Late October
Grace woke up slowly. The morning had gotten cooler and darker and she just wanted to stay in bed. As she rolled over she felt the warm body next to her and smiled. Her life had changed dramatically in the last few weeks. The weddings were just perfect, and she was happy they had chosen to have two ceremonies. Business was going well for both her and Quinn and she wouldn't trade living in the cottage for anything.
She quietly slipped out of bed and into the shower. No time to dally today as she had a full cottage of guests and needed to get breakfast and tea ready. When she came out of the shower Quinn was facing her propped up on one elbow.
“Snuck out on me, did you?” he smiled and winked.
“No time for snuggling this morning, dear,” Grace winked back. “I've a full cottage to make breakfast for, and I'm sure you'll be wanting something too.”
“I'll be down in a few. I've got a ride to get organized for this weekend. We'll be busy again,” Quinn replied. “At least we'll be busy together.”
The cottage had once again become a hot spot for those in the know. Now instead of poets and writers, it was musicians and bikers. Grace felt sorry for those she had to turn away with the many weekends she was full up. Donovan beamed at the wedding as if he was the proud father, and insisted he knew the minute he saw Quinn that the couple was destined to be together. Peter and Chloe were regular dinner guests, as were Grace and Quinn at Peter and Chloe's. Rafter's was their local and they made regular evenings out to eat and listen to the great music being played there.
Aine had left Grace a legacy that would carry on for many years. Grace found where she really belonged, and while she never really missed her marketing job, she did miss Dublin at times. When she and Quinn could made weekday trips to the city, they did, but always felt it was nice to be back at the cottage.
Quinn eventually sold his company to a larger company and started a trekking club for bikers. He was also able to follow his passion. His network experience helped him expand the club beyond Swatragh with members even outside of Ireland.
Aine had left Grace not only with her cottage, but with the fulfillment of years of joy. Grace would never forget that.
Showing posts with label Rafters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rafters. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Sunday, October 23, 2011
All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 57
It took a while for all this to sink in for Grace. She no longer had a secure job in Dublin with a regular salary. Her landlord let her out of her flat as long as she had paid the month in full so she did have her funds from leaving her job. It was too late to change her mind now. Things had already been set in motion.
Grace spent hours in the evenings talking to Quinn. He was a good listener and helped her with ideas when she asked for help. She appreciated all this exchange and found she was growing closer to him as they worked on this move together. Quinn like the idea of returning emotional support to Grace after she had taken such good care of him at the cottage, and understood this decision would make a difference in their relationship too.
During all of this both Grace and Quinn realized that the magnetic draw between the two of them was getting stronger. Every time they would be packing a box and touch each other, it was as if they had each received a shock. Watching the two of them maneuver past each other as the packing progressed was like watching a game of cat and mouse.
Quinn knew that Grace was very hesitant about their relationship, but also knew that keeping the status quo was not going to be good for either of them. Grace couldn't help being drawn closer and closer to Quinn and by Saturday evening the first weekend of packing as they finished up with plans to drive up to Swatragh the next morning things finally started to get out of hand.
Grace turned to hand Quinn a small box of note cards to put into a larger box. Quinn missed the hand off and the box fell spilling all the contents all over the floor. As they both knelt down to pick up the cards they were face to face. Quinn gently reached up with one hand on Grace's cheek and pulled her toward him into a deep, passionate kiss. Grace's arms moved around Quinn's neck and pulled herself close until she was pressed against Quinn's strong chest. If it had not been for the ring of the phone who knows where all this would have led, but both Quinn and Grace hesitantly pulled apart so Grace could answer her cell.
It was Chloe asking if she could stay at the cottage for the week as she needed a little space from Peter and his father. No, there was no trouble, but a girl just needed some private time away from being with just men all the time. Grace agreed and welcomed the company during the next week as she would be unpacking and making the cottage more of her own place.
As Grace hung up the phone Quinn was right behind her. He turned her around and pulled her into another kiss and strong embrace.
“Grace, I care for you like I have never cared for anyone before. I want you to know that,” Quinn explained.
“I do know that Quinn. In fact, I think I've known that all along. I just finally let go of things that were in my past,” Grace replied.
