“I know, sweetheart. I know. But sometimes in life you have to follow your heart. Your father and I continuing to be miserable would have done nothing for you both.”
Aislinn nodded and picked at her food silently.
“Is that what you’re worried about with this Baird? That you like him too much and it will end horribly?” Mary asked.
“Well, that’s one element of it. We are just too different. Though my attraction to him was immediate and visceral, he's an uptight, analytical doctor…and I'm me.” Aislinn shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “The man wears wire-framed glasses for God's sake!”
Mary laughed at her and took a long sip of her wine. They sat in silence for a moment and Aislinn waited for the typical Mary response – go on and have fun, girl!
“I think that you are probably right,” Mary finally said.
“What?” Aislinn leaned back in surprise.
“I hate to say this, but yes, you may be too different. If you can't find a common ground of similarity, it may be too hard to hold onto the relationship. I know that they say opposites attract but I've only ever seen those types of relationships work when there is a healthy balance.”
Aislinn considered her words carefully. “So, if I find no common ground…run?”
“Maybe, yes.”
Aislinn sighed and stirred her mussels around in the cream sauce, picking at the shells.
“He thinks I'm crazy.”
“Well, we are a little out there, Aislinn.”
“No, I mean like really crazy. I told him about my ability and he told me that he believed that I believe that I have power. Which in shrink talk means he thinks that I am nuts.”
Mary leaned back and crossed her arms across her chest and sniffed.
“Well, I never. How could he say such a thing? What with you running a successful business and creating beautiful art? No crazy person would be able to hold down something like that!” Mary's words were indignant and Aislinn smiled at her.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Speaking of your art, I ran into the loveliest man in Dublin last week. He's the curator for one of the major galleries. I told him about your work and he asked me to send some pictures of it…maybe set up a show. What do you think?”
Aislinn's mouth dropped open and a mixture of panic and excitement raced through her.
“Mum! That's wonderful news. Do you think that my work is good enough?”
Mary gave her a derisive glance. “Do I think your work is good enough? Please. Your work is outstanding. I brag about you all over Ireland. I hand out your cards constantly. I couldn't be prouder of you.”
Tears pricked Aislinn's eyes, surprising her.
“Thanks, Mum.”
Mary reached across the table and patted Aislinn's hand.
“Don't let that Baird get to you, honey. It sounds like you walk two different paths. I would stay far away from him.”
Chapter 11
Baird watched the two women enter Flynn's restaurant. The other woman could only be Aislinn's mother as the resemblance was uncanny. He sighed and turned away from the window, running his hand through his thick hair.
He already missed her.
Shaking his head, Baird snagged his coffee cup from the counter and went to sit in front of his streamlined laptop. He'd spent much of the night researching different disorders where people thought they had otherworldly powers. Late into the night, he'd finally succumbed to his curiosity and had started researching intuition and empathic abilities.
The research had proved to be fascinating and hours later, Baird had made the decision to contact a few colleagues that conducted research on intuitive abilities in Dublin. He'd dashed off a quick email with a few questions and hoped to see a response today.
As if on cue, his email indicated new mail. Taking a sip of coffee, he opened the mail and perused the contents.
“Really…” Baird said.
It shouldn't have surprised him. As someone who studied the human brain he was well aware that there was still much to be discovered about its power.
His colleagues had sent him pages of research studies documenting various intuitive abilities along with scientific explanations for the reasoning behind them. They also expressed great interest in meeting his “friend” and helping her to understand where her ability came from. Baird wondered if Aislinn would be interested in talking to psychiatrists and scientists about herself. Though she'd been open with him about it, a part of him suspected she would spit in his face if he asked.
Baird leaned back in the chair and ran his hands over his face. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Her scent, the softness of her skin under his touch, the way her smile changed her face from interesting to beautiful. He wanted to be with her…laughing with her…watching her work.
