Shamrock Hearts

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Erin drove the forty minutes or so from Winchester back home to Charles Town thinking about the children she’d worked with that day. Two of them were in foster care now, having survived a horrific situation with their parents. While Erin was happy to have the opportunity to help them heal, this was the part of being a social worker that had led Erin to look elsewhere. As much as she loved helping children and seeing her adult clients get back on their feet, it was so hard to hear their stories. She’d always been very empathetic, which was what had driven her to this sort of work in the first place, but now, alone, in the solace of he car, the tears streaming down her face were a reminder that making other people’s worries her own took a toll on her heart.

“Father, please be with little Angel and sweet Wes as they get a fresh start with parents that will love them and would never harm them. Help them to know that the things that happened in the past were not their fault and that they are over now. Please let them see you through each of us as we work together to make a new life full of love for them.”

It seemed most of her drive home nowadays was spent in prayer, asking the Lord to reach out and touch the lives of the people she worked with. She believed it really would make a positive difference in their lives, even if the people never even knew she’d been praying for them. She couldn’t help but add on a plea for God’s grace to calm her spirit. In two days, she’d be getting on an airplane and flying to see her grandparents, and even though Erin had done a lot of things on her own, flying for nearly seven hours all by herself was not one of them.

“Let me be at peace about getting on that plane. Surround me with the people you choose, those whom you know will keep me at ease and make my trip enjoyable.”

She was more than a little excited to see her grandparents again, even if the getting there wouldn’t be the most pleasant part of her journey. Her mother’s parents, Dolores and Sean Houlihan, were in their early seventies but just as spry as could be. The last time she’d gone for a visit had been the summer after she graduated from college, right before she started as a social worker. Even then, Maw had warned her she thought she was too soft-hearted for the job, but Erin was determined. Now, just a few years later, she’d return to her parents’ homeland before embarking on another, though related, career. She was eager to see what Maw thought of this new endeavor.

Erin pulled off of the highway and headed into Charles Town toward her parents’ house. It had been difficult moving back in with them, but she knew it was the only way she’d be able to afford graduate school. Having gone to medical school herself, her mother, Caroline, had insisted that Erin move home and take it easy so she could concentrate on her studies. While she appreciated having such support, she would also be glad to move back out on her own someday soon.

But living on her own and flying on her own were two different things. There was something about being so far up in the sky with only a thin tube of aluminum around her that made Erin nervous. She knew her mother had made that journey on her own when she came to the United States to study medicine not too awfully long ago in the grand scheme of things, though thirty years or so seemed like a lot to Erin, who was only twenty-four. Caroline often joked that there were more sick children in Ireland thanks to Erin’s dad, Bruce, because she’d never intended to stay in America. But once she met the architect, she’d never looked back.

Pulling into the driveway and parking off to the side a bit so that both of her parents could get out if they needed to, Erin imagined what it must be like to move across the ocean just to be with someone. That had to be one giant leap of faith. She didn’t think she could ever do anything like that.

The house was a Colonial, close to two hundred years old. Her father and brother had lovingly worked to restore it, and Erin absolutely loved everything about it from the wide front porch to the expansive backyard. Moving back into her childhood bedroom had been odd, but at least she’d had grown up furniture to move in with her. Watching her mother cry as her dad and Alec moved her childhood furniture out to donate had been hard on Erin. Her mother was so sentimental, and Caroline loved having Erin back at home. When she left again, her mother would be upset, but Erin knew she would enjoy having her own crafting corner again—this time hopefully for good.

Erin’s internship was usually over at 3:00, which got her back in plenty of time to get home, study for a few minutes, and then go retrieve dinner, which they picked up from Bishop’s almost every night. She usually picked up Alec on her way and he came over for dinner. Of course, that was before Valerie. Now, it depended upon whether or not Val had the evening shift. If she didn’t, Alec would usually eat dinner with her.

This afternoon, Erin had stayed a little later than usual to help Dr. Lancaster with Angel and Wes, so by the time she pushed open the heavy oak front door, her parents were already home.

“Well, there she is,” her father greeted her from his recliner, setting the newspaper aside. “How was your day, honey?”

Bruce O’Connell’s parents had never lived in Ireland at all. They lived in nearby Martinsburg, and Erin tried to go visit them at least once a month. Despite their ages, they were both still able to live at home with some help from a nurse who came by daily. Erin hoped that, when she was their age, she’d be as spry and nimble. Her father always joked that she came from good Irish stock on both sides.

