All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 39

Sunday morning came quickly and it was time to head back to Dublin. Grace had seen no more of Quinn after Peter took him to town to get a new tire for his bike. She was actually happy she did not have to deal with him any more. It was bad enough that she had burned her hand because of him. No matter that he helped her with it, it would not have happened if he had not followed her into the kitchen. What was up with this guy?

Grace knew the cottage would be busy the next few weekends and asked Chloe if she needed extra help when she saw her at work on Monday. As it was Chloe was going up to Swatragh every weekend to work and see Peter. Grace felt that it might be wearing on Chloe and she might need some help. If Chloe said yes, Grace had no idea what she would do, except be the one to go up to the cottage each weekend herself. They needed to meet up one evening after work and see what needed to be done.

Grace set up a dinner date for Wednesday evening so that she, Sue, and Chloe could sit down and talk about the B&B. Sue had been instrumental in getting the Internet site set up for the B&B, and now other than tossing ideas back and forth was not as involved as earlier. Every once in a while she'd throw Grace an idea for marketing, or information. But she was a great idea person to have for input.

Grace had the girls over to her flat. Even though the kitchen was minuscule, she was able to make a great meal for the three of them. As they sat down and toasted themselves they all smiled. When you really think about what they had accomplished in the past month and a half, it was astounding.

“How much longer do you think you will need me at the cottage?” Chloe opened up the conversation to the surprise of Sue and Grace.

“What...?” responded an astounded Grace. “I thought you were happy up there in Swatragh during the weekends.”

“Grace, I am happy. That's why I'm asking,” Chloe responded.

“Chloe, what exactly are you saying?” even Sue was confused by her comment.

“Okay, I've been thinking..... well, we've, Peter and I, have been thinking that we want to spend more time together. Being at the cottage tending to customers every weekend is not really leaving us enough time together. We've grown really close..... Alright, Peter has asked me to marry him!” Chloe seemed almost embarrassed when she blurted this out.

The next minute the girls were all on their feet hugging Chloe, shouting and dancing in the little flat. Both Grace and Sue were very happy for Chloe.

As they settled down, Grace suddenly realized that this would change things, but she didn't know how.

“So Chloe, what were you thinking?” Grace questioned.

“Peter has been checking around and he has a friend that needs some help in his store. If I moved up to Swatragh, I could get a job at his friend's store, and all I would need to do is find a place to live until we got married. Peter's dad has a big house and has said we were welcome to live in the house with him, since it's just the two of them now. When Peter and I go off, we often go visit with his dad so the two of us could get to know each other. His dad and I get along great.” Chloe seemed to have practiced this before.

“Then you are planning to move to Swatragh?” Sue asked.

“Well, I was hoping that until Peter and I are married I could stay at the cottage all the time. Of course paying for my room, and then I could still work a couple of weekends a month at the cottage. depending on how much time Peter's friend wants me to work.”

Sue and Grace looked at each other. Now what?

All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 38

Grace was up early the next morning to start breakfasts for her guests. She was so tired she had not even heard Chloe come in and climb in the bed next to her. When she got up Chloe was still fast asleep.

Time to get a batch of scones going and all the preparations for the Ulter Fry for Quinn. Grace was having a hard time pinpointing what it was about Quinn that just annoyed her. He was good looking, polite, and well spoken, but just something about him left her perplexed.

As her mind wandered she could hear water running upstairs and knew her guests were up and getting ready to come down. Scones in the oven and hot water in the kettle was ready. The table was all set with cream, marmalade, butter, and cups for tea and coffee.

At 8:30 Grace started serving her first guests. As she brought their breakfasts to them, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Quinn coming down the stairs and did a double take. Yesterday he had been wearing his biking clothes and had been walking in the heat for several hours. This morning he came down freshly showered wearing jeans and a well fitted white t-shirt. He could have passed as a sports celebrity. Grace caught herself staring and suddenly turned to go back to the kitchen. As she did, she almost ran into one of the guests who had gotten up from the table. At this point she was totally flustered and quickly excused herself to the kitchen to catch her breath.

