Chapter 23

As Jo climbed into bed, exhausted but happy, her grandmother rolled over in her bed on the other side of the room.

“Did you have a good time?”

“I had a wonderful time,” Jo replied. She’d felt like Cinderella at the ball.

“I’m so delighted to hear that,” Gram said.

“But Gram, I feel bad,” Jo said, all of a sudden overcome with guilt.

Gram turned toward her and in soft shadow from the nightlight, a frown appeared on her face. “Why do you feel bad?”

“I’ve hardly seen you since we arrived. I thought we would go sightseeing around Ireland, but you and I have hardly spent any time together,” Jo said. She’d been so enthralled with Ian that she’d mostly left Gram to her own devices. What kind of granddaughter was she?

“Pay no mind to that.” Gram laughed.

“But wouldn’t you like to do something together?” Jo asked.

Her grandmother seemed to be struggling. “Jo, as much as I would like to do things with you, more than anything, I want to spend time with Bridie.” Gram’s voice caught. “We’re both in our eighties now, and we’ve known each other since we were four. The distance never interrupted our friendship. We talk every Sunday and when I see her, we pick up right where we left off.”

“You’re lucky, Gram.”

“I know I am. And I know when I leave Ireland this time, I will not be coming back,” Gram said softly. “We don’t say it, but Bridie and I both know that after this trip, we will probably never see each other again.”

Jo swallowed hard, trying to get words out around the lump in her throat.

Neither said anything for a moment until Gram said in a drowsy voice, “This is your trip as much as mine. It makes me happy to see you enjoying yourself so much. I hope someday you love Ireland the way I do.”

Gram was beginning to drift off, and Jo whispered into the semi-darkness, “I think I already do.”