Molly pulled back slightly from Kevin and looked at him closely. He, in turn, was looking right back with a slightly startled look on his face that turned into a smile.
“Okay, so what now?” he asked. He was letting Molly take the lead in this, as she was the one who initiated this response to his first kiss.
“What now? I don't know,” Molly was looking for some lead from Kevin as much as he was looking for it from her.
“Good thing, because I don't know either,” Kevin answered, and they both started laughing at this dilemma they found themselves in as they kissed again.
It was obvious that they had slowly been developing a close relationship that neither of them had really thought about until this night.
“Molly, is there any way you can get away one weekend this winter and come to Dublin? I would love to introduce you to my family and friends,” Kevin thought it was time to bring Molly to meet his family. They had been asking many questions about why he was spending all his weekends at Kilmore Quay.
“I would guess if you were my only client, that would mean I don't have any other obligation for a weekend, I should be able to make it to Dublin,” Molly smiled at Kevin's suggestion. “You would have to give up lessons that weekend.”
Kevin chuckled at Molly's comment, “I'm sure one weekend without sailing lessons will not affect my skills. Then we're set? Maybe we can work out a weekend tomorrow. Now, can I walk you home? Seeing as we have kissed I would think that would allow me at least that.”
Molly agreed and Kevin walked her to her cottage. It was the first time he had seen it, and was surprised at how quaint Molly's cottage was. The whitewashed front looked toward the beach, and evening had even taken on a bit of a chill coming off the water. He would not expect Molly to live in anything different. This suited her perfectly.
Kevin's shyness would not let him push the situation beyond a good night kiss and a plan to meet back at the cottage for breakfast the next morning. Molly felt comfortable making some breakfast and thought this would be a nice, non-threatening situation for her. She was always worried she would burn a great dinner and scare a prospective suitor off. She was a simple eater, and often would just make herself a bap, or stop at the chipper on the way home at the end of the day. Then there were days when she eagerly stopped by her parents for a hearty dinner.
The next morning Molly had the tea on first and ready for when Kevin arrived. He was right on time. Molly was just finishing the eggs and sausage so she shouted a quick “come on in” as she plated the breakfast adding the main course to the brown bread and butter on the table.
“It's been a while since I've had more than a cuppa and a scone for breakfast,” Kevin explained. “Except that is, when I'm here on the weekends at the B&B. I feel like I eat more than I should when I'm down here.”
“I'm sure you burn it all off when you are out sailing with me,” Molly teased back.
As they sat down to eat their conversation was casual and they talked about the plan for Molly to make a trip to Dublin within the next couple of weeks. Kevin would make sure that Molly had a guest house or B&B to stay in that was comfortable and close to where he lived on the outskirts of the city in Clontarf. If Molly took the Wexford Bus, she could go directly to the city center and Kevin would meet her there. The trip only took about two and a half hours, so Molly could leave Kilmore Friday afternoon for Wexford, then catch the direct bus to Dublin City Center where Kevin would meet her when he got off work.
Little by little their plan came together. Kevin was excited that he would be able to share his home town with Molly and show her off to his friends and family. Molly was looking forward to this, but still had some hesitations in being in the big city and meeting all these new people.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
#9 The Quay
Molly treated her relationship with Kevin as a friendship. They got along so well she never really thought of him any other way. It was possible that she did this on purpose. No commitment meant she could not be hurt, as she had seen happen to so many of her friends. But as the weeks progressed she realized that there was a very special bond growing between them. Kevin was not pushing the situation. He seemed to sense the limitations that Molly had put on their relationship, but also seemed a bit shy when it came to women and having Molly as a friend. The fact that he was only in Kilmore Quay on the weekends helped him deal with this.
As the summer and autumn passed and the weather turned cooler, there would be no more sailing lessons during the winter weather. Molly figured that Kevin would end his weekend trips to the quay and she would not see him again, or at least until spring weather allowed them to go out sailing again.
On their last weekend together Molly found out she was in for a surprise. As they sat at the bar with their drinks Kevin began the conversation.
“I guess this is the end of my sailing lessons for this year?” Kevin shrugged as he spoke.
“The weather is so unpredictable, Kevin, and even the area between here and the Saltees could get so rough that it's not safe to go out. There might be days that would work, but we can't plan on it being good an any specific weekend. I'd hate for you to travel down here and be stuck on land all weekend,” Molly was just being her pragmatic self. “Besides, as it gets closer to December the weather for sailing gets very cold.”
