Christmas at the Lynch house was a quiet affair. Joey had saved up all of his money to buy his younger siblings good Christmas presents that wasn’t just donations.

He hid them in his wardrobe so their dad couldn’t get to them and destroy them before Christmas morning.

And when Joey told his brothers to check his bedroom for more presents, the glee on their faces was worth every punch Joey took. Every hour he worked to make sure these kids had more than he ever did before.

“Santa’s the best.” Ollie, his younger brother, said excitedly. Waving around his new toy.

“Mind him,” Joey warned. Fucker costed him a half a week’s wages.

“Yeah.” Setting his new hurley down on Joey’s bed, Tadhg walked over to where Joey was standing in the doorway and wrapped his arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. “He really is the best.”