Finding Ellie (Complete)

Chapter 1

Ellie sat in the driver’s seat of a tan-colored Nissan Micra that she had just picked up from the rental company at the airport, petrified to turn the key in the ignition and get going.

            Two weeks ago she had been sitting in her apartment reading the long awaited letter confirming the date of her divorce and contemplating “running away” as her best friend had so eloquently put it. The next thing she knew, she had booked a flight from Boston to Shannon airport in County Clare, Ireland with a very specific plan in mind. Only seconds after sending Poppy a text her phone had rung.

“You did not!” Poppy yelled excitedly over the phone.

            Ellie winced and held the receiver away from her ear. Being friends for fifteen years now, she had anticipated Poppy’s reaction but even this was a bit much. After Poppy had calmed down a bit Ellie returned the phone to her ear.

            “I did.” She breathed, still not believing what she had just done. “I’m leaving in two weeks.”

            Poppy whooped and Ellie could hear some shuffling which could only mean her friend was engaging in her “happy dance”.

            “That’s amazing,” Poppy answered, a bit short of breath. “How long are you staying for?”

            “I was thinking maybe a month. I really don’t know.” Entering her spacious bedroom, Ellie opened her closet door and spotted her suitcase. “I didn’t book a return ticket so I’ll have to wait and see. When I’m well and ready, I’ll come back.”

            “Maddie’s going to have a cow.”

            “Maddie will be fine. I just dropped off my latest manuscript to her this morning.” Thinking of her publishing agent, Ellie reminded herself to call her and let her know what was happening. Maddie, after all, would need to know how long she would be gone for and how she could be reached. Ellie knew Maddie would not be thrilled with the idea. Actually she would freak out for a few minutes but then would gather herself up.

                “Wow!” Poppy couldn’t believe she had actually done it.

            “I still can’t believe it.” Ellie huffed as she pulled hard on her luggage trying to set it free from the confines of her closet. She couldn’t remember the last time she had used it.

            “Are you seriously taking out your suitcase now?” Poppy could hear her friend struggling and knew full well that was what she was doing.

            “I know you’re rolling your eyes at me.” Ellie accused. She was relieved when she finally hauled out her luggage set and dumped it on her bed. She had not seen the luggage set since their honeymoon in New York City. These would have to do, she thought as she stood in front of them. She would be able to fit everything she needed for at least a month into one suit-case and one carry-on right?

            “Wow,” Poppy said, again. Maybe, just maybe, her best friend was coming back.

It was no secret to everyone else that Poppy had disliked Chad from the start but she had never said a word to Ellie. That had been her mistake. The tall brunette had watched her friend go from adventurous and outgoing to reserved, subservient and always making sure Chad’s needs were met before her own. Simply put, Ellie, the Ellie she had once known was lost a long time ago.

            Poppy had no doubt in her mind this trip would help Ellie find herself again. She would truly be alone and, although her heart ached to be with her through this journey, she knew Ellie had to do this on her own. And Poppy figured if Ellie found a hot Irishman during her time there then maybe she could have some fun for a change. Lord knows she needed it after putting up with Chad Logan for ten years.

***

What the heck did she think she was she doing? Ellie thought for probably the hundredth time that hour. Like so many times before, her fingers automatically sought the rings that no longer adorned her left hand. Realizing what she was doing, she angrily stopped and chastised herself for it.

            “I can do this” Ellie murmured, and she took a deep breath as she turned the key. If she didn’t get going someone would soon stop and ask if she needed help and at this point she wasn’t sure she didn’t.

            “I can do this,” she chanted, maneuvering her way through the parking lot and onto the road. “I can do this; I can do this; I. CAN. DO. THIS”

            Driving on the “wrong” side of the road wasn’t as bad as she had initially thought. Sure, the first thirty minutes were nerve-wracking and her hands might have gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles turned white and, yes, when she eventually had to leave the highway the roads were so narrow she was terrified of meeting another car but she was getting the hang of it. Only once did she encounter a car coming straight at her before she realized she was actually the one coming at it. She had apologized profusely as they passed each other.

As she drove she marveled at how much green there really was, now understanding why it was nicknamed the Emerald Isle. Looking at pictures and seeing it first hand was a completely different experience. Ellie had never seen so many shades of green in her life. The luscious rolling hills speckled with white sheep on one side and little stone cottages on the other. Cows lazily munched on grass and intricate stone fences dividing the fields. It was so much more than she had ever imagined. She started to relax as she breezed by picturesque villages, waving back when someone would lift up a hand in greeting and danced in her seat when catchy songs played on the radio.