“It was good,” Erin replied, hanging her jacket by the door. She’d take her purse and bag upstairs, just in case she needed something out of them. Not living in her own house also meant that sometimes things got unintentionally moved or misplaced.

“Any word on your midterm yet?”

It was nice of her father to remember that Prof. Hawkins had promised to post midterm exam grades either that day or the next. “So far, nothing,” she said, managing a smile.

“Mom’s in the kitchen. I think she’s making spaghetti for dinner.”

It wasn’t often that Caroline got home in time to cook or wasn’t so exhausted from a long day that she wanted to. “Is Alec coming over?” Erin asked, approaching the stairs.

“It’s Thursday,” Bruce reminded her. “Valerie has the night off. So, I’m guessing no.”

“That’s right.” Erin began to climb the stairs, headed toward her room. She was so used to seeing her brother every day, it was an adjustment having him absent from family dinners at least twice a week now. “We should invite Valerie over for dinner!” she called back down to her father.

If he replied, she didn’t hear it. She went to her room, dropped her bag and purse on her bed, and then, remembering she was going to try and be more tidy, she hung them up on hooks by the door, the same princess ones her dad had installed when she was a little girl, one of the few things that had stayed.

Hurriedly, Erin took a shower and changed into more comfortable clothes, leggings and a long sweatshirt, before heading back downstairs to see if her mother could use a hand in the kitchen. Even though it was nearly spring, it was still fairly cold outside, and her father was constantly complaining about how much it took to heat their large house, despite the fact that he’d put in all kinds of insulation over the years.

Caroline was draining pasta over the sink when Erin walked in. “Hi, sweetheart,” she called. Her accent was much thicker than anyone else’s in the family since she’d spent nearly half of her life in Ireland. “How did it go today?”

“It was okay,” Erin replied with a shrug. “Do you need any help?”

Finishing up with the draining, Caroline set the spaghetti noodles aside and returned to the sauce on the stove. “No, I’m just about done here.” She used the back of her hand to brush her unruly red curls out of her face. Erin’s hair was nearly the same shade of bright, fiery red, but she had been spared the ringlets her mother was constantly battling.

“Nothing from your professor yet?” Caroline glanced over her shoulder, and Erin took a seat on a barstool. Her mother’s emerald green eyes were another feature she’d inherited. So had Alec, though his hair was dark brown like their father’s.

“Not yet.”

“Well, you needn’t worry. I’m sure it’ll be good news.”

Erin nodded, but she wasn’t as certain as everyone else seemed to be. She’d done everything she could to get a good grade on her exam, but the material was difficult. Hopefully, she’d get good news soon.

“Anything else you need to finish up before you leave on Saturday?”

“No, all my work is done. I’m finished at the clinic until I return. So… tomorrow, I’ll just need to double-check I’ve packed everything, and then… Saturday, I’m on my way.” She tried to keep her voice cheery, but she was fairly certain her mother could see through it.

“Erin, it’ll be fine,” Caroline reassured her, turning to face her daughter.

“I know,” she agreed, but her voice wavered just a bit.

“I wish I could go with you. It’s just… not a good time.”

“Right.”

“And your grandfather really wants you there for St. Patrick’s Day.”

St. Patrick’s Day was quite the big deal to her grandparents, and it had been years since any of them had visited during that time. When she’d confirmed she’d be able to make it for the celebration this year, both of her grandparents had been giddy.

“I’m sure I’ll be all right, Mom,” Erin said quietly. “I’ve just never flown alone so far before.”

“We’ll get you to the airport. That’s the hardest part.” Her mother’s smile was warm and reassuring, and Erin did feel a little better. “Now, go and fetch your father. Dinner’s ready.”

Erin jumped down off the barstool and headed to the living room to get her dad. She was so thankful she had such wonderful, loving parents. She knew so many people who were not so lucky. Someday, she hoped to be as good a mother as her own, and that she’d find a man like her dad to marry and spend the rest of her life with. For now, however, she had to get through her master’s program. Until that was over, nothing else mattered.

Packing was never fun, but Erin was glad she had all day to do it. She’d been throwing items in the general vicinity of her suitcase for the last few weeks, which she’d opened and propped against one wall, but when it came time to actually make everything fit inside, she’d had to take all of those items out and start over. She realized if other people could see the mess she’d made, they’d probably think she was a real slob, which would likely go against the all-American girl façade that had somehow become attached to her quite some time ago.

