Page 124 of The Need to Know

Alannah placed her hand on top of Oisin’s. “His mom can cook, though. I would avoid making my own food, too, if Momma Murphy was offering.”

My father looked on as Oisin gave Alannah an appreciative smile. “How did you two meet? You go to Harvard, too?”

Oisin took a deep breath, adjusting in his seat a little. “No, actually, I’m not in school. We met at a café.”

“He was behind me in line and he paid for my lunch because I forgot my money,” Alannah explained. “And then when I was sitting down to eat, he asked to sit with me.” She turned and looked into Oisin’s eyes, getting lost. “The rest is kind of history.”

My father wasn’t a romantic, so he wasn’t moved by their meet-cute. “You’re not in school, so what do you do?”

“Construction,” Oisin said. “I’ve always been good with my hands that way.”

“Do you think you’ll ever go to school?” my mother chimed in.

Oisin took a moment to think, rubbing at his chin as he stared into the air. “I’m not sure. I did a couple of years before taking a hiatus, and I know it’s always there for me should I want to go back. Right now, I’m just not sure.”

“And that’s okay,” I said in his defense.

Oisin mouthed a thank you my way and I nodded. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to cape for him, but he made Alannah happy and the rest didn’t matter. He had a job and was taking care of himself not leeching off my sister or causing her stress.

“How do your folks feel about Ali?” my father wanted to know.

At once Oisin’s shoulders drooped and Alannah squeezed his arm for support.

“They love me,” Alannah spoke up.

“Too much.” Oisin groaned.

My father shook his head. “No such thing as too much love.”

“They’re always trying to set me up with his brother Raury. He owns the construction company Oisin works at,” Alannah went on further.

“That sounds mean,” I said.

“Sometimes people think successful people should be with other successful people instead of loving for love,” Oisin said.

I loved the way he’d put it, because it was true.

“I’m going to be honest.” My father sat up, pausing in his eating as he bore into Oisin. “It’s the long run I care about. How are you going to feel as a man with a woman who’s going to be a successful doctor?”

My mouth fell open and Ezekiel’s hand came down on my thigh. At once, my heart rate went from speeding up to winding down with just the touch of him.

Oisin didn’t break a sweat. “You mean because I’ll be blue-collar doing construction while she’s going to be a top-notch surgeon?” He glanced lovingly at Ali before facing my father. “I’d feel proud, David.”

“What if she wants to drop out?” my mother joined in on the questions.

Oisin entwined his hand with Alannah’s and shook his head. “I’d never tell her what to do, or encourage that, but I’d support her in whatever choice she feels is right for her. But Lana’s not going to drop out, she’s got this caring spirit about her. She’s too gifted and destined to just give up. She’s determined and smart, she’s going to go far, and I’m proud of her for that.”

Oisin answered their interrogation with ease, looking each of my parents in their eye with no qualms. Alannah had found someone good in Oisin, because he wasn’t intimidated by a woman who had a successful career over him, nor would he ever attempt to bring her down.

“Oisin,” my father said as he picked up his glass of water. “You’re all right with me.”

“Whew!” Alannah let out loudly as she relaxed back in her seat.

My parents laughed and Oisin was quick to join in. “I actually love that you’re asking all these hard questions. I love knowing that Lana’s got this type of support behind her and protection. She deserves it.”

That was one thing I could say about my father, he wasn’t just accepting of the guys I brought home, he was hard on them, wanting them to meet his standards and be right for me.

I was able to enjoy a whole piece of catfish before my parents switched gears and jumped on Ezekiel.