Page 26 of Just Say Yes
‘I feel it, to be honest. I’m sure I just need a rest and I’ll be right as rain.’
‘That’s the spirit.’
‘How long is it until we get there?’
He glanced at the clock on the centre console where the satnav displayed our route.
‘We should be there in about an hour and a half, traffic permitting. It’s not showing any hold-ups en route at the moment but this weather isn’t doing us any favours.’
The storm the pilot had mentioned had the windscreen wipers working double time to keep it free from rain, and every so often Lorcan would correct the steering as the wind whipped the car off course.
‘Is there not an airport closer to the actual village?’
‘Yeah, there’s a few but not all of them have direct flights and it’s not easy to find airlines that let you take your dog on board in Europe.’
‘I suppose he’d have to go cargo?’
‘Yep. And that’s not happening.’
I looked down at the little bundle of fluff now happily curled up in my lap, snoozing contentedly, and understood Lorcan’s view completely.
* * *
When I looked out of the window again, the rain was less ferocious and the sky was darkening into early evening. Bod was now sitting on a small blanket on the back seat, strapped into a seat belt, and Lorcan’s coat had been laid over me like a blanket.
‘Good nap?’
‘Umm… Yeah. Sorry, I never fall asleep in cars.’ I looked down at the coat. ‘Did we stop?’
‘Only briefly. You needed the rest and I didn’t want you to wake up.’
‘Thanks. You should have woken me though.’
‘No need.’
‘Not exactly great company for the drive.’
‘No worries. You weren’t exactly great company on the plane either but…’ He let the words drift off as I gave him a cold and icy glare.
‘It was hardly my fault.’
‘I didn’t say it was. I was just trying to make a joke. Don’t take life so seriously.’
‘I’m sorry. It was just an unpleasant and embarrassing experience.’
‘I didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t take it so personally.’
‘It’s rather hard not to when I was the one throwing up.’
Lorcan didn’t reply. He just let out a sigh, gave a quick glance at the side window before focusing back on the road as we continued the rest of the journey in silence. Maybe I had overreacted but I was embarrassed and I’d been surprised by the feeling of being taken care of – especially by this man I hardly knew. I’d felt warm and comforted and the whole thing had just felt ‘right’ – and that had unnerved me more than anything.
Thankfully it wasn’t long until we were pulling into a small village, the lights of it welcoming after what felt like miles of darkness. After a short distance Lorcan swung the car into the entranceway of a pub, its roof low, as though hunkered down against the harsh Atlantic weather that blew in from the nearby ocean. Yellow-tinged lights spilled from the windows. A couple entered as we got out of the car and the sound of laughter and music poured out momentarily before silence reigned again as the heavy wooden door closed behind them.
‘This is you,’ Lorcan said, scooping Bod up with one hand and opening the door with the other.
‘Are you not staying here too?’ I asked, following him out and heading towards the boot to retrieve my luggage.
‘Nope.’
