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much.”
    â€œA pleasure. Goodbye, have a good trip.”
    They nodded to me and gave me a big smile. Since when were guys who rented cars so friendly and helpful?
    I was halfway there and just starting to relax. I’d successfully passed the test of the highway and the first traffic circle. Nothing special along the way except some sheep and shimmering green fields. As far as the eye could see. No traffic jams, no rain on the horizon.
    Saying goodbye to Felix went round and round in my mind. We hadn’t exchanged a single word between my place and the airport. He’d smoked one cigarette after the other without looking at me. He only spoke at the very last minute. We were standing opposite each other, looking at each other and hesitating.
    â€œYou’ll take care of yourself?” he asked.
    â€œDon’t worry.”
    â€œYou can still change your mind, you don’t have to go.”
    â€œDon’t make this more difficult. It’s time. I have to board now.”
    I’ve never been able to stand goodbyes. Leaving him was more difficult than I’d imagined. I crushed myself against him; he took a few seconds to react, then held me in his arms.
    â€œTake care of yourself,” I said, “Don’t do anything stupid. Promise?”
    â€œWe’ll see. Get going now.”
    He let go of me. I picked up my bag and walked towards security. I gave him a little wave. Then I took out my passport. I could feel Felix watching me throughout the whole process. But I didn’t look back once.
    I was here. I was in Mulranny. In front of the cottage whose photos I’d hardly looked at on the ad. I had to drive through the entire village and take the twisting road along the beach to get to my house.
    I’d have neighbors. Another house was next to mine, a few yards away. As I tried to decide how I felt about neighbors, a tiny little woman in her mid-sixties came pedaling up the road on a bicycle. She dismounted and came towards me with a wave. I forced myself to smile.
    â€œHello, Diane. I’m Abby, your landlady. Did you have a good trip?”
    â€œVery pleased to meet you.”
    She looked at the hand I stretched out to her with amusement, then shook hands.
    â€œYou know, everyone here knows each other. And you’re not on a job interview. Please don’t get it into your head to call me Madam all the time. Same goes when it comes to consideration and good manners, OK?”
    She invited me into the place that was to become my home. I found it warm and cozy inside.
    Abby never stopped talking; I only listened to half of what she said, nodding in reply with a dumb smile on my face. She treated me to a description of all the appliances in the kitchen, the cable channels, the times when it was high tide, and when Mass was held, of course. That was when I cut in.
    â€œI don’t think I’ll be needing that, I have no interest in the Church.”
    â€œThen we have a serious problem, Diane. You should have done some research before coming here. We fought for our independence and our religion. You’re going to be living with Irish Catholics who are proud of it.”
    This was turning out to be a good start.
    â€œAbby, I’m very sorry, I . . .”
    She burst out laughing.
    â€œRelax, for Heaven’s sake! It was a joke. It’s just how I am. There’s no obligation to go with me on Sunday mornings. On the other hand, one piece of advice: never forget that we’re Irish, not English.”
    â€œI’ll remember that.”
    She quickly continued her guided tour. Upstairs, my bathroom and bedroom. I’d be able to lie sideways across my bed; it was an extra-large king size. Normal in the land of giants.
    â€œAbby,” I cut in, “thank you. It’s perfect. I have everything I’ll need.”
    â€œForgive my enthusiasm, but I’m so happy that someone is going to live in the cottage during the winter; I’ve