Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“And when did that happen?” she demanded.
“Not long ago. I didn’t know I had to check with you,” I laughed.
“Well, good riddance, I say!” said Beverly. “And you can keep your eyes open when you’re in Dublin for a decent girl.”
I turned to Effie, who was trying not to laugh. “It would appear Beverly is insistent that I find a nice wife to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
“What about you?” she asked Effie. “I’m sure you have someone special?”
“It’s complicated,” Effie answered, not willing to share anything else with her, but I knew Beverly well enough to know that this wasn’t going to be enough to satisfy her.
“Well, you either have someone special or you don’t, my dear. It’s as simple as that!” Beverly looked shocked.
“Well, then I don’t,” Effie said, smiling ruefully and then impulsively leaning forward and adding in a low voice, “I had to get rid of him. He thought he was going to tell me what I could and couldn’t do, you know?”
“Ah, better off without one of those.” Beverly nodded, then she patted Effie on her hand and said thoughtfully, “There’s an awful lot of assholes about.”
At this, Olivia choked on her coffee and the kids burst out laughing. Effie laughed along with them, and Beverly remained sincere-looking, shaking her head, and tutting. I looked at Effie and smiled, almost thanking her for accepting Beverly’s forthrightness. Thankfully, the conversation ended there, and everyone decided to rest up for the rest of the flight. I took the chance to get some rest. I hadn’t slept much all weekend and dozed off almost instantly.
When we arrived, everyone was quiet and had that sleepiness that comes after a long flight. Beverly’s family took turns to hug me and then made their way off to where some extended family members – and there were loads – would be picking them up. Effie and I picked up my car and began the drive into Dublin.
“I didn’t know we would be driving,” she said.
“I need a car while we are here,” I explained. “Anyway, I like the freedom.”
“Okay, sure,” she said. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We can check in to the hotel and then I need to head out, but I will be back in time for our dinner with Mick tonight. We need to talk over the plans for the opening tomorrow,” I said, winding down my window to inhale some of the fresh air.
“Where are you going?” she asked, hiding a yawn behind her hand.
“I’m going out into the country, just a bit south of Dublin. I will drop you off to get some sleep. It’s not the longest flight but it does leave you exhausted.”
“I slept on the flight,” she said, stretching like a cat. “I’m just drowsy from sitting so long. That fresh air smells so good.”
“You can come with me if you want to,” I said, and then instantly regretted it. How would I explain who Sarah was?
“I’d love to see some of the countryside while I’m here,” she bit her lip hopefully. “If you don’t mind, that is?”
“Of course not,” I nodded. “I have to visit someone, but there’s a really nice little seaside place nearby where I can leave you for a bit, if you like?”
“That would be great,” she smiled and turned to look out the window. She was somehow more relaxed, more like a real person since we arrived, and I hoped that maybe we were finally going to be able to get along better.
Chapter 21
FREYA
I’D BEEN NERVOUS about the flight, but I didn’t need to be. Instead of trying to make polite small talk with Keegan and not mention what had happened, he had got it all out of the way the minute he stepped on the plane. I was glad we could forget about it. I mean, I wasn’t sure I would forget about it, but I was glad that we agreed that that was the plan. He had introduced me to this lovely family who shared our flight, and as we chatted and laughed and ate together, I was able to relax to the point where I was drifting off to sleep. The weekend of no sleep had caught up with me and I went to the sleeping area, curled up on an insanely comfortable recliner, and went straight to sleep.
Keegan had an errand to run. I didn’t ask about the details but his plan was to drop me at the hotel while he headed out of the city. I desperately wanted to see the Irish countryside, and I decided that if I didn’t ask, I wouldn’t get. And to my surprise, he agreed easily. We bypassed the city and headed south.
“Everything really is so green!” I said as we moved out into the open countryside. “What are those mountains in the distance called?”