a hurry, are you? I’m thinking the peace and quiet of the house is just what I need too.”
Patrick looked up and grinned at Sean, then winked at her. “I hope you prepared Carly for today?”
“I tried to,” he replied back, chuckling. “Somehow she decided to still come and meet everyone.”
“Love will do that to you, won’t it?” Patrick asked her.
“It will,” she agreed. “But since Sean has been subjected to my mother and grandmother, I figured coming for Thanksgiving was the least I could do.”
Patrick snorted. “Two women. Sean can handle two women in his sleep. That’s nothing to what you’re going to experience today. Trust me.” Patrick looked back to Sean, his hazel eyes squinting, the laugh lines so apparent around his aging face, and asked, “Can I go back with you after today? You know how bad it is when everyone is together all at once like this.”
“Sure, Dad. I’ll sneak you out the back door before anyone is the wiser.”
Carly had thought the conversation was funny, but she soon realized that Patrick was delighted by every bit of the women in his life. While she cooked breakfast for the two of them, she listened to Patrick boasting about his daughters, their husbands and all the grandchildren. There may have been a lot of teasing and jokes in the family, but she was positive Patrick was completely comfortable around the women.
“Carly, come on in. Where’s Sean? He should be in here introducing you to his family,” Claire said, frowning, looking ready to read Sean the riot act.
“He introduced me to everyone’s spouses and the children already, but several of the younger kids grabbed his hand and pulled him into the back room for a game of pool. I told him to go ahead, I’d be fine.”
“Aren’t you just the nicest girl,” Anna said, rushing forward. Carly was so happy she’d seen pictures of everyone and knew who they were without being introduced.
Claire grabbed Carly’s hand, pulled her forward into the kitchen some more and pointed to each one of her daughters, all wearing aprons and all abandoning the stations they were working at when they noticed Carly. “Anna, Kristy and Melissa, this is Carly. Remember, best behavior or Sean will get mad.”
Carly’s eyes widened at that statement. She didn’t know what would possess Claire to say that, and she couldn’t imagine Sean mad at anything.
Anna spoke first, almost elbowing her younger sisters out of the way and Carly could see that she was the most like her mother. “We’re so happy to finally meet you. Please come in and talk to us. Tell me that Sean is a gentleman. Please tell me that everything we taught him rubbed off.”
“Anna, cut it out,” Kristy said. “Leave the poor girl alone. I swear you are worse than Mom.”
Melissa jumped in. “Please, Kristy, you and Anna were bumping heads twenty minutes ago gossiping about all the things you hoped Sean was doing right, and taking credit for it all if he was.” Melissa turned to Carly. “Ignore my sisters, sometimes they think they are Sean’s other mothers rather than his older sisters.”
Anna huffed out. “And that is why Melissa is Sean’s favorite. She always comes to his defense.”
“Girls,” Claire said, interrupting what Carly thought for sure was going to turn into an argument and was hoping that wasn’t the case. Least of all did she want to be the cause of it. “Best behavior,” she reminded them. “Melissa, take Carly over to the dessert station with you. She can help you until the other two find their manners.”
Carly silently thanked Claire, but said, “That sounds good. I like to bake.”
Twenty minutes later, Sean popped his head into the kitchen and made his way to her side, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head. “Do I need to save you yet?”
She tilted her head up and gave him a kiss, Melissa snorting next to them. “She could have used saving twenty minutes ago, but like Dad, you always make yourself scarce when Anna and Kristy get into it.”
“You saved her for me, right, Melissa?” he said, reaching over and tweaking her hair.
“You know I did. Let go of Carly and give me a hug,” she said playfully.
Carly had noticed that Sean talked about Melissa more than his other sisters. She didn’t think he showed favoritism really and just assumed that he’d lived with Melissa longer than the other two. She knew Anna and Kristy were fourteen months apart in age, and Melissa two years younger. Maybe the other sisters were jealous over Melissa being the baby for seven years until Sean came along.
“Melissa knows what it’s like to be bossed around by the other two, so she’s always had my back,” Sean said, confirming Carly’s suspicions. “Besides, she is the only one with two boys in the family. I think she appreciates it more, don’t you?”
“I do. I love my Megan, but if I had three boys, I would have been just as happy. Who knew how much easier boys were than girls?” she said.
“You should have known that growing up in our house,” Sean said.
“We hear you over there,” Anna shouted. “Stop talking to Melissa and come give us a hug too.”
