Page 60 of Inheriting an Irish Groom
“Your grandmother was so upset that she was pregnant by a married man,” Bríd said with a heavy sigh. “Your mother couldn’t stay here.”
“My grandmother couldn’t stand the shame. Her daughter was pregnant by a married man. A man who wasn’t free to marry her daughter.”
Bríd sighed and ran a hand over the letter like it might rewrite itself. “The letter says he’s coming back. What if something happened?”
Aisling shrugged. “I don’t know. I know this man. He’s a famous author who I tried to persuade to come to our publishing house. Yesterday, I sent him an email. I have to learn his side of the story.”
Bríd looked at her with misty eyes. “You deserve that truth, love. You really do.”
“I think my mother deserved it too,” Aisling said quietly. “But it’s too late for her.”
There was a long moment of silence between them, filled only by the sounds of birds in the trees and the distant thud of hammers inside the house.
Finally, Bríd exhaled. “Your mother... she was so full of light when she fell in love. I’ve never seen anyone so smitten. But when she came back here at the end of summer, just before she left for good, that light was gone. Snuffed out. And I never saw it return.”
“I think,” Aisling said, “she tried to pretend it never happened. But she never stopped loving him.”
Bríd looked down at the ring again. “And now it’s your turn. You’re chasing ghosts while real feelings are blooming right here.”
Aisling gave a shaky laugh. “Don’t make this about Ronan.”
“I didn’t. You did.”
“Bríd.”
The older woman reached over and patted her hand. “It’s okay to have more than one truth, darling. You can grieve the past and still hope for something new.”
“I’m scared.”
Bríd’s voice softened. “That means it matters.”
Aisling looked away, swallowing hard, remembering the last time she thought she found love. It hadn’t been that long ago. And it ended with her losing her job, her fiancé, and coming to Ireland.
“Besides,” Bríd added slyly, “if you and Ronan ever have a falling out, you can always unleash Céilí on his precious flowerbeds again.”
Aisling burst out laughing, the heaviness in her chest lifting, just a little.
“I’ll put that in my back pocket.”
“You should,” Bríd said, standing and brushing imaginary dust from her skirt. “And now, I have to get to the bakery before they sell out of cream scones. The ones with jam. I’ll save you one.”
Aisling stood too and hugged her. “Thanks for... everything. You help me understand my family in a way that no one can.”
Bríd squeezed her tightly. “You’ve got a big heart, girl. Don’t let fear shrink it. Your family fell on some hard times. You can make them right.”
“I’ll try.”
As Bríd walked down the lane, her braid swinging behind her, Aisling sat on the porch and looked at the ring once more.
Her past had been buried in the walls of this house. But maybe—just maybe—her future had already walked through the front door.
With flowers. And a manuscript.
And lips that could still make her knees weak.
CHAPTER21
Aisling spent the day going through her mother’s room. It was like stepping back into a time warp. Circa 1990. Her walls were filled with awards from high school and college. Her desk looked like Maeve had just stepped away and would be back any moment now. And though Aisling hated to touch it, she knew it was time for the past to be put behind them. Time for a fresh start for the room, the house, and even for Aisling.
