Chapter 18 Daddy Shamus

The salty air whipped Miguel's hair as he followed Shamus towards the hulking steel structure of the roller coaster. Excitement bubbled in his stomach, a welcome change from the concern that had gnawed at him earlier. Miguel, ever the social butterfly, stopped in front of the ride operator's booth and grinned.

"How's it going?" Miguel boomed, clapping the hand of the tall guy with blond hair. Recognition dawned on Shamus—Darren, Miguel's college buddy who helped him get a job, was a student he had taught. Relief washed over him, replaced by a warmth he hadn't expected. It was no surprise Miguel would trust someone like Darren.

"Miguel! You finally made it here?" Darren laughed, his gaze flicking to Shamus. Darren's eyes widened as he spoke. "You're Dr. O'Malley!"

"It's good to see you, Darren." Shamus turned to Miguel. "I had Darren as a student in my art history class last semester, and I might add a very good one at that."

"Wow! It's a small world," Miguel said.

"No, Jersey is just small," Shamus said.

Darren let them through the line. They were strapped into the brightly colored coaster car. Miguel, the thrill-seeker, had insisted on the front row. Shamus's heart pounded a little faster than he cared to admit. He usually sat in the last car, but this would be fun, too.

The coaster lurched forward, the familiar clickety-clack of the track filling Shamus's ears. His stomach lurched with each climb, the ocean sprawling out beneath them in a breathtaking panorama. As the car plunged down a steep slope, Miguel leaned his head on Shamus's shoulder, his fear replaced by pure excitement. Shamus laughed too, caught up in the infectious energy. The wind roared in his ears, blurring the world into a kaleidoscope of color and sound.

As the coaster lurched forward again, a wave of exhilaration washed over Shamus. Miguel threw his hands up, yelling something about feeling like a superhero. Shamus put his arm around Miguel, wanting to secure him safely. They grinned at each other, the tension from earlier melting away with every twist and turn.

The laughter died down as the coaster slowed to a stop. Still buzzing from the adrenaline rush, they disembarked, Miguel thanking Darren with a high five.

"Have a great evening, you guys," Darren said.

As they stepped away from the platform, Shamus's blood ran cold. Three figures, unmistakable in their bored postures and sneering expressions, stood a few feet away. It was them—the guys who'd shoved Miguel earlier. The air crackled with hostility.

Before Miguel could even react, Shamus squared his shoulders and stepped forward. "Hey," he said, his voice surprisingly steady, "I haven't forgotten your faces from earlier. I take it you three want to keep your jobs here? Then you leave him alone. Understood?"

The three bullies exchanged glances, a flicker of uncertainty crossing their faces. Shamus held their gazes, the memory of Miguel's hurt face fueling his resolve. Finally, with muttered curses, they shuffled away, leaving an uneasy silence in their wake.

Miguel let out a shaky breath, his eyes wide. "Wow, Daddy Shamus," he finally said. "Thanks. I didn't see them…"

Shamus offered a reassuring smile. "No problem, Miguel. Your daddy looks out for you, right?"

Despite the dissipating tension, a newfound sense of concern hung in the air. The day, it seemed, wasn't quite over yet.

"Hey. Let's go on that ride." Shamus pointed at it.

Shamus could feel the excitement running through him as he and Miguel approached the Musik Express Amusement Ride. He couldn't help but grin as he looked at Miguel, who seemed a mixture of nervous anticipation and eager enthusiasm.

"Ready for this, Miguel?" Shamus asked, trying to contain his own excitement.

Miguel nodded, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "I think so. It looks pretty intense."

Shamus clapped him on the back. "Ah, don't worry about it. It's going to be a blast!"

As they queued up for the ride, Shamus couldn't help but feel a little nostalgia. He had fond memories of riding the Musik Express with friends during summers past. The familiar sound of pulsing music and the sight of the colorful lights only added to his anticipation.

