A/N I've had to look for an online translator for the sentences I write in Irish. I hope they are well translated (sorry if they're not!) And I do not know Dublin, so I also hope you will excuse me if I make any mistake in the description of the city.
The boat was slowly approaching to the deck of Dublin. It was eight in the morning, and the sky was covered by a thin mist. Tom looked above, trying to figure it it will rain within the next hours. Once they had met his family, he wanted to show her the parks in the village, mainly Herbert Park, one of his favourite places in Dublin. Sybil, on the other hand, was rather nervous thinking of meeting her in laws to be. Even if Tom had reassured her saying they were eager to meet her, she couldn't avoid feeling unsecure. Specially in what concerned Kieran.
Not much later, they were already waiting in the queue to leave the boat. Sybil watched the rest of the passengers. It was mainly workers, of both sexes, with poor clothes and tired expressions. She felt once more unconfortable, and noticed the way they looked at her. She regretted not wearing something more simple, though she had chosen one of her oldest dresses.
After a while, it was their time to leave the boat. At the end of the gangway, Tom saw his mother, waiting for him and Sybil.
-Failte, chaoi a raibh an turas? Ni mor e seo a bheith Lady Sybil, ta se an-deas. (Welcome, son. How was the trip? This must be Lady Sybil, she is very beautiful)
Sybil smiled shyly, when hearing her name mentioned by her mother in law. She was a short, slim woman with dark blue eyes and a determined expression in them. They kept in silent for a while, maybe trying to figure out what to wait from each other.
Finally, Sybil extended her hand to Tom's mother, who hugged her
-Failte, Lady Sybil.(welcome, Lady Sybil)
-No, I am not Lady Sybil any more. Just Sybil, or...-a serious glance from Tom told her it was not the moment to break the news about their wedding. There would be time for that when they were at home.
The Branson family house was placed in the old part of Dublin, not far from the deck. It was a cosy house, with two stores. On the lower floor there was a small kitchen, with a wood fired oven, and a table with six wooden chairs. There was too a not much bigger living room, with some books over a table. Tom took a look to them and couldn't but smile. That had to be a welcome gift from Mr O'Malley. He would go to see him as soon as he could.
The bedrooms were all in the upper floor. All of them had two beds, excepting the one that had belonged to Tom's parents. It was also the biggest one of all. Tom guided Sybil to his former bedroom, shared with Kieran, but his mother refused to that.
-No, nach bhfuil se seo do sheomra. Fan i mianach.(no, this is not your room. You'll sleep in mine)
-Aon bhealach, mathair. Ba mhaith linn mianach nios fearr (no way, mother, mine will do)
Sybil was listening attentively to mother and son, and tried to understand what they were talking about. Tom had taught her some words in irish, but she was not ready yet to follow a whole conversation.
-Go raibh maith agat (thanks)
Tom smiled proudly, and Mrs Branson nodded with her head. With a sign, she led Sybil to her bedroom. It had one big bed, and the window was facing the deck. Sybil opened it and breathed deeply the salty scent of the sea.
-Is maith lion an seomra seo. Go raibh maith agat aris (I like this room, thanks again)
Mrs Branson went downstairs to prepare the meal for the family. Moira and Sheila would be about to arrive from work, and Kieran would go later, along with his wife Maureen.
-Mathair, ta muid sa bhaile. Tom teacht? (Mother, we're at home. Did Tom arrive?)
-Dia duicht, inionacha. Ta siad suas (Hi, girls, they're upstairs)
Tom went out of the room, as soon as he heard the happy, lilting voice of his sister Moira. She was the youngest of the Branson siblings, and, even if he wouldn't admit it, Tom's favourite. She was also the one who looked the most like him, though her hair was auburn.
-Is maith an rud go bhfuil tu ar sais ( how good you're back)
-Me chaill tu, deirfiur. Conas ata tu? ( I missed you, sister. How are you?) Moira, Sheila, this is Sybil, my wife to be.
Both girls smiled at Sybil. Sheila seemed to be more serious than Moira, and was a younger version of her mother, with the same determined expression.
-An bia anseo! (Lunch is ready!)
The four youngsters went downstairs, to the kitchen. Mrs Branson had lit the fire with some wood and there was a warm, cosy atmosphere. She had prepared an Irish stew and bacon with cabbage, two of the typical irish dishes. Sybil did really enjoy them, and asked Mrs Branson how to prepare them.
It was a familiar, friendly lunch. Both Sheila and Moira were telling all kind of stories about their jobs, and Sybil was particularly interested in the things Moira said, to know what to expect when she started her job at the same hospital.
One of the things she enjoyed most during the lunch, however, was the continuous pranks and jokes among Tom and his sisters, and for a moment she felt a sort of envy comparing the relationship the siblings had with the one held by Mary and Edith.