Missed Connections, page 7
That made sense. “So, if I want to keep talking to him, what should I say?”
“Say just that. Tell him that his job doesn’t matter and that you still want to talk to him. Then the ball’s in his court.” Harper shrugged and sipped her wine. “Now, can we figure out how I’m avoiding a dog this weekend?”
MSwRight I’m not upset. I like you for you and not what job I thought you had.
Chapter Ten
He woke to a message from Abby, but fear had him avoiding reading it. Which was hard when there were other notifications and messages waiting, but there was that one line of preview text. His heart was beating a bit faster now and there was some anxiety over what she might have said. Was she upset and this was it?
Getting out of bed, Danny heading straight to the kitchen to put on the kettle. Thank, Jesus, that it was a Saturday. That meant he wouldn’t be going to work, but he’d still be working. Danny made a promise to his grandad to help with the fudge shop today.
By the time the kettle was whistling, he had changed his clothes and moved to grab a cup. He tossed in an extra tea bag before pouring the boiling water over it and adding a dash of heavy cream. He set the mobile down on the table and gave it a stare down. He brought the cup to his lips.
There was a fifty-fifty chance that Abby was giving him negative news. There wasn’t much he could do to avoid her message. His question had been a simply one and that preview would give him the whole answer. Problem was, he’d be in a mood if it was bad and his family would be taking the piss with him.
Danny, grumpily, sipped his tea. Mentally, he was wishing for some demon to appear and swallow up the mobile, and Abby’s message with it. But he had no such luck.
Fuck it.
MSwRight I’m not upset. I like you for you and not what job I thought you had.
It wasn’t what Danny had feared, and he felt a bit like an idiot for wanting to avoid it. What was surprising was the hold that it seemed to have on him. Even with the “bikini girl” Ava in Dingle, he hadn’t been excited or dreading any girl’s message. He was almost indifferent to them. That was something that Danny didn’t quite understand.
If Abby and Ava were standing beside each other, there was no doubt that he’d go after that hot beach body. He couldn’t compare their dating profiles because he hadn’t bothered to read them any further than “single” – at least on Ava’s. If Danny went by who he thought he stood a better chance at getting, then it was Abby. Thinking that felt wrong somehow.
DrLuv Thanks for still giving me a chance. To be clear and honest, I’m a carpenter. I build things – cabinets, furniture, etc. – and sometimes do delivery and installs. You already know that I help with selling fudge… which is where I’m heading today. Promised me grandad I’d be there.
There, it was all out now.
Danny checked the bus schedule on his mobile to make sure he had time to make it. It was a journey to get to Toormakeady in County Mayo where they lived, and four hours on a bus was a journey. It would only be two if he had his own car, and then he wouldn’t have to rely on Taylor to get to work either. Seemed like a lot of responsibility on himself.
Luckily, the bus was a couple minutes late because Danny got a bit distracted on his way out. What was even better was the bus was half full – which was pretty full for a Saturday – and there’d be a new group of university students getting on in Galway, heading home for the weekend. The route wasn’t much longer after that, but it never usually bothered him. Besides, Danny had his mobile and could keep himself busy. Abby should be asleep now – if was doing the math right – which meant that he didn’t need to worry about her reply.
It was nearly five in the evening when the bus pulled up to the depot in Toormakeady. Yet, there waiting, was his grandad.
“Dia duit, Danny!” Hey, Danny!
He walked over and hugged the old man. Mentally, he was thanking himself for not having a handover and missing this. Both for being here with his grandad and because he needed to fucking focus. His grandad lived in a Gaeltacht – a Gaelic-only speaking town – and Danny was going to have to remember what he mostly forgot in secondary school.
“Dia is Muire dhuit, Daideo. Conas atá tu?” Hello, grandad. How are you?
“Conas a bhí do turas?” How was your trip?
“Bhí an turas go maith. Sásta a cheith anseo maith anois.” The trip was fine. Glad to be here now.
Danny followed him and got in the truck. Even though his grandad was ancient, he still loved to drive and it was one thing that he still wanted to do. It was one of those joys of life. Meanwhile, it terrorized the rest of the family.
“Is cosúil go bhfuil tú sásta inniu. Ar tharla rud éigin maith? You seem happy today. Did something good happen?
He wasn’t sure what grandad was getting at because he didn’t think he was happier than any other weekend. Maybe ‘cos he’d get to eat nan’s amazing food again? Plus, she only made his favorites.
“Níl a fhios agam.” I don’t know.
Danny shrugged, but the old man chuckled.
“An bhfuil cailín agat?” Do you have a girlfriend?
If he’d been drinking, he’d have spat his drink. It was rather far thrown to come from his grandad. Now, his ma, she would have loved that so she could have grandkids. He never thought that grandad cared about that.
“Níl cailín agam ach tá mé ag caint le cailín. Cén fáth?” I don’t have a girlfriend, but I’m talking to a girl. Why?
That was what he was curious about. Why was his grandad asking?
“Tá iníon ag cara agus ba mhaith liom go mbuaulfeá tú léi.” A friend has a daughter and I want you to meet her.
