Page 108 of Chaos Theory
‘Now!’ I call.
Shane turns the key to ignite the tractor engine. It gives a low roar, then immediately conks out. He looks at me.
‘Again!’ I say confidently, then whisper under my breath, ‘Please work, please work, please work.’
The engine sparks to life, then settles into a low hum. I reach into the cockpit and push a sequence of buttons. The tractor headlights come on full beam, then dip. Both side mirrors flap forward, then back. Then we hear it. The voice is mechanical but familiar.
‘Hello, how can I help you today?’
There’s a lump in my throat, water in my eyes. ‘Kobi, is that you?’
‘Hello, Maeve. Yes, it is I, Kobi.’
Lizzie starts jumping up and down. ‘Robot! Robot!’ she chants.
Josh punches the air. ‘Yes!’
Shane slaps the steering wheel twice, jumps down from the tractor and scoops me up in his arms. He twirls me around the barn.
‘I told you you’re amazing!’
I laugh. ‘Let me go!’
‘Never,’ he says.
He stops twirling to remove a strand of straw from my hair. I put my hand on his face and look up into his eyes, smiling. His lips meet mine. I feel like I’m still spinning, but in a good way. I want to be on this merry-go-round.
‘Maeve, if I might interrupt, I have a number of questions,’ comes Kobi’s voice from the tractor.
‘Of course,’ I say. ‘I love questions. Also – there’s some people here I’d like you to meet.’
SIXTY-ONE
7:30pm
‘So this is what a honeymoon suite looks like.’
I take in the four-poster bed, the free-standing claw-foot tub, the gauzy drapes on the bay window of The Matchmaker Hotel, Lisdoonvarna. This is where we were supposed to stay on the last night of our road trip to Clare, before Kobi decided to sacrifice himself for Lizzie. It was only two weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime.
Over an early dinner with the Farmers, we celebrated Kobi’s reawakening with cautious optimism. His initial responses look good, but it’s too soon to tell if his new form will work out the way we hope. We agreed that we should stay close tonight and check on Kobi in the morning. Josh is staying at the Farmers’ guesthouse, but Shane wanted to bring me here, and I let him.
He goes over to the window. It’s dark outside so there’s not much to see, but I know the Burren is out there, quietly persisting through the ages.
‘I hope you don’t think the hotel is too much,’ he says with his back to me. ‘The management were disappointed we never got tostay here. And to be honest’ – he turns around to face me – ‘so was I.’
I go to him. He pulls me in and I fold myself into him. I look up into his eyes and smile.
‘I’m so tired,’ I say with a laugh.
His lips meet mine. I melt further into him.
‘Wait,’ I say. I pull back a little. ‘There’s something I keep meaning to ask. Were you and Sandra ever… Did you and Sandra… What do you think of Sandra Smith?’
He smiles down at me, still holding me in an embrace. ‘Sandra is a very capable member of the Social Committee.’
I laugh, happy with the answer.
He releases me from his arms. ‘Oh, I nearly forgot. I got you something. Hang on.’
