Cailin imagined what might happen at dinner and she was pretty spot on. It was a show of one up man ship between the two mothers. Periodically she would lightly kick Darren under the table, turn to him with a quick wink and smile. Maura definitely had the upper hand here.
Phillip and his counterpart just watched the sparring match between the two women as they sipped their drinks getting as much enjoyment out of this as they would a soccer match.
Cailin was suddenly jarred out of her thoughts with something that Maura said. “I think that would be a great idea. Cailin you would agree, right?”
“Wh-what? I'm sorry, I was slightly distracted. Agree about what?” Cailin knew she was going to be put on the spot.
“Well, Cailin, my friend Sandra here suggested it would be fun to go visit a local psychic while we are in town this weekend, and suggested you should come with the two of us.” Maura sounded excited at this suggestion, but didn't pick up that Cailin had frozen inside.
She knew she couldn't say no to Maura. They had a very tentative peace between the two of them as long as she was not going to take Darren away to the US like his brother. But psychics and fortune tellers worried Cailin. What if they said that she and Darren were not meant to be together? What if they said she would end up back in New York?
Drawn back from her frozen state again she realized that Maura was talking to her, “Then it's all set, we'll meet tomorrow before lunch, go to the psychic and after have a nice lunch together.”
Cailin tentatively smiled, and looked at Darren. He already knew what she was thinking. Darren reached under the table and squeezed Cailin's hand while he leaned over toward and and whispered a quiet, “It will be fine,” in here ear.
Dinner was over and Cailin could not wait to leave. She did not really enjoy the one up man ship game or the idea to see a psychic. She was glad to be heading home.
“Darren, I don't think this is a good idea,” she said as they walked along.
“Cailin, it will be fine. There is no malice intended,” Darren tried to reassure her.
“But....but what if the psychic says something bad?” Cailin whimpered.
Darren stopped walking, wrapped his arms around Cailin and pulled her close.
“Cailin, there is nothing that can change what we feel for each other, not even a psychic. Keep in mind that this could end up being something good.”
Cailin relaxed for a moment trying to trust in Darren, but once he left her alone in her flat even the loving moments at the door quickly faded away leaving her feeling very uneasy about this whole experience.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Travels in Eire #48
Cailin dropped her bag as she opened the envelope, began to read, and froze in her spot. Evidently while she had been wandering around her neighborhood, Darren's parents had stopped by. Maura wrote a little note inviting Cailin to dinner that night saying she and Phillip would not take no for an answer. They had come to Derry for a few days to visit with some friends and Darren, and wanted to introduce Cailin to their friends. After her first experience with Maura, Cailin had been feeling Maura's hesitation about Darren's new girlfriend. But they did end on a good note and Cailn felt sure that things would now turn around since she had moved from New York and was living in Derry.
As Cailin was absorbed with all these thoughts, she realized that she had not made any contact with work or her parents. It was time to get her computer set up, figure out time differences, and make a couple of Skype calls. She had told her parents to log on in the morning and stay logged on all day, for when she called. Darren had taken care of getting her set up with Internet before she arrived, so the set up was very quick. Her timing was good, but no one was answering. It was very possible that her parents were out for the afternoon. She left a message saying she would call back later.
Calling work was easier as Cailin just used Skype to make a direct call to the office phone. Shannon, her assistant answered the phone with her cherry voice.
“Hi Shannon, it's Cailin, hope you didn't forget who I am already!” Cailin was teasing Shannon.
“Cailin!!!,” Shannon screamed so that most of the office could hear. “I'm so glad you called. We've been waiting to hear that you are all settled and ready to work!” a little teasing back from Shannon. Cailin loved that they got along so well.
“In a few days, Shannon, I'll be up and running. I still need to get some equipment in place. After that it's full speed ahead. You should see my place! You'd love it. I'll have to send some pictures along. It everything okay over there?” Cailin was trying not to spend too much time on the phone.
“Cailin, you worry too much. Take your time, I've got it all handled for the moment. I'll bring you up to speed when you are ready.” Shannon made Cailin feel much better.
They chatted a bit more about Cailin's new experience and then said their good-byes. Cailin tried calling home again, but no one answered. She wrote an email telling her parents that all was fine and she would call back tomorrow. As she finished the email there was a knock at her door.