Her goal had been to make sure every single item went into her larger suitcase, the one she would check, so that she wouldn’t have to worry about cramming a carry-on in the tiny bins above the seats. The last thing she wanted was to look ridiculous trying to get her luggage to fit in a place it wasn’t designed to, or to seem like a damsel in distress who needed some man’s help—even if that was the case. Normally, her dad or Alec would be going along with her, and he (whichever he that happened to be) would make sure her carry-on was properly stowed. Since this trip was solo, it would be entirely up to her. Thus, she would be carrying only one small bag which she could easily place beneath the seat in front of her.

After watching several YouTube videos about how to efficiently pack two weeks’ worth of clothing into one suitcase, she managed to get everything into one bag except for the necessities she would need, such as her wallet, cell phone charger, and a book for the plane. Almost everything else would be stowed in the bottom of the aircraft where she couldn’t possibly get to it even if she needed it, a realization that was more than slightly unsettling, but she was sure she’d be fine. If she really needed something before she got on the plane, she could always buy it in one of the gift shops. Sure, the prices were ridiculous, but at least she wouldn’t be one of those people beating her carry-on to death to stuff it into a honey pot hole its Pooh-sized figure just wasn’t meant to fit.

Once the packing was done, Erin looked back over her documents. She made sure her passport was in her bag, as well as a copy just in case something happened to the original. Her boarding pass was printed and also stowed in her carry-on bag. She had her driver’s license easily accessible, and from the outside, it looked like she was ready to go. On the inside, she wasn’t quite so sure.

A soft knock on the door caught her attention. She turned to find her father there. Glancing at the time, she thought he must’ve come home for his lunch break, as he did from time to time, since it wasn’t anywhere near the end of the work day. “Hey, kitten. Mind if I come in?” The door was open, and he was a few steps into her room before she smiled and assured him it was fine. “You all packed up?”

“Yes, I guess so. I just need to stuff my makeup bag into my suitcase in the morning.”

Her father smiled and sat down on her bed, not far from where she was now sitting at her desk. “Remember all the liquid rules.”

“I know, Dad,” she said, rolling her eyes at the regulations but still smiling at him. She’d definitely done a fair amount of research about all the things that were permitted and all of those that weren’t.

“And now that your brother helped you get that security pass, that should help right?”

“It’s not a pass, Dad. I still have to go through security. It just makes it a little easier.” He was referring to the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck known traveler number Alec had helped her apply for, which would make getting through security a little easier. While Erin was slightly nervous to actually fly, getting to the plane was her biggest worry, and security had always been one thing that made her anxious. Not that she’d ever intentionally do anything against the rules, but it seemed sometimes those TSA guards were a little rough with innocent people, and she had nightmares about something inappropriate happening to her. This way, she should be able to get through security without any hassle.

“Honey, I know you’re worried, but don’t be. Everything will be fine. Alec will take you to the airport and make sure you get to security. From there, it’s terminal two, like it always is. You’ll get there in plenty of time to relax for a bit before your flight, and then you can just read or take a nap.”

“You’re right, Dad,” Erin said, forcing a smile. “I’m sure it’ll be just fine.

“Before you know it, you’ll be sitting on Maw and Granda’s bench listening to them tell yarns about the good old days.”

Erin nodded again, glad her dad was so concerned because it showed how much he cared, even if she did feel a little silly. “I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl now.”

“I wish I could go with you, I really do. So does Mom. There’s just so much going on.”

“It’s okay. I really will be fine. Besides, this trip will probably do me some good. I need to learn to be independent again. I can’t keep living here for the rest of my life, as nice as it is.”

“I know you won’t live here forever,” Bruce said, a bit of sadness filling his eyes, “but you will always be my little girl. Even when you have your own children, when you’re older than I am now, when your hair is graying, when you have grandkids, you’ll always be my perfect little princess.”

Erin couldn’t help but become a bit emotional herself. She’d always been close to her dad, and hearing him essentially say he would miss her was enough to pull at her heartstrings. “I will call or text every day, I promise.”

“Good.”

“And I’ll bring you back something Irish.” They both laughed as Erin quoted a phrase her father often said just to tease her and her brother—even if he was going with them.

“You better.”

Erin stood and crossed the small space between them to wrap her arms around her father. How she got so lucky, she wasn’t sure, but she prayed she’d always be this close to her family and that nothing would ever take any of them away from her.