36. Julie

The boys stood in their school blazers, arms around each other as I took a photo. They looked so handsome and grown-up. Where had my three tearaways gone? I was looking at three almost-sixteen-year-olds. They were all much taller than me and had developed broad shoulders from training.

‘I’m so proud of you.’ My voice shook.

‘Oh, Mum, don’t start crying,’ Luke said.

‘It’s supposed to be a happy day,’ Liam reminded me.

‘We need to go.’ Leo was the most nervous.

Harry came into the hall and handed the boys three Tupperware boxes. ‘Your protein snacks.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’

‘Now remember, Rockford Manor are very strong upfront. Don’t let them boss you around in the scrum.’

The triplets grinned. ‘It’s okay, Dad, we’ve got this. Coach has told us what we need to do.’

Harry nodded. ‘Right, then. Let’s get you into school.’

‘Wait!’ Christelle and Kelly came up from the basement in their pyjamas, still jet-lagged from their South American trip. ‘Good luck from us.’ They handed the boys bead bracelets. ‘They’re made with huayruro seeds from our trip to Peru and are believed to bring positive energy, love, happiness, and good fortune to the person who wears them,’ Christelle said.

The boys looked at the red and black beads and reluctantly put them on.

Christelle laughed. ‘You don’t have to wear them, just put them in your kitbags for luck.’

‘Okay.’ They looked relieved and stuffed them into their bags.

‘We’ll be there to cheer you on,’ Christelle said. ‘Good luck.’

They piled into the car, Tom following in their wake, as always, and Harry drove them to school.

We sat together: Harry, me, Marion, Gavin (and Lemon), Dad, Louise, Sophie, Jess, Jack, Robert, Christelle, Kelly and Clara with her headphones on.

Marion pulled off her hat and scratched her head.

‘Sorry, but these are the worst fucking hats ever. Did the sheep have nits? They’re the itchiest things. I’d take out a loan and pay for Victoria’s posh cashmere not to have to suffer these needles on my head.’

‘They’re made of Irish wool, the same wool that Aran sweaters are made of. Bespoke, hand-knitted by the local community.’ Sophie was still defensive about her sourcing of the hats.

‘No wonder they’re awful, Aran sweaters are itchy as fuck. Only bog-men wear them. I’d say Seamus has a few in his wardrobe.’

Sophie glared at Marion, while Jess giggled.

‘Can we please focus on the match?’ Dad said.

‘How’s single life, George?’ Marion asked.

‘Oh, he’s not single,’ Gavin said. ‘He’s already got a new bird. I caught them having coffee yesterday when I called in.’

‘Pat is not a new bird . She is a friend who called over for a cup of coffee.’

‘Pat O’Loughlin from the golf club?’ Sophie asked.

‘Yes.’ Gavin smirked.

‘Careful, Dad, you may cause a serious cat-fight up in the golf club if you keep dating women from the same pool,’ I warned him.

‘I know of a very good sex line if you just need to, you know, release some tension,’ Marion chuckled.

‘Christ almighty, will you all put a sock in it? I’m trying to watch my grandsons.’

‘Pat’s nice. I always liked her,’ Sophie said.

Dad stood up and forced me to swap places with him. ‘I’m sitting beside the only sensible person here, Harry.’

‘Thanks a lot, George,’ Jack said.

‘You’re welcome to come over here too.’ Dad acknowledged Jack, who stood to move up beside the men, with Robert.

‘I want to stay with Jess and Sophie,’ Robert said.

‘Okay, buddy.’ Jack sat in beside Dad.

Liam caught the ball and passed it to Luke, who ran the length of the pitch and offloaded, at the last minute, to Leo, who dived over the line.

‘TRY!’ Harry roared. ‘Julie! Did you see it?’

I did – I had seen it. For once I hadn’t been chatting or distracted. I had seen my three sons score a beautiful try.

We jumped up and down and cheered loudly. I thought my heart would burst with pride.

‘Well, now, Anne would have loved to see this,’ Dad said.

We all smiled. Mum would have loved to see the boys shine. She’d have told everyone who’d listen about the try.

‘She’s watching and cheering.’ Louise squeezed Dad’s hand.

‘And telling everyone up there that the boys got their sporting ability from her,’ Sophie added.

We all had tears in our eyes.

I reached over and hugged Dad. ‘I miss her too,’ I said.

Lemon began to bawl and Dad looked like he was going to have a hernia at the noise. Jess offered to give her a bottle. Gavin gratefully handed her over.

Two rows up, Victoria said, ‘Who brings a baby to a rugby match, really and truly? The crying is distracting everyone.’

‘A devoted father,’ Sophie replied.

‘A supportive uncle,’ Louise said loudly.

‘A proud modern man,’ Dad said.

Gavin stared at him open-mouthed. ‘Did you hear that?’ he whispered to me.

‘Yep, modern man no less.’ I grinned.

‘Your gimpy kid isn’t even playing, so what are you moaning about?’ Marion shouted at Victoria.

I looked at Jess, who giggled. I winked at her.