Sean leaned down and gave her another kiss on the neck. “I better go greet the other two, or they’ll come over here and pull me away. I can add ‘saint’ to another thing you are for putting up with my family today,” Sean said loudly, causing all the sisters and their mother to laugh.
As chaotic as it was, Carly found she was enjoying herself. She’d really had no idea what to expect today, or what to expect having a holiday in a pub, but it was fun.
Last night, coming into the pub, she couldn’t help but be impressed by the establishment itself. It was stunning with all the old wood covering the floors and bar. She knew the pub had been handed down for generations and, though it had an older feel to it, it was still somewhat modern and maintained beautifully.
The actual bar had glass over the top covering the old wood that had been worn from years underneath it, keeping with the character, but preserving it. The same with all the tables and booths. She knew the wood was original and she imagined they wanted to keep it that way but protect it the same so that it lasted for more generations to come.
There was a huge Callahan crest tapestry hanging over the bar that her eye took in as handmade, and it was later confirmed by Claire that Patrick’s great-grandmother had sewn it in Ireland and it was brought over to be placed in the bar.
The pub itself as a whole should have looked dark with all the wood, but it really didn’t. The lighting was much brighter today than it was last night and she suspected that they adjusted the lights, making them brighter during the day and dimmer at night, adding to the atmosphere.
There were multiple TVs around the bar and above booths, so that anywhere you sat, you could watch something. She’d noticed a few of those TVs on when she and Sean arrived. Some set to pre-game shows for the football game that would be starting soon, other’s broadcasting parades.
Children were scattered everywhere and running back and forth to watch parades, pick at snacks on the bar, help themselves to soda behind the bar, or playing pool in the back.
As loud and crazy as it was just now, she found she was still having fun. It sort of reminded her of school, everyone enjoying what they liked the best, most getting along, and lots of laughter.
She wanted to take her camera out and snap a few pictures but was afraid everyone would think she was being foolish wanting to have some memories to capture and look at. Maybe Sean would like that. It’d be nice to add some pictures to his wall of today too.
Going with her gut, she turned to Melissa. “Do you think anyone would mind if I took pictures? I love doing arts and craft type things, and I just got a great idea that maybe your mother would like a photo book from today with pictures from every angle and aspect. I bet Sean would like it too, since he doesn’t see everyone that much.”
Melissa smiled fondly. “No one would mind. I think that’s a wonderful idea. And if you wouldn’t mind, my sisters and I would appreciate one too. Go on, go take some pictures and enjoy yourself with the rest of the family. You’ve done more than enough in here. You’re a guest and these pies are ready to go in the oven.”
“It’s no problem. Like I said, I like baking, and I had fun helping you. I really have.” And she meant it. This was the loudest and craziest holiday she’d ever spent and never would she have thought she’d love it as much as she did, and they hadn’t even started eating yet.
***
Sean was walking around the pub looking for Carly. He knew she was taking pictures, having managed to escape the kitchen and his sisters and mother.
He was proud she survived it. No other woman he’d brought home for the holidays ever wanted to be present for more than ten minutes with the women in his family. It was no wonder he didn’t stay with them long, not if they didn’t have the backbone for his family.
But Carly stood her ground. As shy and, well, tender as she was, he’d worried about it, and worried about her, but shouldn’t have. Underneath it all, she was one tough girl. He should have realized it long before now. After all, she spent so much of her time volunteering with kids and at women’s shelters, and she had to have a tough skin for that.
After placing down some snacks that his mother handed him when he went in search of Carly in the kitchen, he turned and walked into the back room to see her lining the girls up and taking group photos, then doing the same with the boys. Telling each group to make funny faces, no normal poses. She wanted fun and laughter only.
The kids loved her, not that he expected any different, but they were all laughing and doing everything she asked of them. “Everyone together now and stick your tongues out when I say three.”
Brittany, Kristy’s youngest, who was shy like Carly—the poor girl probably got bossed around just like he did as a kid—said, “Grandma wouldn’t like us sticking our tongues out. It’s not polite.”
“Grandma won’t care. She’ll love the picture,” Sean said walking up to Carly.
“That’s right,” Carly agreed. “You know why she is going to love it so much? Because Uncle Sean is going to get front and center with you kids and do it too.”
He snorted. Yeah right, that wasn’t happening. His mother would skin him alive if he did that. Well, maybe not his mother, but his sister Anna would. She was a stickler about proper behavior, which was a joke really, since she didn’t adhere to it much.
