Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sweat lined her palms, her nerves about school trampling over the peace she’d found this morning. She drew in a deep breath. Exhaled.
“Are you okay?” Maisie asked.
“Yes. Just thinking about the day ahead.”
But not, as Maisie was, about her first full class of teaching. Instead, she kept wondering about what it would be like when she saw Andy. And she had the strongest sense that she would. And when she did she would need to apologise. She’d been rude last Friday night.
But just as she was willing to trust God that He’d make a way for her to see Andy, so she was trusting Andy would have enough of God’s mercy for him to hear her.
She should’ve just been honest. But there was a world of difference between knowing that and actually doing that.
She didn’t see him in the staffroom. She didn’t see him in the playground. She didn’t see him in his usual classroom. And because she was trying to do a job herself she decided to leave it until later, maybe even lunch, when his timetable (yes, she’d looked that up) suggested he would be free.
So she met with Moira and led the first lesson on Irish kings, and Moira’s later compliment made her feel much better about things than this time last week. Then she had the next class, then a double.
By the time lunch came she was starving. And exhausted. But while a nap and a cup of tea and sandwich might call, something else called harder.
She grabbed her water bottle and an apple and made her way down to the PE staffroom. A couple of students were being spoken to by another staff member, who gestured that she should go in. So she knocked on the door, then entered.
The staffroom was crowded like theirs was, except with random pieces of exercise equipment and less books. She nodded to one of the female staff members, waiting as Andy finished on the phone.
Miles glanced at her. Darn. She’d forgotten he was here. “Aisling, long time no see. What can we do for you?”
She really should have thought this through better. She didn’t want to be giving anyone the wrong idea, which was exactly what her just showing up like this would do. “Um, I just thought I’d see how you’re going.”
Andy swivelled in his seat and eyed her, his eyes wide as he listened to the phone pressed against his ear.
She inched a smile in his direction then returned to Miles. “I don’t see you as much as I do Maisie. And I had a few moments spare, and…” She shrugged. Yeah, that sounded lame.
He frowned. “Well, it’s all good here. Classes are great, kids are cool. I’m definitely in the right job.”
Behind him, one of the female staff members rolled her eyes. Okay, so apparently not everyone agreed.
“Well, uh, that’s good. I, um, I’d better get going.” Especially since it seemed Andy was never getting off this phone call. “I guess I’ll see you around.” She hoped Andy got that message. That she wanted to see him, wanted to talk. Properly, this time.
She lifted a hand. “Have a good day.”
The female staff member nodded, and as she shut the door she heard Miles say, “That was weird.”
Her cheeks flamed as she hurried back to her staffroom. That was weird. She was weird. She should never—
“Hey, Aisling, wait.”
Her footsteps halted, like Andy had this magic power to speak and she’d obey. She turned, met his gaze.
“Did… did you want to speak to me?”
She nodded. Oh, why when he looked at her like that did all her words tumble away? “I, um, yes.”
He half-smiled, then curved an arm to scratch the back of his head. Did he do that deliberately, so she’d notice his bicep? Oh, she was turning into one of those girls who shallowly fixated on a man’s body as part of his appeal. She should poke her eyes out.
“It’s a bit awkward here, but are you free later?”
“I, yes, sure.”
“Where we met last week?”
She shook her head. “Anywhere but that.”
He nodded, then told her about a nearby cafe, and they set a time.
“Thanks.”
“It’ll be good to talk,” he said softly.
“Yes.” She hoped so anyway. She took a step back.
“Have a good rest of your day.”
“You too,” she murmured. She gave a small smile, and turned on her booted heel. Then noticed Miles was watching them. Her stomach tensed some more.
The tension riding in her veins was nothing compared to the dinosaurs stomping on her stomach by the time she turned up at the café Andy had suggested.
She’d dressed nicely this morning, wanting to make a good impression, and knew she looked good.
This green velvet jacket paired well with the long plum skirt and might be a little more formal than some of her other ensembles.
But she felt strong and looked good in it.
She sucked in air, then released it on a prayer. Lord, let this go well.
She entered, and saw Andy at a booth in the back. He was early. Which meant he must be keen. Or maybe just keen to get this over with. But there had been that soft look in his eye before that suggested he really did want to make things right. Faith said she should go with that, anyway.
He rose as she approached, then smiled awkwardly. “I know you don’t want to hear me say this anymore but—”
“I’m sorry,” she said at the same time as him.
He chuckled. “You’re sorry?”
She nodded. “I was rude last week, and I haven’t managed any of this well. And I thought we were friends and I wanted more, and anyway, I’m sorry I haven’t treated you the way I should, and—”
“Ash.” He opened his arms. “Come here.”
Oh! She stepped into his hug, and his arms went around her, and she finally, finally relaxed. She closed her eyes, and shifted so she could hear the reassuring thump of his heart. Smell his scent. Savour the feel of the bristles on his chin abrading her cheek as he placed his face near hers.
“Would it make a difference if I said I wanted more too?” he murmured.
She jerked back, bumping his head with hers. “Oops, sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
She studied his eyes. They couldn’t lie. “Did… did you mean that?”
He nodded. “I know it’s been tricky, and still is in some ways, but I mean it. I want to be friends, and more-than-friends with you too.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really.”
A glow began deep in her heart, spiralling outwards, until every part of her felt warm and intensely alive. She reached up, touched his face, capturing his cheek in her fingers as he smiled.
“Ahem.” A waitress smiled at them. “Can I get you two anything?”
Aisling blushed and scooted back into her side of the booth, while Andy sat opposite.
Then, after a quick perusal of the menu, they ordered teas and scones and he explained about Greta.
