Fire Down Below

by Andrea Simonne

  “Would you really do that?”

  “Of course.”

  I think about how much it would cost me to get a plane ticket overseas on such short notice. I do have savings though.

  “So what do you say?” he asks with a grin. “Shall I call my mother and tell her to expect an extra guest?”

  “I’ve never been to Ireland.”

  “I know and what a terrible shame that ‘tis,” Declan says, putting on what he calls his Lucky Charm’s voice. “The most beautiful country on God’s green earth, the land of fairies and enchantment, the place I was born and lived as a wee laddie and—b’jaysus, begorrah. You’ve never even seen it!”

  I giggle. “I guess that’s a shame, isn’t it?”

  “To be sure, darlin’.” He makes a tsk, tsk sound.

  “All right,” I sigh. “I know how painful it is for you to speak in that horrible stage Irish. I’d better say yes, before it gets any worse.” I watch as Declan starts singing the Lucky Charms song in a silly voice.

  “So people in Ireland don’t really talk like that do they?” I ask, grinning when he’s finished.

  “Only the leprechauns.”

  ***

  As I predicted, they aren’t too thrilled at work when I ask for more time off. I wind up sitting in Greg’s office listening to him drone on about how they’re already short staffed for the holidays and how I need to show them I can be relied on. I nod my head, but the more he talks about accountability and pulling my weight, the more I get angry. I’ve been working my butt off these past few months and what’s more, because they still haven’t filled the position that Declan left open, I’ve been filling it. When he talks about how if I really want this promotion I need to show them I can handle the responsibility, I can’t stop myself from snorting.

  “Excuse me,” Greg says. “Do you have something to add?”

  “Yes, I do. You haven’t bothered to give the promotion to anyone because I’m already doing the job for you and have been since Declan left. The fact is you guys are taking advantage of me. I’m doing the work, but I haven’t gotten the title or the salary increase.”

  “Now Kate, let’s not get emotional. I’ve already given you a week off because your boyfriend broke up with you, and now you want two more weeks off on top of that? Let’s be reasonable.”

  I grit my teeth. “What’s unreasonable is that I’m working sixty hours a week as the active manager, while still doing my regular job, and no one cares. Well I care and I’m sick of it. I’m taking these two weeks off. I have the vacation coming to me anyway.”

  Greg shakes his head as if I were a child. “I’ll give you a week,” he says finally. “A week for Christmas. I think that’s fair.”

  I know he thinks I’m going to lie down like I always do. “No,” I say quietly, my voice like steel. “I’m taking the full two weeks. I’ll be back to work after the New Year. And what’s more, I’ll be expecting that promotion along with the same salary that my predecessor received.”

  “Are you threatening me? Because let me tell you I don’t respond well to ultimatums.”

  “Now Greg, let’s not get emotional,” I say. “No one’s threatening you. I’ve been the acting manager for months, so clearly I’m capable of handling the responsibility. I’m only telling you what I believe is fair and reasonable. You do consider yourself a reasonable person, don’t you?”

  He picks up his coffee cup and takes a sip. I can see he’s trying to act casual, but I know he’s fuming. I also know that I’m a good worker and they need me. “All right, I didn’t realize this was so important to you. Take your two weeks.” He turns back towards his computer, a move that’s supposed to indicate dismissal.

  I don’t budge from my chair though. “I’m not kidding about the promotion.”

  “Fine,” he says, “you’ll be promoted when you get back. We need to fill that position anyway. It’s been open too long.”

  I smile at him. “Thank you.” Gee, I got everything I wanted and all I had to do was act like a bitch. I stand up and walk towards the door. “And by the way,” I say before leaving, “just so you have your facts straight. My boyfriend didn’t break up with me. I broke up with him.”

  ***

  When I go over to my parent’s house on Sunday and tell them that I’m going to spend Christmas in Ireland, they don’t even seem surprised. Well, that’s not true. My dad seems surprised, but my mom gets a funny little grin on her face.