Carly turned her head, her eyes challenging him to do it. “You aren’t afraid, are you?”
No, he wasn’t. Oh hell, yeah, he was, but he was an adult, so why not? “Nope, and you know what, Brittany? Come on over here.” He walked to the group, crouched down and pulled Brittany on his thighs and said, “Let’s do this.”
He stayed there in that group, moving around and in between all the kids, doing different poses, making funny faces, and getting everyone to stick their hands up wide like antlers on each side of their head, wiggling their fingers. Even the teenagers did, which surprised Sean the most.
He’d never laughed so hard before with his family and he wasn’t sure the kids had either. It was definitely a Thanksgiving to remember, and he was positive not just for him either.
“Courtney,” Sean said, addressing Anna’s oldest child. “Grab Carly’s camera and take a few pictures of her and me. She’s had so much fun making you guys pose with funny faces, it’s her turn now, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” all the kids shouted at once. He looked over to see her expression, but all he saw was pure joy.
“Absolutely,” she said excitedly.
For five minutes, Courtney took pictures of him and Carly doing all the funny faces and poses they had to go through, and a few extras the younger kids threw out there. Then someone said, “Take a picture of Uncle Sean kissing Carly.”
He looked at her, saw her hesitation, and said in his most childish voice, “You sure you want to see Uncle Sean kissing a
girl
?” Carly giggled, like he expected her to.
“Mom and Dad kiss all the time. What’s the difference?” Liam, his youngest nephew said.
“Not much difference,” Sean replied, then leaned over and laid his lips on Carly’s, making a big smacking sound.
When the kiss was done, he slid his hand around her face, cupping her jaw and whispered, “I love you.” He heard the camera still snapping the entire time and couldn’t wait to see the memories from this visit.
“I can’t believe Kristy is pregnant again,” Sean said, looking over at Carly on the drive back. He still remembered the shocked look on Greg’s face. His sister had never been able to keep her mouth shut. Of the three girls, she had the biggest blabbermouth, and yet somehow no one in that room had known, not even her husband.
“Why’s that?”
“For one, she’s forty-four. That’s a bit old to be having a baby,” he said, looking at her questioningly. “Right?”
“I wouldn’t know from experience,” she said, smiling him. “But I’ve heard that too. I’m sure she will be fine. What’s the other reason?”
“Brittany is eight. So, I’m guessing this might have been an oops.”
“I don’t think anyone should refer to the baby as an oops. You’re seven years younger than Melissa,” she pointed out. “How old was your mother when she had you?”
“Forty-two. And for the record, I was called the oops for years.”
“By who?” she said, looking awfully defensive and warming him immensely by it.
He shook his head, chuckled and said, “My sisters.”
“Which is probably why Greg said what he did once he recovered from his shock.”
Sean couldn’t help it. It was pretty funny. Once Greg realized that Kristy was serious and actually was pregnant, he gathered his wits, turned to Sean and said, “How much do you charge for counseling if it’s a boy? There is no way my son can survive three older sisters in this family if you don’t help him.”
“Kristy didn’t think it was so funny, though,” Sean told Carly now.
“I think she didn’t appreciate your response any more than Greg asking.”
“What? It’s only fair that I offer to house the baby for the first few years and toughen him up. I said I wouldn’t charge anything. Don’t I get credit for that?”
“You do. And you don’t even know if it’s a boy yet. It might be another girl.”
“For Greg’s sake, I hope it’s a boy. Everyone has at least one boy.”
“Does it matter if it’s another girl? Would you care if you only had girls?”
“No, I wouldn’t care. But then again, I’m not like my sisters and I would hope my kids didn’t turn out like them either.”
“Genetics is a hard thing to push away from,” she said, smirking.
“Not funny,” he replied, snorting. “What about you?”
“What about me, what?”
“How many kids do you want?” It wasn’t even a question if she wanted them or not, he knew she did. She just loved children way too much to not want them.
“Two is a good number. Whatever I’m lucky to be blessed with, I’d be happy. Do you want a big family, having grown up in one? It seems three is the magic number with your family, or at least three, I should say.”
“No, two is perfect for me. I can go home and visit if I want a dose of that craziness. I want to live in the slow lane. Normal working hours, a quiet lifestyle, and not so much running around.” He didn’t know how his sisters did it, how they and their spouses divided their time between so many kids. Someone always seemed to be left out; they had to be. There were more kids than adults.
“Guess we are thinking alike then, huh?” she said softly, sending him a smile that had his heart pounding.
