Chapter 35

Evelyn sat across from the TV presenter, gently cradling a warm cup of tea in her hands. The room was filled with elegant antique furniture, and grand paintings adorned the walls.

Evelyn had been in Ireland for a few days now, staying at Ashford Castle while filming for the genealogy show.

The presenter, a friendly woman in her 40s, smiled at Evelyn as she laid out a series of documents on the table between them.

"It's wonderful to have you here in Ireland, exploring your family's roots. What inspired you to embark on this journey?"

"I've always known that my grandfather, Patrick Coleman, was from Galway. He left Ireland when he was 18 and moved to New York, but beyond that, I don't know much about his life here or his family. I guess I just felt this pull to connect with that part of my history."

The presenter nodded, picking up the first document.

"We've uncovered some fascinating information about your grandfather's early life. This here is his birth certificate. Patrick Coleman, born March 5, 1927, in a small village on the Galway-Mayo border."

Evelyn took the document, studying the faded ink.

"It's incredible to see it in black and white. I knew he was from Galway, but to have the exact location and date..."

"Absolutely. And here, we have the ship manifest from when Patrick emigrated to the United States in 1945." She handed Evelyn the manifest, pointing to a line halfway down the page. "There he is, Patrick Coleman, age 18. He boarded the ship in Dublin and arrived in New York City on August 15, 1945."

Evelyn scanned the document, imagining her grandfather as a young man setting out on a life-changing journey.

"He mentioned his early days in New York a few times," Evelyn said softly, "But he never really talked about what he left behind in Ireland."

"It must have been a tough decision," the presenter agreed. "Leaving everything behind at such a young age. Now, let's take a look at this map."

She unfolded a detailed map of County Galway, pointing to a small village.

"This is where your grandfather was born and raised. It's a beautiful area. Not far from Connemara but also just a short drive to Galway City."

As Evelyn leaned in to study the map, a realization struck her. That village was just a few minutes drive away from the estate. She'd even passed through it a few times when she'd been out on a drive with Claire.

"We've arranged for you to be able to visit the home where your grandfather grew up. It's derelict, but you can still get an idea for the place where he spent his childhood. It's about a thirty minute drive from here."

"I would love to," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "It would mean the world to me to see that piece of my family's history."

The presenter smiled. "Okay. Whenever you're ready, we can get going."

Evelyn nodded, not letting on that she'd spent months living just a few miles from there. The coincidence was almost too much to believe.

And inevitably she thought of Claire.

Evelyn had picked up her phone so many times in the last two years, but especially in the last few weeks, when she knew the dates that she'd be here. She couldn't decide what the best thing to do was.

Evelyn didn't think she could leave here without seeing Claire. It was probably a bad idea, but she couldn't be this close to her without reaching out.

She probably should have sent her a text before she'd arrived, but it was too late for that now.

She could text her right now. Ask to see her.

But what if she'd moved on? She almost surely had.

Evelyn could just show up at the guesthouse. It probably wasn't the best move, but she was too afraid to send a text and not get a response.

If she wanted to see her again, what other choice was there?