Summary

The short story “The Path to Heaven” by Mary O’Donnell features an Irish writer, Lauren, who hires a Polish woman, Kalina, to do her housework. The two women are friendly and discuss various topics such as education, children, cultural differences, or men. Both women are married. Kalina’s husband, Adam, was a Physics lecturer back in Poland but is unable to find suitable work in Ireland.

One day at the end of November, Kalina arrives late, and Lauren notices she is upset. When Lauren confronts her, Kalina confesses that her husband has hit her. Lauren suggests to Kalina that she return to Poland with her children for a while, offering to pay for the flights herself. Kalina agrees. 

When Lauren tells her husband about her plan to book flights for Kalina ...