Page 35 of Charlie
“But will they love me or will they think I’m an intrusive Yankee coming to take away their beloved Charles?”
“No, don’t worry about that. If you want, you could come and meet them before you leave.”
“I’d love to.”
I lit up at Liv’s excitement. With my having a tiny family, my new group of friends meant the world to me. And since our lunch yesterday my thoughts had been running crazy with hopes that maybe... just maybe… Liv would turn out to be that special someone my grandmother had always told me was out there for me.
The Cliffs of Moher were rugged Irish nature at its finest. We walked hand in hand like a real couple, and that was a new experience for me. I’d been in sexual relationships in the past, but none of them with the prospect of turning into something serious.
Walking hand in hand with the most gorgeous girl in Ireland made me walk prouder than usual. It was a clear but windy day, and we took pictures of the incredible coastline that went on in both directions for as long as the eye could see.
“How far down is the water?” I leaned forward to look down.
“At least three hundred feet.”
“Do you think people have ended their lives here?”
Liv pulled me back a little. “Yes, I do, and many probably unintentionally because they walked too close to the edge.”
“With this much height, you’d have time to think before you died. How long do you reckon it would take someone to fall three hundred feet?”
“I don’t know, maybe four, five seconds.”
I leaned forward again. “Huh. Imagine how many times you’d say shit, shit, shit, on your way down.”
“Yeah, so let’s not do that.” As Liv pulled me along with her, I spotted a woman selling Celtic jewelry on the path further ahead.
“Come on, let’s see if she has something that can become of sentimental value to you.”
Again, it took Liv forever to decide between the necklaces, but she finally picked a green amulet with a Celtic symbol on it. “This one.”
I paid for it and watched as the local woman adjusted the leather string to fit Liv, while her mixed-breed dog sat next to her and kept an eye on the birds flying above us.
“Thank you, Charles.” Liv rose up on her toes and kissed me. “I’ll treasure it.”
“Good, I figure you can show it to our kids and tell them how I got it for you on our first date.”
We laughed together like it was a joke, but on my part, it was more like a wish for the future.
“There’s something I want to ask you, but I’m not sure how.” Liv bit her lip.
“What do you mean, how? Just use your words. I understand English.”
She was battling with the wind to keep her long hair out of her face. “No, I mean, I don’t want to sound too clingy and you’re already spending all day with me, but it’s just that…”
I lowered my brow wishing I could read her mind or that she would spit it out faster, because I was curious to know what she wanted from me.
“When we get back to Dublin… I mean, we’ll probably be tired tonight, but…”
“But I could come back to your hotel with you.” My wish spilled out when she didn’t finish fast enough, but the way a triangle formed between her eyebrows made me add, “You know, to watch a movie and maybe cuddle. Is that what you wanted to ask me?” God, I hoped she didn’t think I expected her to have sex with me tonight.
“Well, actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to hang out again tomorrow.”
I cleared my throat wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “Sure, what did you have in mind?”
“Why don’t you show me your favorite parts of Dublin?”
“All right.”