Before leaving, she had checked online for the time it would take, by car, from the airport to Doolin. It was just a little over an hour drive, give or take, assuming she didn’t get lost. She figured it meant an hour for the people who knew where they were going because at the moment she was stopped for a sheep crossing – sheep were literally crossing the road directly in front of her - and questioning whether that left turn she took two miles back had been the right way. As she watched them casually making their way across she couldn’t help but imagine the chaos this would cause back home and quickly realized once again that she was in Ireland.

After they were through, and a friendly wave from the farmer, she was off again. There was also the matter of when she actually got to Doolin. At present time, Ellie had no reservation for any sort of accommodations in, or near, the little village and hoped there would be a room somewhere for her. After that, well, she didn’t know. It was all part of the adventure, of “running away” wasn’t it? And that thought was suddenly so overwhelming she had a hard time catching her breath. It was then she promptly slammed on the brakes and pulled over.

            “Why did I do this? What the hell made me think I could do this?” Her eyes filled with tears of fear and defeat and she banged the steering wheel with a closed fist.

Ellie had never really been alone in her life and now look at her, attempting to navigate a foreign country by herself to prove a point, to prove that she would be fine without Chad, that she could be someone without him. She should turn around right now, she thought. Go back to the airport and get on the first flight out.

            A sudden tapping at her window made her jump and she looked over to see an elderly man waving at her. She rolled down her window, giving him a watery smile.

            ”Are you all right lass?” he asked Ellie with a concern that made her tear up even more.

Other than Poppy and her parents, Ellie couldn’t really remember the last time someone else showed concern for her. Certainly not from Chad who would only show any emotion for anyone, including his own wife, if it didn’t tarnish his image.

            She chastely wiped at her tears and nodded to the kind gentleman. “Yes, I’m just a little overwhelmed at the moment.”

            The old man looked at her oddly. Probably wondering what she could possibly be overwhelmed about, she thought and would not trouble him with the details as to why.

            “Do you know how far I am from Doolin?” she asked, instead.

            “Ah Doolin, it’s only a bit up the way.” and he pointed down the road. At least she had been going to right way.

            “Thank you, I appreciate it.” Ellie started up the car and looked up to thank the old man again, was surprised to see he had already moved on. She watched him from her rearview mirror and smiled when his humming reached her ears.

***

When Ellie came up on Doolin some ten minutes later her first priority was to find somewhere to stay. She drove slowly down Fisher Street, on her left a winding river flowed and to her right she took in the colorful buildings and storefronts. Happy tourists strolled along the street braving the wet weather. Kennedy Crafts looked like a shop she would enjoy picking up handmade Irish gifts in. And there was a coffee shop just down the way she could see herself sitting in, sipping on Irish coffee. She laughed out loud at an actual business called The Sweater Shop. Poppy had only asked for one thing and that was “one of those big Irish sweaters”. It had been a joke then but Ellie made a mental note to stop by and get her friend a nice, big Irish sweater.

            Finally, a little way down the street, Ellie could see a charming B & B with a vacancy sign. She quickly parked, got out of the car to stretch and made her way up the steps to a wide, stone porch. Several rocking chairs were placed invitingly, making her hope that she would have the time to sit in one of them.

Callaghan B & B looked charming with an Irish country feel to it. The rustic, wooden floor boards tied in nicely with the theme the owners seemed to be going for. She made her way to the front desk. It was more like a tall table in the foyer with a big, leather bound ledger with the guests and room information. Sitting next to it was a small, delicate looking, little bell with a note saying Please, ring for service. Ellie gently and timidly picked up the bell. Seconds after it let out its soft ringing sound she was greeted by an older woman wearing a pale, pink apron dirty with flour.

            “And how can I help you today, dear.” Ellie estimated the plump woman to be about five feet tall, tops, though she wasn’t sure of her age. A fluffy cloud of white hair surrounded her head. The well-worn dress she wore was certainly not recent fashion but it somehow utterly suited her. The smells coming out of the kitchen were making Ellie’s mouth water.

            “I’m looking for a room and saw your vacancy sign ma’am,” Ellie started.

“None of that here, everyone calls me Mrs. Callaghan even if I’ve told them time and time again my name is Constance.” Mrs. Callaghan smiled curiously, looking behind Ellie for the rest of her party. It wasn’t unheard of for a woman to be traveling alone nowadays but if she didn’t know any better and from the look in the young woman’s eyes, this one was running away.

Seeing no one she continued. “As luck would have it, I have one room left. How long will you be needing the room for, dear?”

 “Oh, well, I was hoping for at least a month.” Ellie looked expectantly at the older woman. Of course she noticed how the other woman had looked at her, with questions in her eye, undoubtedly wondering why she would be here that long and most importantly why she was alone.

            “A month it is then. Let me get your key and something to eat. You must be starving after such long travel” Yes, this one was most certainly running away from something, Mrs. Callaghan pondered for a moment as she wiped off her hands with a towel.