Nestled high on the mountains of Donegal, the building stood, a testament to times past. Pale yellow walls gleamed in the infrequent Irish sun. Stained glass windows glowed with a fiery intensity coating the driveway in shades of rainbow hues. The feudal Lord’s castle hovering over the peasant hamlets cowering on the ground below. Teac Jack’s , the finest B&B this side of Bloody Foreland. Cars littered the parking area in no specific formation, giving truth to the rumour that this establishment had the best food, most comfortable rooms, tastiest pint of Guinness and a medley of music strong enough to soothe the savage beast and entice the most timid guests to head for the ballroom floor. Tired travellers, colourful tourists and lively locals all frequented Teac Jacks and all received the self -same welcome from friendly, neighbourhood staff.

Anne Harkin stood transfixed at the window of the top floor room, looking at the vast expanse of water christened the Atlantic Ocean. Resembling a silky, satin coverlet of the deepest blue shimmying in the morning sunshine, laced with whispers of fine white lace. Sparkling sapphires reflected from the surface disappearing in an instant on the bed of water. Lapping slowly but steadily across the land intent on covering everything with its softness.

Anne sighed, a tear falling from her fathomless eyes. So beautiful. Everything is beautiful. From the far off mountains shrouded in death’s grey mist to the verdant green fields sewn together with walls of stone, thick hedges and strands of slippery seaweed. This was her place. No, this was their place. Long ago. A lifetime ago. Her lifetime ago. Stephen proposed here, here in this magical place. Dropped on one knee in the sand, amongst the rocky pools vibrant with miniature life and the sealed tight shells concealing the shyest of creatures. She laughed. Oh, how she laughed. He nearly toppled over. But the laughter died when she saw the seriousness in his eyes. He gazed up at her, love and devotion shining forth. Hand stretched upwards, proffering the cementation of their devotion, the solitaire glinting and winking in the brightness.

“Marry me, Anne, make me the happiest man in the world.”

She had cried, accepted, then cried some more until he gathered her up in those strong, familiar arms and held her like he’d never let her go. But he had no choice, really. He had to leave her. Really, no choice.

She turned from the window as voices interrupted her reverie. Loud, joyous voices, young and old, successfully revealing a wealth of happiness in their tone. The door flew open and he was there. Her Stephen. He hadn’t changed much, a little grey in that boyish blond hair, some laughter lines around the eyes but still her Stephen. The children, two of them came bounding in, boisterous, full of life. One so like him, the little girl, fair of hair and slim of build, a beauty in the making. The boy, yes, the boy. Then Anne saw her, small and dark with no visible age signs, Nuala. Over the years she had had glimpses of her but her attention always centred on Stephen. Nuala had no notion of a close rival. But she wasn’t that really, maybe once upon a time, but not now. Stephen’s heart was mended when he met Nuala and Anne was glad for him. She completed him.

“Gramps, can we have dinner now? I’m starved!” The cry of a growing boy, a credit to his parentage and his grand parentage.

“Well, Nuala, what do you think? Will we feed the hungry mob?”

Anne brushed her hand gently across his forehead and slowly trailed her finger down his soft cheek pausing to rest on his sweet, sweet lips.

“Erase your guiIt, my love. I drove the car that day. An accident, really that’s all it was, an accident. I have to go now but I will see you soon. We waited for you, your unborn child and I, stayed with you until it was near your time. Time is relative, a few years to you will be like a blink to me. I love you, Stephen.”

Stephen shivered: “A little chilly in here, don’t you think, Nuala?”

“Old man, you need a hug to warm you up” and saying that Nuala wrapped her arms around her loving husband holding him like she would never let him go.