Who: Seamus Finnigan & Katie Bell Where: The pub in County Galway where Seamus works, then his home in Clifden What: A visit (also RTA, yay!) When: Saturday, mid-afternoon Rating: Likley low. Maybe some language.
Seamus was strangely glad that Katie was coming. For all that he'd kept himself apart from everyone since the accident, he realized he needed company. Otherwise, he might go stark, raving mad alone in the cottage. He'd thought of getting a dog, but he worked too much between the pub and the tours. Every penny he earned that didn't go to groceries or keeping the lights on went into savings. When Dean returned - because he would, Seamus was determined not to think of any other option - he would return to a neat little farm where the Atlantic winds blew wild. Where they could build a real life together, if he wanted. Seamus nearly had enough for a downpayment. It was the only thing that kept his thoughts busy when he was home. Susan was really the only one who'd come to see him in the months since he'd been back. Part of it was by design; Ireland was home. It was safer than England, simply because it was at a distance. The other part, Seamus knew, was due to the fact that he wasn't really part of the club anymore. He and Dean had been gone too long, missed too much, he supposed. But so much had changed.
He stood some yards from the pub, staring out at the water. Sunlight glinted off the waves, though the wind had a real bite to it. Seamus shoved his hands into his pockets to keep them from reddening further. It would be a chilly night. Luckily, he had the perfect dinner waiting for himself and his guest. A neighbor had basically assaulted him with a shepherd's pie earlier that morning that smelled downright fantastic. The old widow seemed to have taken a fancy with him. Seamus didn't mind. She was lovely, and very much like the grandmother he wished he'd had growing up. He hoped Dean would get to meet her at some point. Speaking of Dean, the man would likely scold him. He'd now invited two pregnant women to travel to him instead of him going to them. Even he knew he had better manners than that. It was too late now, though.
Squinting in the light, he waited patiently for Katie to arrive.