James continues to fascinate me. Each day after his hours at the office are up, his true spirit emerges like a butterfly from its cocoon. He roars up to the house in his battered jeep, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, now stained with dirt and grease from his labour – his baseball cap shading his face from the sun. His new vocation is to build door frames, pull weeds, plant seeds and fix leaks.
It’s incredible how quickly everyone has grown attached to each other; forming an unlikely bond in such a short space of time. We’re all just trying our best to make our little piece of the worldbetter – one small act at a time.
As I stepped into The Lake House that first day, I was overwhelmed by the memories and belongings of many decades past. It’s my mission to make sure every inch of the property is cleared out, leaving no stone unturned. I started with the living room, sorting through all the furniture and other items, finding myself occasionally pausing to take in some of the stories that must’ve been hidden between them.
Kayla came up with a system for me – anything that could be used again had to be sorted into three categories: Save, Recycle or Donate. With Jacinta and Fintan’s help after their shops close, we work diligently late into the night to ensure everything gets put in its rightful place. Once the living room had been sorted through, it was time to move on to bigger projects – like the bedrooms and kitchen. The task of clearing out these areas seemed daunting at first, but as more and more volunteers joined us – led by Dom – we’ve managed to make good progress. And around me as I’ve emptied old chests, walls have been painted, tiles laid down and cupboards installed – transforming each area bit by bit until there’s little left to do but admire our hard work.
Finally, it came time to tackle the study – a dark corner situated at one end of the house which hadn’t been touched in years. We cleared out old files and papers in record time before moving on to bookshelves full of forgotten books and trinkets, which would eventually find their way onto charity-shop shelves or be donated directly to those who needed them most. We also found Mick’s old guitar, which he’d used when he was younger; it brought a tear to everyone’s eye as they remembered his love for music. We decided that it should be given to GraceMcDonagh, who was forging her music career and bringing such joy to so many at The Tap House. When we told her the news, she was overwhelmed and couldn’t believe we still had it after all these years. She thanked us all and proudly carried the guitar away with her.
With all the rooms cleared out, it was time to turn our attention outdoors; James had come up with a plan to clear out the garden and repurpose some of the materials found there. We set off in search of items that could be reused, collecting old wood, bricks, stones and metal to create new structures within the grounds. Everyone(especially Finn and Liam) grew excited as they began to envision what this space could become – a place for people young and old to relax in or even host events.
The work took a little longer than expected, but eventually we settled on a design we were happy with – an outdoor cinema with some seating areas and a wooden deck for people to enjoy barbecues or picnics on sunny days.This way, we figured it gave the best chance for sale to people that may want to set up a B&B or grow their own or give back to the community in some way. Of course, we can’t control the sale, but we all felt pleased with what we’d created and were confident it could be the deciding factor for someone out there. We worked tirelessly all day, and into the night, until finally our hard work paid off – The Lake House now had something truly special that would last for many years to come.
It feels an eternity since I first stepped foot into The Lake House; yet I also feel as if I’ve been part of something everlasting – a project which will help others find peace in themselves and their surroundings, no matter how old they are. I consider my newly formed family, and I know without a doubt that each person here has made an impact which will reach far beyond these walls.
As I look around the kitchen, and dining and living rooms, I can see such a dramatic difference: how the new paint glistens and the wooden floorboards shine. In just a couple of weeks, the house has transformed before my eyes. The place breathes a little easier now that the rooms are opened, as if they’ve awakened from a long, deep slumber. The Lake House officially looks like a home worthy of living in once again – something I couldn’t have imagined at first. It’s come back to life; rooms are filled with laughter, conversations and an occasional bout of spirited debate.
As we work together towards a common goal, I can’t help but feel that something special is being created here – more than just a beautifully restored house by a lake; a sense of hope. I take a deep breath, letting the peace of the place envelop me.
Dom, seemingly attuned to my thoughts, remarks with a half-smile, ‘This place is special, that’s for sure – perfect spot by the lake.’ He leads me over to the pier and inspects the gaps in the wood, the rusty nails sticking out. ‘It’s not safe just yet,’ he says, ‘but it won’t take much.’ He hands me a hammer and screws, and I busily start to work while he looks around for more tools.
