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.