When it was finally their turn, Shamus and Miguel found themselves seated near the back of the spinning ride. As the Musik Express lurched into motion, Shamus couldn't suppress his excitement. The centrifugal force pressed him back into his seat as the ride picked up speed, whipping around corners and sending them careening up and down.

Beside him, Miguel's initial trepidation seemed to melt away, replaced by exhilaration. Shamus could hear him laughing and shouting as they spun around, the wind whipping through their hair.

As the ride ended and they stumbled off, Shamus couldn't wipe the grin off his face. He turned to Miguel, who was still shaking.

"See, I told you it would be fun," Shamus said, clapping him on the shoulder.

Miguel grinned back, his eyes shining. "Yeah, that was amazing! Let's do it again!"

"We can go on the rides every night when we're not working." Shamus couldn't wait until midnight when Miguel turned twenty-one. He wanted him to have his first drink in his bar. He had bought festive decorations, and now Finn and Jimmy were preparing to transform it. During the day, he had bought gifts and carefully wrapped them.

"You're the perfect daddy for me. I've never had so much fun as we did tonight."

"Me either. Let's get something before we return to the bar. What do you feel like eating?"

"Let's go on the boardwalk and have steak and cheese subs with a fresh lemonade."

"It's not far and right in front of your hotel."

As they walked the bustling boardwalk, the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air.

"Hey, let's try this one." Shamus stopped in front of a teddy bear stand. "Want to? Then we'll get our subs."

Miguel nodded. "That's my favorite one because of the teddy bears."

The tang of popcorn and sea air scented the air. He watched Miguel bounce beside him, his eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. They stood before the weathered wooden booth, a faded banner proclaiming "Rainbow Teddy Bears Wonder Wheel: Win Big! " The shelves were homes to charming teddy bears. Each bear was unique, wearing a different color, bringing a rainbow to life in the cuddly collection.

A burly man with a handlebar mustache leaned against the booth, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Step right up, folks!" he boomed, his voice rough as sandpaper. "One spin, one dollar, a chance to win a cuddly companion!"

Miguel clutched a crumpled dollar bill in his hand, his lower lip trembling. Shamus ruffled his hair. "This one's on me."

"Pick a number, one to ten."

He placed two dollars on the counter. Miguel moved his dollar to number five and shouted, "Five!"

"Good choice," the man said.

Shamus placed his dollar on number seven. The man grinned, his mustache twitching. "Excellent choice!"

Shamus glanced down at Miguel, whose gaze was fixed on one particular bear on the shelves.

The man slapped a well-worn wheel with a faded beach scene painted on it. "And away we go!"

Miguel flashed him a grin, full of that mischievous spark that Shamus adored, and flicked his wrist. The spinner whirled, colors blurring as it spun faster and faster. Shamus held his breath, hoping for a win for Miguel, not just for the prize, but to see Miguel's eyes light up with joy.

As the spinner slowed, the anticipation built until it clicked to a stop on the number seven. They let out a whoop of delight, and the man behind the counter chuckled. "Seven!" he announced. "Looks like we've got a winner here."

"Which bear do you like?" Shamus asked Miguel.

"The one wearing green."

The man handed Shamus a teddy bear the color of fresh spring grass, holding a small shamrock in its paws, a symbol of luck.

Shamus turned to Miguel, his expression softening. "For you," he said, pushing the bear into Miguel's arms. "To keep you safe when I'm not around."

Miguel wrapped an arm around Shamus, pulling him close. "Thank you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Shamus's cheek. "I picked this one because it reminds me of you being Irish."

"Thanks. I like it. You wanted a teddy bear that reminds you of me. That is the sweetest compliment a daddy could ever receive from his boy."

They stood there for a moment amidst the chaos of the boardwalk, wrapped in their own little world. It was these simple joys, these fleeting moments of happiness, that Shamus cherished most. No matter what life threw at them, they had each other, and that was more than enough.