“I have something I need to tell you, Kev,” Mac said as he handed a bottle of beer to Kevin.

“That sounds sort of ominous.”

“Actually, I’m choosing to look at it as good news. It seems I have another daughter.”

“What?” Kevin’s gaze shifted from Mac to Frank, who nodded.

Mac proceeded to tell him about Mallory and her mother, Diana, and how he’d found out about Mallory’s existence.

“Oh my God,” Kevin said. “How incredibly shocking. How are you feeling about it?”

“Don’t shrink me, Kev,” Mac said with a wink and a smile. His older brothers hated when he acted like a psychiatrist around them. Little did they know he could use a shrink of his own at the moment.

“I didn’t mean to.”

“I’m joking,” Mac said. “It was shocking, at first, but I’m settling into the idea of another daughter.”

“How are the kids taking it?” Kevin asked.

“Pretty well, all things considered. They know me well enough to understand that I’m not going to let her walk away and pretend like I don’t know she exists. That’s just not who I am.”

“No, it isn’t. Good for you. It’s the right thing to do.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting my new niece.”

“She’ll be back in the next few weeks for a weekend. Maybe you can join us.”

“I was actually planning to stick around for a while. I’m taking a little time off from work.”

“Is everything okay, Kev?” Frank asked.

“It could be better.”

“Are you going to tell us where Deb is?” Mac asked.

“I don’t know where Deb is. She’s left me for a younger guy, of all things.”

“She left you,” Mac said. “When did this happen?”

“Couple of weeks ago.”

“And you’re just telling us this now?” Frank asked.

“It’s not something I really want to talk about, so I’m sorry I didn’t call you to tell you my wife left me.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Frank said, “and you know it. We’d want to be there for you, the way you’re always there for us.”

“I know,” Kevin said with a sigh. He felt bad for snapping at Frank, because he knew his brothers would be concerned. “I’m all right. At least I will be. Eventually. If I’m being entirely truthful, this has been coming for a while now. I’ve known she was unhappy. I just didn’t expect her to actually leave.”

“I’m really sorry, Kev,” Mac said. “How are the boys taking it?”

“We haven’t told them yet. They think she’s sick and sitting this one out.”

“You have to tell them before they hear it from someone else,” Frank said.