Sunday morning arrived all too soon and after a proper Irish Fry breakfast Grace said a long good-bye to her friends as they needed to head back to Dublin for work on Monday.
They all remarked at how the cottage seemed to be exuding it's old charm again, and after a new paint job it would look like it had from the pictures that Grace had shown them. Grace still was determined to put it for sale.
Sunday afternoon allowed Grace time to change all the linens and set up the rooms for show as if guests would be arriving at any time. Her friends had done an amazing job leaving everything sparkling and cleaned. It was as if the cottage had taken on a new life inside. Grace made herself some of the leftovers for lunch and set down with a cup of tea to look through more of the papers from Aine's desk.
She started to sort the papers and cards into groups. First there were all the thank-you notes from guests. So many were regular return guests as there were multiple notes from them. Many commented on the quiet calm they enjoyed at the cottage and the Swatragh area. Many more commented on the delicious food that Aine served and bagged lunches when they were requested.
The second group of papers were notes that were all in the same handwriting. Grace recognized the script as her grandmother's. Aine kept notes on her guests as to their preferences, special needs and favorite foods. Her preparation for guests was meticulous. Sean and Jean Mulcahey like the room in the back and Jean loves fresh roses; Matthew Scott eats vegetables at breakfast and no fruit; Maggie Finch likes chamomile tea at 4:00 on the front porch. And the notes went on and on. Grace smiled as she read each note that Aine had written. She obviously cared deeply for her regulars.
The last group of papers seemed to be scraps of writings that guests left behind, or wrote to Aine. Possibly writings in progress. These she would pass on to Barry to look at closer. Some of the papers were yellowed with age. Aine had been hosting guests at the cottage for many years.
It was getting well into the evening when Grace finished going through all the papers. The cottage was so quiet since her friends had left. As Grace walked around the dining and sitting room she could imagine all the many guests filling the now empty spaces. The conversations among people who had become friends at the cottage.
Tomorrow the outside would start to take on a new color and breath of freshness. Grace wanted to go find some more roses to replace some of those that needed to be replaced. A trip to Montgomery Nurseries Maghera just down the road would be called for. She also wanted to plant some heather and other plants that would fill in the areas that needed some color.
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