SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME - ch 6

SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME – ch 6

Mo deas

^ ^

“We look like tourists! I can’t believe my Aunt Finola would actually expect two families to just pick up their lives and race to Ireland – while hoping we’d decide to stay! I realize she’s probably in her, well, if not in her early seventies, darn close to it.!”

Morena laughed. “Bian, were you even listening to yourself? Clearly your aunt knew very well what to expect from you and Ian. We’re here, aren’t we? Didn’t we just put our lives on hold and come to Ireland?”

“Yeah, Mo, you’re right. We did just as she expected.”

“Dad, I think you turn here. The sign says Greenan and isn’t that were her land is?”

“Mia! How – Oh, no, never mind; I’m not even going to ask how you knew that. I have a strange feeling that you and Aunt Finola are going to get along just fine!”

“Brian,” Morena began, “according to the instructions, there is a fork in the road just up ahead. We’re to take the right fork, closer to the river. From what I’m reading, there will be two large signs. The one on the left will read: Finola Diehl and the other should read: Property of the Diehl Brothers.”

“Guess that’s us! At least the road’s been paved. I think ..”

“Dad! Dad, up ahead! See? There are two houses across the road from each other.”

“Yes, Mia,” Brian laughed, “I see them. I’m just going to park in the middle of the road. We can all check the houses at the same time and see which one suits us best.”

As soon as Brian stopped the car, Mia hopped out and ran to the house closest to the water. Then without thinking, sprouted her wings and flew to the house on the other side. She ran back to her parents and said, “Dad, Mom, that one! The one closest to the river.”

“Mia, you haven’t seen the inside yet. What makes you think this is the right house for us?”

Without answering, she flew to her cousin, landed, then grabbed his hand. “Come on, Mickey. Let’s check out the houses. I know which one I want.”

Mickey laughed and said, “Mia, I really don’t want to be too close to the water. I never learned to swim.”

She pulled him to the house he’d obviously chosen, and they walked around its perimeter. “Mia, it’s perfect. I really like it. Let’s go check out yours.”

They sprouted their wings and flew to the waterfront property. Mickey gasped, “Oh Mia! This is perfect for you. Look at the land! Do you have any idea the kind of garden you could grow here?”

“Mickey, you read my mind. Let’s get the keys from our dads. They still don’t know which key fits which lock but I’m sure you’ll know. Right?”

Their parents stood in awe and wonder as they watched their children, well, basically flit back and forth, from house to house. Mia and Mickey now eased down before their parents and handed them the keys to the houses they wanted. “Dad, this is our house. Mickey and I have already decided he doesn’t want to live too close to the water and that’s exactly what I want. So, it’s settled.”

“Wait a minute,” Morena blurted. “We need to see them. What if we, and your Aunt Liz and Uncle Ian want the other house?”

Mia gave a mother look of mild impatience. “Mom, we already know which one you’ll choose but,” she stopped as Mickey had an idea. “Mia, can I make a suggestion?”

“Definitely!”

He looked from his father to his uncle. “Hand me the keys, please,” he said as he held out his hand. The using his to hands, cupped the keys and shook them. “Now, since the keys look identical, you won’t know which key fits which house. Mia and I think you should go in each and decide for yourselves. We’ll wait here.”

Twenty minutes later, the parents walked back to where they left their waiting children..

“The houses are identical but mirror-imaged, and yes, they are beautiful inside,” Liz sighed with contentment.

Morena walked to Liz, put her arm around her shoulders and said, “So, Liz, should we tell them?”

Liz laughed and waved her hand out, indicating that Morena should do the honors.

She said, “Mia, Liz, Uncle Ian, your dad, and I talked it over and, well, Mia, you were right. While the houses are mirror identical, we really do like the one by the water more, and Uncle Ian wants to build a small Animal hospital on part of his land and doesn’t want the water to tempt the animals to go for a swim. So, yes, my little Elf, you chose well.”

Mia and Mickey hugged, then grabbing their hands, began dancing in a circle before looking skyward. Mia laughed and shouted, “Aintin! Aintin!”

Her parents looked up, not knowing what she was saying, and, for a few seconds didn’t see anything. Then, Morena reached for Brian’s hand, “Brian, Mia’s right. You aunt is about to,” she chuckled, “make her appearance.”

When both feet touched land, Finola, spread her arms wide and twirled once, then said, “My lovelies. Welcome to Ireland, your new home. I see the children have chosen well. Let’s go sit by the water and I’ll tell you about your da!”

They followed Finola to the edge where large boulders were evident. The first thing Mia said in an almost scream, “Dad, Mom, this is great for fishing?”

Her parents had already stopped being surprised at her strange outbursts as they all picked out large rocks and sat.

Finola, began her story.

"The day began lovely enough. It was a warm and sunny spring day in the middle of April when I decided to walk into town.”