“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.”
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