Again, I shook my head no.

“Mrs. Shaw, she was the same way when she first laid eyes on me. Young bride she was, just over from Ireland, and when she caught sight of me, she let out a cry would scare the haints out of their graves. She tried to run away ’til Mr. Shaw grabbed hold of her. He was laughing up a storm. Been here forty years now, and she ain’t never tried to run since.”

I finished the water and handed her the empty glass. She waited while I got out of the car. My cheeks burned with shame. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I just have never . . .”

She linked her free arm through mine as we walked toward the house. “Don’t you worry none about it, child. You and me, we’s gonna be the best of friends. Mm-hmm, yes we are.”

* * *

The next morning, I was awakened by a girl drawing the curtains back on the windows. A bright shaft of sun shot over me and I squinted.

“What the feck are you doing?” I shouted. “Could you not see I was sleeping?”

“Aye, well, that’s the point. I was sent to wake ye up, ye lazy lump.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I opened my eyes wide and glared at her.

“You’ve no right to speak to me that way,” I said. “Draw them back again and leave me alone.”

“No hope of that. Breakfast is waiting for you downstairs, and Mrs. Shaw is like a spitting divil when people are late.”

I recognized the Irish brogue at once. “You’re from Ireland?”

“Well, I suppose it takes one to know one. I’d have said your accent is from Donegal. As for myself, I’m from Kerry, although here’s me thinking that after two years in America I sound like a real Yank.”

Donegal, I thought. Is that where I’m from? It was the first glimpse I’d had into my past, but the place meant nothing to me.

The girl turned away and pointed to a wardrobe. “There’re clothes in there for you,” she said, her tone still sharp. “Mrs. Shaw’s after ordering them. She guessed your size. Must be well for ye to have all this finery bought for ye. I don’t know who ye are, but don’t go thinking you’re better than the rest of us. Hurry up now, or she’ll skin both of us. She has an awful temper when she’s roused.”