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This was like a dream come true, and I could not stop gazing around the countryside to make sure I didn’t miss anything. It was all so green but in a different way from the lush tropical green of Port Douglas. Most of the year the land around Melbourne was yellow from the heat. It did not take long and we were at the castle. It was not huge like Windsor Castle but more rustic and taller. It was like a big old rectangular block with crenelations on the top. The garden was beautiful as we strolled around. Beautiful trees and plants. There was even one called the Poison Garden. It had a sign saying, ‘Do not smell, touch, or eat’. There were skulls and crossbones as well to ward you off.
Then we climbed to the top. It was early in the morning and out of season so not too busy. The guide said sometimes it would take an hour in the queue to get to the top. The further up we got the more nervous I became. The steps were dark, steep, and narrow.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. It’s very high up,” I said.
“I’ll do it if you will,” Flynn offered.
I was not one to be beaten so would give it a go. I watched as the people in front of me laid on their backs, bent backward, and kissed the stone while a man held them around the waist. As we made our way back to the car something occurred to me.
“I was just thinking how many other people have kissed it. Maybe it’s not such a good idea. Oh well, too late now.” I had some wipes in my purse and rubbed my lips, and handed one to Flynn.
Two hours later and we were in Dingle. The town was beautiful with its small harbor and the sun glinting on the water. The houses were painted bright colors and just made you smile. There was a dolphin statue on the harbor, and I hoped we would see some.
“I have a treat for you,” Flynn said as he took me into a small public house and ordered a Guinness with a shamrock in the froth on the top.
Some people recognized him, and he happily took pictures with them and signed autographs. The taste of the Guinness was bitter, but I loved it. The pub was a leather shop, too, and I bought myself a small purse with Celtic designs on it.
The woman behind the bar smiled at me and asked. “So, how are you enjoying Ireland? I hear you’re from Australia.”
“It’s beautiful but seems small. Everything seems so vast back home but here it’s warm and welcoming here.”
“It’s an illusion. If he takes you back along the western coastline you will get blown away, but it’s worth it.”
“I think that is on tomorrow’s list.”
We walked around town, and I bought a shillelagh stick.
“What are you buying that for? I promise to behave unless you don’t want me to,” Flynn said.
“It’s for Patrick. He said he will use it on Paul if he gets up to mischief. I’m not sure they will allow it back into Australia though. They are really fussy about wood being imported.”
We headed back to the dockside and got on the boat for the trip Flynn had organized. The trip took us out to a cove where we saw dolphins frolicking and then onto the majestic Basket Islands. We stopped on one that was uninhabited and walked around for an hour. It was rough, but I loved every minute of it. I was one of those lucky people that never got seasick. Back on dry land, we headed to the hotel. It was a beautiful building just outside the town with views to the bay.
We washed up and headed back to town to a restaurant where the food was to die for. Definitely not your plain spud here, but every type of seafood and fish you could want. Then we headed back to the pub from earlier where a band was playing Irish jig music.
“I need a rest and an Irish coffee would not go amiss. We walked a lot and my knee is still not what it was.”
“Your wish is my command. I will carry you home too.”
“That’s not needed. We will use a taxi but thanks for the offer.”
Back at the hotel, Flynn adored my body again until we fell asleep in each other’s arms. I did not want this to end. It was like we were separated from the real world.
The next day we went back to the rugged coastline on the west and a place called the Cliffs of Moher. I nearly got blown off the clifftops and was mesmerized by the crashing ways on the shore below. We stayed at another beautiful hotel and then onto Dublin.
The culture and vibe of the city blew me away. Flynn took me to the theatre where he had been given his first break in a play and been noticed by agents. Everyone welcomed me, and the atmosphere was so good I could not imagine anything different from Ireland, but then again, the family awaited. Our lovemaking that night was more urgent. I sensed a need in Flynn that he had to be close. He was so big and strong and yet I felt the need to protect him from what was to come.
TWENTY-SIX
FLYNN
The past few days with Avery had been wonderful. She had given me a new appreciation of the country I had come from. Sometimes it was good to be with someone else seeing it for the first time. My publicist, Jenny had been in contact and said we would need to leave the day after the wedding as the show wanted to get back to filming a day early.
I was happy with that and organized the flights to be brought forward a day. It meant I could get away without having to make a false excuse. Now we were back in Cork and getting ready for the big day. I had told my mother that we could not make it the day before as I needed to talk to a local film producer. She had not been happy but didn’t push it.
We had a limo take us from the hotel to the wedding. We would both want to drink a couple of wines and being on the front page of the Cork Examiner for a DUI was not what would make my agent or publicist happy. Avery grabbed my hand.
“You, okay?”