Grace quickly pulled herself together. What was the matter with her? She had seen good looking men before. They had never had this effect on her. She tried to shake it off and get to the business of making breakfast for Quinn. When she delivered it to the dining room, she didn't even look up to face him. She quickly put his dish down asked if he needed something else, then grabbed some finished dishes from the other guests and headed back to the kitchen.

Just as she was getting some more hot water poured into the tea pot, she heard someone at the kitchen door, startling her all over again.

“Excuse me,” Quinn asked.

“Ow,” screamed Grace as she spilled boiling water over her hand.
Quinn ran over to her and pushed her to the sink and turned on the cold water.

“Stay there,” he demanded as he strode to the freezer and filled a bowl with ice cubes. “Here, put your hand in here,” as he added some water.

“It's so cold,” Grace whined as her hand was pushed into the ice water.

“That is probably a nasty burn. I'm so sorry I startled you. Does that happen a lot?” Quinn was feeling very bad. “Here let me take a look.” Quinn gently pulled Grace's hand out of the water. “We may have gotten it cooled down soon enough and you may not have as bad as a burn as I originally thought. Gently pat it dry and I'll be right back. Don't rub it.” Quinn scolded Grace.

In just a few minutes Quinn returned with his backpack, reached in and pulled out a first aid kit.

“I travel with this in case I have an accident. This salve should help some. It works for bad road scrapes and helps to heal them quickly. But you should see a doctor.” Quinn was on a role with helpfulness. He actually seemed very nervous as he gently smoothed the salve on Grace's burn. As he was doing this Chloe entered the room.

“What is happening here? I head a shout. Oh, my, Grace, are you okay?” Chloe was full of questions.

Grace explained how the tea pot slipped out of her hand with the hot water burning her and how Quinn was helping her. Chloe kept looking between Grace and Quinn with this strange look on her face. Grace glared at her and she finally turned to pick up the tea pot and mop up the water on the floor. But every once in a while she'd glance back at Grace and Quinn.

After Quinn applied the salve Grace felt some relief and the pain subsided. Quinn told Grace she needed not to get the hand wet so that the salve would work on the burn, so Chloe finished picking up the dishes from the table and making sure they were washed.

Quinn gathered his things and changed into his biking clothes to walk his bike to town when Peter showed up. Chloe explained what happened to Grace and that they would have to delay their plans until Chloe could take care of some things around the cottage. Grace explained to Peter about Quinn's flat tire and his need to find a replacement tire. Since Peter had to wait for Chloe, he suggested that he give Quinn a ride into town. Quinn accepted but before he left asked if the room he used would be available the same time next month.

After checking the schedule, Grace figured that would be the same weekend she was up at the cottage and was not sure she wanted to see Quinn again, but she gave in and told him she would book the room for him.

All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 37

Just as Grace was getting settled into being in charge of the B&B for the weekend, her phone started ringing. This was another call for a booking for the weekend. She never thought she would have to be turning down guests because she was all booked up. After a quick chat with the callers, she ended up making arrangements with them for a weekend the next month. They would have been interested in staying a few more days during the week, but Grace explained that at this point they were only open on weekends.

As Grace looked at the calendar, she realized that the cottage was booked solid for every weekend, though the summer and into the fall. How did this happen? Maybe there was something to this B&B business. She was quite pleased that she felt she would be making some money along the way.

As Grace got settled in the kitchen to make some dinner for Chloe, Peter, and herself, a couple of the guests arrived. With the aromas of Aine's recipes wafting from the kitchen, they commented about how good the food smelled. Grace, wanting to be a gracious host, told them she offered dinner for an extra cost, but they were welcome to eat family style at the big table in the dining room. She did explain there was no menu, just what she was cooking for the night, but they were thrilled to have a home cooked meal. Grace showed them to their room, and hurried to take an inventory to make sure she had enough for everyone. She was so glad that Chloe had made a loaf of brown bread that morning to go along with dinner.