Was he scared of her? Of her powers? Or did he think she was a nutter? Baird couldn't quite convince himself that Aislinn was crazy, which left him with the distinctly uneasy feeling that he would have to accept her as she was if he wanted to be with her.
Baird pulled out his map of the village of Grace's Cove. In order to understand all of this, it looked like he needed to go to the source. Examining the map, he made plans to head to the cove the next day.
Chapter 12
I would stay far away from him. Mary's words echoed in Aislinn's head the next morning. Though her head agreed with her mother, her heart seemed to be of a different mind.
Traitor, she whispered down to her heart and went to gather her art supplies. She had decided to take the day off and go out of the village to paint the cove. Her mother had come back to the shop yesterday and taken pictures of all of her work. Mary had said that the gallery was looking to feature seascapes and Aislinn knew of few places more stunning than the rocky cliffs that hugged the mystical waters of the cove.
Aislinn decided that she would pop in on Fiona and put a word in her ear about Morgan and then head down to the cliffs to paint.
Aislinn went out to load her battered station wagon with her art supplies. Mary sneered at Aislinn's choice of vehicles, but Aislinn secretly loved it. It was serviceable, her easel and paint supplies fit nicely in the back, and she never worried about the wagon getting scraped up on rough roads. Aislinn sniffed. Baird probably drove a fancy sedan that was pristine inside, with one of those little bags for any snippets of rubbish.
Further convincing herself that they were far too different to be in a relationship, Aislinn pushed Baird from her mind and took the sea road out to Fiona's cottage in the hills. With the windows rolled down to encourage the sea breeze, Aislinn expertly maneuvered the one-lane road that hugged the cliffs. Sunlight cut through puffy clouds that hung over water that seemed a little restless today. Perfect, Aislinn thought. Moody water and sunlight poking through clouds always made for interesting paintings. Aislinn loved to play with light and mood. It showed in her seascapes and allowed her to command a high price for her work.
Aislinn turned at a hook in the road and bumped up the lane towards Fiona's cottage. Aside from her mother, Fiona was the most important woman in Aislinn's life and she had played a major role in helping Aislinn to navigate the murky waters of being a teenager with an extra-special gift. Aislinn credited Fiona with steering her from trouble and keeping her on the path of art. In doing so, she'd freed Aislinn from any expectations other than to be herself and had given her the true gift of happiness and confidence in her path in life.
Aislinn smiled at the weathered cottage as she approached it. She always felt good when she came here and even more so now that Ronan was staying with Fiona. Ronan, an Irish setter, was a gift to Keelin from Flynn. Yet, lately, Ronan had been sticking around with Fiona. A cottage out in the wild needed a good dog for protection, Aislinn thought, and smiled when Ronan came bounding around the corner at the sound of a car.
“Ah, there's the ferocious beast himself.” Aislinn called to Ronan and he barked up at her, his tail wagging. Pulling the wagon to a stop, Aislinn boun
ded out of the car and sunk to her knees to wrap her arms around Ronan's wiggling body. He lapped her face with his rough tongue and breaking away, ran to grab a stick.
“Aye, it's a game of fetch you'll be wanting then, is it?” Aislinn laughed at Ronan and tossed the stick. He bounded exuberantly through the green field that surrounded Fiona's cottage. Aislinn turned to survey the cottage. It looked like Flynn was keeping up on any repairs needed and Fiona's window boxes bloomed with a happy bunch of flowers. The gray stone cottage mixed perfectly with the surrounding landscape and the view was worth millions, Aislinn thought as she turned to survey the wide expanse of meadow that dropped off into cliffs that soared over the ocean.
“Ash, dear! What a surprise,” Fiona's warm voice called to her from around the corner of the house.
Aislinn detoured from her path to the front door and around the cottage to the garden that Fiona carefully tended behind the cottage. The old woman wore khaki pants, a men's-style shirt and a large straw hat to shade her from the sun. Her eyes were sharp with intelligence and her face creased with a welcoming smile. Aislinn instantly felt at peace, just watching her gather her herbs in small baskets. Fiona had always had that effect on her. She was the port in Aislinn's storm.
