Page 22 of Accidental Irish Daddy

6

Grant

It’s noon and I’ve decided to work from home today. I figure if I stay in my study, there’s less chance of me running into Aisling.

That was the plan when I got up this morning, anyway.

It worked for the most part.

By the time Aisling arrived, I was already shuttered away, taking meetings and such in the confines of my home office.

Is this working out in terms of keeping me focused…Honestly, I don’t think so. I think it might be making it worse. At work, at least, there’s no risk of any sign of her. Here…even when I don’t see her, I know she’s here.

It’s odd because she’s not trying to get in my way or doing anything that would even directly cause me to notice her. It’s all subtle things. The faint scent of her perfume in the halls, the way she moves certain items around in the kitchen and in the hall, the sound of her laughter echoing against the high ceilings.

Feeling famished, I make my way to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich.

Of course, she and Ma will probably be there, but hiding out this way in my own home is ridiculous.

I walk into the kitchen and Aisling is by the counter. She’s slicing up some tomatoes and there’s a plate with thin slices of ham on bread on it. She must hear me come in because she looks over her shoulder at me, smiling gently.

“Afternoon,” I say.

“Afternoon, Mr. Duncan. I didn’t hear you come in. Half day off?”

The loaf of bread is next to her, along with all the other fixings for lunch.

“Working from home. Where’s my mother? Is she down for a nap?”

Aisling shakes her head, then points out the window. I look out to see my mother sitting in the rose garden, her sun hat on while she has a cuppa.

“How is she today?” I ask.

Aisling sighs. “Not a good day today, I’m afraid. When I got here this morning, she was in a lot of pain. She didn’t want to leave her bed. I offered her pain meds…she took them today; you’ll be glad to hear. I also gave her a warm water bottle for her joints. That seemed to help.” She stops for a moment, looking out at Ma. “I’m a little worried about her appetite. She’s not eating as much as she normally does.”

I frown, not liking the sound of that, but the doctor had already told me about the changes in her appetite. “That’s to be expected.”

She looks back down at what she’s doing, then she glances over at me. “Would you like a sandwich? I mean, I’m already making one.”

“You don’t have to do that for me.”

“It’s not a problem.”

“Thank you,” I give in, taking a seat at the kitchen table even though I know it’s not a great idea to entertain her company if I want to have no sort of feelings for her.

“So, it’s just you and your sister Bridget?” I ask, curious.

“We’re staying with my uncle,” she replies, and a shadow crosses her face. “My parents passed away after I graduated high school, so…my sister and I went to live with him. He’s my only living relative.”

Her knife slices away on the cutting board.

“I am sorry about your parents,” I state.

“Thank you,” she mumbles.

“So, you’ve got a live-in sitter. That’s good,” I remark.

“Yeah,” she replies, then changes the subject. “What about you? Any family other than your ma?”

---