Wishful Thinking (a journey that will change lives forever) by Melissa Hill Page A

wouldn’t have it.  So, reluctant to go against her dad’s wishes, and still herself unsure what she wanted to do with her life, Dara acquiesced.  Being rather squeamish by nature, Medicine was out, so she thought that at least if she studied Law, her near-perfect grasp of Latin might stand to her in some way.  And despite herself, she found she enjoyed studying the intricacies of the legal system, and her natural work ethic suited all the long hours of pouring over old cases and judgements – which really, she supposed, could be considered ancient history of sorts. 
    So, with typical diligence, Dara settled happily into her chosen career, and put aside her worthy but futile interest in the humanities, at least until Noah Morgan came along.
    A bit of a romantic, Noah too seemed to share her fascination with the past, her wonder at the scientists and artists who lived and died for their creative endeavours.  While he’d studied English and History in university, he had absolutely no interest in any specific career. He got a job when it suited him, and when it didn’t, he simply moved on to the next one.  This sustained Noah’s main passion in life, which (apart from Dara) was travel. 
    For Dara, their mutual interest in all things historical was a revelation, and merely increased her assurance that she and Noah had something special, that they were truly on the same wavelength, that they were meant to be together. 
    But, Dara thought now, as she – a newly married woman – sat in the city that she and the love of her life had sworn they would one day visit together, she had been wrong.
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    The following Monday morning, Dara waited patiently at the station for the commuter train to Dublin.  It was back to reality now, back to work, and Dara supposed – as she eventually boarded the train along with the usual throng – probably back to an earful from Ruth too.
    “So, how did the wedding of the year go?” her colleague asked sardonically when Dara arrived at the offices of Cullen & Co Solicitors.  Due to her own sister’s wedding taking place on the same day, Ruth hadn’t been able to attend Dara’s, but even if her workmate had been free, Dara didn’t think she’d have gone anyway.   Ruth knew all about Noah Morgan and, unfortunately for her, knew even more about Dara’s hidden – but enduring– feelings for him.
    “It was a lovely day – we had a great time,” Dara replied mildly, sitting down at her desk with a heavy heart, spotting a high pile of paperwork that threatened to topple over. 
    Ruth, whose desk was situated parallel with Dara’s, swivelled around in her chair to face her. “Best day of your life and all that?”
    Dara smiled softly, thinking of Mark’s dreadful nerves, her mother’s fussing, her sisters’ histrionics. “Close enough.”
    Ruth shook her head. “I still think you sold out,” she stated matter-of-factly.  “In fact, I know you sold out. And I’m disappointed in you.”
    “I did not sell out, Ruth,” Dara said through gritted teeth, not wanting to go through all this again – and especially not now.  She wished she’d never told her anything.  Ruth could be like a dog with a bone sometimes.
    “Of course you did.  Mark Russell is a lovely guy, but he’s not the one for you.”
    “Who says he’s not?”
    “You did, dearie.  Don’t think I’ve forgotten our little tequila binge many moons ago.”
    Dara flushed, and idly switched on her PC. “I told you that was just the drink talking.  I didn’t mean any of it.”
    Shortly after she and Mark got engaged, Dara had one night, over a bottle of tequila, drunkenly told Ruth all about Noah – her one true love.  Stupidly, she’d also confessed that although she loved Mark dearly, he really didn’t hold a candle to Noah.  A born romantic, but paradoxically pragmatic, Ruth had been horrified.
    “Then how can you even think of marrying the guy?” she’d