right up to her and told her he thought she was the most
beautiful human being on earth. And then the teacher
started class. Gramps said he could hardly breathe for the
rest of the class, especially when he realized he was in the
wrong classroom. But instead of excusing himself, he waited
until it was done. He thought Gran was taking diligent notes,
but instead she was writing him a letter since she had noticed
him as well. The letter was read at their wedding, after
graduation.
I felt that was how people should fall in love. Instant
connection.
So Gramps and Gran stayed in the States. They had my
mom. But Gramps got offered a teaching job back in Ireland
when I was a baby. So they went and would visit us every
summer.
Now I was visiting them. They almost didn’t know what to
do with me.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t much help.
“Can I please help you with that?” I asked Gran as she
readied supper.
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“You sit right there. You’ve had a long trip.”
I sat down at the kitchen table. I should’ve been exhausted,
but I think I was the kind of tired that made you super hyper.
“You should join me tonight at the pub to hear some real
music,” Gramps said, sitting down next to me.
“James Mullarkey, you’re not taking our only grandchild
to a pub on her first night in town.”
“You’re right.” He rubbed his faded ginger beard. “That’s
more of a Wednesday night activity.” He winked at me.
Gran groaned. “Macallan, honey, I have tomorrow off and
thought we’d go around town. I can introduce you to some of
the townsfolk. We’ve been telling everybody about your visit.”
“She’d have a better chance meeting people of her genera—
tion at the pub.”
“That’s enough from you!” Gran pointed a wooden spoon
at Gramps.
“Now, now.” Gramps got up and went into the kitchen to
wrap his arms around Gran. It was sweet how much in love
they still were after all these years. “I promise to be a good
influence on our dear, young, impressionable granddaughter.”
Gramps had his back to me so I could see him crossing his
fingers behind his back.
“Shoot!” Gran pulled away. “I forgot to pick up some thyme
at the store.”
I stood up. “I can go get it. I’d like to go for a walk — I’ve
been sitting for too long.” I tried to do the math in my head of how many hours, maybe even days, I’d been awake.
It took me only a few minutes to get my bearings in town.
There was basically the harbor front and Main Street. Plus,
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if I got lost, all I had to do was ask where Jim and Betty’s
place was. It was that small a town.
Since I had some time before dinner would be finished,
I decided to go down to Dingle Harbor and watch a few
boats come in. I wandered in one of the tourist shops and
grabbed a few postcards. Then I made my way past the
colorful buildings to the small grocery store a few blocks
from my grandparents’ place. I picked up the fresh thyme
and waited behind an older woman who was getting in a
great debate about whether or not some guy was cheating on
his wife.
“I’ll help you over here,” I heard a voice call out. I went to
the other register and handed the bunch of sprigs to a young
guy with messy black hair. “Once you get me mum started,
you’d be waiting all night.”
“Thanks.”
He smiled at me. “Ah, I didn’t think you looked familiar.
American?”
“Yes.” I felt embarrassed that I could be figured out so easily. I’d only said one word.
“Tourist?” He helped me figure out which coins I needed
to pay.
“Yes, well, no. Um, my grandparents live —”
Recognition lit his face. “Ah, you’re Jim and Betty’s.”
“Yes.”
“Is this Jim and Betty’s?” The woman behind the other
register came over.
“Hi, I’m Macallan.” I held my hand out.
“Welcome!” The woman bypassed my hand and hugged me
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against her slight frame. “We’ve heard so much about you.
You’re from America.”
“Yes, outside Milwaukee, in Wisconsin. It’s near Chicago.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Sheila O’Dwyer, and this is my
son, Liam.”
“Hi.” I gave him a shy wave, which he returned with a
hearty laugh.
Sheila quickly ran off to help a new customer.
“So, Macallan from outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” Liam
said with a crooked smile.
“Sorry, I didn’t know . . .” I felt so stupid. I should’ve just
said I was from America.
“No, ’tis fine. I love the States. Madison is the capital of
Wisconsin, and Milwaukee is the biggest city. I even watch
your American football sometimes. The Packers, right?”
I couldn’t help but instantly like him. A fellow Packers fan
in Ireland?
I felt my cheeks get hot. Danielle kept teasing me I’d meet
a boy named Seamus O’Leary McHunky, and here I was
meeting a Liam my first day.