Saturday August 14, 1977

 

Bernadette was an even earlier riser than Peter. She had room service bring breakfast before Peter finished shaving. He appeared just as Bernadette was going to go get him. She said, “I’ve been slaving over this breakfast for an hour. Now come and enjoy it before it gets cold.”

Peter loved to have a good cup of coffee before he started on the food. The coffee at the hotel was excellent. Peter helped himself to a plate of crispy home fries, eggs over easy, and dry raisin toast. “Today is going to be a super fun day for me, especially as I want to show you what I bought. No. It’s not anything in this room. No use in looking around. We have a four-hour drive before we get there. We have to pack up and check out. Please call down and ask them to pack us a picnic lunch for pick up in 30 minutes.”

 

Peter drove west on Route 7 to Leesburg where he turned north on Route 15. “I could live here,” Bernadette said as they passed through Leesburg. “America is such a vast place. A poor Irish girl is lost in this mix of terrain, vegetation, architecture, highways, and ethnic groups. It is much simpler in Ireland, Catholic or Protestant, English, Scottish, or Irish with an occasional Welshman. While Ireland is simpler, its historical angers persist as strong as ever. There weren’t enough ingredients for the mixing bowl of differences to produce common goals, hopes, and tolerances for others. I doubt it will ever change.”

“Bernadette, I want you to break all ties with the IRA. You are a very intelligent woman. Pick out an area of study you do or could enjoy, and we’ll find a university that offers what you want. Paying the bill is part of our unwritten contract. When this current phase of danger in my life lessens, please think about what I said. The IRA is not what it used to be. There is no value in killing innocent civilians, including women and children. How can you justify an organization that uses indiscriminate bombing to further their cause? Where is the honor in that? Where is the justification for killing your own because they chose another path?”

Bernadette thought for a moment. “Yes, I’ve lost my belief in the IRA. You know, they don’t allow members to just walk away. Especially those who know as much as I do. I’m okay for a bit longer. They recognize everyone needs a break and travel to America to further the cause, even with casual contacts, is a good thing. While Terry has nothing to do with the IRA, they respect him and do not want him as an enemy, which he would be if they did anything to me.”

“After the killing of my wife and daughter by men who were and are after me, my number one goal is to protect Jack. To give him a chance at life. Even though I love you, if the IRA makes you a target, your presence will endanger my son. Without that problem, I would ask you to marry me right now. The best we can have in the near future is for you to escape the IRA and get an education.

“Depending on what happens, I hope we can see each other. If we’re careful, I don’t see why not. Even if the time I have to wait to see you seems long, I will wait for you. No other woman will take your place. You are young and can make whatever decisions you choose about life. Compared to you, I’m an old man. Probably 15 years older and many miles behind me.

“What if I get pregnant?”

“I would be proud to have a child with you. If you get pregnant, we will manage to maintain some kind of a family, and the child will have a father and not want for anything. The future is very unpredictable. Maybe none of our enemies will be a problem. Sometime I’ll tell you my life story and family history.” Peter turned to look out his window.

“Notice we left the rolling hills of Maryland and Virginia and have been climbing into the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. The wide spot in the road just ahead is Breezewood, a major Pennsylvania Turnpike exit. We’ll be taking Route 30 north and west. You will be travelling over one of the oldest and most important roads in the early history of America. I hope you like the outdoors because we will probably be sleeping in a small tent. I have most of the gear we’ll need in the trunk, but we’ll need to stop in Bedford and get some food and drink for camping. While there we might as well get some lunch. Are you hungry?”

“Thought you forgot about eating. We young Irish girls need to be fed otherwise we get cranky. Hunger kills our sex drive. Nothing I can do about it.”

“In that case, I’d better hurry. We’ll be at a roadside rest and picnic area in ten minutes. Hope the picnic lunch is good. May be your last good meal for a while.”