Astonishment II

The atmosphere in the pub was warm and pleasant. A group were playing traditional music, and few old couples were dancing on the floor.

-It was exactly what we needed, after this long rainy day-. Said Kevin, relaxed with his cold beer in a hand.

-Totally agree. Visiting the Dingle bay in February was maybe not the best choice- Admitted Sharon with a sigh. All the day long she had to bear his complains about the wind and the rain, unable as he was to appreciate the beauty of a landscape, without a Californian sun shining above them.

It was they first trip in Europe, and she carefully planned to visit all the places she heard about from her friends. Her best friend spent one year as Au pair in Ireland before the College, minding the children of a local couple, whilst she was force to give up their planned journey to mind her own, unexpected child. At that time, she did not regret the choice, but after ten years she begged her husband to fulfil her teen dream.

Kevin was not so thrilled about the idea of leaving his beloved Sacramento to spend three weeks in the old and boring Europe. But he acknowledged with himself that he owed that to his wife. However, in the deal they had, nowhere was said he could not complain, and this was exactly what he did. Tired of seeing ships and cows in a misty rain, he was not in the perfect mood for a second honeymoon.

Anyway, in that pub for the first time he felt relaxed and in the right place. The music in the background reminded him of American country music, of which he was a huge fan, and the warm stew he was having dried the cold entered in his bones as they were viewing bay after bay

He was such in a good mood, that he even asked Sharon for a dance.

She was not totally sure about it, as it was years she didn't dance, but noticing in the mood of her usually grumpy husband, she would not lost the chance. They reach the dance floor among the applause of the audience, and the old couple near them offered to teach them the steps. Such a friendly people, the Irish, Sharon tough in delight. A night like that, was one she will never forget.

Around eleven, the tiredness starts to win over their enthusiasm, and they decided to reach their bed and breakfast, few miles away. Stepping out of the door, for a moment the mist was so dense they could not locate their car, parked right in front of the main entrance. The rain did not stop, and Kevin said: Let's go back inside for a while, until the rain calms down.

In the total silence of the night, they turned their back to the door of the pub, and all they saw was an old, ruined cottage, with a signboard waving in the wind.

They looked in each other eyes, astonished and petrified.