Careful not to stomp on any of Fiona's plants, Aislinn stepped to Fiona and bent to give her a lingering hug. Pulling back, Fiona eyed Aislinn's face carefully.
“Hmm, let's take a break. I just made some sun tea this morning. We can sit at the table out here.”
“Sounds lovely,” Aislinn said. “Do you need help?”
“No, please. Just throw the stick for Ronan. He needs a playmate.”
“Where's Teagan?”
Fiona shrugged her shoulders. “Who knows with that dog? She comes and goes as she pleases. Fickle woman,” Fiona laughed and went into the cottage.
Aislinn sat at the small table and chairs that were positioned best to capture the sun without sacrificing a view of the cove. She thought about how Fiona had known who was visiting her without even stepping around the cottage. Aislinn wanted to discuss Morgan with her. Fiona seemed to have a touch of all of the powers…though her healing power was the most powerful. Yet, to Aislinn's knowledge, she'd never seen Fiona move something without her hands.
“Here we go,” Fiona said as she turned the corner of the cottage with a tray full of tea, scones, and a small plate of fruit.
“This is lovely, thank you,” Aislinn said and reached for her glass as Fiona settled into the chair next to her. They both watched as Ronan raced across the field after a stick, tumbling over himself in his excitement.
“He brings me such joy,” Fiona laughed.
“I know. I've thought about getting a dog. Maybe a cat, instead. I don't know if I am responsible enough for a dog,” Aislinn said.
Fiona leveled her eyes at Aislinn. “Yes, I suppose that you would chaff at the restriction that a dog places on you. You've built yourself a nice little world where you can come and go as you please, haven’t you?”
Aislinn shrugged against the perceived sting in Fiona's words. “Is that a bad thing?”
“I didn't say that it was. I just know that being tied down to something for too long, aside from your business, is hard for you.”
Aislinn shrugged and studied the line of where the water met the sky.
“Things can change quickly. It's easier to be flexible and able to adapt to change, in my mind,” Aislinn said.
Fiona only nodded, not saying anything.
Aislinn sighed. “Okay, I know that when you stay silent you are trying to get me to talk. You can't pull that on me anymore.”
Fiona only smiled and raised an eyebrow at her.
Aislinn threw her hands up.
“Yes, I met a man. And, yes, I don't do attachments well. Okay, happy?” Aislinn huffed out a breath and crossed her arms across her chest.
Fiona let out a lusty laugh that had Aislinn cracking her own smile.
“Ah, Ash, you've always been one of my favorites.”
“Really? Thanks,” Aislinn said in surprise.
“Really. You have such talent and such self-confidence…and yet you keep yourself aloof from others. Never vulnerable. In doing so, you make it difficult to be in relationships with others.”
“I don't know if I agree with that!” Aislinn said heatedly. “I told Baird about my gift. I was honest! Do you know how hard it is to tell someone that – knowing that they will judge you?”
“Baird? Hmm, so it's the new doctor in town. I've heard talk of him. A handsome one, no?”
Aislinn sighed and dug the toe of her hiking shoes into the ground. “Yes, tall, dark, and yum as Cait calls him. He even has these wire-framed glasses…”
“Well, if he has glasses, then I'm sunk too,” Fiona agreed.
Aislinn flashed a small smile at Fiona before taking a sip of her cool tea.
“He thinks that I'm a nutter. That I just believe that I have this magickal power but that I don't really. I even proved it to him. Which…I've never done before. I've never felt like I've had to prove myself to anyone. Which makes me furious, to be honest,” Aislinn said quietly.
“Ah, a skeptic. I suppose that makes sense with the business that he is in.”
“Yes, but he didn't try to stop me. Didn't try to understand more. He just let me walk. So, I suppose that's my answer.” Aislinn shrugged her shoulders and stared moodily at the sea.
