Chapter 9

Jo stood there on the footpath outside Ian’s home. The physical therapist shrugged and walked away. Her gaze bounced from Bridie’s house back to Ian’s. Here she was in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and she had yet to see anything. Jo watched the physical therapist get in his car and drive away. She sighed and headed back to Bridie’s house to regroup.

Bridie and Gram were gone for the day, but Jo had to find something to do. She didn’t even know how to turn the television on. Thinking she had plans with Ian, she hadn’t booked any of the tours she’d read about in the café. Finally, she decided she’d try catching a bus and seeing where she ended up.

Two blocks from Bridie’s house, Jo had seen a bus stop. She made sure she had her wallet and sketch pad in her backpack and hoofed it up there. She studied the schedule posted behind an acrylic casing at the stop. There was a bus going to Enniscorthy in ten minutes. She nodded to herself. That’s where she’d go. It was likely to be a much bigger town than the one Bridie lived in, so ideally, she could spend the day there and be back in the evening. She hoped there were things to see. Although the sky was dull, it was dry, and Jo hoped the rain would hold off.

The bus for Enniscorthy rolled in right on time and Jo boarded it, paid for a round-trip ticket, and took a seat at the back.

Enniscorthy indeed turned out to be a large town, and Jo figured she’d need more than an afternoon to explore it, but she made the best of the time she had. First, she walked around the town to get a feel for it and ended up walking by the River Slaney. She thought she’d like to come back and sketch it properly if she had time. But she headed back toward town center and found herself drawn to Enniscorthy Castle, spending more than an hour exploring it. She questioned one of the docents about tours of the town and was directed to an outfit that did walking tours. Jo thought she might like that, so she signed up for a walking tour that was two hours long. Afterward, she stopped at a café for a bite to eat and some tea, careful with her money because she didn’t have a lot of it. At least she didn’t have to worry about buying presents, as she did her Christmas shopping all through the year. Her gifts were currently wrapped and sitting beneath her parents’ tree back home.

At the end of the day, she sank into her seat at the back of the bus, exhausted from all the walking. There was only one time she’d pulled out her sketch pad. She was tired in a good way and was looking forward to going back and catching up with her grandmother. She knew Gram was having a good time. She’d been all smiles and when they went to bed the night before and had been asleep in seconds.

As she watched the scenery passing by from her seat on the bus, Jo was glad she’d been brave enough to get out and go see something, even though she would have preferred to see these things with someone else. It wasn’t ideal to have no one to talk to, no one to share it with.

By the time she arrived back at Bridie’s it was dark out, and Jo decided that she’d venture up to Dublin the next day. She’d looked up the bus schedule and if she got down to the bus stop early enough, she could make a day of it. She could make some sandwiches and carry them in her backpack. That would solve the problem of spending too much money on food.

Bridie’s house was dark, which indicated that Gram and Bridie weren’t back yet. They’d gone visiting some friends. Once inside, Jo dropped her coat, scarf, and backpack in the room she was sharing with Gram. She’d just gone to the sitting room and turned the light on when the front door opened and Bridie and Gram came through, loud and giggling.

Jo couldn’t help but smile. The most important thing was for Gram to be enjoying herself.

“Oh, there you are, Jo,” Gram said.

“Hi, Gram,” Jo said, giving her grandmother a hug. She always loved the way her grandmother smelled: something lemony. “Did you have a good day?”

“It was wonderful! I met up with people I haven’t seen in fifty years!” Gram’s eyes sparkled, and Jo thought she should have brought her over much sooner.

“We had a lot of laughs, reminiscing about the old days,” Bridie chimed in. “What did you do today, Jo?”

“I went to Enniscorthy,” Jo said. “Spent the day there. Loved it.”

Bridie’s eyes widened. “Enniscorthy? How did you get Ian to go to Enniscorthy?”

Jo shook her head and blushed. “Oh no, I’m sorry. I went by myself. I took the bus.”

Bridie looked puzzled. “I thought Ian was taking you somewhere today.”

Jo gave a small smile. “I don’t know how to drive a stick shift.”

Bridie pressed her lips together until they disappeared. “So, he left you to your own devices?”

“Oh, it’s all right,” Jo said hurriedly. She certainly didn’t want to get Ian into trouble. “Everything turned out fine.”

“I’ll be right back,” Bridie said, and she disappeared from the sitting room.

Jo sank on the sofa and put her head in her hands. “Oh, Gram, what have I agreed to? Ian Twomey doesn’t want any company!”

Gram sat next to her and patted her hand. “Don’t worry about it, Jo, it was just an idea. Bridie so wants to help Ian, but you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.”

“I can’t take any money from Bridie. It wouldn’t be right.”

“I’ll talk to Bridie, and you’re not to worry about money while we’re here,” Gram reassured her.

“I’m so sorry,” Jo said.

“Johanna, this is your trip as much as it is mine,” Gram said. “And I know how much you gave up to come here with me.”

“I do love it here, though, Gram, and I’m so glad I came with you,” Jo said. She didn’t want her grandmother feeling bad about anything.

“I’m glad to hear that. Now tomorrow, Bridie and I are taking the bus down to Kilkenny with the garden club, but maybe the day after would be a good day to visit my homeplace.”

“Oh, I’d love that,” Jo said.

“What will you do tomorrow?” Gram asked.

“I thought I might take the bus into Dublin and spend the day there.”

“Good.” Gram stood up and reached for her handbag. She dug out her wallet and pulled out some euro notes.

“No, Gram, I’m not taking your money,” Jo protested.

“Nonsense. Dublin is expensive, and I want you to have a good time,” Gram said, urging her to take the notes.

“I will have a good time,” Jo said. “I’m going to pack myself a picnic.”

“Pah! You’re on vacation. You’re not brown-bagging it,” Gram said. “Now treat yourself to a nice meal while you’re there. You might want to check out the National Gallery of Ireland. They have beautiful works of art there.”

“I will,” Jo said. Her grandmother pushed the notes into Jo’s hand and Jo sighed. “All right, Gram, thanks. But this is just a loan.”

Gram shook her head. “Not at all. It’s a gift.”