falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Mam's Cooking

J O H N N Y

The moment I stepped inside the house, I knew something was off. The smell of bacon and cabbage hit me first—Mam's go-to dinner when she was in a domestic mood. And then I heard her voice, loud and familiar, coming from the kitchen.

"Jonathon Robert Kavanagh!"

Ah, shite.

I glanced down at my watch. Half ten. She was never up this late unless it was for something serious—or something nosy.

"Ma?" I called back, walking toward the kitchen with a crutch under one arm.

"In here," she replied, her voice carrying the distinct lilt of 'I know you're up to something.'

Sure enough, Mam was at the kitchen table, a mug of tea in hand, her hair tied back in one of those messy buns she always threw together when she was cleaning. Dad was sitting across from her, laptop open, though he was squinting at it like he was more focused on eavesdropping.

"Where were you?" Mam asked as soon as I stepped into the room.

I set my crutch against the wall and gave her a sheepish grin. "Out."

"Out where?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes. "I made bacon and cabbage, and you didn't even bother to come home for the dinner."

I shrugged, knowing there was no easy way out of this one. "I went to the cinema."

"With who?" she asked, her tone far too casual for my liking.

"Grace," I admitted, grabbing a leftover slice of bread from the table and biting into it.

Mam's eyebrows shot up so high, I thought they might disappear into her hairline. "Ohhhhhhh," she said, drawing the word out like it was her favorite song.

"Ma."

"What?" She held up her hands innocently, though the grin on her face was anything but. "I'm just delighted for you, love. Grace is a lovely girl."

"Yeah, she is," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but the warmth spreading across my face probably gave me away.

Mam didn't miss a beat. "So, what did you see?"

"Some yoke with Will Smith," I muttered, sitting down across from Da. "Can't even remember the name."

Mam gasped, clutching her chest like I'd insulted her personally. "You can't remember the name? Jonathon! That poor girl probably picked the film for you, and you didn't even pay attention?"

"I paid attention," I said defensively. "Eh..... Hitch! Hitch it was called Hitch, Ma."

My Dad let out a low chuckle, finally closing the laptop. "Leave the lad alone, Edel. He's a teenager. You think I remembered the names of films I saw with you when we started going out?"

Mam shot him a look. "You're supposed to take my side."

"I am," he said with a smirk. "Just not when you're being stupid, love."

Mam huffed, turning her attention back to me. "Well, at least you're getting out of the house. I was beginning to worry you were going to turn into one of those hermit fellas."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ma."

She smiled warmly, her teasing softening. "I'm just glad you're happy, love."

"I am," I admitted quietly, my mind wandering back to Grace.

"Good," she said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Now go on, get yourself some proper food. I kept a plate warm for you."

I didn't need telling twice. Grabbing the plate from the oven, I sat back down and dug in, feeling more at ease now that the third degree was over.

"You know," Mam said as I finished my first bite, "you should invite Grace over for dinner one of these days."

I nearly choked. "Mam!"

"What?" she asked, feigning innocence again. "It's a good idea. We can get to know her properly."

"She's met you before, sure she's at the women's shelter with you," I pointed out.

"Ah sure that's only for a quick chat," she countered. "And your father hasn't met her at all, have you, John?"

Dad nodded his head, but his smile was kind. "I met her briefly at the hospital, when he was off the rocker. I thought she was a great girl."

"She is," I said before I could stop myself.

Mam's grin widened. "Well, then it's settled. Grace is coming to dinner."

I groaned, dropping my fork onto my plate. "You're a pain in the hole."

"Johnny!" she shot back, standing up and grabbing her mug. "Now, finish your dinner and get to bed. You've school tomorrow."

Shaking my head, I finished the rest of my plate in silence, though I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.