Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
A part of me wanted to go down and check out the garden immediately, maybe sit on the grass beneath the maple, close my eyes, and breathe in the new air. Did the air in other countries always feel this different? Or was I imagining it?
Unfortunately, it was getting late, so I knew I should probably wait until the morning to check out the garden and beach. Besides, I still had to meet my other cousins, though I was a little more intimidated to see Tristan and Derek than I had been to see Nuala.
There was a knock on my door, and I went to open it, frowning when I found no one there. Then I glanced down and saw my suitcase. Thanks, Stephen! I wheeled it into the room and left it by the closet. Tomorrow was for unpacking. What I really needed was a shower.
I went into the en suite and stripped off. There was one of those fancy waterfall showers, and it was pure bliss when I stepped under the spray. I felt all the hours of travelling wash away as I stood there, enjoying the simple pleasure of warm, steamy water.
When I was done, I dried off and changed into the leggings and spare sweater I’d packed in my travel bag. Mom insisted I bring a spare set of clothing, plus socks and underwear, just in case my luggage got lost.
Speaking of Mom, I needed to call and let her know I’d landed. Dialling her number, the phone rang only twice before she picked up. It was almost nine Irish time but still early evening back home.
“Charli, is that you? Did you arrive safely?” she asked, a note of tension in her voice. She’d been stressed about me travelling alone, and it had taken much convincing to get her to agree to let me go on the trip in the first place.
“It’s me. And yes, I’ve arrived safely,” I replied, my tone reassuring. “Nuala picked me up at the airport. We just got to the house a little bit ago. Aunt Jo was home and showed me to my room. I still haven’t seen Uncle Padraig or the boys yet.”
“How did Jo look? Was she nice to you?” I could just imagine her fretfully worrying her lip.
“She looked great, and yes, she was perfectly nice and welcoming. I have my own room and everything. The house is huge.”
“Yes, well, don’t go getting used to the fancy lifestyle. The summer will be over before you know it, and you’ll be back to slumming it with your boring old mother again.”
“You’re not boring, and you’re not that old,” I said with a hint of teasing.
She let out a small laugh, some of her tension fading. “Haha! Okay, well, go get some rest, and give me another call in the morning. And don’t forget to send me some pictures when you get a chance.”
“I will! Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too, honey.”
We hung up, and I collapsed back on the bed, closing my eyes. Nine was an okay time to fall asleep, right? Mom said to try not to sleep until it was dark out to avoid jet lag. I knew it was still early, but my body was crying out for rest.
I reached out and turned off the lamp then lay my head on the pillow that was the perfect mix of soft and firm and smelled like clean laundry. Even if I had to work part-time, I had a feeling this summer was going to be amazing. I’d never stayed anywhere so luxurious.
I almost drifted off when I became aware of low rock music playing somewhere down the hall. I suspected it was coming from the rec room, or whatever they called it here. Male laughter filtered through as I tossed and turned, trying my best to ignore the noise. Eventually, I gave up, turned the lamp back on, and sat up.
I guess it was time to meet the male cousins, then.
Padding down the hall in my socks, I pushed open the door to find a bunch of guys hanging out. There was a pool table in the middle of the room, plus some lounge chairs and a couch. I spotted Derek first, the eldest. He was very tall, just as in the picture from earlier, with dark brown hair and the same brown eyes as his sister. Tristan was fair, like his twin, but his eyes were a lighter brown. Both boys were conventionally good looking.
A guy with auburn hair leaned over the pool table, taking a shot, while another with dark hair, who looked part Asian, stood back holding the cue and watching his opponent size up the table. There was one more guy who sat on the couch. Even though he was sitting down, I could tell he’d be tall if he were standing. He seemed to be the least outgoing of the bunch and was a little on the chubby side. He was handsome, though, in a husky bear sort of way. His hair was sandy brown, a bit shaggy, and he wore a Fallout 3 T-shirt.