Page 37 of Refuge for Ailsa

“No! Well, now, ain’t that somethin’? Double weddin’, fer sure?”

“We just started seeing each other, Mom. But he’s amazing, and you’re going to love him, I promise. And Dad will be able to tolerate him.”

“Is he anathin’ like thatbampotyou were?”

“No, Mom, and he hasn’t heard about that yet, so please don’t. I want to tell him myself. Okay?”

“Yes. That would be best. Comin’ from ye, I mean.”

“And besides, Eric wasn’t abampot, Mom?he was sick.” She waited, but her mother didn’t comment. “Oh, and there’s something else, something you can’t mention to Tavish.”

“Yer a secret-keeper, ain’tcha, gurl?” Maeve asked with a chuckle.

“You just need to know that Tavish’s parents aren’t very kind to him. They’re fine with his sister, but they’ve never encouraged him or acknowledged his hard work or his accomplishments. When Donovan and I went over there for dinner, they were really cruel to him at the table. Maureen said it was because Bonnie got pregnant with him before she and his dad married, so they had to get married, and they’ve both always resented him for it.”

“Well now, that’s turrible! A wee bairn canna decide when it’ll be born. It’ll come when it must.”

“I know. But please, be kind to him.”

“Lass, ye know we’d never be no other than kind to the man. But thanky for tellin’ me. Now, when da ye wanna have this dinner?”

“I dunno. Let me look at his schedule and get back to you.”

“Right, then. And we’ll not be havin’ haggis,” she declared.

“Thank you. Gotta go, Mom. Customer just walked in. Love you.”

“Tha goal agam ort, lass.Beannachd leat.”

Hearing her mother’s voice always cheered Ailsa. Even in the toughest times, Maeve had been there for her, and Magnus had too. She’d been Daddy’s little girl her whole life, and he never let her forget it.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly enough, but Ailsa couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom the unknown visitor had left in the air of the marina boat store. All afternoon, from time to time, she’d catch Starlight standing at the front door, staring out the glass, and even though the dog couldn’t talk, Ailsa knew she was watching for that man. Starlight hadn’t liked him at all.

And if a dog didn’t like him, Ailsa was pretty sure she wouldn’t either.

CHAPTER6

He slidthe door on the houseboat open and was surprised to find Ailsa sitting on the sofa. “What are you doing up?” he scolded.

“I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about that guy today. Besides, I want to talk to you about something.”

“You need to get some sleep.”

He pulled his handgun from its holster, then dropped his tool belt on the floor beside the sofa. The weapon went on a top shelf. After he toed off his boots, he sat down on the other end of the sofa, pulled her feet up into his lap, and started to rub them. “Oh, god, that feels good.”

“See? You’re tired. You need some sleep. What is it that just couldn’t wait?”

“Well, okay, so I called my mom and asked if she could have dinner for all of us, and she’s excited to meet you.”

“Good. I’m excited to meet her too. And your dad. Their names are…” He stopped.

“Maeve and Magnus. Typical Scottish names. And there’s something you need to know about my mom.”

“Yeah?”

“I told you she was Scottish. But what I didn’t tell you was that… I don’t know exactly how to say this.”

“Just spit it out.”

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