I don't have my book here, so for what it's worth: I took it as Irene looking for solace and maybe that quote about the river served that purpose. 'It was not her time' was Irene's thought, maybe? (thinking of her unsuccessful...you know. *tries to avoid spoilers, probably unsuccessfully*) I honestly can't remember and am just kinda punting here, thinking I have the right passage...

As for whether it was a set-up? I've only read it once, and I'm a 'oh, there's a deeper meaning?' reader, so my thoughts are not deep here. At least not yet. Sounds like it could be a Gen set up though.