The Coffin Maker

Chapter 29

Blackwood heard the familiar honking sound and gazed skyward at the V-shaped flight formation of Canada geese on their journey to southern wintering grounds. The last leaves clung stubbornly to their summer branches. He enjoyed the woodlands, especially in the fall, the peacefulness of the timeless cycle of the deciduous forest. The solitude provided time to reflect on an eventful summer. However, the circumstances that surrounded Ailsa's and his parting gnawed at him relentlessly. It bothered him greatly that there had been no opportunity to be alone with her following the rescue. He blamed himself; his hesitation cost him and he was alone again. He wanted desperately to see her. He speculated about her engagement. Maybe she is already married, he thought. He tightened the chain on his saw, pulled the starter and cut into a dying maple to begin the harvest of firewood for what was shaping up to be a long, cold lonely winter.

***

Ailsa Craig was happy to get her car back. She drove into the city to visit her condominium, respectful of her mother's opinion that it was too soon to live alone. She spent her days on trips to town, the drugstore, the grocery store, and running errands for her mother. She renewed her library card. One weekday afternoon, she was leaving the Paynesville Library with a copy of Stendhal's The Red and the Black, a book she had seen on James Blackwood's night table. The librarian had brought it in for her on an inter-library loan. Ailsa had her head down examining it as she left the library and walked right into the path of Andrew Reeks on the sidewalk.

"Hi, Ailsa," said Andrew. "It must be a real page turner if you have your head buried in it leaving the library."

Ailsa felt her face flush. "Hello, Andrew." She held the novel tightly to her chest with both hands feeling awkward and shy. Her gaze switched back and forth from the sidewalk to his six foot four frame. Caught in a private moment, she felt embarrassed and did not know where to look to shake the feeling.

"Are you in town alone?" asked Andrew.

"Yes," said Ailsa, wishing it back. Why did I say that? I could have said Mom was waiting for me at the pharmacy.

"Would you join me for a coffee?"

"I should be getting back," she said searching for her car keys. "I just came to town to pick up this book."

"The words will still be on the pages if you take fifteen minutes for a coffee," said Andrew with a warm smile.

"I suppose you're right." Ailsa returned the smile. "Okay, I guess..."

Together they crossed Washburne Avenue to the coffee shop, gazing skyward as the distinctive honking of migrating geese caught their attention.

"Leaving their summer home in Canada..." said Andrew prompting Ailsa to think about James Blackwood.

***

Several days later, Ailsa was making cookies with her mother on the farm. Her father was due home later in the day following his trip to Washington, D.C. with the Minnesota Farm Bureau to meet members of Congress on current agricultural issues. A beef roast sat in a pan ready for the oven. Siv Craig measured some flour and asked her daughter to look through the cupboard for another package of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

"You know," said her mother, "I saw Mary Reeks when I was in town this morning. She mentioned that you and Andrew met Thursday and had lunch together."

"It's no big deal, Mom," said Ailsa. "I wouldn't say we met. We bumped into each other and went for a coffee, that's all."

"Did he ask you out?"