Page 71 of All In Good Time

The door opened and everyone began filing out. When Aisla got up to leave, Edna heard him say, “Nae, lass. Please stay. I dinnae wish you to be far from me.” Aisla sat back down and Rory took her hand. “I love ye, Aisla. I’ll never leave ye again.”

Edna smiled, knowing that by meddling in Rory and Aisla’s lives, she successfully helped Sara and Logan. She wasn’t sure she’d call that part of it meddling, but she was very pleased with herself.

* * *

The great hallwas filled with the Mackalls and their guests. Everyone waited patiently for Rory and Aisla to make their entrance.

Sara was so excited by this turn of events that she had to control the urge to jump on Logan, who seemed overjoyed at what he’d just witnessed. He hadn’t been able to stop stroking her hair and her face. The elation she saw told her he loved her and she had no reason to doubt him.

“Sara, thank you,” Logan said, gazing into her eyes.

“For what?” she asked.

“For knowing the right thing to do and doing it. If it werenae fer ye, Rory would never have known about Aisla or the babe and he may nae have lived. And if it werenae fer ye, I would have lived me life without ye.”

His words touched her deeply. She didn’t know what to say, she did it because she loved him and there was no way she was going back home without having tried everything she could think of first. “Well, I did what I had to do.”

“I’m verra happy ye did, lass.” He crushed her to him and when she gazed up at him he took that opportunity to place a sweet, soft kiss on her lips.

Aisla and Rory entered the hall to cheers from all gathered there.

“I have an announcement to make,” Rory said once they had stopped. “Aisla and I are to wed.” Aisla looked over to Logan and smiled. Logan was so happy for her, she looked to be at peace. As though all of her wishes had just come true.

“Congratulations, brother,” Nick said, slapping Rory on the back. “And congratulations to our new sister.”

The other Mackall brothers raised their quaichs in a toast. “To yer good health and to our new sister. Welcome to the family.”

“Aisla would like to wait fer her Da to join us,” Rory said.

“Of course, my dear sister,” Nick said as he took Aisla’s hand and bowed to kiss it. “I shall send a messenger to Breaghacraig within the hour.” Aisla thanked him. And then she was swept up into hugs by her new sisters.

“Of course, in the meantime, we’ll plan the feast,” Lettie said, turning to face her guests. “We’d be happy to have ye join us for the celebration. Yer welcome to stay fer as long as ye like.”

“Thank ye. ’Tis most kind of ye,” Edna replied.

“Ye saved me son, I cannae thank ye enough, Edna. If I could give ye the moon and the stars, I would.” Lettie went to Edna and hugged her for a good long time.

Sara was feeling quite emotional and found she had tears in her eyes, she was so happy for this family and for Aisla.

* * *

Finally, back in their room and wrapped in each other’s arms, Sara’s thoughts were a jumble. She’d done it. She’d done what she set out to do and now here she lay in the arms of her love, a testament to the power of her determination.

They were quiet for a while, simply being together was enough for them and they both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Sara thought of Aisla swept into the loving arms of her new family. She looked so happy and so overwhelmed at the same time. Aisla had a new home. She had Rory and baby. She had brothers and sisters now, and her child would grow up surrounded by people that loved him. Or her.

She thought about her own childhood. Her brother that she left behind and felt that ache again. She missed him. She wondered if he was worried about her. She had been gone for weeks without checking in and she wondered if he had called in the cavalry to look for her. Edna hadn’t said anything, but she hoped that somehow Zeke knew she was safe. Logan could be her family.

“We’ll be going home to Breaghacraig soon. Are ye happy, lass?”

Still lost in her thoughts, Sara didn’t answer right away. Home. Family. It suddenly occurred to her that she had no idea if Logan had a brother. She didn’t really know anything about him, his childhood. How did she get this deep without knowing the basics?

“Sara?”

“Yes.”

“Are ye happy or did ye you nae hear me?”

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”