“Come on, Jay!” Ciara yelled from downstairs. “People are turning up.” I yelled back that I would be there soon and finished pinning my hair up out of my face. I adjusted my top so it sat properly on my shoulders and took the stairs two at a time before sliding on my socks into the kitchen.
“Ah, there’s my girl.” I beamed at the elderly man who stood leaning against the kitchen counter, his heavy accent booming on every word.
“Granddad!” I was instantly pulled into his arms and hung on for a few moments, relishing being back with the man who had taught me everything, even though he was half-way around the world. More and more relatives piled in and I was surprised how many people they managed to fit into the tiny house. It didn’t take long for the small family barbeque to turn into a full on party. A group of cousins were in the corner of the lounge playing instruments they had brought with them, the small kids were either playing upstairs or dancing around the living room. Most of the men were crammed into the small garden knocking back the liquor. The women were gossiping in the kitchen and couldn’t help but laugh at how cliché it all seemed as I made my rounds between members of my family I hadn’t seen in years. Ciara waved me over from where she was playing the violin with our cousin Peter.
“Come sing with us!” I shook my head quickly but was pushed into the corner by multiple pairs of hands.
“Sing, girly!” My granddad laughed from his perch on the living rooms large armchair. Peter picked up his guitar and started to pick a simple melody. Ciara raised an eyebrow and I nodded as I recognised the song. I laughed at the memories of dancing around my granddads living room to this song when I visited all those years ago.
Granddad’s smile when I started to sing practically split his face in two and my older cousin Rainey pushed through the crowd to join me. The song was in Gaelic but I couldn’t remember all the words so I was glad she jumped in and saved me.
“Hó-bha-ín, hó-bha-ín, Hó-bha-ín, mo ghrá,” the party talk died down as the singing got louder as various family members started to join in. We didn’t do soloists here. Once one person started to sing, everyone would eventually join in or be dancing. As much as I wished Jack was here to see this, I was glad he wasn’t. I had this time to myself, to be completely carefree and be silly with my family. Besides, Jack being here would be like when I went to a Christmas party at the Fuentes house. Total overload of a different language. The older generation was gabbling to each other in Gaelic while the younger children were having competitions about who knew more. It would be a total culture shock to him. The Irish were not like the American’s at all.

I pulled my vibrating phone out of my pocket and quickly ran outside when I saw the caller I.D. It didn’t do much, the noise out here was just as bad as inside the house.
“Hey!” I yelled, laughing so Alex could hear me on the other side of the line.
“Shit, Jase.” He giggled. “Where are you?”
“Family gathering.” I practically screamed. “The Irish do it big. Why do you call?” There was a slight scuffling and I could here faint grumbles of annoyance on the other side.
“Well,” Alex chuckled. “He’s trying to… fuck off!... prevent me from saying this. But someone in particular misses you already and wants you to come back.” My breath hitched in my throat. Every inch of me wanted to demand that Alex put Jack on the phone, to let me hear his voice. As much as I was glad of this time away, I missed him. “And by your silence, you agree. Very well.” Alex laughed and I sparked to life as an argument started to occur on the Alex’s end.
“Alex! Don’t she doesn’t…” I shuddered at the sound of Jack’s protests. “Hi, Jasey.”
“Jack.” I beamed. I had missed his voice even though I only left him this morning.
“Uh, it sounds like quite a party.” I laughed and looked around at all the men drinking in the yard. There was a long silence as neither of us quite knew what to say to each other. “Jasey.”
“Yes?”
“Come back.”

Notes

Here is the link to the song. This chapter is pretty much what a family get together of mine ends up like so I ran with that. I hope you're enjoying the break away from all the boy drama.

And Jesus I'm sorry about the wait guys! I didn't realise how behind I was on school work! :/