by G E Griffin
As soon as I arrived and collected my luggage, I went over and picked up my hire car. I had to settle for an Audi rather than a BMW as I would have preferred, but no doubt it would serve well enough to get me to Kinsale, and then on to Dublin airport the next day. I entered the address details into the sat nav, and drove the short twenty minute route to Kinsale.
As I pulled into the car park at the Perryville Hotel - supposedly one of the better hotels in this village, I felt a gamut of unfamiliar emotions running through me. Excitement, nervousness, apprehension. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to handle things if they didn't pan out the way I wanted with Seraphina. I wasn’t used to being rejected, or having my plans and wishes thwarted, and I found it very frustrating not being able to control the outcome of this trip.
It was already early evening, so I didn't waste any time knowing I only had limited window of opportunity to talk to Seraphina before I had to drive up to Dublin to make my flight to New York in the morning. Once I’d booked into the hotel and been shown to my room, which seemed reasonable enough, I took a quick shower, and changed into a clean T shirt and jeans. Then I headed off to find where Seraphina was staying, which according to the map on my iPhone was only a short five minute walk from the hotel. I’d taken Abbey’s advice that it was best not to let her know in advance that I was coming, that I should just catch her unawares by turning up in person, which was all very well but I just had to hope that I'd find her at home.
As I made my way, I didn't spend much time taking in the surroundings, but Kinsale seemed a pretty kind of place if you liked that sort of thing. There certainly seemed to be a lot of tourist type of shops, which would no doubt be very busy in the summer.
It didn't take me long to reach the address, which was a small whitewashed cottage with a yellow front door. I took a deep breath before I opened the gate, walked up the path and knocked on the door. My heart rate increased at the thought of hopefully seeing Seraphina as if I was a young adolescent lad rather than a mature man in his thirties.
The door was opened by a small, elderly woman with thick white hair, and I assumed this was Seraphina’s grandmother. She was wearing a brown pleated skirt, a floral blouse, and a pink cardigan that she gathered round herself, almost as a protective layer against this unexpected visitor at her door. In her slippered feet she was tiny - she barely came up to my arm pit.
“Good evening. Mrs O’Connell I presume?” That was the name Seraphina had filled in on her next of kin form.
“Who wants to know?” Her sharp green eyes, the exact same colour as Seraphina’s, studied me suspiciously.
“My name is Liam Starr. I was hoping that I could speak with your granddaughter Seraphina. I believe she’s staying with you at present,” I explained.
A slow smile spread over the old biddy’s face as she looked up to study me closely. For some reason, she suddenly seemed much happier to see me.
“Ah, right. You’d better come in. I’ve been expecting you.” She held the door open to let me in.
As I followed her along the narrow hallway through to a small kitchen, I wondered what she meant and hoped she didn't think I was a repairman come to fix something for her. I looked around, but disappointingly there was no sign of Seraphina.
“Sit yourself down,” she insisted, indicating one of the chairs at the small wooden kitchen table as she plonked a large mug in front of me. Without asking, she poured some very strong tea into it with just a splash of milk, before sitting herself opposite me as I squeezed myself into the confined space. The cottage was very small and rather like a dolls house.
“Mrs O'Connell, if I could just see Seraphina, that is if she’s here? I don’t have a lot of time….”
“You said your name was Liam? That’s a lovely Irish name,” she declared, still smiling to herself.
“Err, yes, my mother was Irish. But she passed away some years ago.” I explained. “So is Seraphina…”
“Of course. That explains it.” The grandmother clapped her hands together in apparent delight. “So what was her name? And where was she from? And are you her firstborn?”
“Umm, her first name was Aisling, and her maiden name was O’Doherty. I’m not exactly sure where she was from – I was only a boy when she died. I think it may have been Waterford. And I’m the eldest of her two sons.”
