Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I t was one thing to sit in church and sing songs about trusting God.
It was quite another to actually do it. And while Aidan’s attention yesterday had nearly hit the euphoric heights of Friday, she still couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.
Unease that had started with Mary’s comment, and slithered into her awareness since.
What should she do? She couldn’t help but overhear some of Mary’s discussion, and it seemed Aidan had consulted a lawyer. Just as she had.
And while she didn’t want this to come between them, she couldn’t see a way forward. Which meant God would really need to produce some more of His miracle-working power for this to work out.
Aidan, sitting next to her on the far end of the church pew, seemed to sense her inner turmoil and clasped her hand. She shot him a small smile, but still the thoughts kept pecking.
Lord, how do I not worry?
The minister advised people to turn to the book of Philippians, chapter four.
She released Aidan’s hand to do so. Mam glanced at her, shooting Rory an upraised brow look.
She probably should have explained to her last night just what happened, but she’d been enjoying living in this bubble, where only he and she—and Aisling—seemed to know what was going on. So she’d tell her. Today.
“Now in verses six and seven, we see the apostle Paul’s encouragement for us to ‘not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus’. Amen.”
“Amen,” she echoed.
“So what are we encouraged to do? Pray, praise, and present. Whatever our circumstances, good or bad, we are to commit each situation to God in prayer. And know that He hears our prayers. And that bit about petition? Each time you worry or feel anxious pray about it again. Praying is the opposite of worry. If you’re praying, then you’re not worrying, especially if you’re thanking and praising God at the same time.
Worry is so often our fleshly self-centred response to what we feel or what we think we see, and we all know that what we think we see or feel is not necessarily based in reality. ”
Amen.
“So when we’re anxious, and I include myself in this, let’s remember who our Heavenly Father is, and remember His goodness, and His love, and His faithfulness, and who He is.
When our focus is on these things, we leave a lot less room for worry to sneak in.
I think that’s why Paul goes on in verse eight to tell us to think about whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable.
Because when we’re thinking about these good things, when we’re thinking about how good our God is, we’re starting to train our brain and our hearts to see things as God does.
And so there’s less room for those things that concern us or distract us from God’s purposes.
Instead of worry, we’re focused on who God is and His promises to us. ”
Aidan glanced at her, and she found a smile.
“And the last point, the one about presenting our requests? Give it to Him. Begin the practice of leaving things at the foot of the cross. The devil wants us worried about many things. God wants us to keep our eyes focused on Him, on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Give your anxieties to God, and don’t be tempted to pick them back up again.
Leave it there once and for all. And each time you’re tempted to pick them up remember to thank and praise Him that He’s faithful, that He loves you, and He has good plans for you.
Continue to think on all that is good, lovely and true, right, excellent and praiseworthy, like it says in verse eight.
And God promises, He promises , that the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
He will give us peace, like a deep tranquillity in our soul, because we know our God is good.
God’s going to protect you, that’s His promise.
It’s like He puts those who trust him in ‘protective custody’ where tranquillity runs to the core as they know that nothing can really harm them.
God loves you. You can trust Him. Amen.”
“Amen,” she softly echoed.
Mr. McGuigan closed the service in prayer, and she took a moment to fully release her cares to God. She knew God cared for them. He’d proved His faithfulness over the years, so many times, especially when her father had died. She knew she could trust Him. So she would trust Him with it all.
* * *
“That was a great service,” Aidan said as they mingled outside the church.
“Mr. McGuigan always delivers something powerful but punchy.”
He nodded. “I’ve been in a few church services where people have been a little inclined to think the longer they talk the more they might impress God.
” He glanced at Mam. “Not that I mean to sound judgy. It’s just my experience that people can tend to switch off after much more than twenty minutes. ”
“Do they have short attention spans in Australia?” Aisling teased.
“I suspect it’s probably true all over the world,” Mam said.