  “What about Ben?” my dad asks.

  “We broke up,” I say quietly. “And before you say anything, let me reassure you that I’m okay with it. I’ve come to realize it’s all for the best. I don’t want you to change your trip or anything.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, absolutely sure. I won’t be here anyway.”

  “Okay.” My gives me a hug. “I’m sorry to hear that things didn’t work out between you and Ben. I’m glad that you’re all right though. You know we’re here for you and will do whatever you want.”

  “I know.”

  “And so, now you’re involved with...Declan?” he asks.

  “No, we’re just friends. He invited me to stay with him and his family in Dublin for the holidays and I thought it might be fun.”

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll have a terrific time. Declan seems like a very nice young man.”

  I grin. Declan is thirty-seven years old, though I’m sure he’ll be delighted when I tell him that my dad was calling him a nice young man.

  Later when my mom and I are alone in the kitchen and I’m helping her clean up the dinner dishes she asks me what really happened with Ben. I tell her the whole story, including the scene at the restaurant. She gets angry when I tell her about Heather, but then laughs when I tell her about throwing water in Ben’s face.

  I finish rinsing a plate and place it in the dishwasher. “Please don’t say I told you so. Even though it’s ended, I don’t feel like it was a mistake that we got back together again.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that. I was thinking about how we can’t go back in time, can we? As much as we may like to sometimes. I must say I’m relieved that you’re not upset by all this.”

  “No, I’m fine. Maybe it’s because I’ve already been through it once before—you know?”

  She nods, dumping some leftover potatoes into a plastic bowl. “And now you’re traveling to Ireland.”

  “For Christmas.”

  She gets that funny smile on her face again. I wait for her to say something, but she just keeps smiling. “I like Declan,” is all she finally says.

  “Me too.”

  “He’s solid. I think he’d be good for you.”

  I laugh. “I know where you’re going with this, but I should tell you that he has a girlfriend.”

  She puts a stack of clean dishes on the counter. “He does? He never mentioned her.”

  “Well they haven’t been going out long.”

  Who is she?”

  “Nina.”

  “That name is familiar, but I can’t put it with a face.”

  “You know—Suzy’s older sister?”

  “The one that looks like a movie star?”

  “Yes,” I groan. “Though I always thought she looked more like a supermodel.”

  My mom wraps up some leftover carrots and puts them in the fridge. “I wouldn’t worry about her. I’m guessing that will be over soon enough.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Because I saw the way he looks at you.” She stops what she’s doing and turns to me. “Declan’s in love with you. Didn’t you know that?”

  I stare at her. My mother, the oracle, has spoken. I feel a warm glow of excitement spreading through me. Is it possible she’s right? “He loves me, but I don’t know if he’s in love with me. Maybe that’s what you’re picking up on.”

  She smiles. “Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

  I’m silent as I ponder her words. Is Declan really in love with
me? I’m amazed by how much I want this to be true. “He’s never said anything to me along those lines—ever. You’d think by now he would have.”

  She nods knowingly. “He will.”

  My mom asks me how things are going at work. I tell her about my meeting with Greg and how I finally got what I wanted, but that I had to act like a bitch to get it.

  “That’s not being a bitch. You were being assertive. Men do it all the time. And we certainly don’t say they’re acting like a bitch—do we?”

  “No, we say they’re acting like a bastard.”

  She laughs. “True enough. But not in a situation like this, where you’re simply stating what you know you’re worth. You did the right thing not letting them push you around.”

  “Yeah, it did feel good demanding what I wanted for a change instead of always asking for it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The flight to Ireland is long and boring. The worst thing about it is the layover at Heathrow. At first I was delighted. I’ll be in London! Think of all that duty free make-up! Shopping is great for the initial hour, but I quickly discover I’m too exhausted to continue. The airport is insanely crowded and I didn’t check my bag, so I have to drag it around with me. I’m on Seattle time and my body thinks it’s the middle of the night.

