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“That just seems like a lot of food for four people,” I tell her.
She laughs and says, “Maybe I got a bit carried away but I wanted you to have a chance to taste all of the traditional dishes. Did you know that here in Ireland they don’t eat corned beef on St. Paddy’s? That tradition started in America.”
“I didn’t know that. That’s interesting,” I’m grateful for the small talk and hope that the conversation stays light all evening.
“Dex has the family’s shepherd’s pie recipe. Do you still serve it at the pub?” his father asks.
“We do. It’s still a town favorite,” Dex replies.
“Why don’t we take our seats and get started before the food gets cold,” my mother chimes in, and we all move to the long table. Dex’s father sits at the head of the table and my mother sits beside him. Dex pulls out my chair and once I’m seated he sits next to me.
My mother tells me how happy she is that I decided to move here and how now that I’m here we need to shop at this boutique and get our hair done at that salon. She drones on and on making certain that I have no doubt that she’s being well cared for on her husband’s dime but I prefer her showboating over us having any real, personal conversation so I smile and tell her how exciting it all sounds.
Dex excuses himself from the table and pours himself a third glass of brandy. He’s drinking more than I’ve seen before and I begin to worry that he might be getting too intoxicated to drive. I don’t have a license in America or Ireland and I would be mortified to have to stay here for the night.
When he returns to his seat his father asks, “Good brandy?”
Dex holds his glass up and replies, “Only the best, Pops.”
“Listen, I’ve been considering investing some money in a business or two and I’ve come across a real opportunity. I’m in the process of buying a chain of luxury hotels. I was thinking, now that you have a girl in your life you might want to reconsider letting go of the pub and coming to work for me. I’d give you your own hotel to manage,” his father tells him.
“Why would I want to manage a luxury hotel? I don’t have the education or experience for that,” Dex replies.
“You’ve always been a quick learner. Besides, if you two get serious and decide to tie the knot, do you want your wife and kids struggling the way you and your mother did?” he asks and I see Dex’s color begin to change.
I reach under the table, grab his hand and hold it in my lap and watch as he calms down a bit and the pink leaves his cheeks. He clears his throat and says, “You have this impression that my mother and I struggled and that you didn’t support us enough. The truth is, we had everything we needed from you financially. We just needed you to spend more time with us and maybe, show us that you loved us more. It woulda been nice to have a father.”
“We’re talking business here, son. There’s no need to get emotional. I did the best I could for you and, if it wasn’t enough, well, I don’t know what to tell you,” his father gaffs.
Dex squeezes my hand and says, “You’re right, we don’t need to get emotional. Thank you for the offer but I decline.”
His father excuses himself and steps outside for a smoke and my mother resumes her chatter about what countries they’ve traveled to and where they plan to go next. As I listen, I feel Dex’s hand move slowly up my thigh. I reach down and push it back toward my knee but he won’t have it. He moves my hand and begins his ascent up my thigh again.
My head swims as my mother drones on and my lover rubs my panties against my now swollen and hungry clit. My mother tells me, “Your flush, Daniela. Have you had too much brandy?” and I have a spark of genius.
“Actually, mother, I’m not feeling very well. I think we might have to leave,” I tell her, and Dex grins.
“I think you’re right,” he adds. “I’ll go tell Pops.”
“I’m disappointed that you have to go so soon but I’m delighted that you came,” my mother tells me. She gets up to escort us out and adds, “I’d hug you, dear, but what if you’re contagious? We have plane tickets and a reservation. I can’t get sick.”
I smile and say, “Of course not,” then hurry out the door and take a deep breath of the night air.
“What do you smell, kitten?” Dex asks.
“Freedom,” I reply.
I turn to go to the car but Dex grabs my arm and swings me around.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I want to show you my father’s garden,” he replies.
“But we told them we were leaving. Won’t they see the car?” I ask.
“If they come out I’ll tell them that you're vomiting up the haddock pie. They’ll keep their distance. They have plane tickets and a reservation,” he laughs.
We round the side of the house and enter the backyard through a tall, wooden gate. We pass the veranda complete with an Olympic size pool, hot tub, and steam room then arrive on a cobblestone path that leads into an enchanted realm of rose bushes and exotic iris that smells of luscious lavender.