“Is it?”
“Well? I'm not going to hunt him down and keep trying to explain who I am to him. It wouldn't matter anyway. We're simply too different.”
“Ah, well, then I guess that is all there is to say about that,” Fiona said demurely.
Aislinn rolled her eyes. “I'm used to your tactics, old woman, and you aren't making me talk any more about this. I've already talked to my mum about this and she agrees that I need to stay far away.”
“Not surprising,” Fiona said.
“And, I have something more interesting to discuss. Have you met Morgan?”
Fiona smiled at Aislinn's change of subject but let it pass.
“I saw her at Keelin's wedding. Beautiful girl. Touch of something…I haven't figured out what as of yet. She's fairly elusive. Flynn says she is a hard worker but keeps to herself and doesn't talk much.”
Aislinn should have known that Fiona would have all the pertinent details.
“That touch of something? It's telekinesis.”
Fiona's mouth dropped open and Aislinn felt a sliver of delight sneak through her. There was very little that got past Fiona and it was rare to see her react in surprise. Giving herself a mental high five, she smiled at Fiona.
“No!”
“Yes, indeed. I saw it for myself or I wouldn't have believed it.”
“I've never heard of this particular manifestation of Grace's blood. Let me get my book.”
Fiona hurried away to get her book and Aislinn bent to scratch Ronan's ears. At the very least, the change of subject had taken the focus off of Aislinn's relationship with Baird. Her non-relationship, she reminded herself.
Fiona hurried around the corner with a small book. Its beauty was in its simplicity. Aged leather, softened at the creases, wrapped around vellum pages. Aislinn knew that it was Grace O'Malley's book of healing potions but she suspected that there was other information within the pages that she knew little of.
Aislinn stayed silent as Fiona flipped through the book and murmured to herself.
“Ah, hmm. Here we may have something.” Fiona finally spoke.
She handed the book to Aislinn, who took it carefully. The pages were delicate and should have been handled with gloves on, but Aislinn was used to touching delicate works. She held the book gently by the leather and examined the passage that Fiona had pointed to.
'Tis by the moon and the stars,
A fleeting movement,
A special touch of magick,
One that with the mind does feel,
As though one may li
ft without the physical body,
A dash of fae,
Only those who need it most,
Will be gifted this touch.
“To those who need it most…” Aislinn repeated.
“What do you know of Morgan's background?” Fiona asked as Aislinn handed the book back.
“I'm hiring her for the shop. So, what I tell you is in confidence.”
“Understood and good for you. You've a good heart.”
“She's an orphan. Essentially raised by nuns as her foster families would return her after they saw her ability. She's angry. Very angry and very lonely.”
Fiona nodded.
“You'll bring her to me?”
“If I can get her to come. Otherwise you'll have to come to the shop. I'm trying to get her a place to stay as she is sleeping in her van.”
“Shane will help. I'll make him.”
“Already taken care of.” Aislinn smiled at Fiona and stood. “I'm off to paint while the light is good. Mum has a potential offer for a show lined up for me in Dublin and I'll need new inventory.”
“Wonderful! I'm so proud of you. Such talent,” Fiona said and stood to wrap her arms around Aislinn. “Now, don't forget to listen to your heart, young one…”
“We'll see,” Aislinn called over her shoulder as she got in her wagon.
Chapter 13
Aislinn drove further down the lane from Fiona's cottage and pulled her car to the side of the road behind a long line of bushes. Getting out, she assessed which angle she wanted to paint the cove from. If she painted from the road, she wouldn't be able to capture the sheer magnitude of the cliffs that jutted out into the sea. Instead, she decided to cut across the fields to set up her easel by a pile of rocky outcroppings. The rocks would shelter her from the wind and allow her some privacy in her painting.
Aislinn pulled her small, transportable easel out of the back of the wagon along with her art supplies and set out across the field. The mid-afternoon light was lovely and would soften as the day wore on.
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