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“This is so good,” I said.
I expected my mom to yell at me for talking with my mouth full, but she didn’t. Instead she said, “Can’t get anything like that in Ireland, huh?”
“You can, it’s just different.”
“Hmm.” She picked up a fry and took a bite. “If you lived here, you could eat this all the time.”
“Then I’d get sick of it.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“Pretty much.”
The fries I shoved into my mouth to punctuate those words made my taste buds burst. They have the perfect amout of salt and it’s super satisfying.
We’d just finished eating when my mom’s friends, Diane, Sharon, and Nancy, approached. They’ve been best friends since grade school and refer to themselves as thequirky quartet.
I stood and greeted each of them with a hug and a kiss then they sat at the table with us. These women have been part of my life since I was born. Sharon was actually one of my sixth grade teachers, which was a bit strange. After using her first name my entire life, I had to call her Mrs. Fuller while at school. I also had to keep anything I saw during their book club meetings at my house to myself. I always use air quotes anytime I talk about the book club with my mom because it seems to me it’s more of a reason for them to get together and drink wine rather than talk about books.
“Maybe we should go to Ireland.”
That sentence pulled my attention back to them.
“For what?” I asked my mom.
“Our girls’ trip in November.” she said.
“What’s the weather like then?” Nancy asked.
“Usually in the 50’s,” I said. “It’s actually not a bad time to visit because it’s not too crowded.”
“Would you be our tour guide?” Diane asked.
“Sure.”
“Really?”
“Why do you look so shocked?” I asked my mom. “I’ve played tour guide before.”
“Not recently.”
That’s because she hasn’t come to visit. But instead of saying that and keeping this subject going, I just told her that if they come to Dublin, I’d show them around as much as I could.
“We’ll talk about it more and let you know what we decide,” she said.
They continued to talk about where they’ve gone and their bucket list of places to go. I was in junior high when they started their annual girls’ trip so they’ve been to quite a few locations.
As they walked down memory lane, I half listened to their stories. I’ve witnessed what they get up to enough during my life, I don’t need more details. I can’t judge though. Like my friends and me, they act like teenagers when they’re together. When I was out with my gang the other night, it didn’t take too long for the smack talk and antics to start.
My stomach tightened at that last thought. Since I grew up watching my mom and her friends, then had the same kind of tight friendships, I took them for granted. I didn’t realize how difficult they can be to find. My dad is right, I haven’t set down any roots or developed any real connections since I’ve been gone. Sure I’ve moved around a lot, but I’ve been in a few places long enough to make real friends, but I haven’t. And being here is making me realize how much I miss having that in my life.
“We’re going to head over to the venue to grab a good spot,” my mom said.
“Thanks for lunch.”
I leaned down and gave her a hug and a kiss.
“Thankyou. Your father gets to spend everyday with you, I need to squeeze in time whenever I can while you’re here.”