Grace had planned an easy dinner for herself, Chloe and Peter, so adding some more bangers to the bangers and mash, and cooking a few more potatoes was perfect. A bit of coleslaw on the side made the meal complete. There was some fresh fruit that Chloe had picked up to go with some clotted cream for dessert.

Grace had made bangers and mash in her flat in Dublin, but Aine'e recipe was quite a bit different. There were no short cuts for the caramelized onions and sauce made with a bit of red wine and some beef stock. The bangers had to be cooked in boiling water first, then sauteed in a frying pan. The only easy thing about all this was the potatoes with plenty of butter and cream. Grace took care to follow the directions carefully. Chloe came in to help her set the table and get the potatoes ready as Grace finished the bangers. The end result was divine for such a simple dish. The guests raved about it, saying they had never tasted better. Grace briefly raised her eyes heaven-ward thanking Aine for the recipe.

As they all finished dinner and cleared the table the guests were off to town to Rafters, and other guests were arriving. Grace made sure to get everyone settled in and comfortable as Chloe and Peter had taken off after dinner. She had no idea where they were going, but knew this was Chloe's time off and wanted to make sure she enjoyed herself.

Standing at the sink in the kitchen Grace's mind wandered to what it would have been like to be spending time with Aine as she cleared dishes from a similar dinner. She was startled by a deep voice coming from the kitchen doorway.

“Hello,” he said, suddenly realizing he had startled Grace. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.”

“Oh, no, that's okay, I guess my mind was wandering off somewhere,” Grace apologized for not responding sooner. “What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you have a room open,” he asked. “I didn't see a 'no vacancy' sign out front.”

“I'm terribly sorry, but I'm full up this weekend.” Grace was mesmerized by this man. His deep smooth voice, dark hair and blue eyes. Apologetically she explained, “I haven't had time to get a no vacancy sign up yet.” In the back of her mind she was wondering if Peter had even made one.

“There's no other place to stay around here, is there?” he asked.

“As far as I know this is the only B&B for about 20 miles. Maybe in Maghera, or north toward Coleraine,” Grace explained.

“Unfortunately I don't think that will work. I've been riding on my bike and my last spare tire just went flat about 5 miles back. So I've been hoofing it up to here,” he explained.

Grace had been so mesmerized by his face and voice that she hardly noticed he was wearing biking clothes. She was quickly trying to find a solution for this man. There was something about him that she could not put a finger on.

“I know it would be unusual, but I'd be glad to pay to stay on the sofa tonight. Tomorrow I could walk to the closest town to get a new tire.” he pleaded and it was working on Grace.

“Wait, I think I can work this out. I have a room upstairs with a single bed. I'll have to go pull my things from it, but you can have that room.” Grace had no idea what she was doing. Where in the world would she be sleeping tonight? She just knew she had to do this.

“Are you sure, you did say you were full up?” he questioned.

“It's a long story, but you can have the room as soon as I get it ready. Now go get your things and I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs,” Grace had fully taken charge here.

Up the stairs she ran and grabbed her things that she had unpacked stuffing them back in her weekend bag. She would be sharing the downstairs room with Chloe tonight, whether Chloe liked it or not. As she arrived back downstairs, she meet the stranger entering the B&B.

“By the way, my name is Quinn Brady. It really is very nice of you to make such arrangements for me.” Quinn professed.

“I'm Grace... and don't think a thing about it. Do you have a preference for breakfast or a time you'd like breakfast?” Grace was trying to stay focused and professional. Who was this guy anyway? Why did she even care?

“Any time is fine for me. Maybe around nine. And if you do a full Ulster fry, that would suit me fine. I need the carbs for riding all day.” Quinn told Grace.

“It will be ready for you in the morning,” Grace turned to take her suitcase into the downstairs bedroom, when Quinn suddenly grabbed it out of her hands.

“Let me do that for you, it's the least I can do,” he spoke as he followed Grace to the bedroom door.

“I can take it from here, thank you,” Grace was just a little put of by this man. Not sure exactly sure about trusting him. What was it about him?