Page 5 of Destined Lovers

He nods in agreement, and I walk off to say goodbye to my family.

“Leaving already?” an annoyed voice says behind me.

I turn to see my ma, with a clenched jaw, waiting for a response. I’m not one for confrontation, and I don’t need her trying to guilt-trip me when I ran the show the whole night. My parents were too occupied with the press and their colleagues from Trinity College that they barely even spoke to the most important people here.The families we help.

“Aye, it was a beautiful night, Ma. We made more than we ever thought possible.”

“Not the point, Declan. We have guests that haven’t left yet, and it would be rude to leave.”

“My guests, the ones that donated the most generous amounts, are outside waiting for me, and I saw Maeve head off with her nurse for the night. So, I think it’s my time to head out as well. Tonight was successful, and I think that’s what’s most important.” I kiss her goodbye and don’t listen as she calls my name to come back.

My parents love Maeve and me. They truly do. It doesn’t change that they often live in an alternate universe where they think they are superior and above others because of their IQ.

It’s appalling and highly embarrassing, so instead of sticking around to say goodbye to their stuck-up friends, I head toward my chosen family—the friends waiting outside for me.

* * *

The pub is a bit of a drive from my parent’s house. It’s in Ballyclare, a town I’ve never been to, but it’s close to where my friends rented an actual castle for the night.

Leave it to Wills to rent the most prominent place in the area.

Even though it’s not the longest drive, it’s still enough time to sit back and replay what Maeve said, finally. I can tell by how upset she got that she wasn’t lying. But I just can’t believe Nora is here in Ireland after all this time looking for her. She’s right under my nose.

Years ago, the plan was that my girlfriend, Nora, would move back here from America when she graduated.

Since she had just turned eighteen, it worked out perfectly. She was accepted to her university of choice, in London, where I played rugby, so it was all set. Her flight was booked, the details were settled, and her parents were on board. Everything was going according to plan, until a few days before her flight, she stopped answering me.

I thought maybe she got scared. Perhaps she got cold feet.

But when her parent’s phones were disconnected, and I couldn’t get through on her phone soon after, I started to panic. I called the police in the states to see if they could check the house. But they weren’t much help.

Taking matters into my own hands without any hesitation, I jumped on a plane and made it to their house in Connecticut, only to see a for sale sign with no sign of Nora or her parents.

Since then, I’ve not seen or heard from Nora.

That doesn’t mean I have stopped looking for her. Because trust me, I haven’t.

For ten long years.

Why am I still trying to find the girl who left me without a single word? I honestly don’t know, I’m an eejit, perhaps. But, something has always told me to keep looking. And since I’ve already spent a decade searching, I can’t give up now, especially if there could be a chance that she is right here in Ireland.

“Hey, you okay?” Sadie whispers, so no one else can hear as she puts on her seat belt.

I turn to see her concerned expression. I must have been really lost in thought since I hadn’t even seen her change seats to sit next to me.

“What was up with that look you were giving me before?” She asks when I don’t answer.

I glance behind me, where Wills is on the phone, checking on Charlie, Sadie’s daughter, and know he will be distracted enough not to listen.

“My sister said she saw Nora… here in Ireland.”

Her eyes widen in shock, and she gapes her mouth open and shut a few times in surprise.

Aye, Sadie, I don’t know what to say either.

Believe it or not, she is the only other person who knows about Nora. I’ve never confided in any of my friends; I never thought they would understand.

Maeve, of course, knows because she knew Nora personally. What she doesn’t know is that I’ve spent millions trying to find Nora throughout the years.

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