I had returned to Brooklyn, to my husband. I missed Ireland, I missed mammy. I missed Jim. Was it possible to love two different guys at the same time. In getting to know Jim, I felt maybe perhaps I had fallen out of love with Tony. But seeing him across the street, having his arms around me again, no I hadn't stop loving him. Maybe I loved him more than I had realized.

We spent all of our time together, picking up where we left off. Even planned a small wedding celebration. His family welcomed me officially to the family with open arms, even Frankie.

But sometimes I still found myself thinking of home. Tony had said to me once that home was home. And while back in Ireland I felt as if I had found home again. I had found a reason to stay with Jim. But I realized I had done everything with Jim as Tony had me. I wondered if I would stop loving Jim.

I had told him I had to return to America because I was married and missed my husband. Just as I had mammy. And it wasn't until I saw Tony that I realized that had not been a lie. I did miss Tony and America was where my life was now, not Ireland. But you can never truly removed Ireland from the heart. You can take person out of Ireland, but not Ireland out of the person.

I went back and forth if I should ever tell Tony about Jim. I feared his reaction and feared he'd leave me. But I also felt he had a right to know and I needed to be honest. So one night I told him everything. He was quiet for a long time. When I asked him to say something he stood up and said he was going to bed.

I decided it best to let him alone and I found elsewhere to sleep for the night. Tony didn't look at me for days and each night we slept seperatly. And I began to feel my worst fear. Tony was going to leave me. I was staying back at the boarding house sharing a room with Sheila.

One day about two weeks later Frankie came over to the boarding house asking for me. He told me that Tony had become gravely ill. He had cut himself badly at work and it had become infected. Doctors said that they had done all they could, but to expect the worst. And at that Tony had begun to ask for me.

I went to the house with Frankie. There I was led to Tony's room. He was sleeping, beads of sweat on his pale face. I didn't wish to disturb him, so I sat near the bed in the chair just looking at him. My husband, my love. And in that moment there was no Jim in my mind. No longing for Ireland. No wishing I had not come back to America. Just Tony. My Tony. My home.

After a bit Tony began to cough. I reached over and put my hand on his shoulder to steady him. He opened his eyes to see me.
"Eilis?"
"I'm here Tony."