“I do understand all that, Molly. What I'm thinking is that I've really come to enjoy these weekends down here in Kilmore, and was thinking I might still be interested in coming to visit,” Kevin took a deep breath as he stumbled through his comments. He met Molly's eyes with a questioned look on his face.
Molly was totally stunned and didn't know how to respond. Was Kevin asking about coming to visit her? What did he want? She needed to say something and not leave Kevin with that strange questioning look on his face.
“Um..Umm, Kevin, I have to say I'm quite surprised,” Molly stuttered as she tried to find something to say. Of course it's fine for you to come back to Kilmore when you are not taking sailing lessons. It's a free world.” Maybe she should have left that last part out as she thought to herself.
Kevin took a big breath and figured it was now or never, “Molly, I'm not just coming down here because I like Kilmore, which I do. I'd be coming to see you.” As Kevin finished he realized he was now looking at the floor too embarrassed to see the look on Molly's face.
“Kevin, I never realized that you felt that way. I know we've become very good friends over the last couple of months and have a great time together on weekends. I've also realized how much I'm going to miss those times this winter. It would be great to spend time on land with you. In fact, you really haven't seen much of the area around here. I'd love to take some of what would be sailing time and take you around.” Molly was in her tour guide mode for lack of knowing what more to do.
Kevin's look brightened up when he heard Molly's response, but was still very unsure about how Molly felt. Was she just being nice to him? They toasted the new weekend plan and ordered more drinks. Neither of them was a big drinker, so it didn't take much for them to start to feel the effects of the alcohol. Molly's friends at the pub had accepted Kevin as one of them so they stopped being so protective of Molly as they used to.
As they both became more relaxed Kevin moved closer to Molly and brushed her hair back off of her shoulder gently touching her cheek. Molly was not sure how this all happened so quickly, but gave in to the tingly feeling she was having and leaned forward to Kevin with his hand slipping ever so slightly behind her neck and nudging her closer to him. All this ending in a simple and gentle kiss.
Molly pulled away as her face flushed. Kevin was sure he had stepped over the line until Molly took his hand and led him just outside the pub door, out of sight of the regulars.
“Not inside,” she whispered as they were quickly outside the door. Just as they were clear of eyesight of the pub, she turned so quickly to Kevin that he practically ran into her as she put her arms around his neck for a passionate kiss which he returned eagerly wrapping his arms around her waist.
It was then that Molly and Kevin realized what had been happening between them over the last couple of months, and that this something was just the beginning.
As the summer and autumn passed and the weather turned cooler, there would be no more sailing lessons during the winter weather. Molly figured that Kevin would end his weekend trips to the quay and she would not see him again, or at least until spring weather allowed them to go out sailing again.
On their last weekend together Molly found out she was in for a surprise. As they sat at the bar with their drinks Kevin began the conversation.
“I guess this is the end of my sailing lessons for this year?” Kevin shrugged as he spoke.
“The weather is so unpredictable, Kevin, and even the area between here and the Saltees could get so rough that it's not safe to go out. There might be days that would work, but we can't plan on it being good an any specific weekend. I'd hate for you to travel down here and be stuck on land all weekend,” Molly was just being her pragmatic self. “Besides, as it gets closer to December the weather for sailing gets very cold.”
“I do understand all that, Molly. What I'm thinking is that I've really come to enjoy these weekends down here in Kilmore, and was thinking I might still be interested in coming to visit,” Kevin took a deep breath as he stumbled through his comments. He met Molly's eyes with a questioned look on his face.
Molly was totally stunned and didn't know how to respond. Was Kevin asking about coming to visit her? What did he want? She needed to say something and not leave Kevin with that strange questioning look on his face.
“Um..Umm, Kevin, I have to say I'm quite surprised,” Molly stuttered as she tried to find something to say. Of course it's fine for you to come back to Kilmore when you are not taking sailing lessons. It's a free world.” Maybe she should have left that last part out as she thought to herself.
Kevin took a big breath and figured it was now or never, “Molly, I'm not just coming down here because I like Kilmore, which I do. I'd be coming to see you.” As Kevin finished he realized he was now looking at the floor too embarrassed to see the look on Molly's face.