About how she’d led him on. How he’d not coped with the break up.
How kissing Aisling had been a spontaneous thing, until he remembered his vow to God.
“But I was reminded last weekend that God is far more merciful than we realise, and it was actually more about my pride and wanting to prove myself to God than anything He was truly asking me to do.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for telling me.” Now she understood, and it made so much sense.
“I’m sorry I didn’t before. I just felt ashamed.”
She shook her head. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed for. She obviously didn’t love you the way she should.”
His eyes asked a question she couldn’t answer yet.
How should he be loved? Thoroughly. With all a woman could offer.
She should love him in a way that helped him be his best. Like Jesus did.
But she couldn’t say any of that, and fortunately their teas and scones arrived so she didn’t have to say anything like that.
It was too early to say anything like that, anyway.
It was enough to feel like they’d solidified into being friends again.
Although, judging from the way his hand kept caressing hers, maybe they were at the more-than-friends stage too.
“Oh, I just remembered. I asked Grady to meet us here today. I hope that’s okay. He wants to apologise.”
“What for?”
“For something that happened last Friday night.”
“At the pub?”
He nodded. “It was a mess, but I’ll let him explain, especially as he was the one who caused most of it.”
“I’m really happy to not think about him right now,” she said. “Not when I finally have you.”
* * *
Her sweet words landed in the soft spaces of Andy’s heart.
Her eyes were luminous, and he would take that smile into his dreams tonight, for sure.
There was something so precious and special about this moment, like everything was finally clicking into place, and yet it felt almost impossible how quickly things had turned.
He really wanted to kiss her. Like, really wanted to.
But for now he was happy to revel in the softness of Aisling’s skin, the sparkle in her eyes, the light in her face.
She was happiness personified. And while she’d had her feisty moments, there was never any of the hard edges he’d always seen in Greta.
Aisling was as lovely as her name’s meaning: a dream, a vision.
A moment later, he experienced a flash, like a curtain to the future was pulled back. And in that moment he could see a picture of them working together in schools, then returning to a home and their family. His heart thudded, and he glanced down. There would be time enough for that.
She mentioned about Rory’s Christmas wedding. “And if you are free it’d be wonderful to have you come.”
“As your date?”
She smiled. “Yes please.”
“Then of course I’ll be there. That’s exciting.”
They swapped notes about school, and what she shared tallied with what the other Humanities teachers had said.
That Aisling had settled far more naturally into her role, unlike Miles, who seemed to think his natural prowess on the football field made him an expert at all aspects of physical education.
Andy had needed to chip him a few times for how he spoke to some of the weaker kids, and he was pretty sure he’d copied some of the lesson plans straight from the internet.
The other PE staff agreed that Miles wasn’t an excellent candidate, but it was early days yet.
He hoped Bryan would come back from sick leave soon.
It had already been longer than expected, but the initial chicken pox had turned into pneumonia which meant Miles was his to supervise a little longer.
“So you’re enjoying teaching?”
She nodded. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding when you see someone finally understand a concept, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.” What a different perspective to that of Greta’s, who had often looked down upon teaching and encouraged him into a more high-profile career. But he wouldn’t think about her anymore. He had no need, not when he was holding Aisling’s hand, and dreaming of—
“Well, if this isn’t a sight for sore eyes.” Grady’s voice stole his attention. Sure enough, his face held the same smirk as his voice did. “I’m not quite sure why you needed me when it seems you’ve done very well by yourself.”
Aisling drew her hand away, and Andy instantly mourned the loss.
“Hello, dear Aisling.” Grady bent and kissed her cheek.
“Hello,” She eyed Andy, as if unsure of what to expect.
He gave a smile he hoped reassured, then asked if he could sit beside her, which she agreed. He liked having her near, smelling her sweet scent. But right now was about Grady and his very necessary explanations. “So, as I mentioned before, Grady wanted to come to apologise for last weekend.”
“I don’t know if I remember it quite the same way,” Grady protested.
“But you needed to say something, yes?” Aisling pressed.
So Grady explained about last weekend, about the blind date with “Drew” who yes, was originally supposed to be him but he’d swapped so it was Andy instead, “Except he didn’t seem to get the memo.”
Aisling sighed, and he hoped it was about Grady. “That was pretty embarrassing,” she said to Grady.
Okay, phew. That sigh wasn’t aimed at his own behaviour.
“I am right sorry for that,” Grady said. “And right sorry for any confusion caused by my plan before.”
“What plan?” she asked.
Grady sighed. “Back in Derryloughlin. He was just supposed to kiss you. He needed to get over Greta, so I dared him to kiss you.”
“He kissed me because of a dare?”
“I’m afraid so.”
He could see how she was teetering on the edge of insecurity. Then she turned to Andy. “Was that just one kiss?”
He nodded.
She moved closer, draped her arms around his neck. “Then the second time?”
“Was because I wanted to.”
She angled her head, and murmured, “Is that so?”
“Very so.”
“And did it help you get over Greta?” she whispered, his mouth a touch away from hers.
“Who?”
She laughed and nestled in, claiming his mouth with hers.
And he sank into a sense of wholeness, rightness, a sense of coming home.
That this woman gave him strength and joy.
And he didn’t care that Grady was seated opposite them, didn’t care they could be seen. He was glad to show her that he only wanted to be hers, and she be his.
“Well, I can see that I’m not needed here,” Grady said, laughter in his voice.
“No, you’re not.” Aisling’s eyes were fixed on Andy, shining like stars.
“Goodbye, Grady,” he murmured. Then angled his head to swoop in for another kiss. “Ash, I really think I—”
“Ahem.”
At the cleared throat he looked up. Then froze.
Oh no.