Cailin looked at the clock and realized that it was after five and was hoping it was Darren. She was not disappointed. She grabbed Darren in a huge hug as he came in the doorway. Followed, of course, by a very long, loving kiss from Darren.
“You do know you take my breath away,” Cailin whispered to Darren as they parted lips.
“Just what I intend to do,” and Darren flashed that wonder smile. “Have you seen my parents?”
“Guess I was out wandering the neighborhood when the stopped by. I did get a note with an invitation for dinner. Do you know about that?” Cailin was sure that Darren was already informed.
“I do know, and we had better get going if we are going to be on time. You might want to change into something a little dressier than casual clothes. This is a special occasion,” Darren was being mysterious again.
“What do you mean “special occasion”?” Cailin was trying to figure out how dressy and what she was in for.
“Now that you and I are an 'item', my parents want to introduce you to some of their friends. This couple has been family friends for ages. There has always been a little friendly competition between them over which of the couples marries off all their children first! My parents are really excited that I have someone now and their son is still searching!” Darren finished with a chuckle.
Cailin decided on a very feminine skirt and top that showed off her figure, but not too much. She didn't have that many clothes with her, since many were being shipped, but this would fit this summer evening just right. She wore her long curly black hair down and finished her look off with just a touch of make-up. As she entered the front room, Darren smiled approvingly. She took his arm and they headed out for this interesting dinner.
As Cailin was absorbed with all these thoughts, she realized that she had not made any contact with work or her parents. It was time to get her computer set up, figure out time differences, and make a couple of Skype calls. She had told her parents to log on in the morning and stay logged on all day, for when she called. Darren had taken care of getting her set up with Internet before she arrived, so the set up was very quick. Her timing was good, but no one was answering. It was very possible that her parents were out for the afternoon. She left a message saying she would call back later.
Calling work was easier as Cailin just used Skype to make a direct call to the office phone. Shannon, her assistant answered the phone with her cherry voice.
“Hi Shannon, it's Cailin, hope you didn't forget who I am already!” Cailin was teasing Shannon.
“Cailin!!!,” Shannon screamed so that most of the office could hear. “I'm so glad you called. We've been waiting to hear that you are all settled and ready to work!” a little teasing back from Shannon. Cailin loved that they got along so well.
“In a few days, Shannon, I'll be up and running. I still need to get some equipment in place. After that it's full speed ahead. You should see my place! You'd love it. I'll have to send some pictures along. It everything okay over there?” Cailin was trying not to spend too much time on the phone.
“Cailin, you worry too much. Take your time, I've got it all handled for the moment. I'll bring you up to speed when you are ready.” Shannon made Cailin feel much better.
They chatted a bit more about Cailin's new experience and then said their good-byes. Cailin tried calling home again, but no one answered. She wrote an email telling her parents that all was fine and she would call back tomorrow. As she finished the email there was a knock at her door.
Cailin looked at the clock and realized that it was after five and was hoping it was Darren. She was not disappointed. She grabbed Darren in a huge hug as he came in the doorway. Followed, of course, by a very long, loving kiss from Darren.
“You do know you take my breath away,” Cailin whispered to Darren as they parted lips.
“Just what I intend to do,” and Darren flashed that wonder smile. “Have you seen my parents?”
“Guess I was out wandering the neighborhood when the stopped by. I did get a note with an invitation for dinner. Do you know about that?” Cailin was sure that Darren was already informed.
“I do know, and we had better get going if we are going to be on time. You might want to change into something a little dressier than casual clothes. This is a special occasion,” Darren was being mysterious again.
“What do you mean “special occasion”?” Cailin was trying to figure out how dressy and what she was in for.
“Now that you and I are an 'item', my parents want to introduce you to some of their friends. This couple has been family friends for ages. There has always been a little friendly competition between them over which of the couples marries off all their children first! My parents are really excited that I have someone now and their son is still searching!” Darren finished with a chuckle.
Cailin decided on a very feminine skirt and top that showed off her figure, but not too much. She didn't have that many clothes with her, since many were being shipped, but this would fit this summer evening just right. She wore her long curly black hair down and finished her look off with just a touch of make-up. As she entered the front room, Darren smiled approvingly. She took his arm and they headed out for this interesting dinner.
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