Danny groaned, playing it up for his grandad. Maybe his family really did think that he was hopeless, or maybe ma set him up to this.
“Daideo,” he groaned. Grandad.
“Cad?” What?
Oh, now the old man was trying to play innocent. He had just admitted the evil master plan there.
“You know what, old man.” Danny grumbled. He totally knew.
“Danny, she’s a nice girl. She’ll be helping us tomorrow with the fudge. Say hello and be nice,” he said, switching to English for Danny’s sake.
“I don’t care if she’s nice, grandad. Why would you be trying to get me to meet someone?”
He turned off the main road to head towards home. “Because your nan and I think it’s about time you met someone. And someone in her book club just had a daughter become single. Your nan likes her enough, so that’s why you got to be nice.”
“So this was nan’s idea, was it?” Not that it made it any better. If Danny did have a girlfriend, then he’d have less time to be out here and that was less time with his grandad – who he knew loved these weekends.
“Now don’t go home and tell her I said that. You can leave but I’m stuck here with her.” He laughed, but Danny knew that he also didn’t want him to stir up any drama in the house.
“Fine, I’ll play nice tomorrow but don’t be expecting anything. Oh, and I’m going to take some fudge home with me.” It would be better if he knew what Abby liked. He could pretend that it was all to get his grandad some marketing tips when she tasted how great it was.
“Should I be asking why?” He teased.
Danny rolled his eyes. He figured that he might as let the old man know. “Imma give it to the girl I’m chatting up. Told her yours was the best in the world.”
He laughed. “Not sure if it’s the best in the world.”
Grandad pulled up to the house and killed the engine. Nan was sitting out front, waiting for us.
“Oi, Danny!” She came over to the truck to give him a hug the moment that he got out. Then she asked the same things his grandad had on the drive before herding them inside. She barely gave him enough time to shuck off the shoes and coats before pushing them to sit at the table. She knew his Irish was rough – at best – and spared him of that inside where no one else could hear.
“I made sure to have supper ready for you when you got here. I know you’ve been on the bus all day and starving. You’re practically bones, Danny.” She handed him a plate after portioning every dish on it. “I got all your favorites.”
That she fucking did. There was a heaping portion of colcannon beside bangers with onion gravy. Then there was the best part – dessert. Nan’s Irish bread pudding with whiskey caramel drizzle on top was to kill for, and he could see it sitting on the counter in the kitchen.
“Did your grandad tell you that we’ll have extra help tomorrow?” She asked, trying to make it sound casual.
Danny nodded. “Yep, he did.”
He didn’t want to mince words, especially when the most amazing food was in front of him. He just needed nan to say the prayer so that he could eat.
“Her nan says that she’s a great cook and loves football. She went off the last few years to study hospitality in university. Great girl.” Nan was really trying to sell this girl.
“If I promise to talk to her, can we get on with prayer so we can eat? After all, I’m practically bones.” He used her own words and saw his grandad almost choke on his drink. It earned them both a glare, but it was worth it.
“Bless us, O Lord, and these gifts, as we sit together. Bless the food that we eat today and the hands that made it. Amen.”
“Amen,” they chimed in together.
Laying in the guest bedroom, Danny could already smell nan’s cooking. There was no doubt that it was going to be a full Irish breakfast – complete with pan-fried tomatoes, mushrooms, white and black pudding, baked beans, fried eggs, and rashers.
Abby had sent two messages while he was sleeping. She let him know that she loved fudge – both with and without walnuts – which took all his restrain not to make a nut joke. Then she had asked if he was enjoying family time.
His grandad knocked on the door. “Danny, your nan says you best get up if you want breakfast.”
“Yea, I’ll be out in a minute.”
DrLuv So you know, I traveled four hours and that Ireland ain’t that big. Never been out of the country, unless you count the North. Have you ever traveled for holiday?
Danny got out of bed and changed into fresh clothes from his backpack. He was looping his belt in his jeans when Abby messaged back.
MSwRight I traveled a lot as a kid in the summer. My parents took me to a bunch of national parks, and we went to Canada once. It was cool. I’d love to be able to travel more. Ireland seems like it would be a cool place to visit.
Because he was born there, Danny didn’t see it the same way. Yea, it had its cool spots that were swarmed with tourists. There were some scenic parts that he’d love hiking to and exploring.
Nan had the table set by the time he came out and took a seat. Grandad was already sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. Everyone muttered their “good mornings”. Danny reached for the kettle to pour himself a cup of tea before snatching up a homemade scone. He smeared come clotted cream and jam on half before taking a bit and having his eyes roll closed as he enjoyed it. This was what he missed. Sure, he could head to his parents’ but that came with a lot more questions about his life.
“So who’s the girl that’s coming to help?” Danny asked. Sure, it was stirring the pot, but he figured it was best to know now what he was in for.
“Her name’s Nina,” nan answered.
“Okay, I can remember that,” he joked. “And is she from the Gaeltacht or can we speak English around her?”
“Oh, no, English will be fine. She’s like you.”
His jaw dropped. Nan was a little spicy this morning. Danny knew that he wasn’t the best speaker, but she didn’t need to call him out like that. If it wasn’t for his grandparents living in an area where Irish had to be the main language, he probably would have forgotten it all after the exit exams.
