Page 12 of Irish Getaway
“They’re called the Twelve Bens.”
“In Telluride, the mountains are taller, but these feel so much closer, and the light… It’s not as harsh. It’s softer here somehow.”
“There’s a place to pullover up ahead,” Claire said and a few moments later she had the car parked, and they both got out.
As they leaned against the car taking in the stunning view, Evelyn couldn’t help stealing a glance at Claire. Her hair was down, falling a few inches below her shoulders. She wore khaki shorts and a black tank top, and there was an effortless beauty about her.
Claire turned and caught Evelyn’s gaze. “Is it worth the risk?”
Evelyn blinked, her mind scrambling to come up with something to say as her heart seemed to stall.
“Coming out here,” Claire said when Evelyn hadn’t answered. “We haven’t seen a single person. And I could bring you on ten different drives like this before you decide to leave.”
Evelyn swallowed, her heart slowing. Why had she assumed that Claire had noticed the way that she’d been looking at her? “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you,” Evelyn said as she turned back to the landscape. “But I’m glad that I came around eventually. Thank you. For doing this.”
As they stood side by side, gazing out at the rugged beauty of Connemara, Evelyn’s mind drifted back to their conversation from the previous night. Claire’s casual mention of her sexuality had caught Evelyn off guard, but she doubted that Claire had taken any notice of her reaction. Evelyn kept her expression neutral, but now, she couldn’t deny that things had changed.
The idea that she could let herself be drawn to Claire, because it was harmless and Claire wouldn’t notice, was gone. Evelyn had to forget about these last few weeks and all those stolen glances and lingering looks.
It wasn’t even that she thought Claire would be interested in her. Evelyn was so much older than her, and it was beyond unrealistic. Their lives were so far apart on just about every level.
But still, that conversation had brought Evelyn’s own long-buried feelings to the surface, forcing her to confront truths she had spent years denying. And she had alluded to it that night after a few too many glasses of wine. Regrets, she’d said, without specifying what they were.
In the chaos that was her life, working long hours and going from one award ceremony to the next, it was easy for Evelyn to forget that she’d spent decades hiding a fundamental part of herself, too afraid to ruin her public image, to potentially tank her career. She’d pushed down her own desires and thrown herself into her work instead, all the while maintaining a carefully crafted public persona, a handsome man never too far away.
But standing here, in this picturesque setting, with a woman who knew exactly who she was, Evelyn couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy, maybe even longing.
What would her life have been like if she’d been brave enough to be herself? Would she have met someone? Would she have been happier? Could she have had both? A woman she loved and a career that would be remembered?
“Will we keep going?” Claire asked, taking her away from her thoughts.
“Yeah.” Evelyn took one last look, her eyes lingering on the few houses that were nestled at the foot of the mountains, and she wondered what it would be like to live somewhere so beautiful yet so remote.
10
As they got closer to home, an idea started to form in Claire’s head, but she wasn’t sure that she’d be able to convince Evelyn. They’d had such a lovely day that Claire was reluctant to push things, but at the same, when Evelyn was out and about and having zero problems with being recognized, Claire wanted to make the most of it.
She’d been overly cautious today, not stopping at some of the usual tourists spots like Kylemore Abbey, knowing that it would be almost certain that someone would stop Evelyn and want a photo with her.
Claire had stopped along the way for some food, putting together a picnic, and when they came across the perfect spot, they parked and sat on a rock away from the road, overlooking a lake while they ate.
Now, Claire had a decision to make. Was she really going to push her luck after how well everything had gone today? Her local pub came into view, and Claire turned off the road, parking outside it.
Claire could almost feel Evelyn tensing beside her in the passenger seat, and when she turned off the car and looked over, Evelyn was sliding on her shades.
“Give me two minutes,” Claire said as she opened the door. “I’ll be right back.”
Claire slid her hand into the pocket of her shorts as she pulled open the door to the pub, chatter and laughter pouring out. It was almost seven o’clock and maybe twenty people were sitting around the tables and on high stools at the bar. Claire said hello to a few familiar faces. Maybe this was a bad idea.
“What can I get you, Claire?”
She turned towards the voice of the owner of the pub as he left a glass of Guinness on the bar to settle and started to pour another. “Hey, Rory.” She took a deep breath. “I have a favor to ask you,” she said, leaning against the bar.
He glanced up at her. “What kind of favor?”
Claire swallowed, watching him set another pint of Guinness on the bar. “I have an American friend who wants to come inside and see what a real Irish bar is like.”
“Okay.”