My father wouldn’t discuss anything to do with my mother after she passed away in distressing circumstances because he found it too upsetting, so I didn't know much at all about my mother’s side of the family as I'd only been ten years old when she’d died. All I did know was that she had apparently been absolutely insistent that I had to be named Liam when I was born, which I don’t think my father was very keen on, but she compromised with him by agreeing that my middle name could be Joseph, the same as his.
“Yes! This all makes perfect sense. That lot all have those deep blue eyes, same as you. And they're all big strapping men, just like you. But I'm guessing you get your blonde hair from an English father, would that be right now?”
“I suppose so, yes.” What was with all these questions? I’d never really given much thought as to which features I'd inherited from which parent, although I had to admit that at six foot four, I was substantially taller than my father had been.
“So you're the one my granddaughter was running from, is that right? And now you’ve come for her.”
“Well, I’ve come to talk to Seraphina, yes,” I said, thinking this was an odd way to phrase things and that this old woman definitely seemed a sandwich short of a picnic.
“So it’s really happening at last. You’re The One. But why did Seraphina run from you? And why did you let her go?” she asked me in an accusatory manner.
“There was a misunderstanding between us, which I'm hoping to rectify. That’s why I need to talk to her, so if you could just maybe fetch her for me…”
“She’s not here,” she informed me, and my heart sank. I’d come all this way, for nothing. “But don’t worry, she’s not far away,” the grandmother smiled.
“So, where…?”
“Don’t worry young man, I’ll tell you in just a minute. But first you have to promise me not to let my granddaughter slip through your fingers again. Seraphina may not realise it, but because of who you are, your family, you’re the right man for her – The One. That’s why you felt compelled to come after her – you didn't really have any choice in the matter. You mustn't give up on her, or take no for an answer, no matter what she says. It’s fated between you, and it’s no good fighting with your destiny.”
Now I decided the old biddy really had lost the plot with all her crazy talk of destiny and fate, but at least she seemed supportive of me trying to make things right with Seraphina.
“I’ll certainly be doing my utmost to rectify our misunderstanding, Mrs O’Connell, if you could just direct me to where I can find your granddaughter.”
“She’s at her cousin’s birthday shindig down at the pub. Just turn left out into the road when you leave here and keep walking. You can't miss it - it’s called The Spinnaker.”
“Thank you, Mrs O’Connell. I’ll see myself out. I’ll head on straight over there and won’t take up any more of your time,” I said as I stood up.
“Oh, you may as well call me Nana, same as everyone else. We’re practically family already.” She got to her feet and reached up to pat my cheek as she beamed widely at me. “I'm just so glad you’ve found Seraphina at last so you can take care of her and keep her safe. You’re the one she needs, even if the stubborn girl doesn’t know it yet.”
I just hoped her granddaughter shared her sentiments, although I thought it very unlikely, remembering how things had been left between us the last time I saw her.
~*~
Following the old lady’s instructions, I quickly found myself at The Spinnaker, and made my way in. The small pub was packed, probably because according to the posters on the walls there was a live band due to play, and I stood in the
doorway for a moment as I tried to spot Seraphina. My eye was drawn to the tiny dance floor, and that’s where I saw her.
Her dark hair hung in loose curls down her back. She was wearing her usual type of little ankle boots, a brown studded suede pair with a small heel, tight skinny blue jeans that showed off her long slim legs and great backside, and a skimpy, low cut, white lacy top that had a frill around the bottom edge. She looked gorgeous and sexy and hot, and I felt an electric thrill as I looked at her, while my cock instantly twitched in recognition.
That’s your woman.
She was standing next to a guy with black curly hair, who clearly couldn’t keep his eyes off her as they laughed and joked together.
He was taller than Seraphina, so he was leaning in to hear what she was saying. He was dressed in jeans, a dark green T shirt and a black leather waistcoat. He had an intricate tattoo on one arm, and was wearing an assortment of leather necklaces and bracelets. I felt my pulse quicken as jealousy surged through me when I saw this guy put his hand on her arm possessively.
