Far Away Home by Susan Denning Read Free Book Online Page A

her
lip and looked up at Johnny for some direction. Johnny shrugged.
    She untied the
bow and removed the top. Peering inside, she saw a small, gold Claddagh ring in
the shape of a heart wearing a crown. Embedded in the crown was a small diamond
chip. Aislynn gasped loudly as her mouth dropped open, and her hand flew to her
breast. “Oh, Johnny, this is far too dear.”
    Johnny grinned
and whispered, “I wanted you to have it.”
    Aislynn chewed
her lip, biting her way through three phases of emotion: guilt, remorse and
fear. The ring and its meaning terrified her.
    Patsy rushed
forward and grabbed the box, “Oh, my heavens, look at it. It has a real
diamond, not that I would know what a real diamond looked like, because I don’t
have one,” she glowered at Frank Junior, “but I’m sure it’s real.”
    Pushing the box
at Johnny, Patsy commanded, “Put it on her.”
    “She can wear it
when she’s ready.” Johnny mumbled in Aislynn’s direction handing her the gift.
    “Kiss him,
Aislynn! You have to give him a kiss!”
    Aislynn’s wide
eyes strafed the room. “God,” she prayed silently, “strike her down or I will.”
    She heard Johnny
say, “We’ll do our kissin’ in private, Patsy.”
    She accepted the
reprieve gratefully. She knew it was not a full pardon, and she would have to
talk her way out of this ever-escalating mess.
    Johnny slapped
his hands on his thighs and stood over Aislynn. “I think I’d like to get some
fresh air.”
    Aislynn slipped
the ring in her apron pocket and rose. Looking up at Johnny, she said, “I have
to start cleaning up,” and began walking toward her apartment.
    “He wants you to
go with him, you ninny.” Patsy informed Aislynn.
    “I have the
whole kitchen a mess,” she explained.
    “Don’t worry,
love,” Mrs. Maher interjected, “we women will clean up the dishes. You worked
so hard preparin’ such a lovely meal. ‘Tis the least we can do. You two run
along.”
    Aislynn’s legs
were like lead. Johnny took her hand, and they descended the steps to the
sidewalk. She wordlessly followed his quick pace through the quiet street as
their shoes squeaked on the fresh snow. Aislynn did not know where they were
going, but she knew they were going together.
    They arrived at
the church. The thick, wooden doors were unlocked. Johnny pulled one door open.
With his free hand on Aislynn’s back, he guided her inside. The church was dark
and deserted. Candles had been extinguished, and the sunlight was dying with
the day. He took her arm and walked her down the main aisle. They automatically
genuflected in front of the altar and took seats in the first pew.
    Johnny settled
back on the bench, crossed his arms and stretched his legs. “Your father didn’t
tell you,” he began in an offhanded way.
    Aislynn balanced
on the edge of her seat, facing him with her hands folded in her lap. She shook
her head. Without time to prepare her defense, Aislynn’s mind was grasping for
valid, compassionate justifications to explain why their union could never
happen.
    “You’ve known
for a very long time I was goin’ to ask.”
    She nodded.
Impelled to get the truth out, she blurted, “You know how I feel about Tim.”
    “Aislynn,” he
smiled, “you have plenty of room in your heart for both of us.”
    “You don’t
understand; I really love him.”
    “I do
understand. It’s expected, and I’m not askin’ you to stop lovin’ him.”
    Aislynn stared
at him for a moment sure he had no comprehension of her true feelings. She
decided to take a different approach, “We can’t get married now; we’re too
young.”
    “I agree. We
have to wait for at least a year, maybe more. I found some property I think
would be good for a smithy. It’s uptown, but the price is too high. If I can
get the owner to come down, I’ll buy it. Even then, it will be a while before I
can build much more than the shop. I was thinkin’ of puttin’ two rooms on the
back for us to use just ‘til we can