Page 76 of An Irish Kiss
Elbows on knees, he placed his head in his hands.“God, I don’t understand.You’re a God of justice.Why do bad people keep getting away with things?”
He was relieved to know it wasn’t the Griffins’ fault.He liked Maeve, and had hated being the person who had caused her pain.But the Clotworthys… His hands clenched.
He forcibly relaxed.What was the point in getting upset?What had been done was done.And had been done hundreds of years ago.And as various people had warned him, even if he had been proved right, it wasn’t like he could easily sell the land.
So just why had he allowed himself to get caught up in all of this?
He knew exactly why.And it might be late there, but she deserved to know.
He dialled the numbers, then waited for her to answer.
“Hi Gran.”He waved on the video call.
“Aidan!I was not expecting a phone call at this hour.”
“Yeah, sorry about that, but I figured you’d like to know.”
A beat passed, then, “It’s not ours, is it?”
“No.”He explained what Siobhan had said, about the grant and the clause and the selling off.“I’m sorry it’s not better news.”
“But you’re saying it once actually was our castle.”
“Yes.”That was something at least.
“So it wasn’t all in vain.”
Still felt that way, though.“I’m sorry, Gran.I feel like I’ve failed.”
“You didn’t fail, Aidan.From what you’ve told me it seems that the Quinns were ripped off by this Clotworthy fellow.”
The sense of injustice still ran deep.At least it wasn’t against the Griffins anymore.“I gotta admit I’m kind of glad that the Griffins are innocent, and just the beneficiaries of someone else’s greed.”
“It sounds like they’ve been quite kind to you.”
“They’ve all been really generous.I have to admit I was surprised at how understanding Maeve Fairall was.She’s Rory’s mum, and the last of the Griffins.”
His grandmother’s eyes widened.“Is this Rory your Aurora?”
Looked like it was about time to spill the truth.“Yes.”
She didn’t say anything for long seconds, long seconds that left him wondering what she was thinking.
“Gran?This isn’t upsetting you too much, is it?”
She shook her head.“I’ll admit it is a surprise, but you’re a grown man.And if, despite everything, they are willing to accept you then that says a lot about them.And probably a lot about you, too.”
It might say a lot about Rory as well, and how much she was loved by her family as well as by him.
He swallowed, his heart tipping.It seemed awfully soon to be using such a big word aslove, but this wasn’t just about feelings.This wasn’t just instant attraction.He recognised and appreciated qualities in her that he’d long considered important in a woman he’d want as his future partner in life.And yes, they’d take their time and get to know each other more deeply, but he sensed this connection could lead to something vitally important.And the thought of leaving Ireland without her made him contemplate staying.But he couldn’t do that.Especially not to the woman on the other end of the phone.
“I wonder,” Gran mused.“What if this quest was never actually about finding land, but about finding love?”
He shivered.“Gran.”
“No, hear me out.I wonder if my foolish wonderings all these years, and this quest I sent you on, was part of a deeper purpose.Part of God’s purpose.”
“What are you saying?”
