What to wear to an Irish pub? Not sure of the dress code in a small village, she pulled on a maxi skirt, boots,and a black scoop-neck top. She topped the outfit off with a statement necklace, left her long hair to curl loosely in beachy waves from the sea salt, and added some mascara to make her eyes pop. This was as good as it would get after a day like today, she thought. Ancient pirates, healers, universal powers, protection prayers, and the addition of new family members was enough to make her want to curl up in bed with her iPad and a bucket of ice cream.
Keelin found Fiona in front of the cottage in a late-model cherry-red SUV. She looked stylish with her hair tamed in a braid, wearing a white blouse tucked into a navy skirt with flowers embroidered at the hem. Silver drops winked at her ears and Keelin could see a necklace of intricate crystals around her neck.
"Come on! Girl's night!" Fiona laughed at her.
Smiling, Keelin hopped in and watched as the sun tucked itself into the horizon. The cliffs turned crimson in the soft light and the cove took on a dreamlike quality. If she painted, Keelin would do it in watercolor and call it "Goodnight Kiss."
"Tell me about my brother and sister," Keelin said. The words felt weird. She had always wished for a sister or brother but had certainly not expected to discover a pair of siblings this late in life.
"Your father was devastated after your mother left but, like most men, he didn't function well on his own. He went looking for someone to fill her place and eventually settled with a quiet young woman from the neighboring village. Your sister and brother were born quite quickly after their wedding and we aren't entirely sure if a full nine monthshad passed, if you get my meaning. Though, I hear that twins come early."
"How old are they?"
"Hmm, let's see, this was two years after your mother left. So I'd say 26 or 27? A couple of years younger than you."
"Where do they live?"
"They are both in the village; your brother helps to run the local chemist in the next town over and your sister has an art studio downtown."
Keelin wondered if it was the storefront with the lace that she had stopped to admire.
"Their names?" Keelin asked quietly.
"Oh my! Yes, of course. Colin and Aislinn. Fine Irish names." Fiona pulled into a small lot behind a brightly colored pub. A cheerful red door complemented the deep blue of the building, and the sound of a pipe lilted through the open door.
"Ahh, the first set is starting," Fiona said.
Keelin noticed the rough-hewn sign with the deeply etched "Gallagher's Pub" that hung over the door. She hoped this was the same pub that the nice girl she had met at the airport owned. She assumed it was. Just how many Gallagher's Pubs could there be in this village?
Keelin walked into the pub and scanned the room. Booths were crammed with families, and people of all ages laughed and jostled each other as they clapped along with the band that was tucked into a small booth in front. The walls were cluttered with family photos, the path was clear to the bar, and the lighting was just right to complement the females of the place. Keelin followed Fiona as shewove her way to the bar, and noticed some people quickly step out of her way and cross themselves. Others greeted Fiona with a shout.
"Two Bulmers, please." Fiona ordered for her. "You'll love the local cider. Crisp and refreshing after a day like today."
Keelin nodded. She preferred whiskey, but a cider did sound refreshing. Her neck tingled. She turned her head and saw the flash of blue eyes that seemed to follow her. Flynn sat in the middle of the booth and strummed a cheerful tune on his banjo, matching his deep baritone to the lilting soprano in the group. His large hands caressed the banjo lovingly and Keelin found herself mesmerized by the way he stroked the instrument. His fingers played lightly across the strings and she imagined his hands on her. Cursing herself, she flushed as his eyes met hers and he cracked a smile. Damn that man. Of course he played an instrument too. Was there anything he couldn't do?
Keelin gulped down half of her cider and followed her grandmother to a small table. Keelin was introduced to a few of the locals. She scanned the room and hoped to see Cait.
"Hello."
Keelin turned and saw a blond man standing by her table. He was tall and lanky and was just saved from boyishness by a stubborn jut to his jaw. His brown eyes were nice, yet his smile didn't fully reach his eyes.
"I'm Shane MacAuliffe. You must be Fiona's granddaughter, Keelin." He held out his hand.
"Yes, hello. Nice to meet you." Keelin held out her hand. Shane held it a beat longer than was polite andKeelin saw healthy male admiration in his eyes. She allowed her smile to deepen. What a perfect distraction this could be from the surly male tucked in the front booth.
"Join us, please." Keelin patted a spot on the bench next to her. She noticed Fiona didn't address Shane, but she was engaged in conversation with people to her right.
"I'd love to, thank you." Shane sat close to Keelin and began to quiz her about the States. He spoke longingly of the freedom of big towns and Keelin wondered if he yearned for more than what Grace's Cove offered to him. His brown eyes took on a sense of anticipation as he hung on Keelin's words about Boston.
On her second round of cider, Keelin laughed at Shane. "Enough about me! Tell me about yourself." Keelin had noticed that not many people in the pub had spoken with Shane, though he had waved at many. Something was off here. A flash of bitterness crossed his face and then his features smoothed.
"I work here in town. I'm in commercial real estate and own many of the business properties downtown. As a landlord, I guess you could say that I’m not the most popular guy in a town that struggles to make rent." He produced a sheepish grin with the statement and looked at her from under his eyebrows.
Keelin was charmed. Her mother would love Shane. Which meant Keelin could never date him. No harm making friends though, she thought. Shane proceeded to point people out around the bar and regale her with local lore. She found herself laughing and enjoying his company. He wasn't such a bad guy. Risking a look, she glanced towards the musicians in the front booth. Thesmug smile gone, Flynn met her eyes directly. Not my problem, she thought. She wanted nothing to do with him. She lifted her chin and looked away.
"Keelin!" Cait waved to her from behind the bar. The band was on break and Keelin excused herself to go say hello to Cait. She looked even more petite behind the bar but managed to keep conversations going as she topped off three glasses of Guinness that waited to settle and poured a whiskey neat.
"How are you settling in?" Cait asked.
