Chapter 4
Five hours later, we were on a plane and making our way to Ireland.
“So, how much do you remember about the house in Ireland?” Charlotte asked me.
“I remember it being big—the house, the property, all of it. The kitchen had a big worktable in the center of it. The foyer had a huge staircase centered in the entry hall, dominating the space. Each bedroom has its own fireplace and wooden floors. My favorite part of the house, without a second thought, was the solarium—the giant room off the dining room, made entirely of windows. It was filled with lush green plants, some flowering and some not. There was a reading couch, and a small table and chairs that we used to eat breakfast in the mornings. A worktable in the corner for maintaining the foliage was always covered with terra-cotta pots and a garden trowel or two. The grounds were expansive, with a fountain in the back and a long gravel driveway in the front with a gate at the road. The entire property was surrounded by thick forest, and on cool mornings there was always a dense, low-lying fog from the lake that was only a small distance away.”
As I was talking, I could see the smile on her face growing. “I just wanted to know if you recall it the same way I do. I wasn’t imagining how beautiful it is there.” The excitement was evident in her tone.
“I absolutely remember it being beautiful beyond measure. When we were little, it just seemed magical there—like all of the fairy tales we heard.”
We spent the rest of the plane ride napping and talking about the memories that we shared—some about Ireland and some about other places that we had visited over the years with our grandfather.
He loved to travel and see new places, learn new things about different cultures, and of course listen to any folklore that he would get the locals to share with him.
The plane ride seemed like it took forever.
When we finally landed, our excitement was threatening to bubble over.
We gathered our things and filed off the plane with the other travelers.
Obtaining our luggage from the baggage claim, we made our way through the airport toward the exit.
As we neared the door, there were a few people waiting for colleagues or loved ones.
I scanned over the crowd of faces and the signs a few of them were holding.
Charlotte grabbed my arm and pointed to a man in the crowd.
“There he is.”
Ronan was standing there with his great smile, his flaming red hair and full beard.
His broadness was apparent even beneath his jacket and layers of clothing.
He had a rugged look, and his imposing size and deep voice were just the icing on the cake.
My stomach was currently doing flips. Lord, I am going to need some assistance with this one.
He opened his arms wide, and I walked right into them. “Joslyn, Charlotte. I hope yer flight went well,” he said as he released me.
“It did, thank you,” I responded.
“Follow me—I ’ave de car waiting.”
Ronan took our large suitcases, carrying one in each hand, and led us outside.
We reached the waiting vehicle, and I climbed into the backseat, putting my carry-on onto the seat next to me.
Charlotte gave me a confused look and handed me her bag.
I placed it on the floor behind her seat.
She positioned herself in the passenger seat and shut the door.
Ronan slid behind the wheel after putting our suitcases into the trunk.
He adjusted the rearview mirror; whether it was on purpose or not, we were now able to make eye contact in the mirror.
He chauffeured us around the city and out into the countryside, occasionally glancing at me. I would blush and look back from under my lashes. As he drove, he shared his wealth of knowledge about the surrounding area. Ronan was born and bred here; he had lived here his whole life.
He showed us where he shopped, drank, ate—along with other places that he frequented.
I remembered some and others, not so much.
Through the countryside, he would point out an old trail he and his friends took to explore near a local lake, forest, and pond that they used to swim in.
He knew full well that I had explored those areas with him and swam in that pond.
The look he was casting in my direction let me know that he knew what he was doing.
He was making me remember. Is it possible he had thought about me over the last twelve years?
Maybe he did think of me differently than I thought.
If so, he never mentioned it. I guess I had never given him the chance.
We reached the driveway, and Ronan turned in. We traveled down the gravel path leading to the majestic manor that lay ahead just out of view behind a row of trees. A low stone wall bordered the drive on each side, adding a rustic charm. It came into view and I heard Charlotte let out a small gasp.
It was a very old manor that looked as though the outside had been kept all original since it was built. The upkeep of the house was meticulous. A perfectly kept garden in the rear could be seen as Ronan followed the winding path that led to the front door.
A substantial horse stable sat to the far right of the property. The entire estate was steeped in history that began many years before either of us were brought into this world. No question that the house would continue to stand for long after we were gone.
Once the bags were unloaded from the car, Charlotte pulled out the keys and unlocked the front door.
We entered into the main hall, and it was just as I remembered: the large wooden staircase that dominated the center of the room with passages on each side that led to the rear rooms on the first floor.
The walls were decorated with elaborate wallpaper.
The bottom of the walls were covered in wood moldings.
The floors were all hardwood and kept in pristine condition.
Heavy ornate runners ran down each hallway and the stairs, with a large matching rug at the foot of the stairs.
Green and gold were the dominant colors in this room.
The house had a presence and felt old and powerful, while also being flawless and stunning.
The dining room was to the right through an archway. A large antique dining table and chairs were the centerpiece here. There was a china cabinet set against the wall on the right-hand side of the archway. On the far side of the room was a set of glass doors that opened out into the solarium.
The solarium—a huge greenhouse that had ceilings two stories tall—and the design that the panes of glass created were eye-catching.
To my surprise, the plants were still just as lush as I remembered.
Thick foliage hung from everywhere, and the same couch still sat in the corner of the room.
I used to spend rainy afternoons on that couch reading horror novels that gave me nightmares at bedtime.
I inhaled deeply; the earthy aroma from the pots of soil and the scent of lilies and roses spoke to my soul.
My body relaxed and longed for that rain now.
“I had groceries delivered, de heat turned on, and wood brought into de rooms for de fireplaces. De ’ousekeeper came today and changed de bedding, dusted, and vacuumed,” Ronan said, entering the room behind me.
“If ye need anything, ye ’ave my number.
If ye would like, we can go into town on Monday morning so ye can get into ye safety deposit box. ”
“Sounds good to me. Hey, I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner tomorrow? Maybe share some stories about my grandfather, catch up a little.”
“Yes, I would. Sounds like a good time.”
“Okay, we will see you tomorrow then. Let’s say seven o’clock.” I wasn’t surprised at his immediate acceptance of my invitation.
“Okay, I will see ye tomorrow evening.” He pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek.
I walked him to the door, and on the way out, he bid Charlotte goodbye.
Then he was out the door. My wheels started turning immediately.
What was I going to make for dinner? Charlotte closed the gap between us as soon as the front door shut.
“Dinner, huh? I saw you blushing at the airport too,” she quipped.
I slapped her arm as she began laughing way too hard at my expense. I gathered my bags and headed in the direction of my room to unpack. I wasn’t sure how long we were going to be here, but I was positive it would be at least a few days; I had no desire to live out of a suitcase.
After I finished putting my clothes away and unloading my toiletries, I made my way downstairs to take inventory of the groceries Ronan said were in the kitchen.
I pulled out butter and cheese, then grabbed some pasta from the pantry. We needed to get some food, and I didn’t feel like spending the rest of the evening cooking. Something simple would have to do. I set to work making dinner for my cousin and myself.
We finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen.
I began taking stock of the food inside the fridge and cupboards, looking for something to spark my inner chef.
I needed to formulate a plan on what I would be preparing for dinner tomorrow.
Some quality cuts of steak caught my eye, along with fresh, ripe ingredients to make a salad.
I remembered seeing some large baking potatoes in the bin by the fridge.
Most men seemed to enjoy meat and potatoes—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
After I had worked out tomorrow’s meal plan, I got my jacket and shouted from the door, hoping Charlotte would hear me.
“I’m going for a walk.”