Excerpt from Chapter Seven of The Irish Within Us:
Kara had spent the last twenty minutes studying Imogen and had come to the conclusion that the woman spent too much time studying. What’s the point of sitting in the garden on such a lovely day if you waste it doing research? She was currently occupied with a pile of heavy, old books, an open notebook, and a poised pencil. …
Kara waved her hand in front of Imogen. “I want to show you how we are connected.”
Imogen cleared her throat. Then in a flat tone, she recited by rote: “We do not speak of the past. It was horrible. We have risen above all that.”
“Isn’t it strange though that your grandmother Molly—the same woman who taught you that—also insisted on buying Aghnagoogh, the very property her own mother had wanted to escape?” …
Kara disappeared into her hut and dragged out her large, new whiteboard filled with names and dates. Imogen threw a quizzical look. …
Imogen sipped her tea and stared deeply into her book.
Kara began to draw connecting lines in different colours across the board. “Ta da!”
Imogen did not look up.
“Our three times great-grandparents: James McKinney and Catharine Anderson. That makes us related to Mary Anderson too, by the way. Anyway, they married in 1825.” Kara underlined 1825. “You are descended from their daughter Peggy Ann.” Kara circled Peggy Ann McKinney. “Your great-great grandmother.”
“This Darjeeling is very good.”
C.A. Logan Author 