It was a wonderful afternoon and Laura felt sad when it was time to leave, but she was soon off on her own adventure and everyone had promised to keep in touch.

Two weeks after the picnic, Laura and Monica set off from Somerby to Ireland. They were going to travel to Fishguard on the daytime ferry, spend a night in a bed and breakfast on their arrival, and then set off again in the morning. They planned to reach Ballymolloy in the afternoon.

‘I’m so glad you’re coming with me,’ said Laura as they turned out of the drive into the road. They were in Monica’s VW Beetle again, Laura having sold her car. She felt it was a sign that she was committed to making her new life in Ireland work and she wouldn’t really need one over there. She went on, ‘Now it’s actually happening, I’m really nervous.’ She paused. ‘I haven’t lived in many places in my life.’

‘It’s a big step for anyone,’ agreed Monica.

‘I know! I mean, it’s more like emigrating than moving.’

‘What do you parents think about it all?’ asked Monica after a suitable pause.

‘Full of their usual lack of enthusiasm for yet another of my madcap schemes,’ Laura said dryly. ‘I do feel a bit guilty about them actually. I meant to go over and visit them but there just wasn’t time, what with the course and everything. And Fen and Rupert needed a bit of help with a wedding and after all they’ve done for me, it seemed the least I could do. I’ll come back and see them when I’m settled in and can reassure them a bit. But this suited Gerald best. He’s got lots of work waiting for me, apparently.’

‘Your parents should be thrilled for you,’ said Monica indignantly. ‘It’s your ideal job.’

‘I know. But they don’t do “thrilled”. And they worry about it being part-time, and freelance, and in another country. All that stuff. It’s only natural.’ Although she found her parents intensely negative and irritating, Laura was aware a lot of it was caused by genuine concern, and she didn’t want others to think badly of them.

‘Well, I’m thrilled even if I will miss you.’

‘We haven’t known each other long, have we? And yet I feel we’ve been best friends all our lives. I’m going to miss you terribly.’

‘It’s because we were girls on the razz in Ireland all those months ago. It bonded us. And now we’re going to be on the razz in Ireland again!’

Laura laughed gently. ‘I wonder whether, if I knew then what I know now, I’d have “razzed” quite so much.’ But only a moment’s thought told her that despite everything she regretted nothing.