I didn't stop to think as I reacted instinctively. Before I knew it, I’d made my way over to the dance floor, and was putting my arm around Seraphina’s waist to pull her away from him.
“What the…? Liam! What the hell are you doing here? How did you even know where I was?” Seraphina exclaimed. I’d taken her completely by surprise as she hadn't seen me make my way in.
“Abbey told me you’d gone to visit your family in Ireland, and I got your grandmother’s address from your intern paperwork. She told me where to find you when I called in there just now,” I explained. “We have unfinished business, Seraphina” I murmured in her ear.
I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly against me. She started to push against me, but I held her firmly and wouldn’t let her break away. She felt so good. So soft and lovely. Mine.
But then the ape who had been talking to her had to try and interfere.
“Just a minute, who the fuck do you think you are? You can't come in here and just grab a girl like that.” He tried to pull my arm away from Seraphina.
“Mind your own fucking business,” I growled back. I shrugged him off and tightened my hold on Seraphina, as I glared down at him.
“Why don’t you just fuck off yourself,” he replied heatedly, as he bumped himself up against me, clearly trying to intimidate me. It didn’t work, and at that moment things could have turned really nasty, as I knew it wouldn’t take much for me to punch him if he didn't back off and leave us alone.
“It’s okay, Finny. I know him. It’s fine, it’s cool. I was just taken by surprise, that’s all. Really, there’s no problem,” Seraphina intervened, as she put her hand on his arm in an attempt to reassure him. He continued to glare at me for a few long seconds, before reluctantly accepting what she said.
“Just who does that fucking langer think he is?” he muttered, as he backed off to stand and watch us from a short distance away. I had no idea what he meant by a langer, but I didn’t imagine it was complementary.
“Who’s your hot headed protector?” I asked, as I pulled Sera back tightly against me.
“That’s Finbarr, and he’s just an old friend. We’ve known each other since we were kids. His brother is married to my cousin,” she explained.
“Well, clearly he’d like to be more than just an old friend.” The guy gave me a filthy look while he pointed me out to a girl who looked a lot like Seraphina, except maybe a couple of years older. Then he went over to where the band were getting ready to play and picked up a guitar, all the while continuing to glare at me with dark eyes.
“Oh ignore him, and just explain what you’re doing here. Shouldn’t you be on your way to New York by now? Was there something wrong with the designs?” She looked up into my face, and I found myself gazing into her beautiful green eyes, thinking that I could easily lose myself in them. The eyes are the window to the soul. She is your soul mate.
“No, I'm not here because of any problem with your designs. I’m delighted with them, and they’ve all been completed in time for my trip. No thanks to Simon. And I am on my way to New York. This is just a short stopover. Like I said, we have unfinished business, Seraphina. I told you we needed to talk, but you suddenly took off without giving me the chance to explain a few things.”
I put my hands on her waist to pull her even closer. This felt so right; this was where she was meant to be, here with me, in my arms. The incredible bond between us was stronger than ever. How could I ever have thought I could deny it or ignore it?
“What is there to say, Liam?” she replied. “Other than I made a complete idiot of myself, with both you and Jamie.”
“No, you didn't. I was an idiot. Jamie was an idiot. We both let you down, badly.”
“Whatever. It’s all in the past and I just want to put it behind me. That’s why I thought it best to make a clean break and have a fresh start,” she sighed. Just then the band started playing really loudly as Finbarr smirked at me.
“Look, is there somewhere quieter we can go so that we can talk properly? It’s important. I wouldn’t have come all this way to see you if it wasn’t, would I?” I glared back at Finbarr, determined his juvenile attempts to disrupt our conversation weren’t going to succeed.
Seraphina stared up at me. I looked down at her soft, sweet lips. I really wanted to kiss them… our eyes locked, but just as I leant down, we were interrupted.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend, Sera?”
