Page 51 of An Irish Hope

No, no, no! She swallowed. Prayed her voice would stay calm. “When did he go?” Maybe there was a chance she could still catch him.

“About half an hour ago.”

Her hopes nose-dived. She bit her lip. Promised herself not to cry. Why hadn’t he stayed to say goodbye? Had that kiss affected him that much?

“What’s wrong, pet? He did say he was sorry.”

“Sorry for leaving so early?”

“I think so.”

“I just don’t understand. Why did he need to leave so soon?”

“I don’t know. He did seem a little distracted. Was everything okay between you two?”

“What?”

“You seem upset, and now I think about it, he seemed distracted too. Did something happen?”

She went to shake her head, then nodded. “I kissed him.”

“What? When?”

“Last night.” And it had been glorious. Until it wasn’t. “And then he said he doesn’t want to have a relationship right now, that he promised God that he wouldn’t have a relationship right now. And I really like him, Mam. I felt like he was my person.”

“Oh, Ash. Come here.”

Mam hugged her, and yes, some tears slipped out. Because it didn’t matter what he’d said. What he’d done—kissing her—had said something else.

And now he’d left, she was a whirl of confusion.

But there was one thing she knew. “Mam, can you please delete his information?”

“I beg your pardon?”

She pointed to the computer. “I don’t want to know where he lives. Or his email or phone number or anything. If you can please remove him from the contacts that’d be great.”

“But we’ve had emails with him over the past years. I can’t delete those.”

“I just don’t want to be tempted to look him up and demand an explanation.”

“A man doesn’t have to give you an explanation, does he?” her mother said gently. “He’s entitled to not feel the same way.”

But not if the Fairall legacy meant he was supposed to be hers!

But how could she explain that without sounding like someone who believed in wee fairies and goblins and leprechauns?

“I don’t think we can legally delete his contact details, anyway,” Mam continued. “Besides, I think you have enough self-control you can refrain from looking him up. Can’t you?”

She swallowed. Nodded. Well, she might not have enough self-control, but perhaps God would help her via the Holy Spirit.

Mam opened her arms again and Ash let the embrace of love hold her again.

Rory came down the steps. “What’s this sad scene I see before me?”

“Your sister is sad that Andy left.”

“He left already? And didn’t say goodbye?” Rory frowned at Aisling. “He did say goodbye to you, didn’t he?”