Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Fiona
The scents of cooking meat and spices hang in the air, making my mouth water and my stomach growl.
With an expression that can only be described as wistful, Mila lights three white taper candles on the kitchen table. “We should have left a few days early and gone to Edinburgh for the Beltane Fire Festival tonight.”
I plant my hands on her shoulders. “Next year. Best I can offer you tonight is a campfire in the backyard. I’m sure we could rig up a maypole to dance around too.”
Mila laughs. “Nobody in the world gets me the way you do, Fiona Murphy.”
“Same.” I kiss her cheek and release her, and she goes to stir the simmering pot on the stove.
During our daily wander around Honeywell this afternoon after lunch at Sweet Escapes, Mila saw a flyer for the upcoming international food festival, and was inspired to make dinner for Mum and me tonight.
I trailed after her around the grocery store while she inspected meat and produce, proposing suggestions, and then dismissing them before I could give my two cents.
“Goulash!” she’d finally declared, and I’d quickly agreed.
She had introduced me to the hearty Hungarian stew when we first moved in together, and it’s always been a favourite among our housemates when she has time to make it.
“Perfect night for comfort food,” she says now. “In another few days, we’ll both be without a fixed address. Who knows when I’ll have a kitchen to cook in again?”
Mila’s words stir up a mixture of nerves and excitement in my belly.
We’re really doing this. We’re quitting our jobs, leaving the place we’ve called home for the last several years, and starting our own business on what my dad would call ‘a hope and a prayer’.
In reality, I know we have more than that—years of combined experience, contacts all over the world, and a hell of a lot of passion and tenacity—but the closer we get to making it happen, the more that annoying little voice of doubt creeps in.
Mila’s phone rings, and she excuses herself to take the call.
I sit at the table, staring absently into the flames of the trio of candles.
It’s been three days since Nathan and I slept together, and he’s been avoiding me.
After returning home early the next morning, all of my texts to him went unanswered until late that night when he messaged to say they’d hit a snag at the B the two of you had countless things in common.
Sometimes it felt like you were this little team of two.
Don’t get me wrong, it never bothered me.
In fact, I loved to see it, and I’ve missed it since you’ve been back home and he’s…
gone. But sometimes I think you forget you’re mine too.
That you’re part of me, and I know you better than anyone. ”
My lungs tighten, and I struggle to draw in air. “Mum, I—”
“Oh, honey.” She drags her chair closer to mine and takes my hand, gripping it tightly in both of hers.
“I don’t mean that in a negative way. Witnessing the special bond you had with Seamus was truly a joy and a blessing for me.
And the fact you’re so much like him will continue to be a blessing.
” She frees one of her hands to brush a stray tear off my cheek.
“Now, tell me about your next adventure.”
“It’s funny you should say that…” After weeks of keeping secrets and letting guilt eat away at me, I spill all the details.
I tell her about what happened with Matt in Paris and how it led to my suspension from On the Go Travels.
Mila gave me permission to share details about what led to her being here, so I fill Mum in on that too, and how we plan to quit our jobs and confront Sanjay in the hopes of getting the non-compete clause dissolved.
She doesn’t seem the least bit surprised when I mention the money Dad left for Mila, or the fact we plan to start our own travel business.
I even tell her about how Nathan and I have grown closer—although I leave out a few choice details—and how torn I am about leaving him again. It’s messy and disjointed, but she nods along as I speak, keeping a firm grip on my hand and squeezing it occasionally.
“Mila booked us flights to London for the fourth,” I tell her. “But I want you to know if you’re not ready for me to leave, I’ll stay.”