The sun moves across the sky and before Eilis realizes it it is evening.
"How about I meet you back at your house in a few? I just need to get something at the house." Eilis says.
"That sounds good. I need to put the children to sleep before we can head out anyways." Nancy replies.
Eilis stands in front of the mirror. This morning had been hard enough in choosing what to wear, but choosing what to wear for tonight was even harder. Eilis tries to deny it's because there's a small possibility of Jim showing up and for some reason she still wants to impress him. Instead she tells herself that she wants to look good because there will be a lot of people that she knows at the pub.
She puts on a plain beige blouse, one she is sure every woman in Ireland owns, with a dark green skirt, one she is sure every woman in Brooklyn yearns for. She combs through her hair and pins it up in hopes of keeping it out of her face. Lastly she reaches for some light make-up. She feels strange putting on make-up for only a night out with her friends in a pub in the middle of nowhere but that doesn't stop her. As a finishing touch she colors her lips with red lipstick.
She knocks on the door and Nancy opens it with a wide mouth which immediately turns into an even wider grin.
"You look gorgeous! Dressing up for someone?" She winks.
"I'm not Nance. I'm not, really. But I am used to it from America." It was a slight lie. She didn't dress up and put this much make-up on this often in Brooklyn but Nancy doesn't know that.
"If you say so." Nancy smiles slyly.
"Ready George?"
"On my way girls!"
The three of them walk to the pub full of laughter. Eilis takes a deep breath when they open the door. They sit at a booth and Eilis can't help but scan the room a few times. She sees a lot of men from the old rugby team as well as women from school. A few of those women turn to look at her and blatantly stare. When they notice her looking back they turn to each other in whispers.
"I suppose some things don't change." Eilis says.
"Oh never mind them. They're bored or what not. It's a small town, nothing happens here." Nancy puts hand over Eilis'.
"I do remember that."
George orders three pints for their table and the three of them laugh at stories from Brooklyn and Enniscorthy.
"You say nothing happens here but I'd say it's quite a bustling village from what I remember."
"That's because we've summed up the only things that have happened here in years." George says.
"Do you mind if I go talk to some of the lads over there?" George asks.
"Go on. Tell them I say hi." Eilis says.
Nancy and Eilis sip their pints.
"So tell me Nance. Now that George isn't at the table, how is life as a family woman?"
"Oh it's a joy. I mean sure, ups and downs." Nancy says.
"One wouldn't think there are any downs looking at the two of you laughing all the time." Eilis' laughs.
"Yes well all families have ups and downs. We argue just as much as any other couple. But oh how much I love that man. And my three beautiful darlings." Nancy gushes.
"They are sweet. I am so happy for the two of you. I wish you could meet Tony. Some day I will get him down here to Ireland. Either that or you are coming to Brooklyn."
"You know George have talked about that. We actually started saving up for me to go to Brooklyn one day." Nancy leans in.
"Really? That would be wonderful!"
"But let's make a pact. I save up to go to Brooklyn and you save up for Tony to come down here. Deal?"
"Sounds like a plan." The two girls shake on it.
George is walking over back to them with someone in tow but the two are deep in conversation.
"Eilis." The second man says and Eilis' body goes stiff. The voice sends shivers down her spine and she resists from shaking it off. She looks bewildered at her friend sitting across from her. She can see pity but also slyness in her eyes. Eilis' closes her eyes because she knows she can sit there forever. She wasn't going to be rude. Taking a few deep breaths, she tries to stop her heart from racing out of her body. Slowly she turns around and swallows over a lump in her throat that threatens to make her incapable of speech.
"Jim."