I looked over to see a slim, middle aged woman, with short dark hair eying me with great curiosity. She was also dressed in jeans, with a bright red blouse. I got the distinct impression that her sharp blue eyes didn't miss a detail as she studied me.
“Of course. Everyone, this is Liam Starr, a work acquaintance of mine from London. Liam, this is my Aunty Caitlin, her husband Declan, my cousin Aoife and her husband Sean.”
She made the introductions as I nodded my acknowledgments to her family. “Actually, we were just going outside, as it’s a bit too noisy in here for us to discuss the matter he’s come to see me about.”
“I think we all know exactly what kind of discussion you two are going to be having,” the girl she’d introduced as her cousin smirked at us. Seraphina glared back at her and mouthed something that I couldn’t make out. She grabbed my hand and led me to the back of the pub, out to where there was a small garden area.
As soon as we were outside, and before she could say anything, I pulled her into my arms to gently kiss her, pleased that the cut on her lip seemed to have healed.
My kiss was full of longing, and I hoped it would convey my feelings far more eloquently than any words could. I wrapped my arms around her and swept her up, and she moaned and threw her arms round my neck to kiss me back. Our tongues flirted together as they entwined to act out an erotic dance. This time when we broke apart, I didn't deny my feelings. I would not betray her like that again.
“Seraphina, I really wanted to tell you how I felt the last time I saw you, but as you’d just been practically raped by my brother it hardly seemed appropriate. So I planned to talk to you when you brought your designs into the office, in fact I was determined not to let you leave until we’d got things sorted between us, but you never turned up - you’d already left. So I never got the chance to try and put things right between us after the stupid way I denied feeling anything between us that time at the club. I don’t know what this is between us, all I do know is I’ve never felt anything like it before, and I can't stop thinking about you. I’m so sorry for the way I acted before, and I need you to give me another chance. Please, can we start again, can we have a fresh beginning and work something out between us?” I asked her breathlessly.
“Liam… I don’t know. I mean…obviously I can't deny there’s some kind of strong physical attraction between us, but that’s not really enough is it? We hardly know each other after just a couple of weeks, and we have absolutely nothing in common, in fact
I don’t know that we even like each other, do we?”
I was still holding her tightly in my arms, not wanting to break the connection with her.
“Well I like you, so I think what you’re trying to say is that you don’t like me, and I can understand if you don’t like the man I've been up to now. Since you left, I’ve been taking a long hard look at myself, and truthfully I don’t like what I see either. I’m not making excuses, but I think I've been so driven, concentrating all my energies into making the business a success, because I needed to justify my decision to drop out of university after my father died. But somewhere along the way I’ve lost sight of my humanity and become a cold, heartless bastard, a poor excuse for a human being. I really want to change, but I need you to help me. Please, Seraphina, come back to London and at least give us a chance to try and work something out?”
“Liam, it’s not that simple, is it? Apart from having nothing in common, plus all the other countless reasons why we aren’t suited, I can't come back to London. I can't go back to sharing a house with Jamie, and I have nowhere else to go.” Seraphina pulled out of my arms and led me over to a wooden bench so that we could sit and talk further.
“Of course I realise you can't go back and share a house with Jamie, not after… But if accommodation is the only thing preventing you from returning, that’s easily solved. Some people choose to invest in art; I’ve always preferred to invest my money in solid bricks and mortar. So I own several properties in London, one of which happens to be empty at the moment because the rental market is very flat. It’s a small apartment in a very suitable area, and you would be very welcome to use it for as long as you like.”
I’d pulled her small hand into my larger one, and was gently stroking her delicate knuckles with my thumb as I spoke. I craved any sort of contact with her, having denied myself previously.
Before heading to Ireland, I’d briefly considered offering to let Seraphina move in with me, but I thought this would be probably be a step too far for either of us at this early stage, so a place of her own seemed a better option. I expected her to protest about this, but I’d hopefully thought of some answers to counter any arguments she might come up with.