1977
Greg and Reilly flew from New Jersey to Dublin, Ireland, where they stayed overnight. The next morning they flew from Dublin to Lismacleane where Reilly's grandparents waited for them. Greg wasn't sure what to expect when he met them but he was wasn't expecting them to be so young. He guessed them to be in their early fifties. Reilly's grandfather was a massive man with pale blue eyes, cropped auburn hair and deeply tanned skin. Her grandmother was tall and thin with short red-gold curls, eyes like Reilly's and skin like fine porcelain. They both smiled when they saw Reilly.
"There's me girlie," her grandfather said as he held open his arms to Reilly.
"Oh, Pa," Reilly said as she rushed to be enfolded in his embrace. He kissed the top of her head and then held her out to look her over. Tears shone in his eyes.
"You look jus' like yer dear Ma," he said smiling broadly.
"Get away with ya," her grandmother said to him and took Reilly's hands in hers. "You are a beauty and tall just like me sweet Meara." Then she pulled Reilly close and hugged her tightly.
"Pa, Nan, this is Greg House," Reilly said as she pulled away from her grandmother. "Greg these are my grandparents, Tad and Gaia Reilly."
"It's good ta finally meet ya, Greg," Tad Reilly said with a smile.
"Yes, our dear Reilly talks about ya all the time," Gaia told him.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Reilly."
"Oh, there'll be none of that," Tad told him with a smile. "We're Pa and Nan. Well, come along you two. We'll head back to the farm and let ya get settled in."
He picked up their duffle bags and walked toward a dark green Land Rover with a canvas top. He opened the back and tossed their bags in then turned to look at them as they approached. Gaia held Reilly's hand and seemed reluctant to release her.
"You'll have to sit in the back but there's no help for it," Tad told them. "I took the back seat out and never put it back. Well, you're both young and healthy so you'll be fine."
Once they were on the road, Greg leaned close to Reilly. "I thought Aunt Meara was Mom's age," he whispered in her ear. "Your grandparents can't be older than fifty-five."
Color flooded Reilly's face. "It's different here," she whispered back. "Mom was fourteen when she met Dad and fifteen when they married. Nan married Pa when she was fifteen and he was sixteen. Mom just tells everyone she's thirty-nine. It's easier. Most people wouldn't understand."
"She's only thirty-five?"
"Shhh! Yes."
"Jesus, Reilly. She was still sixteen when you were born!"
"She turned seventeen in December."
"You think you know someone," he sighed.
"Dad knows how old she is and that's all that matters," Reilly whispered defensively.
"And you," he pointed out softly.
"I found her birth certificate."
He shook his head. "Everybody lies, I guess."
They arrived at the Reilly's sprawling farm near sunset. As Tad pulled in beside one of the barns, Reilly turned to Greg.
"My grandparents had fifteen girls. Mom is the oldest and Niamh, Ciara, Aoife, Ita and Maeve still live with them. Niamh is our age, Ciara is fourteen, Aiofe is twelve, Ita is seven and Maeve is three."
Greg stared at her in shock. "Jesus," he breathed. "Your grandparents have kids younger than your own brothers and sisters."
Reilly smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "They're good Irish Catholics. Which reminds me. They'll expect us to go to Mass on Sundays."
Greg rolled his eyes and grimaced. "This is supposed to be a fun summer."
Tad opened the back of the Range Rover. "It will be," she assured him as they got out.
It was a fun summer. They worked on the farm but they also visited Wales, Scotland, England and Dublin. They learned to repair stone fences, milk cows, tend to the sheep, pluck chickens and cook. Niamh spent all her time with them and they became close friends. Niamh and Greg were especially close. He never told Reilly what happened in the back pasture in the middle of July.
He was lying on his back watching the fat white clouds sail in the bright blue sky when Niamh joined him.
"Yer supposed to be watchin' the sheep not the clouds," she teased as she stretched out beside him in the fragrant grass.
"I can hear them," he smiled.
