Chapter 12 #2
She half-laughed. “What, are you going to spend your entire time in Ireland at the hotel?”
He bit his bottom lip.
“I don’t want to put a dampener on things, but I’m just trying to be realistic. Especially…”
“Especially because I’m leaving,” he murmured.
“And the other thing.”
“The other thing? Oh. Right. The other thing.”
The thing they’d barely touched on today, not since the visit to the thatched cottage this morning.
“See, that’s what’s bothering me. I don’t see how we can pursue this,” she motioned between them again, “when you still want to pursue that,” she added softly.
Even though his latest revelation felt like the splinter of discord had been removed.
She could understand why someone who had gone through his experiences might be passionate about righting perceived wrongs.
He studied her for a long moment, his blue eyes inky in the candlelight.
The waiter arrived with a bowl of apple crumble and cream, and a board of cheeses and chutney, crackers and dried fruit. He placed both in the middle and provided a couple of spoons as Aidan had requested.
Aidan gestured for her to go first, so she took a spoonful of the apple crumble, and nearly moaned at its sweet perfection. Then she pushed the bowl to him. “It’s really good.”
“Everything about today has been good.”
Except the question she’d just asked. How could they pretend all was fine, when they kept dancing around the problem she’d just raised?
* * *
She was so right. And so wrong.
So right to ask that question when he’d firmly shoved it from his mind.
So right for him in so many ways, even if it felt like a rush.
Right for him in her faith, her love for her family, her sense of fun and humour, her sense of compassion for others and passion for books and all kinds of interesting things.
And with her accent and sparkling eyes and vibrant hair, well she definitely ticked all the right boxes in attraction.
Yet she was also so wrong. Wrong because they lived in different countries, although that could possibly work out. And most of all wrong because of this wedge between them, which he still hadn’t figured out how to resolve.
Best to tackle the easier one first.
He nudged the cheese platter to one side then reached across the table and held her hand. “So, you mentioned before about wondering what to do with your life.” She nodded. “Are you committed to staying in Ireland, or would you be willing to see where life—God—might take you?”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you could explore living somewhere else, if you felt like God wanted you to.”
She wet her bottom lip. “You mean like Australia?”
He smiled. “I’ve heard it’s quite nice there.”
“Lots of sunshine.”
“And the people are relaxed and friendly.”
“That’s a plus.”
Would she consider being his plus one? “Look, I know it’s a lot, but I’m just saying that it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. If this,” he motioned between them just as she had done, “is something you want to pursue.”
“Are you asking if I want to pursue you?”
“No.” He offered a shamefaced grin. “But also kinda yes. Because I know that I don’t want to lose our friendship. Not when I feel like I’ve finally found someone who I want to pursue. You see, now I think about it, I realise I don’t kind of like you.”
Her brow pleated. “You don’t?”
He squeezed her hand. “I flat out already do.”
Her eyes sparkled, and she bit her lip, and his thoughts strayed to what it must be like to kiss her. To not dance around the impossibilities, but trust God that there could be a way.
“As for the other.”
“You mean the legal things about the castle?”
He nodded. “I don’t know yet what the answer is,” he admitted honestly.
“But I’m going to trust God that He can make a way.
” He gently pressed her hand again. “You know, we don’t always have to have all the answers.
But if we’re willing to trust God, then sometimes that means, stepping out in faith.
Even if the situation seems impossible. So I guess the real question is, do you trust God to make a way for this”—he gestured between them—“to happen?”
As he waited for her answer, he felt like he was teetering at the precipice of one of those cliffs they’d seen today, razor-sharp edges descending hundreds of metres to the jagged spikes of rocks below.
She studied him, and he could almost see her prayer. Then she drew in a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He grinned, and was super tempted to rush around the table and sweep her up in a huge hug. But this place didn’t seem the sort for extravagant outbursts.
Oh, to heck with it. He rose and went to her side as she hesitantly rose. “Come here.”
He hugged her, and closed his eyes, relishing as she unstiffened, and relaxed in his arms. “I’m so glad you said yes.”
Muffled laughter met him, and he drew away, suddenly uncertain. Maybe hugging her so enthusiastically wasn’t wise when he’d been wearing this shirt for over twelve hours. “What?”
“Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to be quite so excited when it’s simply a yes to trusting God.”
His nose wrinkled. “I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.”
“No. I just don’t want to be caught up in emotions, and I guess I didn’t think you were like that too.”
“I think we’re far more similar than you realise. And that this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“That started on a beautiful day?” She smiled up at him, reminding him of the U2 song.
“You know, the way I’m feeling right now, I think I’d even be willing to risk singing that at karaoke.”
She laughed. “You don’t need to be that brave for me.”
He chuckled, and kissed her forehead. This woman might tease, but he couldn’t deny the fact that part of him seemed to have come alive with her. And he wanted nothing more than to find out where this could lead.