walks you love so much, text me every damn day. And find you. You do that for me, Breen.” He squeezed her hand. “You find you, then you can bring you home because I’m going to miss the hot holy hell out of you.”
“I already miss you. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“That goes both ways.”
Her heart sank, just sank out of her body when she made the turn for the airport.
“You’re going to drop me at the curb, like we said.”
“I can park and come in, and—”
“No way. We’ll both cry like babies. I got myself a manly tat, I can’t be crying like a baby.”
“I’m going to cry anyway.”
“Do me a solid, Breen.”
Already sniffling, she drove toward departures. “You know I will.”
“Have fun with all of it. Just let go and have fun. I want to picture you sitting at that desk writing and having fun with it. Sitting outside with some wine, looking at the water, and having fun with it. Maybe getting yourself out for a night at the pub and flirting with some sexy Irish guy, and having fun with it.”
“I’m going to try.”
“I’m gonna Yoda you. There is no try. Okay now, you’ve got Finola’s number if you need anything at the cottage, and you know how to work the stove and oven. Don’t forget to lock up at night even though.”
“I won’t. Don’t worry about me, Marco.”
“Shit, course I’m going to worry about you some. It’s part of my job.”
She pulled up at the curb, remembering how thrilled they’d both been when they’d arrived. “You’ve got your passport, your tickets, your—”
“I got it all.”
He got out to retrieve his bags while she got out and tried not to wring her hands.
“Text me as soon as you land. The minute.”
“I will, and you text me when you get back to the cottage. I’ll be in that first-class lounge, thanks to my best girl.” He set down his bags to grab her into a hard hug. “If you can’t sleep or you get nervous, you call me—right out call. Okay?”
“I will. I love you. I’ll miss you.”
“I love you back, and I’m going to miss you so hard. Now I’m going before I start blubbering.” He kissed her, squeezed her again, then grabbed his bags.
He hurried toward the doors, then turned around once. “You have fun, girl, or I’m gonna be really pissed.”
Then he was gone.
She drove through rain and tears back to the solitude she didn’t know if she was ready for.
The sun broke through minutes before she reached the cottage. And the rainbow shimmering over it had tears flowing again.
She wanted Marco to see it, so she got out of the car, used her phone to try to capture it. Standing there, she sent it with a text.
A good omen for your safe travel, and my next phase. I love you a rainbow’s worth.
He responded:
Love it—def blog worthy. Sitting here like a rich bastard drinking a beer and eating freaking canapés. Go take a walk under the rainbow. Love you.
Okay, she thought, maybe I will.
She grabbed her purse to take inside, and there changed into the classic Wellingtons Marco had talked her into.
Two steps out the kitchen door, she let out a muffled squeal.
The man wore Wellingtons like hers, rough brown trousers, and a work jacket. Tufts of gray-streaked yellow hair stuck out from under a blue cap.
He was bigger than a leprechaun, but not by much, and his round Irish face, merry blue eyes, and pug nose made her think of one.
He tossed a handful of what she assumed were weeds into a black tub, then tipped his cap at her.
“Good day to you, miss! I’d be Seamus, here to see to the garden if it pleases you.”
“Yes, of course. Finola said you’d be by. We must have missed you before.”
His smile, charmingly crooked, beamed warmth. “It would seem so. And how are you enjoying your stay?”
“Very much. I—I just dropped my friend off at the airport for his flight home.”
“Ah, and that makes you sad, of course. Friendship’s the bread of life, isn’t it now? Well then, I wish him a fair journey.”
“Thank you. The gardens, they’re just beautiful.”
“Flowers are one of the gifts the gods give us, and tending them a pleasure and duty.”
“I’ve been trying to learn about them—flowers and plants.”
He just beamed at her again. “Have you now?”
“Yes, I have a book.”
“Books are fine things, one of the finest for certain. But then doing’s a