Hearts in Sorrow

Hearts in Sorrow by Deidre Dalton is the prequel to the Collective Obsessions Saga.

Long before emigrating to America to settle the town of Larkin, Maine, John Larkin falls for the hauntingly beautiful Maeve O'Quinn in his native Ireland. Although frail, she returns the love of the future Larkin patriarch in full measure as she envisions a rosy life with him, little knowing that fate has other plans for them.

From Chapter Three    

    TWO DAYS LATER, John made his way to Bantry aboard his fishing boat, the Lady Banshee. He decided to sail rather than take a horse because travel time was less. Riding a horse would take about five hours as opposed to a wagon, which took seven or eight hours for thirty-one miles. The route by boat was only nine miles, which appealed to his sense of urgency to see Maeve again.

     He rarely manned Lady Banshee alone while fishing, when he took along two of his employees to operate the oars and to help him with the catch. The boat had belonged to Kevin O'Larkin, serving him well for many years. The boat itself was flat-bottomed with a modest sail. John and his crew only used the oars when manoeuvring the boat closer to their selected fishing grounds. The vessel was painted light blue with a white trim. John kept the boat in near pristine condition, repainting it every few years and replacing nets and other equipment when necessary. It was sturdy and reliable. He used nets to farm the mussels and other shellfish, but quite often he would anchor the boat while he dove into the water to pluck mussels clinging to rocks and other hard surfaces.

     Using the oars was a laborious task, especially for a roundtrip voyage of roughly eighteen miles, but John was in superb physical condition after his many years of fishing. He made the trip to Bantry in just over three hours. Bantry Bay was one of the longest inlets in southwest Ireland, bordered on the north by the Beara Peninsula and on the south by Sheep's Head Peninsula.

     John moored the Lady Banshee in Bantry Harbour, near the Quay, and then walked the short distance to the O'Quinn cottage on Tom's Lane. The house was small, but well-kept, with a thatched roof and a surrounding white picket fence, nicely shaded by evergreen oak and willow trees. As John came abreast of the structure, he spied Anne in a rather large garden on the left side of the cottage, where she was pulling carrots from the ground. She wore a faded blue flower dress, with her head enfolded by a dark blue scarf.

     She looked up when he came to a stop, an expression of surprise on her face. He made his way through the gate to the property, waving at Anne as he came closer to her. She came forward, wiping her hands on a white half-apron wrapped around her waist with a basket full of carrots balanced on her wrist.

     "Greetings, Miss O'Quinn," John said affably when they were face to face.

     "Good afternoon, Mr. O'Larkin," she returned with a slight smile. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

     "You know of my courtship of your sister?"

     She nodded. "She told me all about it. My father is very pleased."

     "You'll probably see more of me from now on," he told her as he gazed at the cottage. "Is Maeve at home?"

     Anne shook her head. "My father took her to a shop in the village, but they should return shortly. Can I offer you a cup of tea while you wait?"

     "It wouldn't go amiss, thank you."

     The inside of the O'Quinn cottage was clean, just as John expected it would be. The living area blended into the compact kitchen, and a room to the left served as bedroom for both Anne and Maeve, while Dary made do with a smaller room to the right of the kitchen. It was a similar layout to his own cottage, which was typical of modest Irish homes. Even though he did not know her well, John had noticed Anne's fastidiousness when the family had spent the night with him in Castletownbere. She appeared to favour cleanliness, order and harmony, traits he found admirable. However, on the flip side, Maeve was spontaneous and exuberant without care or concern about keeping her surroundings tidy, which he also found utterly enchanting.

     Anne served him a hot cup of tea at the modest, square-sided kitchen table. "How long do you plan on staying with us?" She asked casually as she took a seat.

     "A few days, if Dary is agreeable."

     She gave a short laugh. "Oh, he'll be agreeable."

     "How can you be so sure?" John queried as he took a sip of tea.

     "I know my father," she responded flatly. "You are a respectable and decent man. In his eyes, you are perfect for one of his daughters. He realizes he won't have to worry about Maeve with you in the picture. You aren't wealthy by any means if first impressions are correct, but your life is seemingly comfortable, which bodes well for my sister."

     John was somewhat taken aback by Anne's frankness, but also appreciative of her honesty. Anything to give him an inroad with Maeve was valuable to him, although he knew she was already enamoured of him as he was of her. He suddenly felt pity for Anne. She was the less attractive older sister, with little to no marital prospects to be had. Her lot in life, by all appearances, was not a happy one. She might become his sister-in-law someday, true, but would it be enough to attract suitors to her?

     He forgot all about Anne when Dary and Maeve came into the cottage, bearing packages. When Maeve saw John smiling at her, she dropped her parcels to the floor and ran to him.

     They embraced briefly - to be expected as Dary was present - before John set her back from him to admire her gown. It was yellow with dark green pinstripes, her tiny waist cinched with a narrow black belt. Her green eyes were shining, the happiness in seeing him impossible to hide or temper.

     "How long can you stay?" She asked breathlessly.

     John looked to Dary, who regarded him with a wide grin. "A few days only, if your father will permit it."

     Maeve's face fell. "Just a few days only?"

     "I have a business to attend to," John reminded her gently.

     "You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Dary spoke up.

    "Maybe next week Maeve and Anne can come to Castletownbere," John suggested. "I'd eventually love to show Maeve how I do my work, and perhaps see other sights as well. All properly chaperoned, of course."

     "I consent," Dary agreed. "Maeve is always eager for new experiences."

     "Castletownbere is much smaller than Bantry," John warned Maeve. "You might find it boring."

     "Oh, never!" Maeve declared with fervour, her voice deepening. "Being in your company would never be boring, no matter where we are or what we're doing."

     John beamed as Maeve knew he would. "I'll do my best, Miss O'Quinn," he assured her.

     "As shall I." Maeve gazed at John with boundless love expressed in her eyes.

     He was completely mesmerized.