“Ugh…” I’m at a loss for words.
“I’m Micheál,” he says, pronouncing it like Mee-haul. “I’ll be driving ya to your swanky apartment building in town.” He winks, but it’s not leery in the slightest. He gives off jovial grandpa vibes that have me instantly relaxing. “Good flight?” he continues, taking control of my luggage cart without asking.
“Yes,” I lie, because I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear how I spent half of it crying over my cheating ex and nursing my broken heart.
“First time in Dublin?” he inquires, waving to another couple of drivers as we walk off, heading into a plexiglass tunnel.
“First time in Ireland,” I confirm. Audrey and I had planned to visit when we were in Europe last summer, but we never made it.
“Well, you’re in for a treat. What part of America are you from?”
He talks fast, and his accent is so thick that I have to wait a few seconds for my brain to process the words and decipher his question. “Los Angeles.”
He whistles under his breath, nodding at me. “I took one look at ya, and I just knew you were a Hollywood princess.”
My eyes startle wide, and panic races to the surface at the thought my cover might have already been blown. Maybe I’ll just say California in the future, because I don’t want to lie and have to keep track of what I’m telling people. Remembering to say my name is Grace will be challenging enough.
He chuckles heartily as we head across the dark, chilly parking lot. A full-body shiver works its way through me, and I can already tell reports about the cold winter weather were not unfounded. I sense a shopping trip in my near future.
“Relax, love. It’s only a figure of speech. I’ve heard all the birds in Hollywood are real beauties and they all want to be actresses.” He stops at a black Mercedes car with a yellow taxi sign on the roof. He continues talking while he opens the trunk, and I glance at the other cars around us, spotting a lot of brands I’m familiar with. “Is it true they all have fake knockers?” he asks.
I blink profusely, staring blankly at him. I thought they spoke English in Dublin, but I’m completely confused and second-guessing myself.
He chuckles at the expression on my face. “Plastic tits,” he explains.
Ah, now I’m getting the gist. “It’s true a lot of women in Hollywood are fans of cosmetic surgery.” Not this gal though. I plan to grow old gracefully, like Mom.
“I’ve only been to America once,” he adds, swiftly stacking my suitcases in the trunk. “I brought me missus and the kids to Orlando, when me missus was me mot. It’s a fecking fantastic place.”
He might as well be speaking Gaelic. For all I know, he is. I stare blankly at him again, and he chuckles as he opens the back door of the car for me.
“I always forget you Yanks speak differently. Me missus is me wife.”
“Good to know. Thank you.” My smile is genuine, because it’s easy to respond naturally to his friendly manner.
Removing a photo from his wallet, Micheál leans back to show me. “That’s my Maureen, and my three boys. She’s still a looker, even after all these years.” His chest swells with pride.
“You have a beautiful family,” I agree, handing the photo back to him.
He talks nonstop throughout the journey from Dublin Airport to the city center, changing subjects seamlessly and barely pausing for a breath. Traffic is heavier than I was expecting but it’s not as bad as L.A. His driving skills leave a lot to be desired, and he’s constantly switching lanes, honking his horn, cussing, and shaking his fist when other drivers try to cut in front of him.
By the time we reach the brown brick and glass high-rise I’ll be calling home for the next few months, my heart is in my mouth from the stress of his crazy driving and he’s given me a summary of his life story and a list of places I need to visit. “Home sweet home, love,” he says, pulling into an underground parking lot under the Capital Dock Residence building. “This place is the perfect location,” he adds, maneuvering into a vacant spot by the doors that lead to the elevators. “You’re right beside the Liffey, and it’s only a ten-minute walk to Trinners. You’re slap bang in the heart of the city with access to all the shops, pubs, and restaurants. You’ll have a grand ole time in our fair city.”
“Thank you so much, Micheál.” I lean forward, handing him a fifty-euro bill as a tip. Mom’s assistant Moira booked everything, and I know he’s already been paid for the journey.
“Jesus, love. You can’t be giving me that. It’s too much.”
“Trust me. It was worth it for the wealth of knowledge I’ve gleaned on the journey here. You should be a tour guide,” I quip, climbing out of the car.
“Maybe I missed my true calling.” He waggles his brows while unloading my suitcases.
He insists on coming inside with me, and between us, we manage to get all my luggage into the small elevator. Or lift, as Micheál keeps calling it.
Micheál whistles under his breath as we step out of the elevator into a large lobby. “Would you get a look at this place?” he says, looking awestruck as he glances around. “This is how the other half live.”
A tall, slim woman with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail steps forward to greet me. She’s wearing a navy skirt suit with a white blouse and holding a clipboard. “Ms. Mills?” she asks, extending her arm for a handshake.
“That’s me.” I shake her hand.
She smiles, flashing a set of beautiful white teeth. “I’m Ciara, the manager on duty today. I’m delighted to welcome you to Capital Dock Residence, and I hope you’ll enjoy your stay with us.”
“You’re in capable hands now, love.” Micheál grabs my hand, pressing a card into my palm. “Enjoy your time in Ireland, and if you need a taxi, I’m yer man.” I wave him off while Ciara arranges for someone to take my luggage up to the penthouse apartment.
Ciara gives me a quick tour of the communal areas, which includes a resident’s lounge, a game room, business suite, small cinema, and a decent-sized gym. We don’t venture outside, because the rain is plummeting down now, but she points out the landscaped gardens and courtyards, and maybe if I’m still here in the summer, I can make use of the outdoor space. She confirms I’m booked and fully paid until the beginning of June and all the utilities are included in the monthly rental payment.
She escorts me up to my apartment, and I’m blown away by the gorgeous, large, spacious two-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse complete with a small rooftop garden. Sophisticated interior design and modern furniture are the main features of my new home, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I know it’s a world away from the average student accommodations, and I’m lucky. I would’ve taken a place on campus, but Trinners doesn’t have many accommodations, and there were no vacancies. Walking to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, I inhale deeply, already feeling a layer of stress lift from my body.
This place is perfect.
Just perfect.
My smile expands as I press my nose to the glass, rain pitter-pattering against the window. The views over the River Liffey and Dublin City Center are spectacular.
Ciara shows me how to work the appliances, use the shower, and regulate the heating. She laughs when I crank the thermostat to the max, feeling decidedly chilly even though the apartment isn’t cold. I’m guessing it’ll take this Cali girl some time to adjust to the vastly different climate in Ireland.
After she leaves, I do a little dance and emit a squeal before exploring the rest of my new home.