Both Quinn and Grace were relatively conservative adults and knew that if Quinn stayed any later Grace would not want him to leave at all. At this point she was having an argument between her head and her heart as it was. Quinn knew better and graciously bid Grace a good night with plans to load up both their cars the next morning for the trip to Swatragh.
Sunday morning was an early morning for both Quinn and Grace. They were so busy loading up the cars that they didn't have much time to think about what had happened the night before. Once the cars were loaded they headed out for some tea and toast with plans to stop at Rafters in Swatragh for lunch. It had become their favorite place for time when Grace didn't cook, or for some wonderful music. Brendan, the barman, had sent many a customer to Grace for a booking and most of the musicians who played at Rafters made reservations with Grace to stay at the cottage.
Grace loved the drive up to Swatragh as it was the countryside was green and lush and beautiful this time of the year. While they were not in the same car, Grace and Quinn kept close tabs on each other as they drove. On his Sunday morning there was not much traffic, so they made great time. Pulling into Rafters right around noon. Quinn had planned to drive back that night, but with his flexibility, he could always make the drive early the next morning.
Grace spent hours in the evenings talking to Quinn. He was a good listener and helped her with ideas when she asked for help. She appreciated all this exchange and found she was growing closer to him as they worked on this move together. Quinn like the idea of returning emotional support to Grace after she had taken such good care of him at the cottage, and understood this decision would make a difference in their relationship too.
During all of this both Grace and Quinn realized that the magnetic draw between the two of them was getting stronger. Every time they would be packing a box and touch each other, it was as if they had each received a shock. Watching the two of them maneuver past each other as the packing progressed was like watching a game of cat and mouse.
Quinn knew that Grace was very hesitant about their relationship, but also knew that keeping the status quo was not going to be good for either of them. Grace couldn't help being drawn closer and closer to Quinn and by Saturday evening the first weekend of packing as they finished up with plans to drive up to Swatragh the next morning things finally started to get out of hand.
Grace turned to hand Quinn a small box of note cards to put into a larger box. Quinn missed the hand off and the box fell spilling all the contents all over the floor. As they both knelt down to pick up the cards they were face to face. Quinn gently reached up with one hand on Grace's cheek and pulled her toward him into a deep, passionate kiss. Grace's arms moved around Quinn's neck and pulled herself close until she was pressed against Quinn's strong chest. If it had not been for the ring of the phone who knows where all this would have led, but both Quinn and Grace hesitantly pulled apart so Grace could answer her cell.
It was Chloe asking if she could stay at the cottage for the week as she needed a little space from Peter and his father. No, there was no trouble, but a girl just needed some private time away from being with just men all the time. Grace agreed and welcomed the company during the next week as she would be unpacking and making the cottage more of her own place.
As Grace hung up the phone Quinn was right behind her. He turned her around and pulled her into another kiss and strong embrace.
“Grace, I care for you like I have never cared for anyone before. I want you to know that,” Quinn explained.
“I do know that Quinn. In fact, I think I've known that all along. I just finally let go of things that were in my past,” Grace replied.
Both Quinn and Grace were relatively conservative adults and knew that if Quinn stayed any later Grace would not want him to leave at all. At this point she was having an argument between her head and her heart as it was. Quinn knew better and graciously bid Grace a good night with plans to load up both their cars the next morning for the trip to Swatragh.
Sunday morning was an early morning for both Quinn and Grace. They were so busy loading up the cars that they didn't have much time to think about what had happened the night before. Once the cars were loaded they headed out for some tea and toast with plans to stop at Rafters in Swatragh for lunch. It had become their favorite place for time when Grace didn't cook, or for some wonderful music. Brendan, the barman, had sent many a customer to Grace for a booking and most of the musicians who played at Rafters made reservations with Grace to stay at the cottage.
Grace loved the drive up to Swatragh as it was the countryside was green and lush and beautiful this time of the year. While they were not in the same car, Grace and Quinn kept close tabs on each other as they drove. On his Sunday morning there was not much traffic, so they made great time. Pulling into Rafters right around noon. Quinn had planned to drive back that night, but with his flexibility, he could always make the drive early the next morning.
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