Page 43 of Refuge for Ailsa

his baptism

Presented by

Mrs.Blythe and the 5-7 yr. old SS class

Whitesburg Episcopal Church

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26, NIV

Ailsa smiled. Regardless what she believed, it was really sweet, and she could see why he’d kept it all those years. It had a piece of facial tissue sandwiched in the pages as a marker, and Ailsa opened it.

It was the passage in I Corinthians about love, and someone had underlined the important words:

patient and kind,not envy or boast,not arrogant or rude,does not insist on its own way,not irritable or resentful,does not rejoice at wrongdoings,rejoices with the truth.

Inside the folds of the tissue was a four-leaf clover. Something about it struck her as so sad. Had he underlined all of that? Or had someone else done it for him? Had he placed the clover in the tissue? That was surely his doing, and that meant even if he hadn’t done it, he’d read it. Ailsa remembered how his parents had talked to him. How lonely had he been, knowing only his sister really cared? How unloved and unwanted had he always felt?

Her hands caressed the cover for just a moment before she closed it, placed it gently back where she’d found it, and closed the drawer. She’d seen enough. Ailsa could tell exactly what kind of man she’d fallen in love with. He was a real man, the same kind as her daddy, and that idea filled her with hope. After everything she’d gone through with Eric and the heartache of Mason’s loss, it was about time something went her way, and it looked like Tavish could use a break in the romance department too.

A sound interrupted her thoughts and she looked at the foot of the bed to see Starlight peering up at her, the dog’s chin resting on the coverlet. She let out a long whine. “I don’t know if your daddy allows you up on the bed, but I will. Come on up here.” She patted the mattress and it took a nanosecond for the dog to leap up there and smother her with kisses. “Okay, okay! You’re excited. I get it. Get over here and calm down so we can nap.” As she settled in, face pressed to his pillow, she stroked the beautiful dog’s fur and smiled. She wanted Alastair Tavish Stewart to be hers and only hers.

Always.

* * *

“How ya doin’?”the tall Texan asked as Tavish walked up to the table.

“Doin’ good. Morris, how are you?”

The other Texan nodded. “Good. Hate that we’re gonna be leaving so soon.”

“Yeah, me too. I was hoping we’d get to do some fishing before you left. When are you going?”

Conor grinned. “Talked the girls into letting us extend our stay for a little while. We’ll be here until next Wednesday.”

“Yes! Maybe we can get out on the water Saturday.” Tavish sat down and picked up a menu. “You guys already looked it over?”

“Yeah. I think I want the fiddler cat. With… coleslaw and French fries.” Conor dropped his menu on the table. “Morris, what’s your pick?”

“I think I’ll have the pork tenderloin and a couple of sides. What’s your favorite here?”

Tavish grinned. “I love the roast chicken. It’s delicious. I’ve tried to make it myself, but I just can’t get it right.”

“I bet Ailsa could figure it out,” Conor said just as the server came up.

“Yeah, I bet she could. Hey, this is all on my ticket, and give these gentlemen whatever they want to drink,” Tavish said and pointed to his two new friends. When they were finished ordering, he sat for a second. “I think I want, uhhhhh, sweet tea. And get us an order of fried pickles too to start.”

“Yes, sir. Coming right up,” the young woman said and gave him a smoldering smile.

---