Page 2 of Since We're Here
Pausing before a bend in the road, I roll my neck. I need a bed, or a drink, or a massage. Ideally all three. But as miserable as the weather is, Dingle has a small-town charm, with colorful storefronts, narrow cobblestone streets, and well-kept signs. If I was wearing pants, maybe I’d be enjoying myself. Or if a feeling akin to regret for making the choice to come to Ireland wasn’t gripping my insides.
Spontaneousis the nice word for it.Impulsiveis the negative one.
A scattering of people wanders up and down the street. It’s a Friday night, after all.
My phone finally vibrates in my hand.
Noreen
I’m here, just outside the pub. Flat is next door. Follow the sound of music!
Thank god. I turn the corner and she’s about ten doors down, waiting under a red, well-lit awning with upbeat Irish music drifting onto the sidewalk from inside.
She walks a few steps toward me, and within a minute I’ve stopped in front of a broadly smiling woman who is probably around my age, so early thirties. She’s got her curly brown hair in a messy bun and is dressed in warm-looking jeans, a v-neck sweater, an unzipped lined jacket, and a wool hat clutched in her hand. She looks worlds warmer than me.
“You must be Madison.”
I nod. “Maddie, please.”
“I’m Noreen. Lord almighty, you must be freezing!” She looks me up and down, her eyes lingering on my bare knees showing between knee-high black boots and the hem of my dress.
“I’m okay. I’m happy to finally be here.” I shrug and smile. So what if I can’t feel my thighs?
Even frigid and wet, this remote Irish town is the perfect place for me to hide out and get my shit together. During this little life interlude, I’ll show my sisters that I can plan an epic road trip. Then I’ll go home and start over.
“The flat is right here.” Noreen gestures next door to the pub entrance.
The Irish skies open and dump buckets of cold rain on us. I groan and a violent shiver shakes my body. Noreen pulls her hood up and waves for me to follow her.
“Jaysus. Let’s get inside the flat and warm up.” She unlocks the door that opens to a small entry area, just big enough for a bike, leading to a steep set of stairs. Noreen doesn’t hesitate before trotting up in her sensible lined boots, and I struggle to follow, dragging my suitcase behind me.
There’s another door at the top of the stairway. Noreen unlocks it with a different key and pushes it open to a dark room, which illuminates when she flicks a switch.
“You’re the first tenant since the owner moved out. It’s a wonderful flat. Two bedrooms, although one is quite tiny. Just store your suitcase there. I made up the bigger room for you.”
I slowly spin around the flat. It’s warm and cozy.
“There’s another locked entrance over there.” Noreen gestures to a door off the living room. A wooden carving in the shape of Ireland is on the wall next to it. “That door goes to the pub, but it’s locked. Just use the main entrance.”
I nod.
Could I have just kept the airline credit when I canceled my flight to Saint Lucia? Yup, sure could’ve. But I was desperateto get out of New Jersey. Out of my sister’s house. Away from reminders of my bad decision-making. Planning the Irish road trip will be far easier to do while in Ireland. I’m gonna make it special, not just use some cut-and-paste itinerary.
But I need more than a quick break. More than to plan a road trip. I need to reprogram myself. Learn from all my failures.
Impulsively flying to Ireland is just like me—the old me. I didn’t tell Reese that it ended with my ex, Blue. She tried so hard to convince me that what happened with him in Saint Lucia was a holiday fling and that I should move on. We had literal screaming matches about it.
She was right.
I’ve been disappointing Reese since I was twelve years old. Another item for the list: dropping out of my hospitality program before coming to Ireland. I only started it because Aunt Evelyn told me in the bucket list to go change my life, and that’s what I came up with. Getting away from restaurants and into something else.
But turns out, I hated the program.
Stella, my other sister, wouldn’t be as judgmental about it... but she is so successful and bold and confident, I feel like a meek little mouse compared to her.
“What are you up to in town this month?” Noreen tilts her head.
“Oh, ah...” I consider what to admit. Because telling her I’m here to find the random Irish guy who’s supposed to be helping me plan a road trip sounds unhinged.
