Travels in Eire #49

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.