Page 38 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
Beth was being punished. She didn’t know what for but this was no vacation, this was no adventure, this was torture, and if she had to stay another day on this soggy God-forsaken island it would be a hostage situation!
Beth wanted to go home. Ireland had chewed her up and spit her out. There was no romance here. No beauty. She had gone to the cliffs of Moher only to get blown over by the wind into the ever-present mud. She visited a stud farm where a horse stomped on her foot, causing her to fall into a pile of manure. She got lost somewhere in the mountains on what one local called a shortcut with only sheep to turn to for help. And beside the hotel, each place she stayed had a shower smaller than a shoebox, no hot water, no heat, and if she was served smoked salmon one more time, she was going to lose what little sanity she had left!
All in all, Ireland was a shamrock-shaped wad of disappointment and regret.
Her clothes caked in manure would need to be placed in a plastic bag because heaven forbid there be a laundromat! She furiously wadded up her clothes and shoved them into her suitcase directly on top of her favorite book. If her book got dirty, oh well! All the stories about the “breathtaking” landscape, the “kindness of the Irish,” the “magic that danced on the air.” Aidan, Kate, whoever he was, made it all up! If he was with her right now, she just might slap him!
With that thought she slammed the lid and locked it shut.
She didn’t know how far away the airport was but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t spending another night here.
Beth heaved her suitcase down two flights of stairs, dragged it through the rain, then threw it into the trunk of the car after almost shoving some innocent bystander off the sidewalk. Hopefully it was the B&B owner. As she got into her car he called something out to her, she didn’t know what, she didn’t care. She’d paid her bill and left her room spotless.
Beth was outta there—as soon as she got out of the passenger seat and into the driver’s.
She dialed Lauren before pulling out of the driveway. “I’m coming home!”
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No! I’m wet, and I’m hungry, and I’m cold, and I’m filthy, and I want to come home!”
Lauren was expecting this call, but that didn’t make it any easier. She had been so sure it would be a life-changing trip for Beth. “Head for the airport and I will book you on the first flight home.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Is it still raining?”
Beth held the phone to her smoking ear and watched the windshield wipers swish back and forth. “Yep. It’s still raining,” she said flatly. When Lauren didn’t reply, Beth said her name to get her attention but still no answer came. In fact, no sound was heard through the line. Beth called out Lauren’s name again then looked at her phone. No service.
Terrific.
Beth placed her phone on the passenger seat and sat back staring out the wet windshield. In front of her was a flower garden littered with petals on the ground. Even the flowers had had enough.
Since her phone no longer had service and she did not know where she was, Beth opened the glove compartment of the car and cheered when she found a map. When God closes a door, he opens a window.
She was on the road for only a short while before being redirected because of a flooded road. Even the country had had enough rain. She followed the signs which unfortunately led her onto a rough and narrow road. She had driven other roads just like this and she was perfectly fine, so to speak.
As her car bumbled down the road, splashing enormous waves of muddy water over the roof of the car while tossing her from side to side, everything was perfectly fine.
And it was perfectly fine when the detour took her left, then right, then left, leading her deeper and deeper into the countryside.
Then, she nearly crashed into another car head on.
Frozen, she gulped and clutched the wheel as she stood on the brakes.
She waited, hoping beyond hope the blue car staring at her would graciously back up.
It didn’t.
It’s fine. Perfectly fine.
She sat up in her seat, nodded her head, and waved her hand signaling she would reverse.
She put the car in reverse, and wished to God she had rear windshield wipers. Had it actually started raining harder?
Beth closed her eyes and prayed hard that she not hit anything then cautiously backed up. There had been a pull-off somewhere, she thought, but with all the rain she couldn’t tell.
She watched and finally spotted it. See? It’s fine!
