Page 88 of An Irish Summer

“You know, the usual, there. Roast potatoes, turnips, and the like. It’s beef this time. Hope you aren’t a vegetarian, Chelsea.”

“Nope.” Even if I was, I’d have lied just to be agreeable.

“Grand,” she said. “Coll, fix us some drinks, will you? I reckon we don’t need to bother with a tea. Might as well get right to the good stuff.”

Aileen was my kind of girl, after all. Nobody objected, so I figured we needed something to take the edge off. As Collin poured gin and tonics, we gathered around a small fireplaceon sunken sofas and floor cushions while Aileen finished cooking.

Cormac hadn’t said much since we arrived, but I could tell he was listening from the armchair in the corner. Niamh, on the other hand, was as intense as Collin had described.

“So, Chelsea, what is it that brought you to Galway?” She looked up from swirling her cocktail and locked eyes with me, taking a long, slow sip. I told her my story, trying to make it sound more like an adventure and less like a last resort.

“So you ran away,” she said when I finished.

“Niamh,” Collin said, his voice sterner than I’d heard it before.

“What? That’s how it sounds, isn’t it? Besides, there’s nothing wrong with running away. Collin did the same thing years ago, didn’t you, Coll?”

“I hardly ran away,” Collin said, changing his position twice on the couch. “I took a job I was good at and made a life for myself. Shame on me if I didn’t want to stay in this village forever.”

“Reckon you’re too good for this village, then, do ya?” she asked.

“That’s enough, Niamh,” Cormac said from his chair, looking up only to make eye contact with his daughter.

“Da’s right,” Collin said. “We’ve had this bloody conversation a million times, so we won’t be doing it again.” He looked at me and I tried to unclench my jaw so he wouldn’t notice how tense I felt, but it wouldn’t budge. And by the looks of him, neither would his. “Besides,” he added, “it isn’t running away if you plan on going back.”

“I know you aren’t talking about yourself, there,” Niamh said, and Collin nodded, tight-lipped. “Where’s home then, Chelsea?”

“Boston.”

“And what’s waiting for ya back there in Boston?”

That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? I hesitated, unable to put together a semblance of an answer quick enough to appear engaged in this rapid-fire conversation.

“Her real life,” Collin said, sarcastic emphasis on the wordreal. “The one with the job and the friends and family and that.”

“And you didn’t find that here?” Niamh asked. “I mean, you’ve been here, what? Since the start of summer? That’s proper long enough, isn’t it?”

I tried to laugh, but it came out forced and dry.

“It’s been plenty long, actually. I’ve met some incredible people this summer.” I nudged Collin with my knee, but he didn’t move a muscle. My palms started to sweat, and I tried to regain my composure. “The plan was always just for this move to be a summer thing. It was never supposed to be full-time. And I like sticking to a plan. I’m not good with big life changes.” I knew I was probably saying too much, but I was too nervous to stop myself.

“Moving to Ireland must have been a big life change though, was it not?”

“God, Niamh, must you ask so many questions?” Collin asked. “It’s only a Sunday roast, like. It’s not an interrogation.”

“Forgive me, but it’s the first time you’ve brought a girl home in—well—ever, so I’m sorry, but I’d like to get to know her.”

He’d never brought anyone home before?

“Maybe there’s a reason for that,” he said. “And most people get to know people by asking about their hobbies or their interests or other normal things. Not their big life plans.”

“I’m not most people.”

Based on the way they were scowling at each other, if I didn’tknow Collin was years older, I’d have thought they were twins. I tried to focus on the similarities in their faces, their sharp jaws and faded freckles, so I wouldn’t have to focus on how uncomfortable I was feeling.

“I could use a hand in here if anyone’s got a minute,” Aileen called from the kitchen.

“Coming!” I shouted, jumping up from the couch a bit too quickly.

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