The final class for the day let out and the throng of students milled around the front of the school chatting and taking leave.
Cheri waved at Liam and Danny, she was joined by Amber and Melanie.
Hey guys, how are you doing, you remember Melanie right? Cheri reminded them.
Melanie didn't stand on formalities she just hugged both Liam and Danny.
"Hey guys, I wanted to tell you the news; remember when Sunny almost ran over Danny? Well, I told Dad about her driving so he decided to borrow a friend's car and watch her driving. Well… he saw more than he planned; Sunny was running around with some guy and they ended up at a motel and you can guess the rest. Dad went home, called his lawyer and packed all her crap in garbage bags. When she got back, he asked her for her key ring and when he gave it back, it had no car or house keys. Then he showed her the video from his phone and Go-Pro and told her to call her boyfriend for a ride. Anyway she's history, the lawyer has her by the tits and she won't get a dime out of Dad."
"Well Melanie, I'm sorry for all your troubles and yer da's, but you seem to be well rid of her. If yer happy then so am I," Liam sympathized.
"Don't be sad for us Liam, she was a piece of crap and she's with her own kind now. Dad's so much happier now and so am I," Melanie chirped.
Liam gave Melanie a hug and smiled, then Danny did the same.
Todd and Darren arrived and greeted Cheri, Amber and Melanie. The four boys said their goodbyes and began the walk to Todd's home.
"Do you guys sing at all?" Danny asked once they were underway.
"I don't, but Todd sounds great. I used to sing but now I can't hold a note high or low. My dad says it's because my voice is changing," Darren supplied.
"Liam has this idea for a flash mob at the wedding reception when Mom and Da get married. Da's going to adopt me and I'll be a Dennehy," Danny explained.
"Oh man, Danny, that's so cool. You too, Liam, I'm so happy for you all!" Darren exclaimed.
"Me too guys, that really is cool news," Todd added. "What songs are you wanting to sing?"
"Well, it's just the one song, it's called, Libiamo ne' lieti calici, it's from an opera called La Traviata. You can check it out on the computer when we get at yours," Liam informed him.
"Um… why do you say that 'at yours' thing, I mean is that an Irish thing?" Todd asked.
"Oh yeah, I suppose it's an Irish and U.K. thing. We probably say a lot of things differently from American English," Liam explained.
"I see you aren't using the walking stick much Liam, are you already healed"? Todd asked.
"Not entirely, I keep it slung on me back in case it starts to ache. I was just thinking of putting it to use for the walk to yours," Liam replied.
Liam stopped and unslung the stick and began using it to take the stress off his thigh.
"Do you guys want to play some video games? Todd has a great computer and my World of Warcraft is at his house and he's got Red Dead and Fortnite," Darren suggested.
I also have Zelda if you aren't into all the violence of the others," Todd offered.
"I wouldn't mind trying, I just never had much of a chance to do it," Danny intoned.
"I'm complete shite at computer games but I'll watch you lads play. Maybe I'll try a game too," Liam put in.
As they approached Danny's old house, TJ and Arty charged at the four older boys squealing and giggling.
"Hi Danny, hi Liam!" they called out in unison. They greeted Todd and Darren just as boisterously.
"Hi TJ, hi Arty, how are you guys?" Liam asked as he lifted one and then the other for a hug and a kiss. Danny did the same as did Darren and Todd.
"So how are you guys getting along? Do you like having someone your age next door?" Liam asked them.
Both little boys grinned and nodded rapidly.
"Arty has trucks too, and we play with them a lot," TJ advised.
"They're not Tonkas like TJ's but they're fun," Arty put in.
"As long as it's fun it doesn't matter, right guys?" Danny added.
"Hey guys, how are you doing today?" Bryce called from the porch.
"Great Bryce, we're on our way to Todd's to rot some brain cells playing computer games," Darren supplied.
"You'll have to stop in sometime and see my gaming set-up," Bryce offered.
"Cool!” Darren replied, “we better get going or we'll run out of time.” TJ, Arty and Bryce all waved and the boys waved back as they pressed on.
Todd welcomed his friends and offered drinks and snacks. He showed Danny and Liam his bedroom and Liam commented on the tall rectangular safe.
"That's where we keep the guns. I shoot trap competitively and when they're not in use or being cleaned, they're in there. I'd love to show them to you, but I can't open the safe unless Dad is here. I mean I can open it, I just agreed that I wouldn't unless he was at home. We keep the shells somewhere else. Also, I know you guys wouldn't talk about it, but I have to ask you not to mention it to other people at school," Todd explained at length.
"Fair enough Darren, too bad that security guard didn't get the same memo. Dave may be in the psych ward but that guard could get jail time for leaving that gun where it could be got at," Liam put in.
The boys played a few games and messed about for a while. Soon Todd's dad arrived and offered Liam and Danny a ride home.
It wasn't long before Thanksgiving arrived and Danny, Liam and their parents enjoyed a traditional meal as the guests of the Hanlans. Sarah was a wonderful hostess and nobody went home hungry.
Terri roasted a small turkey and made the traditional side dishes a few days after. Her pumpkin pies were wonderful by Connor and the boy's standards. There was enough meat left for sandwiches but not too much.
