‘We’re Irish American on my great-great-great-grandfather’s side or something. There’s probably a distant cousin or two kicking around somewhere. My mom just liked the name. I hear she also likedTige, spelled T-A-D-H-G, so I think I dodged a bullet there. My last name is Smith, however… really can’t get anything more generic than that.’
He broke a KitKat in two and offered her one piece, which she accepted without hesitation.
‘And your girlfriend is Irish? Does she live in Kerry?’
He shook his head but remained silent.
‘Sorry, that’s none of my business.’
He sighed. ‘I was working in Dublin, helping set up a new clinic. She’s back in London, on a later flight. She’s really excited about this trip.’
‘And you’re not?’
‘Well… I guess I just didn’t think we were at the ‘meeting family’ stage in our relationship. It’s always been really casual, you know? The whole thing makes me a little nervous, but she seemed adamant that I come along.’
Alex grimaced. His honestly was unexpected. ‘I see. Hmm… tricky.’
He sighed. ‘Tricky indeed. And I probably shouldn’t be talking about this, but who better to discuss my love life with than a stranger from the airport? Completely normal behaviour.’
‘It’s not that peculiar,’ Alex replied. ‘I mean, therapists are strangers. You just have to pay them money. I, on the other hand, accept KitKats.’
He laughed. ‘Seems like a fair deal.’
‘Though I’m probably the last person to ask for relationship advice. I ended things with my ex and he still lives next door. We co-parent the anti-social dog.’
‘That’s incredibly civilised. Not many people stay friends with their ex.’
‘I know. To be honest, I don’t think he was that bothered when we split. I had a whole big speech and he was all, “OK. Makes sense.”’
He took a sip of his coffee. ‘You’re very easy to talk to, you know.’
‘I am,’ she replied, resisting the urge to beam like a great bloody idiot who’d never had a compliment before. ‘But I am also not free. Pay up.’ She held out her hand for more KitKat.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll shortly be arriving at Kerry, where the weather is a beautiful twenty-four degrees and sunny.’
‘Can I ask you something?’ Aiden requested. ‘Though it may sound somewhat odd.’
‘Sure.’
‘Do you believe in fate?’
Alex looked puzzled. ‘Fate?’
‘Yeah,’ he replied. ‘Because I think this is fate. You know, this. Us meeting.’
Alex felt her face flush in delight. ‘Um, that’s not fate, it’s Ryanair.’
Aiden chuckled as they pushed back their trays and buckled their seatbelts for landing.
‘I mean, think about it. Complete strangers until one minute we’re talking about books, then we’re having a drink, now we’re seated together—’
‘Well—’
‘And you just happen to be the author of the book I was recommending! There’s definitely something otherworldly at play here.’
Alex snorted. ‘You should meet my friend Becky. She talks to the moon; you would love her.’
Aiden did not push the matter any further, but regardless the conversation continued to flow, even as they disembarked and headed towards the baggage area. Before long she spotted her green case making its way around the carousel.