We spend the rest of the day fixing up the pier and shoreline; mending broken boards, painting over rusty rails, adding planks here and there. As we work, I take in all that this place has to offer – lush greenery, birds singing in nearby trees, rabbits darting across our path. The peace of The Lake House is palpable; worries slip away with each passing moment.
At sundown, we sit on a bench overlooking the lake. Dom lights a cigarette as we watch the stars appear one by one in the night sky. Neither of us speaks for what feels like hours, but it’s comfortable – like an old friend, you don’t need to talk all the time to stay connected.
Finally, Dom breaks the silence. ‘You know, Daisy… you may want to make this your permanent home,’ he says with a small smile before standing up and wandering back inside.
I’m left alone on the bench watching him go. Reality check is that London’s calling. Ash is waiting, the deadline is looming and funds are low.
But his words linger, as if he knows something I don’t.
CHAPTER 29
THE ART
Each night, as the star-strewn sky lulls me into a peaceful slumber, I find myself half-asleep on my makeshift bed of blankets and pillows on the porch.I’m still staying at the guest house, but once everyone else has left for the day, I love to steal these gorgeous hours to myself to work on theForest Fablesartwork. And whether it’s the solitude or the silence or the amazing star-scape, I find myself sketching, painting and drawing the day’s discoveries with Fintan’s art set. My hand reaches for it unconsciously in the dim light, the charcoal pencil gliding across the paper as if it has a mind of its own. Scenes from the day – mouldered stone walls crested with briars, stone circles covered in lichen, majestic stands of forest with paths disappearing into their depths – feel as if they’re sketched onto the drawing pad by an unseen hand.
My creativity is flourishing, and new ideas race through my mind, as if life and art are merged; as if they are one with nature itself – dual spirits blended with each stroke of paint or dab of clay or smidgeon of charcoal on canvas. A paw print in the sand; the tread marks of red deer hooves in the wet earth; the detail of a fern frond; the big, adoring eyes of Dom’s dogs as he scratches them under their chins; the formation of birdsin flight; the amazing sunsets and sunrises over dew-drenched fields; skies that mirror such changing moods on the glittering lake; the wild beauty, grandeur and majesty of Ireland. In that half-awake state, part-dreaming and part-sketching, I see things that make my head spin. So much so that I can hardly work fast enough.
Despite the excitement, the weight of sadness settles in my chest. Everything that’s unfolding, that’s sweeping me up in this beautiful fairy tale, is only temporary… my time here in Innisfree is limited. Sometime in the next few weeks, I’ll be saying goodbye to this house, its people and everything that’s lifted my spirit. Soon, I’ll return to London where the hustle and bustle awaits. The idyllic landscape, the sparkling waters of the lake and the laughter that echoes through this house will slowly drift away like the tendrils of a fading dream. And I’ll be back at my desk, in a gated estate somewhere, without birdsong or fresh air or a chance of catching an eyeful of the sun painting orange and pink hues on the sky, feeling close enough to reach out and touch.
Ash’s texts bombard my inbox multiple times a day reminding me of the need to start looking at potential properties in London. The sale of The Lake House will allow us to invest in the fast-paced real estate market. ‘Start climbing the property ladder.’ ‘Secure a good deal.’ His words are a constant reminder that it’s time to focus on our next step. I try to keep my spirits up by thinking about the excitement of moving in with Ash, of finally having a place of our own, being able to share our day-to-day lives together and grow closer. But no matter how hard I cling to the thought of living a busy city life again, as I sit here surrounded by the lapping lake, chirping crickets and rustling leaves, I can’t deny the way I’m feeling.
I’ve only been here three weeks and yet I feel more attached than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. How can that be?
I hear footsteps nearing me and look up to see James, a warm smile on his face as he holds two steaming mugs of tea.
‘Gus McDonagh just called – your bags have been delivered by taxi to the guest house,’ he says, handing me my tea before sitting down next to me. ‘That means your paperwork has arrived safe and sound. The Lake House is ready to go on the market.’
I take a deep breath and smile. ‘Well, looks like it was goof-proof after all.’
James raises an eyebrow. ‘Goof-proof?’
‘Yes, just something my boyfriend says. Never mind.’
‘Ah, he’ll be glad,’ James remarks. ‘The deposit will come in handy in London, especially at those prices.’
‘Exactly! This is great news: we did what we set out to do. Job done!’ I say, my voice a little too forced, a pitch too high.
