Page 28 of Since We're Here
“Why do I feel like you’re having a secret conversation with me?”
She shrugs. “It’s my goal in life to get Patrick to date someone again. He’s done so much for everyone else but hasn’t had a girlfriend in years. So many years.”
“I’m not sure what to do with that information.” I swallow. “But I’m not looking to date anyone.” Patrick’s sister is oversharing, and I kind of love it.
“Of course, of course.” She nods, but I have a feeling she’s not interested in my protests. “Anyway, you’ll not have a problem planning your road trip. There is so much to see.”
“Patrick’s coming on the road trip as well, and he’s supposed to help me plan.”
“Is he being helpful?”
I blink and press my lips together. She laughs.
“Didn’t think so.”
“I’m trying to make the itinerary unique. What’s a weird or quirky thing to do in Dingle?”
“Hmm.” She appears to think, tapping her lip with her pointer finger. “Ah. Along Slea Head Drive, there are these tiny stone houses called beehive huts. Apparently, hermit monks used to live in them when they were built over fourteen hundred years ago.”
“Wow.”
“Are you a Star Wars fan?”
“Nope.”
She chuckles. “Well, if you were, you’d recognize them from the movies.”
“That’s definitely going on the itinerary. Anything else? Doesn’t have to be Dingle.”
“Got it.” Saoirse holds up a finger. “It’s a little dark, but there’s a giant hole in the ground up in Donegal at St Patrick’s Purgatory. It’s supposed to be a gateway to hell.”
I stare at her with wide eyes. “Well. Okay. That’s definitely unique. And super creepy.” I pull out my phone and make a note of both of those ideas, right below Patrick’s suggestion of the bench-eating tree in Dublin.
I like this woman.
“How’s it going out here?” Patrick’s voice booms from the hallway. “Oh, Jaysus. You lot are here.”
“Uncle Patrick!” Niamh jumps up from her chair and sprints across the room, throwing herself at her uncle. He easily lifts her up in the air and spins her in a circle before setting her gently back down.
“Hello, love.” Warmth infuses his voice, and his face relaxes in a way I’ve not seen before.
“Did I leave Margaret at your cottage last weekend?” The little girl looks up at him, eyes wide and worried.
“As a matter of fact, you did. And I brought her here. Run back to the office and fetch her.”
“Hooray!” Niamh dashes down the hallway.
“Saoirse.” Patrick nods at his sister. “Hello, Erin,” he calls, and his other niece waves without looking up from the screen.
“So I heard you need to help this woman plan a road trip? Sounds right up your alley.”
Patrick groans. “Shouldn’t the girls be at school? And you be at the hotel working?”
“No school for some reason and I’m off today. Thought we’d swing by and meet your new manager. She’s delightful. You didn’t mention that in your text.”
“Why do people keep calling her that?”
I choke back a laugh, and Patrick gives me a glare. I roll my eyes in response.
