As she sat in the Cat & Cage Pub in Dublin, nursing her Shanty, Victoria knew her relationship with Kelly was likely coming to an end. All the signs were there.
How could she be with a man who was with her in such a beautiful country, yet didn't want to take her to see the sights? He was sitting in their hotel room even now, drinking and watching "football".
Another factor was the fact his family didn't take to her because she wasn't Catholic. They were civil, but that was about as good as it got.
She looked around and saw all the happy people and the cheery locals having fun, laughing, drinking and having a meal. So why in hell was she here, alone?
There was another sign -- Kelly's ardor had cooled considerably. He'd never been a fireball in bed though. Victoria sighed. What was it with her? Why did she seem to attract such duds? Were they always that way? Or did she just come to notice it at some point? Or did she make them that way?
The barmaid, Colleen, came over with her bill. She handed it to Victoria and flashed a beautiful smile. The woman wore almost no makeup, but was sensual and earthy, with beautiful curves, shoulder-length, auburn-reddish hair and bright green eyes that twinkled with merriment. In the Pub's uniform, she was lovely to behold.
"You look like you've the weight of the world on your shoulders, and that's a fact" Colleen told her.
Victoria smiled up at her. "It's nothing."
"Anything that puts a frown on such a lovely face isn't nothing. Do you want to talk about it?"
"My boyfriend -- my lover -- and I are here in this beautiful place and all he wants to do is eat, drink and watch Soccer. I want to see your lovely country and, quite frankly, I would like to have a bit of sex."
Colleen sat down beside Victoria for a moment. "Men. Useless sods they can be. I'd suggest you drown your sorrows in a few drinks and a good, hearty meal but we're closin' in a few and it's last call."
Victoria tried to force a smile. "It's all right."
"No, tisn't, and I have me an idea. Can you wait a while while I help with the closin' up?"
Victoria nodded, she had nothing better to do and wouldn't be surprised if Kelly had already turned in and was lost to the world.
It didn't seem to take long, most of the customers knew it was near closing and had finished up. Colleen came back with her coat on and took Victoria's hand.
"If you have no plans, I'd like to take you home, we'll have a bite, we'll get you a bit soused and have a merry old time. Someone as pretty as you deserves a night out. What do you say?"
Victoria thought it sounded wonderful, she accepted the younger woman's offer readily. She certainly didn't look like an Axe Murderer and she was pretty sure she knew what "soused" meant and she thought it sounded like a splendid idea.
Colleen took Victoria's hand and the two women walked arm-in-arm back to Colleen's home, learning about each other, Victoria learning about Ireland, its people and Colleen herself, Colleen learning that the America she'd seen it pictures wasn't quite real and laughing when Victoria told her "we're not all like Gordon Gecko."
It wasn't a long walk and Victoria found herself very much enjoying the company. Colleen was lovely, sweet, unaffected and very happy in her own skin, Victoria warmed to her almost immediately.
The girls walked into Colleen's home and there was the aroma of something wonderful and fresh-baked bread wafting throughout. A sweet, lilting voice called out "Colleen. Is that you?"
"'Tis" Colleen answered back.
A woman entered from another room and it was startling to Victoria. It was evident from the look of her she was Colleen's twin, yet there were differences. Where Colleen was lovely and down-to-earth in her look, this woman was strikingly beautiful. Her hair was a bit more auburn than her twin's, she had on makeup that was perfectly applied and a necklace of what could only be real diamonds on her neck. She was dressed in a calf-length black dress that hugged every curve and the dress had a slit that went mid-thigh. She wore shoes that Victoria knew were Prada and probably cost a small fortune.
"I've brought us a guest, big sister. Brigid, this is my new friend Victoria, Victoria, meet my twin sister Brigid."
Brigid held out a perfectly-manicured hand and took Victoria's. She felt something, but she didn't know what.
"You've brought us quite the lovely friend, I see. Welcome to our home dear, make yourself comfortable. Will you be joinin' us for a meal?" Brigid asked.
Victoria nodded and the women went back to the kitchen. She saw Brigid whisper something in her twin's ear, but was unable to make it out. While she heard the clatter of dishes, pots and pans, she looked around the house. It reflected both women, there were knick-knacks and things that were obviously decades, even centuries, old, yet every piece of furniture was expensive, all the colors matched, the house was perfect in every detail.
The twins came out of the kitchen with a large serving tray and three bowls of stew that smelled so good, Victoria was hungry immediately and her troubles forgotten. There was bread, homemade, and fresh butter and she ate a fair bit more than she would have expected, all the while socializing and learning about the beauteous Irish twins.
Brigid was oldest by 10 minutes, and despite the differences, they were identical twins. Brigid worked in fashion and damned hard at it, she made almost ten times as much as her sister, who still worked in the same Pub her father and mother had run with their uncle. Colleen was bubbly and loved everyone, Brigid more reserved, although she was surely friendly. The girls parents now lived in Belfast and they saw them rarely, not wanting to move, Brigid had bought the house from their parents, the twins had lived here all their life.
The twins were both 42, Colleen had never married, Brigid had a brief marriage that produced one daughter, Meagan, who was in the US at University. Victoria exacted a promise from Brigid that she'd have her daughter call Victoria when she got back and she'd invite the girl for a weekend at her home, as she knew few people.
Dinner done, it was time for the "sousing", Colleen jibed.
Brigid left the room and came back with 3 large glasses of an odd-looking drink, dark as pitch on the bottom, lighter on top. Victoria's curiosity was piqued. "What the heck is that?" she whispered to Colleen.
"It's a Black Velvet, it's very good, hard cider and Guinness. I think you'll like it."
Colleen got up and brought Victoria her drink, this time she heard what Brigid whispered "Well,
does
she?" It made no sense, she just brushed it aside and took a drink. It was strong, but nice and the girls sat there and talked with her, chattering, entertaining her and making the sensual blonde feel very welcome.
A 2nd drink followed and then, a 3rd. The hour was getting quite late and Victoria thought she'd imposed enough on the two women, so she smiled. "I think I should likely get going, it's very late. Is there a cab I can call or should I walk or ...?"
Brigid smiled, her sister following. "Don't be daft girl, you're in no condition to walk and you'll not be getting a cab at this time of night. You'll stay here and we'll have no argument."
Although she was indeed "soused", Victoria was sober enough to realize the twins were correct. She doubted Kelly would give a damn anyway, and if he did, let the bastard have a little worry. The girls told her they'd share Brigid's room and she could have Colleen's. Then she realized she had nothing to wear to bed.
"Oh, that's no problem, you can sleep in your underwear or I am sure we can find one of Colleen's nightgowns -- although we'll have to look a bit."
"Oh?"
Brigid chuckled. "Yes, neither of us usually wear much to bed."
Victoria felt a bit more sober when she heard that. Somehow, the image of these two in a bed, side-by-side with nothing on, was -- arousing? She shook her head, trying to get the cobwebs out.
Colleen smiled "I'll go and try and find you a ..."