“Kevin, I never realized that you felt that way. I know we've become very good friends over the last couple of months and have a great time together on weekends. I've also realized how much I'm going to miss those times this winter. It would be great to spend time on land with you. In fact, you really haven't seen much of the area around here. I'd love to take some of what would be sailing time and take you around.” Molly was in her tour guide mode for lack of knowing what more to do.
Kevin's look brightened up when he heard Molly's response, but was still very unsure about how Molly felt. Was she just being nice to him? They toasted the new weekend plan and ordered more drinks. Neither of them was a big drinker, so it didn't take much for them to start to feel the effects of the alcohol. Molly's friends at the pub had accepted Kevin as one of them so they stopped being so protective of Molly as they used to.
As they both became more relaxed Kevin moved closer to Molly and brushed her hair back off of her shoulder gently touching her cheek. Molly was not sure how this all happened so quickly, but gave in to the tingly feeling she was having and leaned forward to Kevin with his hand slipping ever so slightly behind her neck and nudging her closer to him. All this ending in a simple and gentle kiss.
Molly pulled away as her face flushed. Kevin was sure he had stepped over the line until Molly took his hand and led him just outside the pub door, out of sight of the regulars.
“Not inside,” she whispered as they were quickly outside the door. Just as they were clear of eyesight of the pub, she turned so quickly to Kevin that he practically ran into her as she put her arms around his neck for a passionate kiss which he returned eagerly wrapping his arms around her waist.
It was then that Molly and Kevin realized what had been happening between them over the last couple of months, and that this something was just the beginning.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
#8 The Quay
The next day Molly set a course for Kevin south around Hook Head skirting the coast as they sailed. During this time she realized that what Kevin needed was more experience in reading ocean currents and wind patterns and how to adjust for them. While he seemed comfortable enough sailing in the calm waters around Kilmore Quay and the Saltees, once out in the ocean currents, he was more tentative and needed more assistance in sailing.
Kevin realized this also and was anxious to learn even more about dealing with the currents and winds in a sloop. He knew if he was ever to master his sailing skills, he needed to spend a lot more time under the instruction of Molly. For the time being he planned to set aside every weekend he could to make the trip to Kilmore and work on sailing.
During their sailing time Kevin and Molly also got to know each other better. There were no pretenses between them. Out on the water Molly was instructor and Kevin was the student, but when sailing was calm and Kevin was comfortably in control, their conversations turned more personal.
“You should come spend a weekend up in Dublin sometime, Molly,” Kevin mentioned during one conversation. “I'd love to take you around to some of my favorite spots.”
“That would be nice Kevin, but it's difficult to get away from here with having the sail shop, and lessons,” Molly replied, reluctant to explore the big city.
“There must be times when business is slow enough that someone could handle the shop for you, and when you don't have weekend instructions during the winter,” Kevin was surprised at Molly's reluctance to come to Dublin. A weekend get away to Dublin was cherished by so many of his out of town friends.
“I'll think about it,” Molly answered, showing little interest in traveling anywhere that didn't have water or sailing involved.
“Have you ever gone to watch any of the sailing races?” Kevin questioned.
“Not as an adult. The last race my father competed in I watched with my mother,” Molly answered. “Since then I really haven't gone to see any.”
“What about the Race Around the Island? I hear that's a great race to watch,” Kevin was startled to hear Molly's response.
“Oh, around the Isle of Wight?” Molly smiled. “Are you thinking of entering?”
“I need to own my own yacht first,” Kevin laughed. “Not to ignore the fact I also need a crew.”
Through this conversation Kevin was trying to see where Molly's interests lie. Why was she so attached to Kilmore Quay? With her experience why did she not follow in her father's footsteps and enter competitions? Her skills for sailing were amazing and she had the ability to do well. What was holding her back?
“Molly, do you think I'm ready for something larger than this sloop? I would like to develop some skills with something of a yacht. I notice that you have one docked at the quay. Do you every go out in it?” Kevin was showing his interest in moving ahead with his instruction.
“Yes, that is my yacht. I take out tourists on day trips during the summer months. If you are coming for another weekend next week, we can take that one out. I'd be interested to see how you handle it in the calm waters first before we head into open ocean. With the larger size and weight it does handle differently,” Molly was curious as to Kevin wanting to move to a larger boat.
