Page 2 of Irish Getaway
Evelyn nodded. “So, I never got there. I kept renewing it, always thinking I’d find a few weeks.”
“But you could go with your American passport for up to ninety days, I think.”
“I don’t want to limit myself like that. Thanks to my grandfather, I have an Irish passport, and I plan on taking full advantage of it. If I’m not ready to come back in three months, I’ll stay.”
Evelyn could see Arianna wrestling with her thoughts. As her manager, she was probably scrambling, trying to figure out how to change Evelyn’s mind, but as her friend, Evelyn knew that Arianna wouldn’t fight her on this.
“Will you stay in touch?” Arianna asked.
“Of course.” Evelyn gave her a warm smile, feeling a sense of relief washing over her, and she hadn’t even organized her flight or found suitable accommodation. “Even better, you should come visit me.”
“I’d love that, but you know how demanding some of my other clients are.”
“I know.”
Rising from the lounger, Evelyn walked over to the edge of the patio, gazing out at the expansive view of the city sprawling below. The late afternoon sun cast an ethereal glow, making everything shimmer. She inhaled deeply, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. This trip to Ireland wouldn’t just be an escape. It would be a chance to rediscover herself outside the glaring spotlight of Hollywood.
Arianna’s heels clicked against the flagstone as she moved to stand beside Evelyn. “I know I can’t talk you out of this,” she said softly, “But promise me one thing. Don’t make any rash decisions about your career while you’re away.”
“I won’t.”
“What should I tell Rick? Have you talked to him?”
Evelyn shook her head, knowing she’d have to call her agent once Arianna left. “No. Not yet.”
Arianna nodded. “Well, we’ll see what the next few weeks bring in terms of scripts. If I find something, can I send it to you?”
Evelyn hesitated, ready to launch back into her argument that her career was effectively over, but she stopped herself. “Sure.”
“When are you going?”
Evelyn folded her arms over her chest as she gazed out at the hazy Los Angeles skyline. “As soon as I can book a jet and find the right place to stay. Somewhere quiet. Private.”
“Stay in touch,” she said, pulling her into a long hug.
Evelyn returned the embrace, closing her eyes as she savored the warmth, unable to remember the last time someone had hugged her away from a movie set. “I will.”
She watched as Arianna walked away, the sound of her heels fading into the background. Turning back to the view before her, Evelyn let out a long breath, letting the weight of her decision settle in.
She knew this trip to Ireland wouldn’t magically solve everything. The doubts, the fears, the creeping sense of irrelevance would all follow her across the ocean.
Even if Arianna didn’t show it, Evelyn knew she wasn’t happy with this decision. Rick wouldn’t be either. She could hear his voice in her head before she even thought about making that phone call. ‘Don’t stay away too long, Evelyn. This town has a short memory.’
But Evelyn had spent her whole adult life listening to other people telling her what was right for her career, her future, and for once, she was going to listen to her own instincts. Not only did she need a break, she needed a change of scenery.
A flicker of excitement stirred within her. The idea of getting away, of leaving it all behind, even if just for a little while, felt exhilarating.
2
The familiar scent of hay and horses surrounded Claire Hurley as she moved down the roll of stalls. The gentle whinnying of the horses filled the air along with the occasional stomp. Claire took her time, spending a few moments with each horse, greeting them by name and petting their neck or nose. It was almost meditative for her, and she always allowed the time for it, no matter how many other jobs she had on her list as stable manager that day.
Warm sunlight filtered through the stable windows, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air. As she reached the end of the row, a loud bang followed by a distressed whinny caught her attention. Claire turned to see Finn, the new colt, rearing up in his stall.
Claire approached the stall slowly, her movements fluid and non-threatening. She knew that Finn needed a calm, reassuring presence to settle his nerves.
“Easy there, boy,” Claire murmured, her voice low and soothing. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Finn snorted and pawed at the ground, his ears pinned back. But Claire remained patient, speaking softly and keeping her distance until the light gray colt began to calm down.