A One-of-a-Kind Family

“Fantastic. Colm did his own laundry.” She smiled as if remembering something that pleased her. “Now, when you see how it’s folded, don’t belittle it. It’s not perfect, but a few wrinkles aren’t a very high price for the sense of pride he took in the job. He’s not quite ready to take over on his own, but he did a good job. If you don’t mind taking the time, you should have him help from now on.”

Liam felt a surge of guilt at the thought of what Colm had learned and accomplished in the short time he’d been in Anna’s company. “I should have worked more with him. I should have pushed Mom to let him try new things. But she was always afraid he’d get hurt, and after a while…Well, I never thought about it. Colm was Colm. And what he did or didn’t do was part of him.”

“Liam, we’ve had this discussion before.” Anna leaned forward, placing her hands on the coffee table and sending her curls tumbling over her shoulders, as if by getting close enough, she could somehow drive her point home. “You’ve done a wonderful job with your brother. Colm is well-adjusted and happy. He couldn’t learn or accomplish any of these things if he weren’t.”

“I never knew—”

“And I don’t know a thing about computers, and yet you do all sorts of amazing things with them. I find the tangle of machines and monitors up in your office intimidating to look at. You’re a good caring man, Liam Franklin. You came to Sunrise for help, you’ve let me work with Colm. You love him, you care for him. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing.”

She looked so sincere. Wanting him to believe that she was willing to fight for him just as she always seemed so willing to fight for Colm.

Liam had a sudden urge to lean over the coffee table in order to close the distance between them…and kiss her. The urge caught him totally unaware. It wasn’t that he hadn’t noticed that Anna was attractive. Oh, maybe it had taken him a moment or two to notice, but that smile and laugh—he couldn’t shake them. And he’d quickly learned to appreciate that she was good at her job—good with his brother. But wanting to kiss her?

The urge was a surprise, and one he wasn’t planning to indulge in. Instead, he simply placed his hand on top of one of hers. She didn’t pull away, but turned her hand so they were palm to palm. She gave his hand a squeeze, and for a long moment, they both sat silently like that.

Finally, Liam sat back, breaking the connection. “Thanks.” His voice felt rough as it maneuvered through his tangle of emotions.

“Anytime.” She started to stand. “I should be going.”

“Hey, Anna,” Colm called from the top of the stairs. “Knock, knock.”

“Who’s there?” she called back, not bothering to remind him about inside voices.

“Pajama.” They could hear him thundering down the stairs.

“Pajama who?” Anna called.

Colm burst into the living room. “Pajamas are on Colm, that’s who.”

“I think there’s a chance he’s missed the point,” Liam whispered, even though he was laughing as hard as Colm was.

“The point is having fun, so I think he’s got it right,” Anna whispered back.

“Hey, Anna, wanna play a game of Go Fish?” Colm asked.

“Maybe another time, Colm. Your brother’s probably tired. I bet he wants some peace and quiet.”

“Nah, Liam’ll play, right, Liam?” Very seriously, he turned to Anna. “He’s like a superhero and can do anythin’.”

What could he say to that look of utter confidence that Colm shot him. “Sure, Colm. That is, if Anna hasn’t had enough of us yet.”

She gave him a look he couldn’t quite read. She slowly answered, “No. I’m not tired of the two of you yet.”

“Not never,” Colm said. “Anna, she likes me. ’Course, I don’t know if she likes you,” he teased.

“I like both Franklin brothers,” she said diplomatically.

“Nah, she likes me more, ’cause you’re a grump,” Colm teased. “Anna likes me the best.”

Liam knew Colm wanted him to argue about who Anna liked most as another kind of game, but he didn’t because that urge to kiss her hadn’t completely disappeared, despite his attempts at quashing it.

They all sat down to play Go Fish, and as he watched Colm, he realized that his brother had never been this happy. Sure, he’d been content. Cared for. Cosseted. But since Anna had come into their lives, Colm had really been growing by experiencing new things. He’d been happy in a way he’d never been before.

“Go fish,” Colm screamed.

“Inside voice, Colm,” Anna said softly.

“Sure, Anna. I forgot. But you know it’s okay to forget,” he instructed Liam. “Anna says, that’s why we got friends to remind us. And after a while we won’t forget no more. Inside voice inside. Yep, one day soon I’ll remember that on my own.”