Emerald Green Eyes

Chapter 4

Here it is at last Chapter 4

Chapter 4

We boarded an Aer-Lingus flight to Shannon Airport, no delays, we took off on time, I had a window seat with dad beside me.  I can’t say I was excited, I felt numb, I looked out of the window, we had been in the air for about 40 minutes at this stage, all I could see below was green fields stretching out as far as the eye could see. Ten minutes later the seatbelt sign came on showing that we were due to land soon, I felt nervous, nauseous, I was expected to just slot in with a new family, why did I promise mum I would give it time?

The plane landed with a bump, we made our way to the airport and disembarked. We made our way through customs, showing our passports, collected our suitcases off the belt and then walked out into the fresh air. Ahead of us a car park, dad took my case and I followed him to his car, a big black Range Rover, he opened the doors and I climbed in.

He climbed in, put the key in the ignition, turned, looked at me and said, “Welcome to Ireland Cass, welcome home, I know it doesn’t feel like home yet but I promise you I will do everything in my power to make you feel welcome and loved.” The sincerity in his eyes as he spoke shone out; I nodded, gave a brief smile and looked out the window. He started the car; we made our way out of the car park and were soon on the road to a place called Dromoland, near Newmarket on Fergus. The fields rolled by, the scenery quite beautiful, so much open space, my photographer’s eye took over, I could create some beautiful photos.

We pulled into a sweeping drive, up ahead of me a castle; I looked at dad, “A castle? You live in a castle?”

He smiled, no it’s now a hotel, I built the family a house on the grounds, living and working here in Dromoland Castle meant little escape, once we had children I built the cabin nearer the woods. The castle was quite beautiful, majestic rising out of the ground; a lake as a backdrop,  the grounds were stunning, open space, a golf course and a forest, acres and acres of Forestry and woodland.

We drove past the castle, towards a cabin, well that was what he called it, I would say a mansion, it was huge!

We pulled up, my nerves started to get the better of me, he took my hand, “Cass calm down, I can hear your heart beating so rapidly, they will love you, just as I do already!”

I climbed out, dad took my hand and we headed towards the porch and front door, it was flung open and three people came out, the younger girl flying towards dad, almost barrelling him down as she jumped up on him, “Dad!” she screamed, “You’re home, I missed you!”

Dad smiled picked her up, “Rosin, I want you to meet someone very special, this is Cass your older sister.”

She looked at me shyly and then gave the biggest smile I have ever seen, her eyes just like mine emerald green, her hair though was blond, like the boys and the woman’s.

Dad looked at me and then said, “This is your brother John and my wife Hannah!” Hannah came over and gave me a hug, John looked and nodded.

We went into the house, Rosin took my hand, “Would you like to see your bedroom, it’s next to mine, I helped get it ready for you?”

“Thanks I’d like that!”

Hannah looked at me, “Take time to freshen up and then come downstairs to the kitchen and I’ll have lunch ready”

I nodded and followed Rosin up the sweeping stairs towards a landing that stretched both right and left, we went to the right, until we came to a door, Rosin opened it and went in, “Do you like it?”

My gaze swept over the room, what wasn’t to like? It was huge, as big as our terrace house at home: I had a huge double four poster bed with a bedside cabinets each side, a white lamp on each. To the left was a sofa, with a bookshelf beside it, and a TV on a set of drawers. To my right were two doors, one was a walk-in wardrobe, the other a bathroom, “It’s beautiful.” A head was a huge window that looked out onto woodland, with a vast lake glistening to the right of it, “It’s really beautiful, thanks Rosin!”

I popped my case on the bed, flung it open and took out my few clothes, I laughed to myself, I had far too much space for my meagre possessions. I popped them away into the wardrobe and popped the case in the back of it. My wardrobe was as big as my old bedroom, I told Rosin I was going to have a shower, she asked me if I wanted her to wait, I told her I’d be fine and that I’d see her downstairs in a 20 minutes. She smiled and bounced out of the room.

I showered, changed clothes, looked in the mirror, I looked tired, my eyes had dark patches from the exhaustion of the last two weeks, my skin pale, I put on a bit of lip gloss and headed downstairs.

I headed out towards the staircase, letting my nose guide me towards the wonderful scent, my stomach growled in hunger. I stepped into the kitchen and another huge room, with cream units and a marble work surface and the biggest dining table I have ever seen. Hamah smiled at me told me to sit down and be comfortable, whilst she started to poo food on the table, “I hope you don’t mind I just did some Pizza for lunch with salad and baked potatoes?”

My mouth was water, “That’s perfect, thank you!”

John arrived and sat at the table opposite me, Rosin sat next to me, dad and Hannah to the left of her, they tucked in it was delicious.

John looked at me, “Maybe after lunch if you’re not too tired I can show you around a bit!”

“I’d like that, thanks,” I replied.

Lunch was nice, easy conversation, nobody pushed me, dad must have told them to give me space, it was clear dad and Hannah loved each other, what was it mum had called them, soul mates, well I’m not sure if soul mates exist, but dad loved Hannah and she loved him. Rosin and John ate and laughed about events that happened that morning. We spoke about school, I told them I had finished my A levels and was hoping to do Art. John had two years to go, Rosin had three. I thanked Hannah for a lovely lunch and offered to help clear, she smiled and told me to enjoy exploring with John. I told him I was going to grab my camera and I’d meet him in 5 minutes by the front door.