Page 26 of All In Good Time
“Good. I am as well.”
Sara followed Aisla inside and watched as she put some water on to boil then put together a platter of cheese, fruit and some bread. She set it in front of Sara.
“I hope this will do. I’ve nae much on hand at the moment.”
Sara hadn’t thought much about where the food would be coming from. If she was hungry she picked up the phone and ordered something, or she went to the grocery store for staples. That wasn’t an option here. Aisla grew her own vegetables and made her own bread. She imagined other things were purchased on market day.
Aisla made them some tea and Sara noticed that while she had received the same tea blend she’d had yesterday, Aisla had something different.
“Are those pieces of ginger in your hot water?” Sara asked.
“Aye. I’ve had a sick stomach of late and this helps to settle it.”
“Oh. I’m sorry you haven’t been feeling well. Do you know what’s wrong?” Sara was concerned for her new friend. If she could help in any way, she would.
Aisla appeared embarrassed by the question.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” Sara realized she may have stumbled onto a sensitive subject.
“Everyone will know soon enough,” Aisla said. “There’s nae harm in telling ye.” She drew in a deep breath before speaking again. “I’m with child.”
“That’s wonderful, Aisla. You and your husband must be so excited,” Sara gushed.
“Aye.”
Sara noted Aisla seemed anything but excited. She couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t be, but it wasn’t her business. If Aisla wanted her to know, she’d tell her. “I won’t say anything. It’ll be our secret until you tell me otherwise,” she reassured her.
“You’re verra kind.”
“Can I tell you something? I mean, you’ve shared with me, so I’ve got something to share as well.”
“Of course.”
“I’ve got a little problem and I don’t know what to do about it.” Sara fidgeted a little in her chair.
“Maybe I can help.” Aisla’s mood brightened at this.
“Do you know Logan McPhail?”
“I do.” Aisla suddenly seemed very interested in the piece of cheese she’d just taken, examining it as she turned it this way and that.
“Well, I came here to see him, but I don’t think he wants to have anything to do with me. I don’t know what happened and I thought maybe if you knew him, you might have heard something.”
“I don’t know if I can help ye.” She stood and walked away from the table, keeping her back to Sara.
“Is everything alright? Did I say or do something to upset you?” Something was up. She was acting oddly.
Aisla came back to the table. “Sara, there’s more to my story than I’ve told ye. I’m nae married.”
Sara reached out and took Aisla’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” She was embarrassed. She had assumed because Aisla was pregnant that she would have a husband.
“You couldn’t have known,” she said
The seriousness of Aisla’s situation became very apparent to Sara. She didn’t know for sure, but she imagined that an unwed mother in these times was not a good thing. She didn’t want to go poking her nose into her new friend’s business, but she had so many questions. Where was the father? Was the sex consensual? What would happen to her when everyone found out? But instead she asked, “What will you do?”
“Sara, I dinnae wish ye to worry about me. I ken ye’ve a kind heart and I’m so happy to have someone to share this with.”
“I’m happy to listen if you’d like to tell me more.” Sara hoped she felt comfortable enough to do so.