Travels in Eire #11

The sun came streaming through the window as Cailin rolled over to look at the clock. She was amazed to see it was 11:30 and jumped out of bed realizing she only had about an hour and a half to get ready to meet Darren for lunch. She also had to check out by noon and get her backpack returned to her car for when she left later in the day.
Cailin was trying to stay faithful to the plan that she had created with Rorey so that she could see the most of the country while here on vacation, but she was beginning to question this idea now that she had met Darren. Caution was her middle name when it came to men, but something was different here in Ireland. She never would have gone alone to a concert and then an after-party till the wee hours of the morning having just met a man in the in the states. Here she felt more at ease, or maybe she was being more adventurous. She really didn't care as she was having a great time.

She quickly showered, packed her backpack and headed down the stairs to the lobby. It was just after noon as Cailin checked out and turned around to see Darren standing behind her with that incredible smile of his. Today he was dressed in dark wash jeans and a crisply ironed dark shirt. Somewhere between his band casual and work casual. It suited him well.
“I was ready early so I thought I'd hang out in the lobby and wait for you,” his statement almost gave up his enthusiasm.
Cailin could do nothing but smile back. She was thrilled to see Darren already in the lobby.
“I have to put my backpack in my car before we go to lunch, if you don't mind,” Cailin told Darren.
“No problem,” Darren said grabbing the backpack and slinging it over his shoulder as they walked out of the hotel.
After dropping off her backpack, Cailin and Darren headed past the archway of one of the gates and into the city center. The streets and sidewalks were narrow and Darren put his hand on the small of Cailin's back to help guide her. It pulled the two of them closer together and Cailin felt her pulse rise with the warmth of Darren's hand on her back. As they walked Cailin asked Darren about his family and how he ended up in Derry working at the hospital.

Darren explained that he grew up in the Galway area, out on the Connemara Coast. His mom worked in a hospital in Galway, and his dad ran their B&B. His grandfather, who lived with them, was a champion whistle player and he grew up with the likes of some of the best musicians always visiting around his house, especially the famous Luke Kelly. Darren attended Galway University and majored in business. When it came time to find a job Darren found this clerk job in the Derry Children's hospital. One day they needed help with a fund raising project and asked for Darren's help. It was this one event that gave Darren the chance to prove himself and he did in a big way. The rest is all history, as Darren explained.

Cailin and Darren had walked quite a while and ended up at the Indigo Cafe on Shipquay Street. Definitely not a tourist spot and Cailin got the feeling that this was another location where many musicians gathered. Darren guided her inside, nodded at the barman as they headed to a snug in the corner. It was quiet inside and Darren sat next to Cailin instead of across from her. Cailin had no qualms about this, and was not bothered at all by the fact that they were sitting so close to each other.

Darren explained that why Indigo was not fancy, they had some great grub. Cailin let Darren order for her and was not disappointed. They shared a plate of cold smoked salmon and capers with brown bread, followed by a bowl of vegetable soup, and desert of a wine poached pear. Darren obviously had a great palate for delicious food. Just another thing that impressed Cailin.

Now that lunch was over, it was time for Cailin to think about getting on the road to her next destination. She hesitated mentioning this to Darren, but as so many times before, Darren was able to sense her concern.
“Cailin, I know you have something you need to do here in Ireland, and I don't want to keep you from that. I do want to make sure I don't lose touch with you and hopefully can see you before you go home,” Darren voiced everything that Cailin wanted to say.
Cailin could not have responded if she wanted to.
As Darren walked Cailin back to her car he reached for her hand, but instead put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. Cailin was very aware that this connection they had was something very special. As they reached the car Darren pulled out his cell phone and asked Cailin for her number, entering it right then. Cailin did the same. As she turned to open the car door, Darren put his hand on her shoulder and turned her around, leaning in and gently kissing Cailin.
“Hopefully that will keep me on your mind,” Darren joked as he pulled away and once again flashed that incredible smile that made Cailin smile.
“You're a hard one not to forget, Darren,” Cailin joked back and climbed into the driver's seat. “I'll be in touch, and hope you will too.”

As she pulled away, Cailin could see Darren in her rear view mirror. He made her feel so very happy.