On December third, the little family celebrated Terri's birthday and they returned to the Dancing Dragon for a great meal. Terri had mentioned that she had never enjoyed having birthday parties herself so a low key celebration was greatly appreciated. Liam and Danny had gone together on an expensive book about Irish immigration and genealogy. They included a computer program to assist with her hobby.
Christmas holidays came and went as did the New Year. Maeve had visited over Christmas which made it a more special event.
Danny and Liam attended a New Year’s party at Cheri's house with many other kids from school. Liam even danced with Cheri and Calvin trotted Amber around the floor. They were actually good at partnered dancing.
"That was fun Liam, how are you feeling these days?" Cheri inquired.
"Back to me old self I guess, the leg is healed and I went and had me head shrunk a bit. We even took Terri to the Dancin' Dragon with no ill effects. I think I can say, the whole bloody mess is in the past."
"I'm glad for you Liam, you do so much for others and they appreciate it. I'd say you're due for an easy ride for a while. You must've racked up enough good karma points to last a long time," Cheri declared.
"Maybe, I don't know. Me family and friends are safe right now and that's my main concern."
"That's great, but what do you want out of life, you know, for yourself?" Cheri pressed.
"I've already got what I want, a real family, wonderful friends and a beautiful boyfriend that loves me back. I'm not really into things except maybe guitars, and I've plenty of those. I'd have to say I'm pretty happy for now. I hope to have a little brother or sister at some point, but that's hardly up to me."
They had walked outside and the weather was unseasonably warm; they stood together gazing at the stars quietly.
“You're way too nice Liam, I've never seen you really angry before. Upset maybe, but not angry. You do get angry don't you?" Cheri probed.
"I do, I was so angry that night that I nearly decided to drive Dave's temple bones into his brain and be done with him. But I didn't want that on my head the rest of me life. So I broke his jaw instead, I talked with Gavin at the studio and told him what I considered doing. He said I made the right choice and I can live with that; can we leave that lie now?"
"I'm sorry Liam, the whole thing was kind of weird and we never got a chance to talk about it in private. If I had a brother, I'd want him to be like you. You are a hero to a lot of the kids at our school, I know you don't want to be, but you are. Don't feel bad about having dark thoughts, we all have them. You did the right thing and not a bit more than you needed to."
Cheri pulled Liam into a tight hug for a long moment. Each wiped their eyes and smiled as they rejoined the party.
At the stroke of twelve, there was a lot of kissing. Cheri kissed Amber, Liam kissed Danny, Melanie kissed Charley and Calvin Kissed Brian. There were many others engaged in the same activity including Todd and Darren.
As the party began to clear out, the small group of friends were gathered on the patio chatting. Brian, Calvin, Todd and Darren would be walking home with Liam and Danny to spend the night since their parents were out for the evening.
"Have you guys been practicing the song for the reception?" Amber asked.
“We have," Todd answered for him and Darren.
"I think we've got it," Calvin volunteered.
"I hope my voice is stable enough in a month, it's been doing some weird things lately," Brian warned.
"I'm sure you'll do well, and it will be a great night for all of us. Cheri suggested we give each guest a lyric sheet in a sealed envelope. When the music starts, Richard will ask everyone who wants to sing to join in on the chorus. I think it's a great idea," Liam explained.
"Thanks Liam, it just sort of popped into my head and Amber made me suggest it to Terri," Cheri told them.
"Shall we head for ours and let Cheri and Amber go to bed?" Liam suggested.
There was general agreement and Liam sent a text to Connor to let him know they'd be walking the eight blocks to the house.
Connor would know when to expect them and could react quickly if they were overdue.
On the way, the boys passed many adults presumably on the way home from various parties. Liam was vigilant at the intersections and all the boys arrived intact.
"Did you lads have a grand time at Cheri's?" Connor inquired.
"Yes Da," we had lots of fun," Danny smiled.
"Do you fancy a snack before bed then?" Connor offered.
The boys looked at each other and unanimously declined choosing to go to bed since they were all quite tired.
Connor kissed Danny and Liam and hugged the other boys, wishing them pleasant dreams before joining Terri in their room for the night.
Since both guest rooms were free, each couple had a place to be quietly alone. Hugs were exchanged and all the boys went to their respective beds.
"I fancy that was a great evening for all concerned, don't you Danny?" Liam asked.
"I think so, are you as tired as I am, Liam?"
"Completely spent, I could sleep for ages and may do."
Danny giggled, "I still get a kick out of the way you speak, please don't give it up completely."
"No fear of that, I don't think I could. Some of it goes too deep. I just hope I don't get some super strict teacher that will demand I change."
A quick shower and the boys were ready to sleep, Liam pulled Danny to him in the classic spoon position. Danny dropped off quickly while Liam dealt with a few lingering thoughts. Despite feeling justified in what he had done to stop Dave, he had nagging doubts. Would he ever have to do something like that again? He knew it was unlikely but completely possible.
He considered the events of the past year, changing school, meeting Danny and making close friends, something that had been difficult in the past except for Sean Cleary.
He had successfully escaped the claws of his birth mother and found that having a mother who actually cared for him was a pretty nice thing. On that thought, he was able to drift off with his arms around Danny.