“I'm booked at the B&B for the next three weeks. If you have time to book lessons for me, I'll be ready,” Kevin smiled as he brought the sloop back into the quay for the day.
Molly found that she looked forward to Kevin's weekend visits. He was an easy learner, even in the yacht, and shared her passion for the water. The following weekends they spent time on land studying ocean currents and sailing maps so that Kevin had a well rounded knowledge of sailing. He had a natural instinct and adapted his land lessons quickly to being out on the water.
Kevin and Molly spent most weekend evenings together at Kehoe's also. She had found a kindred soul. Someone who shared her passion for the water. She listened intently as Kevin talked about his dreams for sailing. She had heard this so many time before. Here in Kilmore Quay she was able to eek out a modest living with the sail shop, instructions, and tourist trips. It was not an easy life, but most rewarding for Molly. She couldn't imagine Kevin spending his life sailing and not working for a living, unless he was independently wealthy. Their conversations lead her to believe he was not. Was he just a big dreamer?
Kevin realized this also and was anxious to learn even more about dealing with the currents and winds in a sloop. He knew if he was ever to master his sailing skills, he needed to spend a lot more time under the instruction of Molly. For the time being he planned to set aside every weekend he could to make the trip to Kilmore and work on sailing.
During their sailing time Kevin and Molly also got to know each other better. There were no pretenses between them. Out on the water Molly was instructor and Kevin was the student, but when sailing was calm and Kevin was comfortably in control, their conversations turned more personal.
“You should come spend a weekend up in Dublin sometime, Molly,” Kevin mentioned during one conversation. “I'd love to take you around to some of my favorite spots.”
“That would be nice Kevin, but it's difficult to get away from here with having the sail shop, and lessons,” Molly replied, reluctant to explore the big city.
“There must be times when business is slow enough that someone could handle the shop for you, and when you don't have weekend instructions during the winter,” Kevin was surprised at Molly's reluctance to come to Dublin. A weekend get away to Dublin was cherished by so many of his out of town friends.
“I'll think about it,” Molly answered, showing little interest in traveling anywhere that didn't have water or sailing involved.
“Have you ever gone to watch any of the sailing races?” Kevin questioned.
“Not as an adult. The last race my father competed in I watched with my mother,” Molly answered. “Since then I really haven't gone to see any.”
“What about the Race Around the Island? I hear that's a great race to watch,” Kevin was startled to hear Molly's response.
“Oh, around the Isle of Wight?” Molly smiled. “Are you thinking of entering?”
“I need to own my own yacht first,” Kevin laughed. “Not to ignore the fact I also need a crew.”
Through this conversation Kevin was trying to see where Molly's interests lie. Why was she so attached to Kilmore Quay? With her experience why did she not follow in her father's footsteps and enter competitions? Her skills for sailing were amazing and she had the ability to do well. What was holding her back?
“Molly, do you think I'm ready for something larger than this sloop? I would like to develop some skills with something of a yacht. I notice that you have one docked at the quay. Do you every go out in it?” Kevin was showing his interest in moving ahead with his instruction.
“Yes, that is my yacht. I take out tourists on day trips during the summer months. If you are coming for another weekend next week, we can take that one out. I'd be interested to see how you handle it in the calm waters first before we head into open ocean. With the larger size and weight it does handle differently,” Molly was curious as to Kevin wanting to move to a larger boat.
“I'm booked at the B&B for the next three weeks. If you have time to book lessons for me, I'll be ready,” Kevin smiled as he brought the sloop back into the quay for the day.
Molly found that she looked forward to Kevin's weekend visits. He was an easy learner, even in the yacht, and shared her passion for the water. The following weekends they spent time on land studying ocean currents and sailing maps so that Kevin had a well rounded knowledge of sailing. He had a natural instinct and adapted his land lessons quickly to being out on the water.
Kevin and Molly spent most weekend evenings together at Kehoe's also. She had found a kindred soul. Someone who shared her passion for the water. She listened intently as Kevin talked about his dreams for sailing. She had heard this so many time before. Here in Kilmore Quay she was able to eek out a modest living with the sail shop, instructions, and tourist trips. It was not an easy life, but most rewarding for Molly. She couldn't imagine Kevin spending his life sailing and not working for a living, unless he was independently wealthy. Their conversations lead her to believe he was not. Was he just a big dreamer?
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