Page 36 of Refuge for Ailsa

“Yeah. She sat here like that until he walked out. Then she slinked toward the door and watched until he got in his car and drove away. After that, she was just normal, like nothing had happened.”

“I can tell you something Iamgoing to do. I’m going to call Harley to see if he knows anything about this Chicago mob money story. Maybe I can get a clearer picture of what’s going on that way.”

“Okay. I’m sorry I spoiled our lunch,” Ailsa said quietly.

“No, babe. You didn’t. I’m still here, you’re still here. We’ve got Reubens and French fries. What more could we possibly want?”

They laughed and talked as they ate, and pretty soon it was almost two. “I guess I’d better get along with it.”

“Hey, I’m going to ask my mom if we can come over for dinner. Maybe Donovan and Maureen too. I want you to meet them.”

Tavish shrugged. “Sure. Sounds good. Let me know when. My schedule for the rest of the month is written on that calendar in your kitchen, so you know when I’ll be working.”

“You think of everything, don’t you, OfficerStewart?”

“I try. Now, give me a kiss goodbye and I’ll see you around one.” Ailsa rounded the counter and let him take her in his arms. When he kissed her, she hoped he could feel the smile plastered across her face. He released her and pressed a palm to her cheek. “Bye, beautiful. Call if you need me.”

“I will, babe. Bye. Please be careful.”

“Yeah, yeah. Blah-blah-blah,” he called back as he wandered out the door.

She yelled toward him, “Did it ever occur to you to say, ‘Yes, dear,’ instead?”

“Yes, dear. It has.” He stopped at the door of the truck and turned to look at her standing there in the store’s doorway. “So say it again.”

“Say what?”

“What you said to me.”

She grinned. “Bye, babe. Please be careful.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, dear.”

“See? I knew you could do it!” she shrieked with laughter.

Tavish shot her a deadpan look. “Yeah, yeah. Blah-blah-blah.”

“Oh my god! You’re evil!”

“But I’m cute! Later, babe.”

“Bye, hard head!” As he drove away, she waved at him, and he waved back.

The phone was in her hand before she got all the way back into the office. It was answered with a cheery, “Hello, lass.”

“Hi, Mom. Whatcha doin’?”

“Tryin’ to talk yer faaaather into something other than haggis this year for Thanksgivin’. He’s bein’ totally intractable.”

“We have haggis every year.”

“Sure’n we do, but I want turkey.”

“Don’t blame you. I’d welcome turkey too, quite frankly. Hey, got a favor to ask.”

“If’n ye wanna bring over yer fella, I’ll gladly cook a meal fer ya. I hear yer brother’s got himself a lass as well.”

“Yeah, and the guy I want you to meet is her brother.”

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