Page 13 of Refuge for Ailsa

“So… You went over to see the pile of rubble our son wasted his money on,” Pete said as he sat down. “And what did you think? Great kindling, huh?”

“Actually, I loved it. He’s right. It has great bones, and there’s a lot of potential there. Matter of fact, it’s not in terrible shape just as it is. A few very minor fixes and it could definitely be lived in.” As she spoke, she looked straight at his parents, and Tavish found himself feeling almost giddy. “It’s a beautiful place. We talked about all the things he wants to do with it, and all of it sounds plausible. That stove in the kitchen… That thing’s probably worth eight thousand dollars.”

“Eight thousand dollars?” Bonnie shrieked. “That old thing?”

“Yes. They’re highly sought after these days. There are companies that refurbish them. Oh, and farm sinks are big too. That place has an original. It just needs to be re-enameled and it’ll look beautiful in that kitchen.”

Pete’s brow furrowed. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”

Before she could answer, Donovan blurted out, “She was a union framer.”

Both of his parents looked like their eyes were going to bug out of their heads. “Union framer?” Bonnie whispered.

“Yes. I was a union framer. Built many a house.”Hot damn, I like this girl!Tavish told himself. “I really enjoyed it, but then I wound up with the marina to run, and that was that.” With that, she dropped her gaze, picked up her fork and knife, and started cutting up her chicken.

“You stopped framing to run the marina?” Tavish asked quietly.

“Yes. It belonged to our brother, Mason. He got a really sweet deal on it because it had belonged to the parents of a friend of his. His plan was to have it when he got finished with his last deployment.” And she stopped.

“Well, did he just decide he didn’t want it after all?” Bonnie asked, and Tavish wished she hadn’t. There was something in what Ailsahadn’tsaid that spoke volumes, at least to him.

It was Donovan who broke the uncomfortable silence. “He didn’t come home from his deployment.”

“He didn’t come home? Did he find a job somewhere else?” Bonnie asked. Tavish wanted to yell,How dense can you be?

Just as cool and collected as anything, Ailsa looked straight into Bonnie’s face. “Maybe I should correct my younger brother. Mason didn’t come back in one piece.”

Bonnie’s face flushed bright red. “Oh! Oh, my. I’m so sorry. Ailsa, honey, I?”

Ailsa interrupted his mother. “It’s okay. Fair question. But it was his dream, and I decided it was more important for it to live on. Donovan was already working for the co-op, but my work wasn’t as steady as his, so we decided that it would be best if I ran the marina. Mom and Dad didn’t want anything to do with it, and being there makes me feel close to him again, so I like it.”

Tavish’s heart broke for her. It was obvious that just talking about her brother was very painful for her. The way his parents had picked at him earlier felt like nothing compared to the pain his mother’s wheedling had just inflicted on her, and the idea that they’d carelessly hurt her that way made him furious. He knew them. He could take it. She didn’t, and their poking and prying had caused her pain. “You do a good job,” he said, his voice low as he leaned toward her. “It’s easily the nicest marina on the lake. Everybody likes it. And I really like that window you put in the office. That was a great idea.”

“Donovan’s idea,” she pointed out.

“Then good idea, Donovan. It looks very nice.”

“Thanks,” Ailsa’s brother answered.

“You’re welcome.” He wanted desperately to reach over and take her hand, but he didn’t know how she’d react. “Now, how ’bout we quit playing twenty questions with Ailsa and Donovan and just have a nice lunch?”

The rest of the meal was pleasant, and his parents were appropriately subdued after the way they’d treated Ailsa. He was glad for that. One more poke or prod and he would’ve had to say something that would start a war, but he didn’t care. They could verbally disparage, minimize, and irritate him all they wanted, but he wouldn’t let them do it to her.

He wished she hadn’t volunteered to help clean up after the meal. He wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on his mother, but he was trusting Maureen to do that. “We’re all going out on the deck,” Bonnie called into the living room where Tavish and Donovan were talking about a new movie they both wanted to see.

Donovan stood. “You coming?”

“Nah. Think I’m going. But you guys have a good time, and it really was good to meet you.” Tavish stood and extended a hand, which Donovan shook heartily. “And by the way, I’m not happy about the way they treated Ailsa. Not at all.”

Donovan snickered. “Then you should’ve been here when I walked in. It was the Spanish inquisition all over again, BoyleCounty style.”

“I bet. Take care, and you can tell my sister I wholeheartedly approve of the guy she’s dating.” Tavish grinned, and so did Donovan. He’d make a great addition to the family, but Tavish was going to have to school him in countering his parents’ sharp tongues.

“Thanks, man. See you soon,” Donovan called after him.

Tavish stuck his head into the kitchen and called out, “I’m going. See y’all later. Thanks for the lunch.”

“You’re welcome, son. Don’t be a stranger,” his mother shouted back.Hell, you’ve known me all my life and I’mstilla stranger to you, he wanted to answer, but he didn’t.

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