Mam’s gaze veered to Rory, then Aidan, then back again. Her cheeks grew hot. Yes, the fact the man was standing here with them probably did look a little strange. Which meant now was probably a good time to say—
“Oh!” Rory turned to Aidan. “I just remembered. Did you see the Quinn grave here?”
“Mary mentioned it, so I saw it a few days ago. But thank you.” He smiled softly at her.
Her heart squeezed, and she couldn’t look away. She’d blame her ninny-headedness on the Fairall legacy for the fact she couldn’t hide that she’d tumbled so quickly into deep attraction.
His lips curved, then he turned to her mother. “Mrs. Fairall, would it be alright with you if I was to take you and your daughters out for lunch?”
Mam blinked. “Oh! Well, I’m not quite sure why you would want me to come.” She glanced at Rory. “I didn’t realise you two had become such a good friends.”
“I think it’s safe to say I may have overreacted at times where he was concerned.”
He snickered.
“And it’s definitely safe to say that Ash has.”
“Ash has what?” her sister said, leaning in as she always did when she heard her name.
“You might have overreacted a little bit about Aidan.”
For once her sister had the grace to blush. “Okay, okay. I might’ve gotten a little carried away at times. Who hasn’t?”
“Well, in that case, thank you, Aidan,” Mam said. “That’s very kind of you.”
A short time later they were in the little cafe across the road, and Rory was finally telling her mother about most of what she and Aidan had got up to in the past few days.
Her mother was surprised, especially as she had not been around yesterday, instead visiting Aunty Aine, Dad’s sister who lived in Killarney.
“Well, I find I’m at quite a loss as to what to say.” She glanced at Aidan. “But you do seem to care for my daughter.”
“I do.”
Rory sipped her Bulmers, refusing to let her mind spiral down the path those two little words suggested. That didn’t stop Aisling’s smirk.
“So, Ash, what time are you heading back to Cork today?” Rory asked.
“For what?”
“Don’t you have university classes tomorrow?” Mam reminded her.
“Oh. That’s right.” Her expression grew sheepish. “I might’ve forgotten about that.”
Rory exchanged glances with Aidan, who seemed to be doing his best to politely hide his amusement. It was hardly any wonder that she’d forgotten, given her intensity with their situation.
“Well, I guess that means we need to make the most of things now.” Aisling glanced at Aidan. “Which means you probably need to come clean about exactly what evidence it is that you think you have that makes your family think you own the old ruined castle.”
“Ash,” she murmured, casting Aidan an apologetic look.
“No, it’s fair.” He sipped his drink then eyed them squarely. “I’d be happy to speak with you, but I don’t really feel like we should do it here.”
“Do you want to go back to the castle?”
“If that’s okay with your mother and sister.”
“I must admit that I’m curious,” Mam said. “You know that I am the last of the Griffin family, so these allegations have felt quite personal to me.”
“I’m really sorry.” He bit his lip, glanced at their plates. “I’m happy to explain as soon as you are finished.”
“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Mam said, pushing her plate away.
“I’m done too. But thank you for the meal.”
Rory joined her sister in thanking him. “We’d better go. I already see a few too many curious faces looking this direction.”
He pulled back her mother’s chair and helped her stand, which earned him a look of approval from Mam, and another one when he did the same for Rory.
“He’s quite a gentleman,” her mother murmured as they collected their coats and moved back to the car. Rory was driving, and happy to take him.
“Um, do you mind if I get a few things from the pub?” he asked.
“Not at all.” She waited, and he soon returned with several books and folders.
His evidence, she supposed. And while she was tempted to worry, she instead threw her concerns at the feet of Jesus.
She would trust God that whatever this upcoming conversation involved that He would make a way forward.
And she prayed that whatever Aidan had to say would be something they could all hear with open hearts.
* * *
Aidan sat across from Aisling and Mrs. Fairall—Maeve, she’d insisted on being called.
Beside him, on the floral couch in the Fairall’s private living room, sat Rory, with Rover the dog at her feet.
Maeve had made tea for all, and he wondered about the wisdom of spilling the tea concerning his family and lawyers.