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“It’s not the flight I’m worried about,” I tell him with a smile.
I don’t want him thinkin’ I don’t want ta meet his ma, but the pressure of bein’ good enough fer him is immense.
“She’s goin’ta love ye both,” he tells me then looks to Aine. “Ma is lookin’ forward ta seein’ the two girls I love.”
“She’s my nonna,” Aine announces while holdin’ onto her bear.
The teddy still goes everywhere she does. I didn’t have somethin’ like that while growin’ up. I didn’t have many toys, or even luxuries like colourin’ books. The school text books I worked from were the only ones I owned. At times, I’d sneak into Waterstones, without Mrs Duffy knowin’, just ta read somethin’. I couldn’t afford ta buy books myself, and she kept all the money she got fer lookin’ after me.
“She is yer nonna,” Rebel tells Aine. “And she’ll be there fer ye, no matter what. Just like me and Callia.” The promise he makes has me smilin’.
We haven’t had a chance ta talk about anythin’ beyond us movin’ in together. So, fer him ta be talkin’ long term has my heart flutterin’. I don’t know if he’ll ever want ta get married, but if he were ta propose, I will say yes without havin’ ta think about it.
Maybe, just maybe, when we get back from Italy, we’ll be able to plan a future together.
Growin’ up, I wasn’t one fer plannin’ anything’. I didn’t see past the week ahead, because gettin’ by and makin’ sure I was safe were the only things I could think of. The fear I lived with daily was at the forefront of my mind. So, I wasn’t like other girls who had a fairy tale, dream weddin’ in mind.
In some ways, I’m sad I didn’t, but then again, I know that I learnt ta look out fer myself. I grew up quickly, and it made me the strong woman I am now. On reflection, I don’t think I’d change anythin’ I’ve been through. Except, I would like to have known my ma. That would have made my life perfect.
But, right now I’m happy with my lot.
When we disembark, the sun is shinin’. The flight wasn’t bad, and now we’re off the plane, I’m back ta worryin’ about what Rebel’s ma will think of me. Even though he says she’ll love me, I can’t stop myself from playin’ all sorts of scenarios in my head. I suppose it’s somethin’ I’ve done all my life. I’ve never felt good enough. And deep down, it’s a problem of mine I know I still need ta work on.
Rebel holds Aine’s hand and mine as we head into the arrivals area to collect our bags. It doesn’t take us long, and thankfully, we manage ta grab a taxi shortly after walkin’ out of the airport.
We’re lucky; the weather is beautiful.
“See, Aine,” Rebel tells her. “This is where I grew up. I spent my youth in this town.”
“Did ye swim?” she asks when she notices the blue ocean that twinkles in the sunlight. It’s so blue, it’s an unbroken connection to the sky, makin’ it seem as if there’s no end.
“I did. It was a lot of fun. I think we should go fer a swim when we get ta yer nonna’s house. What do ye think?”
Her excited squeal is answer enough. I feel so lucky ta be here, ta see where Ronan was born, where he grew up. I’ve never left Ireland. Granted, the north and south of Ireland are different countries, but it’s nothin’ like travelin’ overseas.
There’s a new culture to get used to. Another language that I can hear spoken as I walk around. There’s a promise of discoverin’ somethin’ new every day. It’s a magical experience.
The roads seem much narrower here than in Belfast, and as the car weaves through the traffic, I can’t help but want ta cringe each time another vehicle passes too close ta us.
“Almost there,” Rebel tells me when I look up ta find him watchin’ me.
There’s a small smirk tippin’ the corner of his mouth upward. He’s so handsome. At times I wonder how I ever got so lucky.
“It’s a tight squeeze,” I tell him when I gesture ta another car zippin’ by us. I do notice that a lot of the vehicles are small hatchbacks, makin’ them easier ta manoeuvre.
“Aye,” he says with a nod. “But, we’ll be there soon, and ye can relax.”
When we finally pull up to a beautiful old house, with two storeys, I gasp at the size of it. I didn’t think Rebel’s ma would be livin’ alone in such an enormous home. But the moment we step inside, I realise the lounge and patio take up most of the lower floor along with the kitchen. The house is built up the way, rather than out.
