A free story for newsletter subscribers Since his beloved wife Mia's death, Padraig's routine never changed as he trudged along, day after day, simply putting one foot in front of the other, trying to get through it. He'd lost the ability to laugh, his smiles too infrequent, too forced. Then...Emmy walked into the pub. “You coming in?” the bartender—and most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on—asked. “Because it’s lunch time and everyone is over on Sunday’s Side. I’m bored out of my mind and hoping for some company.” Emmy smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I’m coming in.”