EXCERPT
“What are you watching?”
Noel turns his head slowly. I’m glad I thought to bring a set of keys out with me – he wouldn’t have heard me knocking, didn’t even hear me come into the room.
“You’re back.”
I walk over to him and sit beside him. “Of course I came back. Did you think I wouldn’t?”
He shakes his head a little, his eyes roaming back to the TV.
“Have you eaten?”
“I can’t remember… I think so…”
I force myself to smile, stroking his beard.
“Do you want me to make you something?”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“How about tea and biscuits? I’m going to make some for myself.”
He looks at me and flashes me a weak smile, which feels a little like hope; like the sun peeking through thick cloud.
“There are still some shortbread biscuits in the tin on the counter. I made them this morning.”
“You sure know how to make a woman happy,” I say, pressing my lips lightly against his before heading through to the kitchen to make us both some tea.
When I come back into the living room, I place the tray of tea and biscuits down on the coffee table and sink onto the sofa beside Noel. I drape the blanket over us both and squeeze him, my hand on his arm and my head on his shoulder.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they’re not the same person you met a long time ago.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they can’t find the way back home.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they no longer love themselves.
“You have no idea how glad I am that you’re here,” he whispers, his voice uncertain, emotion caught up in his words, his breath.
“I’m home, Noel. With you.”
Looking forward to starting the From Connemara With Love series. Thank you
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