The match continued at a ferocious pace. We were ahead. Then Rockford Manor scored two tries.

At half-time we were down by three points. Harry was chewing his lip. The teams trooped off the field and we all sat back in our seats, breathing normally again.

‘How are things in work now, Louise?’ Sophie asked.

‘The video trended for only a day, and then it quietened down, thank God. But I’ve been told I have to go on an unconscious-bias training course.’

‘What? That’s ridiculous! You called Zo? out on being a lazy, incompetent employee. That’s your job as a boss,’ Sophie said.

‘Believe me, I agree with you, but HR said I have to do this. It’s more for optics than anything else, to show I’m willing to grow and learn.’ She made a vomit face.

‘What happened to Zo??’ Gavin asked.

‘She’s been reprimanded for videoing me and posting it online, which she denies. Apparently, her “friend” took her phone and posted it. She’s been moved to a different department, permanently, but Walter won’t get rid of her.’

‘That’s crazy,’ I said. ‘But at least you won’t have to deal with her.’

‘Well, I bumped into her in the kitchen yesterday and she was as cool as you like, “Hi, Louise, how are you enjoying your notoriety?”’

‘She didn’t?’ Sophie was shocked.

‘Oh yes she did. I wanted to punch her smug face.’

‘I don’t know how you controlled yourself. I’d have walloped her,’ Marion said.

‘Louise, you don’t need that stress in your life.’ I felt really bad for my sister. Although she was putting on a brave face, I knew she was really shaken by the whole fiasco. Louise had spent her whole career building up a reputation as unflappable, tough and formidable. This video of her had tarnished all of that. The triplets said the pile-on was unreal, threats and everything. I know she was trying to stay off social media, but it had to have had an effect.

Louise sighed. ‘It’s made me reassess working there. Let’s be honest, my position and my reputation have been badly damaged. There are some people who will no longer speak to me. They’ve sided with Zo?, think I’m a bully and refuse to acknowledge me. Even people I got on well with before. It makes it very difficult. I need to think about my next move.’

‘Would you consider leaving?’ I was surprised. Louise had worked so hard and was a senior partner at the firm.

‘Maybe. And not just the firm, but from securitization.’

I was never totally sure what ‘securitization’ meant, but I knew Louise was good at it.

‘What would you do instead?’ Sophie asked.

‘I don’t know, to be honest.’

‘Legal aid?’ Christelle suggested. ‘You’d be brilliant.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Or something completely different?’ Kelly suggested. ‘What would your dream job be?’

‘I’ve only ever wanted to be a lawyer,’ Louise said, ‘but the shine has gone. I’ve achieved everything I wanted to achieve. But if I’m not a lawyer, who am I? I also have a daughter who may never be financially independent. It’s a lot of responsibility.’

‘Marco can help with that now,’ I said.

‘No. He’s not giving Clara one penny. If he does, he can claim rights. No, I’m her financial stability. I just need to figure out what I want to do next.’

‘I think you’d be brilliant in academia,’ Gavin said. ‘You do like to lecture people.’

‘I can totally see that,’ I said. ‘A law lecturer.’

Louise paused. ‘That’s not the worst idea. Maybe.’

‘The hours would be much better and you’d have more time with Clara and great holidays,’ Sophie said.

‘Speaking of jobs, I’m going to work part-time with Shania,’ Gavin announced. ‘I’m getting some help with Lemon in the mornings. Shania is out-the-door busy and she needs my input. I’m actually looking forward to it. I love Lemon, but the days are long and I know everyone says things have changed and stay-at-home dads are the norm, but they’re not and we’re still treated like pariahs.’

‘Good for you,’ I said.

‘Part-time is the perfect solution,’ Sophie added.

‘Yeah, and Shania misses Lemon, so if I can help her out more in work, she’ll get more time with Lemon, so it’s a win-win.’

‘It’s never easy,’ Sophie said. ‘Whether you stay at home, work part-time or full-time, it’s still a constant juggling act, but you guys will work it out.’

‘Kids are a fucking drain emotionally and financially,’ Marion said.

‘Yes, but they’re also wonderful and worth it.’ Sophie beamed at Jess and Robert.

I was very proud of my sister and how she had embraced Robert. Sophie had a huge heart.

‘Okay, silence again, here they come,’ Dad said.

The second half got under way.

‘ Nooooooo! ’ Harry, Dad and Jack shouted.

Rockford had just scored, from their first touch. We watched over the next thirty minutes as the match slowly slipped away from Castle Academy.

Then it was over.

I cried as I watched my three brave sons sobbing their hearts out on the pitch. They hugged each other and their teammates.

Harry was speechless. Dad patted him on the back and said, ‘The boys were a credit to you and the school. They couldn’t have done more.’

‘They gave it everything,’ Jack said.

‘They were the core of the team,’ Gavin added. ‘Born leaders, the three of them.’

Marion said, ‘Fuck Rockford Manor and every prick who goes there.’

We all burst out laughing and the sting of losing was slightly lessened.