  Finally I grab a bottle of water and head over to my gate, figuring I’ll thumb through the Lonely Planet’s Best of Dublin while I wait for my flight. I overhear a conversation where the person is saying that Sean Penn is supposed to be on the plane. My eyes search for him once we board, but I don’t see any sign of him.

  It’s a short flight and before I know it we’ve landed and I’m being herded through customs. Declan is waiting for me as I finally walk out.

  “Kate!” he raises his hand and grins.

  And what can I say? My hearts soars. Maybe it’s the traveling or the sleep deprivation causing all my normal barriers to fall, but the sight of Declan thrills me. All I want to do is run into his arms and stay there forever.

  “How was your flight?” he asks, giving me a hug. He smells like he’s just come in from the outdoors all fresh and deliciously male.

  “It was fine.”

  Declan reaches down and takes my bag, adjusting the handle length so he can roll it behind himself. He’s wearing a gray cable knit sweater with a blue wool scarf tied at his neck, dark jeans, and heavy Doc Marten style boots. When he’s done with the adjustment he smiles at me and my breath catches. He’s so handsome that it’s making my chest feel tight, like I may never breathe again. A singular thought keeps running through my head—I wish he were mine. I wish he were pulling me into his arms right now, kissing me passionately, telling me how much he missed me. And that’s exactly how it would be too. Declan wouldn’t care whether public displays of affection were appropriate or not. It wouldn’t even occur to him to think that way.

  Apparently I’m wearing an odd expression because he suddenly seems concerned. “Are you all right? I know it can be an adjustment with the time difference and all. Do you want to sit down?”

  “No, I’m good.” I smile reassuringly. “Sean Penn was supposed to be on the plane, but apparently he no-showed. I’d rather see Bono anyway.”

  Declan rolls his eyes. “People always want to see Bono. He’s become a bigger tourist attraction than Guinness.”

  “Have you ever seen him?”

  “Sure, I’ve seen him around.”

  “Really? Have you ever talked to him or gotten his autograph?”

  “No, there’s something of an understanding among Dubliners that we leave him and all the guys from the band alone. This is their home after all.”

  I nod. “I wish I could see him though. Wouldn’t that be great?”

  Declan considers this. “His brother has a restaurant. We could always go eat there if you like. There’s also The Clarence Hotel. As far as I know Bono and The Edge still own it. It’s probably the closest you’re going to get. ”

  “That’s a good idea. We’ll visit those places and maybe Bono will show up!”

  He laughs. “Come on.”

  We walk through the airport with Declan leading the way. He tells me how bad the traffic is and how it’s gotten even worse than the traffic in Seattle. And that’s when it hits me.

  I’m in Dublin, Ireland!

  I know I spent all this time traveling to get here, but it seemed abstract, as if I were going through the motions without really thinking about what it would feel like when I finally arrived. I let my eyes wander around in excitement. All the people look so Irish!

  Declan leads me to the parking area where we eventually stop in front of a silver Audi. I walk over and stand next to the passenger side while Declan puts my bag in the trunk. When he sees me standing there he chuckles.

  “What are you doing Kate?”

  “What do you mean? I’m waiting for you.”

  “That’s the driver’s side.”

  I look through the car window and, sure enough, there’s the steering wheel where normally the glove box would be. I groan, totally embarrassed, though I know I shouldn’t be. I feel so un-cool. “I swear, I knew that.” I walk around to the other side, passing Declan on the way, our bodies brushing against each other.

  “Don’t worry,” he says. “You can blame everything on jet lag.”

  “Everything?”

  He raises an eyebrow at me.