She rolled onto her side and propped her head up on her hand. Her auburn hair gleamed in the sunlight and her cat shaped blues eyes darkened with desire. Slowly, she reached out and ran her hand down his stomach to the waistband of his jeans. With a flick of her fingers, she unbuttoned them and his gaze dropped to the swell of her breasts beneath her t-shirt. Her nipples strained against the thin cotton. Leaning down, her lips grazed his. He reached up and cupped the back of her head. Deepening the kiss, his tongue slid against hers. His other hand slid beneath her t-shirt and cupped her breast, his fingers teasing the taut nipple. She moaned and slid the zipper of his jeans down. As they continued to kiss, she reached into his boxer shorts and pulled out his stiff cock. Then she pulled away and stripped her t-shirt off , kicked off her sneakers and shimmied out of her jeans. Greg sat up and pulled his t-shirt over his head and allowed her to strip the rest of his clothes off him. She grabbed her jeans, pulled a condom out of one of the pockets and rolled it on him.
"You've done this before," he breathed as he stroked her breasts.
"Aye," she agreed. She leaned down and kissed his again as she moved over him. Trailing kisses down his neck, she slid down on him and he groaned as she began to move. He bucked up against her and gripped her hips. Her wetness coated him and she guided his hand to her clit. He began to rub the slick, swollen nub as she moved faster. Sweat slicked their bodies and color bloomed on her pale skin. Her muscles clamped down on his cock and she threw her head back and moaned loudly. He tensed and growled as his own orgasm thundered through him. When he grew soft, she slid off him and removed the condom. She dressed and dug a small hole in the grass. Shoving the used condom in, she covered it up as he pulled his clothes on. Leaning down, she kissed him and then got up. Stretching like a lazy cat, she hummed with pleasure.
"Thanks," she told him and then walked off.
Greg sat up and watched her. Then he smiled and went back to watching the clouds.
At the end of August, they flew back to New Jersey. They took a bus to Harvard where their parents waited for them.
Blythe moved forward and hugged Greg. "How was Ireland?" she asked.
"We had to work on the farm but it was fun. I learned a lot."
She smiled at him. John nodded at him and Greg nodded back.
"We want to take you two out for lunch before you get settled in your dorms," Gil said.
The found a pizza restaurant close the the campus and they ordered two large pizzas with everything and salad. Greg sat next to Reilly and sipped his root beer.
"So, tell us about Ma and Da and the girls," Meara said.
Reilly proceeded to tell her mother all about the family and Greg leaned back in his chair. Looking around the restaurant, he saw Dylan Crandall in a corner booth with his parents. He smiled slightly. At least he wouldn't need to break in a new roommate.
When the pizza arrived, they all ate in silence for several minutes. Then John looked at Greg.
"What do you plan to major in?" he asked Greg.
"Organic Chemistry and Biology," Greg muttered without taking his eyes from his plate.
"So, you still plan to be a doctor."
"Yes, sir."
Blythe cleared her throat. "What about you, Reilly?"
Reilly smiled. "Biology and Math."
"Good choices," Gil told her. "Both will prepare you for med school."
"That's what I thought," she agreed.
"Do ya both plan to keep up your music?" Meara asked.
They nodded.
"Harvard has a good music program," Reilly said.
Silence descended on the table and they quickly finished eating. Gil and John paid the bill while Meara, Blythe and Reilly went to the restroom. Greg walked over to where Dylan sat with his parents.
"Hey, G-Man!" Dylan smiled. He turned to his parents. "Mom, Dad, this is Greg House."
Greg smiled. "Nice to meet you both."
Dylan got up. "I'll be back," he told them. He grabbed Greg's arm and pulled him outside.
"Got any weed, G-Man?" he asked.
"No, you moron. I'm with my parents and Reilly and her parents. You still have your car, right?"
Dylan nodded. "I met a girl. Name's Faye. She is a stone cold fox, G-Man. I really think she's the one."
"You've said that about every girl you've looked at."
"No, man, this time it's real. Deep, you know?"
"Right." Greg saw Reilly and their parents headed toward the exit. "I'll see you later."
Dylan watched Reilly walk out of the restaurant. "Man, she is one fine piece of ass."
"Shut up," Greg growled and walked away.
As they walked to the cars, Greg looked at Reilly. She was tall with long slender legs, firm high breasts, a narrow waist and flat stomach. Her red and gold streaked curls were piled on her head and a few ringlets framed her face. Her skin was pale and smooth. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks. Her lips were full and pink. Dark lashes accentuated her large, clear blue eyes. When she smiled, her whole face lit up. He never noticed before but Reilly was beautiful. Shaking his head, he got into the car. She was his best friend. There was no way he could allow himself to think of her any other way.