All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 11

Grace....Grace....someone kept calling her.....

Grace opened her eyes aware that someone was at the door calling her name. She jumped up from the over-sized chair, realizing that she had fallen asleep, and went to the door trying to pull herself together. Her guests were standing at the door wondering what had happened to her.

“Cheers Gracie, looks like someone's been sleepin' on the job!” Erin laughed as she and Kelly came in the door.

“Oh my, I just sat down for a minute and guess I fell asleep!” Grace responded. “I'm so embarrassed,” she said blushing.

“No worries lassie, just as long as you have some good food for us hungry Dubs,” Keith shouted as he and Anna entered. “Kate and Barry will be here in a few, they are just down the road aways.”

Grace quickly showed everyone to their rooms so they could put down their bags, and headed to the kitchen to check on things. There would be no time for a shower and change of clothes at this point.

The bottle of wine was opened and Grace placed the platter of cheeses out for everyone to snack on as she finished final preparations for the dinner. The cottage had a smell of home style cooking that could not be missed. Grace put he cast iron pot of Guinness stew on the table and brought the warm wrapped soda bread out last. As everyone sat down and ate the company was friendly and Grace felt very comfortable.

“Grace, where ever did you find this food? And the bread, it's so fresh,” Anna commented first with nods from the others.

“I made it all, even the bread,” Grace replied to an astonished group of guests.

“Since when do you cook like this? Never in Dublin,” Kelly was amazed at the flavors.

“Since I found my Grandmother's recipes for the stew and bread. I'm glad you like it,” Grace boasted proudly. She was thrilled with the success of the meal.

The friends sat around the table long after the Guinness stew was gone and the last bits of soda bread were eaten. Their conversation surrounded what Grace had been missing in Dublin and all the little gossips of work. It then turned to questions about the cottage. Grace explained everything that had been going on since she arrived and her plans to get it ready to put on the market for sale.

“I wonder if the new owner would keep this as a B&B?” Keith questioned. It is a diamond in the rough and would be such a shame to not have. Considering the location, it's a perfect get away. Now that I know about it, I'd definitely make it a weekend destination. Was it a busy place when your grandmother had it?”

“Keith, as far as I can tell, she was always busy here. I have no idea who came and stayed, I'm still looking at papers that were in a drawer. Lots of jottings on paper scraps, and what looks like parts of poetry,” Grace explained what she had found. “Since you love poetry so much maybe you can take a look at some of this stuff.”

“Be glad to Grace. How about a little toast to our group right now. Time to get to some serious drinking!” Keith started pouring the Bushmill's whiskey into some glasses. “How about some ice and water for the weaklings!”

The laughter and friendship filled the cottage. Grace was pleased that her friends had come and any loneliness she had been experiencing was long gone. She loved having everyone here to share with her.