  Once we’re in the car, I freak out. I’m trying not to show it, but I feel completely dizzy and disoriented. It’s like I’ve fallen into some sort of parallel universe where the world is opposite from the way it’s supposed to be. I’m sitting in the wrong side of the car, driving down the wrong side of the street. All the signs are different and even the roads look different. I’m gripping the car seat so hard I think my palms are bleeding.

  Declan, of course, is totally at ease whipping in and out traffic, changing lanes. He’s talking about how his younger sister and her husband are coming over for Christmas along with a whole bunch of other aunts, uncles, and cousins and that his mom has set up the guest bedroom for me. I nod, trying to sound coherent. Finally when he gets on the Motorway and we’re speeding along at what feels like a hundred miles an hour, I start to make squeaking noises.

  Declan turns to me. “Are you okay?”

  “Jet...lag,” I manage to say in a high pitched voice.

  He’s confused for a second. “It’s the driving isn’t it? I know it takes a while to get used to being on the opposite side of the road.”

  I study Declan and try to ignore everything that’s happening outside my window. “I feel like I’m on an acid trip. Not that I’ve ever been on an acid trip, but I’m guessing this is what it feels like.”

  “Don’t worry, it gets better. I felt the same way the first time I ever drove a car on the right side of the street.”

  “How do you manage going back and forth between here and Seattle? It must be hard to adjust.” Though I have to admit it doesn’t seem like any effort for him at all.

  “Coming here is never a problem. I always feel comfortable right away. Going back to the states feels strange for the first day or so, but then I get used to it again. I should let you drive after you’ve been here a few days and you’ll see what I mean.”

  I look at him like he’s crazy, but he grins.

  “Are you hungry?” he asks. “We could get lunch somewhere.”

  I lean my head back and close my eyes. “All I want to do is sleep. I’m so exhausted I feel like I’ve been awake for a billion years. I’m surprised the sun hasn’t gone supernova.”

  “Em, I know you’re tired Kate, but trust me, you can’t sleep until tonight. At least not until eight o’clock, otherwise you’ll be awake at three in the morning.”

  I open my eyes. “Tonight? Are you serious?” I glance at the car’s digital clock. It says 1:45. “That’s hours from now. I’ll never make it.”

  He reaches over and puts his hand on my leg. “Don’t worry, we’
ll figure out a way to keep you occupied.”

  When he moves his hand away I can still feel the imprint on my skin and wish he would put it back again. I wish he would put his hands all over me. That would certainly keep me occupied. I glance over at him and when our eyes meet they linger longer than they should. Finally he’s forced to turn away so he can drive. I stare at the passing countryside and wonder how I’m ever going to get through these next two weeks without making a fool out of myself.

  ***

  When we arrive in downtown Dublin, Declan drives around, pointing out various landmarks.

  “This is O’Connell Bridge and that’s the River Liffey. There’s the Ha’ Penny Bridge over there. It used to cost a half penny to cross it in the early 1900’s, that’s why they call it that. I got arrested there once for public drunkenness when I was sixteen.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  “It gets worse. I was with friends and we were all daring each other to jump into the Liffey. Luckily the Garda arrived before anybody was stupid enough to do it.”

  “What’s the Garda?”

  “Dublin Police.”

  “My goodness, what a happy little story.”

  “I’ve got plenty of them. Don’t worry though, I’m not going to bore you with all my stories. There’s some I’d prefer to forget anyway.”

  “I don’t mind. I like hearing your stories. Even the bad ones.”

  He glances at me. “They’re not all bad you know. That was only a short period in my life.”

  “I know.”

  Looking around now I’m more awake, and notice it’s a sunny day and that the city is amazing. The buildings are all a mix of brick and limestone. There are no skyscrapers, plus the River Liffey isn’t very wide, and it makes Dublin feel sort of cozy.

  “This is gorgeous. I had no idea Dublin was so cool.”

  He nods. “Yeah, it’s a great place. There are a lot of fun things to do. It’s really changed since I was a kid.”

  We drive around some more and he tells me he’s going to park near Temple Bar.