“So I guess you still love me?”
“Of course,” she said, confused. “Why would you think otherwise?”
“Hello, you did just spend the last two days with the same people I did, right? Genetics again. I didn’t know if you were starting to think of escape plans and how to ditch me. Didn’t you just say genetics is hard to push away?”
She giggled, but he could see it was forced. He hoped what he said wasn’t really true. He was joking, but she seemed uncomfortable with the comment, he just wasn’t sure why. “I still love you, Sean. Maybe even more, knowing how different you are from the rest of your family.”
He breathed a mocked sigh of relief that had her giggling again, only he was really serious. He was relieved. “Honestly, it wasn’t too much for you?”
“No, actually it wasn’t. I had a blast. I can’t wait to get home and upload the pictures and start putting them into photo books for everyone.”
He was touched when he realized what she had planned to do with all the pictures. That she thought of that for his mother and his sisters said something about her and her character. How she always just seemed to do and say the right things to get people to warm up to her. He couldn’t get over why she was nervous all the time, or even so shy. It just didn’t seem to fit her once she warmed up. “Are you making one for us?”
“I’ve got something special planned for our pictures. Don’t worry.”
He wasn’t worried. Not about anything when it came to Carly.
***
Carly tilted the seat back some more, covered a yawn and asked, “Do you mind if I take a nap? As much fun as I had, I’m beat for some reason.”
“Sure, go ahead. You earned a nap after what you just went through.”
It was true, she was exhausted, but it was a good kind of tired. As her mind drifted off to sleep, she replayed some of the last day in her head.
Sean’s family was loud, really loud. She thought teaching a bunch of elementary school kids could get loud, but that was nothing compared to Sean’s family when they all got together.
And smothering—holy cow, his sisters were a piece of work. If they weren’t telling their own children and husbands what to do, they were telling Sean what to do. She couldn’t get over how laid back he was about it all. She’d even asked him last night how he could just let them do that all the time. He replied with, “I don’t see them often. They mean well and do it out of love. If I still lived around them I’d go crazy. That’s really why I left. I didn’t want to snap, and I always felt like I was going to around them toward the end.”
She could see that. First Claire was constantly telling him to eat more food, get Carly something to drink, go play with the kids, and anything she could think of to order him with. Sean’s father, for all of his bluster in the morning at home, just shook his head and did what his wife ordered too. Though he did tell Anna once, “I’m still your father. Your mother can order me around because I have to live with her, you, not so much.”
Carly fully expected Anna to say something back, but instead she laughed, leaned over, kissed her father on the cheek and replied with, “It was worth a try, Dad.”
So Carly realized that for all of the complaining by Sean’s parents and siblings, they did everything with love. No one really was pushed around as much as she thought. His sister’s husbands did what they were told, until they decided they didn’t want to. If they were told to do something and they weren’t ready, they just plainly said, “In a minute, when the quarter ends.” Again, the sisters had no problem with that. Maybe it was how it all worked in his family, and it seemed to work well. She’d even seen Patrick telling Claire to hush a few times, and Claire’s response was nothing more than a grin and sometimes a kiss on the cheek.
Growing up, in her house, if her father wanted something, her mother had to jump to do it and do it fast, and even then it didn’t always pacify her father.
She really hadn’t known what to expect out of Sean’s family. Trying to avoid conflict for so long in her life, the yelling and screaming, she was terrified she was going to break out in a sweat around his family, especially when Anna and Kristy started arguing about someone they grew up with and some gossip they heard. Except, even though the sisters were yelling and arguing, they were laughing at the same time.
Carly knew they weren’t really angry with each other. And when Claire decided it had gone on long enough, she stepped in, laid the law down and everyone went back to their respective corners to quietly talk again. Until another topic came up causing more arguing. It never lasted long though before someone stepped in. If it wasn’t Claire, then it was Patrick or one of the spouses.
Probably the most uncomfortable discussion of the day came when Anna asked, “So Sean, when are you going to start giving Mom and Dad some grandkids?”
It might have been said in jest—Carly was sure it was—but it was still uncomfortable. She and Sean had only been dating a few months, and though she felt they were serious, it was still a pretty bold question to ask and put Sean on the spot like that.
As always though, he joked and said back, “After today I’m not sure Carly is going to want to stay with me. What happened to being on your best behavior?”
Carly had all she could to not let her jaw drop when Patrick replied with, “Sean, you should know by now—everyone
is
on the best behavior today.”