First was O’Connell Street. It was Dublin’s main thoroughfare, laden with historic buildings and shops.
Grafton Street was about as upscale as it got and topped destination shopping list experiences every year.
Moore Street was a mixed bag, but its main claim to fame was hosting the city’s fresh market.
Dame Street was Dublin’s financial district. Kildare housed government buildings. Henrietta Street was home to King’s Inn School of Law and palatial red brick Georgian-styled buildings.
Talbot had one potential property for Triskelion. The street had lots of shopping, chain stores, and the Talbot Mall, but she didn’t feel the vibe was right for the sisters’ design studio.
Then there was Crown Alley. This street was the life of the party, with pubs, cafes, and street art. Ailesbury Road... well, the Byrnes pocketbooks were not nearly deep enough.
So, Saoirse said, that left Cow’s Lane. It was quirky, with a lovely mix of boutiques, cafes, tattoo parlors, bookstores, and tea shops— some of the sisters’ favorite things— plus it wasin the Temple Bar district, which meant an excellent choice of establishments selling all that lovely whiskey.
“I think they both have a lot of potential.” River continued to flip through the photos. “It’s really the living quarters that throw the curveballs.”
Raven agreed completely. “Both have generous storefronts that, with some work, would be nice. Truly lovely.” She stopped at the one she was favoring. “There is one that, damn it, Row, there is something magical about the front. The windows and doors are a mix... old lines, charm, and sturdiness.
“The interior is heavy wood and vaulted ceilings, but rustic, certainly nothing modern or pretentious. It feels... like... the three of us somehow. The space we have left for ourselves will require a lot of sharing, though. Perhaps too much.”
Damn it. There were just so many unknowns in their lives right now. Finances are at the top of the list. Raven knew they would make it. They had proven themselves in Oklahoma several times over. Theywoulddo it in Dublin too.
“We could make it lovely, and it would be— if it were housing a single or a couple in a relationship. It would not be a forever home, of course. Perhaps a lovely lounge and kitchen eventually. Living in it would be a test,” Raven concluded.
A ‘test’ was being generous. Raven and her sisters would basically be sleeping, eating, and showering in three hundred square feet. It was doubly tough to imagine while currently lounging in a luxe villa.
“The second choice is very nice, as well. There’s nothing wrong with it. The space we’d convert to our living quarters is much more generous. Perhaps even enough room for two full baths instead of one. Closet space that doesn’t require rolling clothing racks in the living room.” With all the cons of the first property’s living quarters, Raven couldn’t believe she was still entertaining it.
Sighing, she admitted, “River, you and Row make the final choice. I swear to you both, I will be thrilled with either.”
Rowan floated to the stone steps leading out of the pool. She dried off and sat at the end of River’s chair facing Raven. “Let me see them.” She held her hand out for Raven’s laptop. “I’ll bite the bullet and decide. How’s that?”
“Thank God.”
“Please.”
Raven’s stomach was churning again today. She hadn’t had much of an appetite since they got here, which was a real irritation because the food was exceptional. Rowan got onto her for losing so much weight. They agreed it was probably lingering depression.
She’d also barely spotted, and only once in Morcote since the whole birth control swap. She knew screwing up pills with River would mess with her system, but that was a few months ago when they’d done that, so it had to be simply stress— and trying to pick Triskelion 2.0 was definitely a next-level stressor.
“Looks like the three of us will have to go to Nan’s if we want to stretch our legs,” Rowan said. “I just emailed Saoirse and told her to make an offer.”
Raven and River sat forward in their loungers.
“You did it?”
“Oh, God. I hope they accept.”
“I think they will. Call it my Irish intuition, but I completely agree with you, Raven. Thereissomething about that particular property. It’s meant to be ours, so I think it will be. I can’t wait to get started.”
Nan gracefully walked out of the pool to sit at the end of Raven’s chair. A plush cotton towel wrapped around her trim middle. Raven was about to take her laptop back from Rowan, thinking she wanted to see the property they’d chosen.
“I’m happy that’s decided. Now, you can truly start planning the next step in your ‘adventure,’ as you call it.” She wrapped her cool hand around Raven’s ankle and stared grimly toward the horizon.
What was this about? Raven’s already churning stomach rolled violently.
Nan finally faced Raven. “I won’t beat about the bush, Raven. I’ve waited almost six weeks for you to come clean about you and Bran. I’m done waiting.”
Her sisters both had wide, panicked eyes. A mirror of her own.
