Polly's Boys

Ties that Bind

Ties that bind

"Hello." Devlins smooth deep voice made warmer from his whiskey, rumbled through the phone.

"Your staff doesn't answer the phone?" His mothers curious voice wafted through his ears. He'd been expecting her to call and ask about him and Winter. He had thought she'd call in several hours but he was up.

"We'll its 3 a.m. mum, No one else is awake." He chuckled into his glass. He'd properly worn his little wife out. Maids generally didn't rise until 6. They knew he was a quirky man, they didn't need to stress about being awake just because he was.

"How did things go with my daughter in law tonight?" She asked carefully. There was an edge to her voice if you listened carefully. His mum had been quite a therapist to him after that muddy night. He'd appreciated having her, probably would have gone crazy if he didn't have her to talk to.

"They went...we'll. You sound down. What happened?" He knew she didn't call this early for no reason and he definitely knew it was to talk about his relations with his wife.

"Tommy told me today that he found out what happened to Anna and Michael." She sounded deadpan and numb. Whatever it was, he had a gnawing feeling in his stomach suddenly, this wasn't going to be good

"Oh?" He couldn't think of what to say. He put the whiskey down on an end table and sat down in his chair. He vaguely remembered them. Anna was seven when she was taken and he and her were quite close. She'd been a little shadow to him. Michael was tiny and therefore meant nothing at the time.

"Ana died trying to get back home. Australia." Devlin sucked in his breath and clutched his chest. Damn, he hadn't been expecting that.

"Well, you said she passed away and visited from your dreams right?" He rubbed the bridge on his nose. He could feel the sting of saline behind his eyes. He hadn't cried in years. He could now. He had adored Anna, a little dark haired gypsy doll. That news felt like a sharp blow to his chest.

"Yes. Are you alright? You two were close if I remember correctly." Her voice had dipped and gone incredibly soft. He was touched that she cared how the news affected him. He and Anna were just siblings though, he hadn't lost a child like she had.

"Honestly, fucking no. I'm not. Jesus." This hadn't been the phone call he'd been expecting. At least they'd be together tonight.

"What happened to Michael, where is he?" Dev couldn't believe he was able to talk. He felt his chest tightening like a giant snake was squeezing the life from him, stealing his breath.

"Tommy wont tell me. Says he is seventeen and adopted into a good family." Pissed. He could deal with her getting pissed at his cousin.

"Well that's horse shit. Have you called David yet? He's more connected than me. Probably find an address that Tommy won't give you." He could piece things together fairly easily. If Tommy knew about the family...he'd put eyes on the boy. Probably spoken to him. Might make the pan formulating in his mind easier actually.

"No, David has children, remember. I wake up his house and I'm likely to be stuck babysitting." She chuckled darkly. Devlin understood.

"Haha, true. You're always welcome here if you need a break from Birmingham." He meant that invitation. He was grateful to have reconnected with his mum.

"No, the Grand reopening is tomorrow night. I just needed to hear a voice that would agree with me." She sounded so beaten down. What was the point in telling her if he was going to withhold the information over her? Dick.

"Alright, well I'm up whenever you need to talk mum."

"You and Tom, never sleep." She mussed.

" Well it's always sunrise somewhere mum. Try to get some rest. We'll see you tomorrow and I'll call David in a few hours." He needed to get dressed and get stuff around. He wasn't going to let the news of another long lost sibling sit between them until the lad turned 18.