𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟏𝟑

𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒

Alyssa Lynch

October 31st 2001

Sean Lynch was born only a few minutes before midnight, meaning his birthday was October 31st 2001, marking yet another Lynch child born on a largely celebrated holiday.

I can't quite recall seeing a tinier child than him in my fifteen years of existence.

"You're a tiny little thing aren't you Seany-boo?"
I delicately fiddled my finger around his hand, careful in making sure I didn't inflict any pain on the child seeing as he would end up receiving it from another Lynch in a few years if nothing changes - which it won't.

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March 18th 2002

With our da drunk 24/7 in the house and our mam sulking with what the nurses called 'postpartum depression', I had the bright idea of taking Sean out with me as I shopped - seeing as no other parental figure was mentally present and willing.

With the baby in the trolley, I managed to gather the keen necessities to last us the next few weeks without Sean shedding a single tear. Go, Alyssa.

Though just before turning to the queue, I had spotted a woman who figured she was discreet it not being able to reach her required item.
A heavy sigh escaped me. I turned to Sean.
"I'm only doing this because I can't have me looking like a bad person to you." I pointed my index at the clueless infant opposing me.

Turning the trolley 180 degrees, I made my way over to the woman dressed in all designer.
"What ya need help reaching?" I pulled down the trolley stopper with my right leg before turning my gaze to the blonde. She smiled gracefully at me before answering.

"Too obvious?" She questioned. "Just a tad." I signalled with my hand. "The blue one, if you don't mind." Within seconds, the blue dishwashing liquid was within her grasp.
"Thank you-." She popped the item into her basket before turning back to me. "Alyssa Lynch." I replied for her. "And don't worry about it." Holding out her right hand, she spoke.
"I'm Edel Kavanagh." I firmly shook her hand.

With my left foot hovering over the stopper, she turned to the baby with the widest smile I had ever witnessed. "Hey there little one." She squatted down to reach Sean's level.
"What's your name?" She wiggled her finger around him. "That's my baby brother Sean." I answered, removing my leg from the stopper, keeping it down. "Quite the age difference."
She chuckled. Though it didn't seem like she was to judge me even if I was the mother.

There was something about Edel Kavanagh.
Something alluring that left you captivated into wanting to keep the conversation flowing with her.

"Well little Sean, your elder sister here is quite the saviour isn't she?" Edel then rose up.
"If this didn't increase my baby fever, then I believe nothing could." The blonde added on.
I cocked a brow. "Most women don't stop having children after reaching 30."

She audibly chuckled at my comment.

"I'm in my 40s dear, however I suppose I should thank you." Both my eyebrows were raised then. "Holy shit." I exclaimed in my usual tone before realisation struck me, rushing over to cover Sean's tiny pair of sensitive ears. "Sorry." I sent an apology Edel's way. She waved her hand dismissively.

Either my ability to summarise people's age by appearance was downgrading or Edel Kavanagh had some seriously magical serum to stop her face from looking past the age of 32.

I turned my face sideways to remove Sean's fingers from his mouth, entirely forgetting about the cuts on my eyebrow and temple until she had brought it up. "You okay there love?" She asked, her voice laced with sincerity, pointing over my her own cheekbone. I looked to her in bewilderment, humming in question.
"You've got a few-" She didn't manage to finish her sentence.

I blurted out the quickest lie that came to mind.
"Yeah uh- one of my other brothers, Tadhg, attacked me a few days prior. Siblings fights, you know?" I mustered up a cover story.

Sorry for this Tadhg.

Ten-to-one odds she read through my bluff seeing as the expression on her face didn't see to buy it, however she somewhat managed to change the subject.

"Got more little ones at home?" I nodded in reply. "One sister and fiv- four brothers." I was quick to correct myself, though not too quick for her to catch on. "Lost count?" She giggled.
"Not just yet, one's just not really involved anymore" I put it in the simplest terms, ones which she managed to get to a certain extent.

She sent an understanding nod my way before sighing. "Well." She clapped her hands together.
"I guess I better get going before you flatter me just too much." I laughed.
"I'll see you around Alyssa." Unlikely story.
Seeing as we lived in different financial classes.

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