“Well, Nina should be showing up soon.” Grandad folded up the newspaper and set it on the table. “We best be heading out now, Danny. Hurry up and eat your beans.”
He didn’t know what the old man was talking about. His plate was clean, minus one bite of black pudding. It was at least twenty years since he last tried to hide the beans in a potted plant to avoid eating them. He was a different man now. Danny swallowed the last bit and put his plate in the sink before going to grab his backpack. Because of the bus schedule, he wouldn’t have time to make it back.
Nan met him at the front door, because she knew. Just like Danny knew that after he left, nan would be in the kitchen doing dishes and then going back to her word search puzzles. She kissed his cheek and when in for a hug.
“Bye, nan.” He gave her a little squeeze.
He headed out and got into the truck. It would take a couple minutes to get to the shop. When grandad pulled up to the shop, there was a woman standing out front.
“An t-ainm atá ort Nina?” Are you Nina?
Grandad spoke in Irish, just to be safe. The repercussions were great for him if he didn’t speak it. There was probably a warning before they’d force them to leave, which didn’t seem exactly fair to Danny. Your home was your home.
“Tá, Nina is ainm dom.” Yes, my name is Nina.
She was fairly slender with fair skin, and her blonde hair fell over one shoulder in a plait. Nina had on a light blue jumper with acid wash jeans. She was rather attractive and definitely someone Danny would have gone and chatted up in the pub. If his family thought he was desperate, they sure did find someone pretty for this blind date.
“Nice to meet you, Nina. You can call me John, and this is my grandson Danny.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She shook both of our hands.
Grandad unlocked the shop and headed inside. It gave us a couple moments alone to start chatting, but it felt a bit awkward.
“My nan says that you’re a Connacht fan.”
Danny nodded. “She’d be right. I hear you’re into football. Got a team?”
“Yea, I mostly follow the Premier League. I’m an Arsenal fan and love my lads in red.” She smiled, thinking about them.
Oomph, that was a blow. The lads would have a field day with that if she came ‘round the pub. Nina picked the most obvious team, which didn’t make him believe that she was really a fan of the sport. She probably had an eye for a player or two and that was the only reason she was a fan. That was proof enough that they weren’t the same and their nans got that wrong.
“Okay, so I got to get things going in the back. What I need you two to do is take the fudge out of the pans, cut it up, and then wrap it.” Grandad handed them aprons to protect their clothes and showed them where to wash up and grab plastic gloves. “Danny, we’ll do the gift sampler pieces and our bars.”
“Will do,” he said, bringing two stools over to the work table for him and Nina.
She was still putting the apron on when he pulled the first pan out. The first part was to cut the bars, which were the best sellers for the shop. To get the sample sizes, it was basically dicing up the bars into bite-size pieces for the sample packs. Most of them ended up as taste samples in the shop – at least during non-holiday times. The important part was to the get the bars to the right size, so Danny figured that he’d take than and pass it off.
“So, were you forced into this too?” Danny asked as he passed over a few bars.
“You mean you didn’t ask to be set up on a blind date by your nan’s friend?” It was loaded with sarcasm.
“Naw, can’t say I did.” Danny passed her a couple more bars, seeing that she was catching up. “But I can’t say that I’m upset by it now.”
That put a smile on her face. Without alcohol to ease the nerves, it felt like this conversation was going to be a bit awkward. We knew practically nothing about each other. Well, he assumed that seeing how his nan only had a couple things to say about her.
“My nan said you’re a good cook. Do we need to worry about you stealing the family recipe?” Danny motioned to the fudge.
Nina shook her head. “No, I’m more of the savory kind.”
“Oh.” So more along the lines of cooking to keeping someone alive instead of keeping someone fat. Danny had to give it to his nan – that was a good play. “What’s your favorite to cook?”
“I love grilled scallops and asparagus in a lemon-garlic aioli.”
Nina spoke with such a passion in her voice and seemed to really perk up talking about it. It was obvious that she enjoyed it, but it wasn’t his cup of tea. Did that sound good? Yea. Was it something that he wanted to eat? Not really. Seafood wasn’t too much of his thing. Not unless it was battered and deep friend.
“Sounds grand.” He tried to compliment her but it fell a bit flat.
“Thanks. So what’s your favorite thing to eat?” She asked.
“A good bangers and mash would do me just fine,” he admitted. That didn’t seem to be a good enough answer for her, though. There was a look of disappoint on Nina’s face, so he slid over the next pan of bars for her to cut and let the conversation drop.
“How we going out here?” Grandad returned. Glancing between the two of them, he looked pleased with himself. “You two getting on?”
Nina nodded. “Doing grand. Danny, here, was really good at showing me what to do.”
“Good, good. Well, I got some orders that need to be done before I pop off to the post office.” He handed Danny the stack of forms. “Think you can get this done?”
“Yea, no worries.”
Danny got up and went to prep the boxes to fill. This would be a nice distraction because chatting with Nina wasn’t going that smoothly. His mind was more on not pissing her off and having nana have it out with him later. He was pulling bars off the shelves when his mobile binged.
