Michael Meets Alistair
By Jo and Atonia
"Where are they off to? I hope my presence in here didn’t cause a problem." Michael turned, watching Carol and Gena leave the tavern.
"No, not at all, Dad, they’ve gone to find a greenhouse," answered Jude.
"Well, back to Richie then. He’s got a problem, a big problem."
Steve was mixing a drink behind the bar and looked up. "There’s a new Reverend Harris in town. He’s living up at the old mill. Sorry I couldn’t help but overhear," he smiled, "has Richie talked to him?"
"No, I don’t think Richie knows about him," Jude replied.
"Worth a try don’t you think, Jude?" asked Michael.
After getting directions from Steve they found the old mill and Jude parked the Rover. "Dad, what does this place remind you of?" he said, looking over at his father.
"The village mill where I grew up," Michael replied as he unbuckled the seat belt and got out of the vehicle. He stood still for a moment taking it all in and with a smile started down through the grasses toward the dark head he saw by the clump of iris.
The dark-haired man was on his knees pulling weeds from around a clump of iris and looked up sharply when he saw the two men approaching. "Oh, don’t let me disturb you. I’m looking for Reverend Harris," said Michael, still smiling.
"I'm Harris," the man said, sliding off a garden glove as he stood. Extending the hand, he added, "Alistair. Alistair is better. Is there something I can help you with?"
Extending his hand, Michael responded, "I'm Michael Stanley and this is my son, Jude. I hope
you can help us, Alistair. My daughter Toni is getting married in two days to Richie Roberts. Unfortunately having planed the wedding themselves they forgot a very important thing. They haven't got anybody to perform the ceremony. It's embarrassingly late to be coming to you and asking if you might have any plans for the twentieth of December." It all came out in a rush and Michael watched as emotions seemed to wash across Alistair's face.
Alistair was slightly taken aback for a moment, but quickly composed his expression.
"The 20th is fine with me, Mr. Stanley. I'm quite new here and haven't begun to meet all the residents. Richie Roberts, you say, and your daughter? I would definitely need to have a time with them where we could discuss the sort of ceremony they'd like. But, yes, I'd be happy to do it for them."
Michael breathed a sigh of relief. "I am truly grateful, Alistair, and please call me Michael." He looked around for a place to sit and found an old stump. "Sorry, sometimes I...," he reached in his pocket and took out a vial and slipped a pill under his tongue.
"Dad, are you alright?" Jude was at his side.
"Yes, yes, perfectly fine now. Just a little angina, nothing to worry about. If you don't mind I'd like to sit here for a moment, Alistair, just a moment," he smiled weakly. "This place brings back memories of home."
"You lived in a mill, Michael? I'm finding it a really unique sort of home." He studied the older man's face. "Could I get you a glass of water?"
"No, thank you, I'll be fine. Didn't exactly live in the mill. It was just
up the road from
my mother's cottage. I spent a lot of time there as a boy. It's still active, I
believe.
I don't suppose I will see it again. My mother died this past year and her place
was sold.
Shame really, but that's what she wanted." He looked around at the iris.
"Lovely, this...I don't
really have a home at the moment." He felt his eyes well up and blinked, looking
down at his feet.
"My wife and I have split after 35 years, just recently. Sorry, I didn't mean
to bring that up."
I'm sorry to hear that, Michael," Alistair replied,
laying a palm lightly on the man's shoulder. "Thirty-five years is a huge
investment in someone else's life. I hope some way may be found for it to find
some solution. If I can be of help in any way ...." He met Michael's look with
his own sincere, open expression.
Michael watched Jude walk down to the water's edge. "I'm not sorry for my life,
you know, just sorry that I have hurt my wife. To be sorry would deny my other
son." He looked up at Alistair. "I fathered a child twenty-five years ago, a
brief affair that ended as soon as it began. I've tried to protect my wife and
family from that indiscretion but it all came out a few weeks ago at a dinner
party where he was in attendance. Unfortunately so was my wife. So you see why
we've parted. I'm not sure there is a solution to this. I'm at a crossroads,
Alistair, and all I am looking for is a little peace in my life. I think that is
why I am so drawn to this place."
"I do know about crossroads," Alistair said, smiling kindly at Michael. "And when you're standing at one, the choice you make always has consequences." He looked out across the pond for a moment. "This truly is a good place to find peace. I've only been here a short time but already I feel such a sense of that."
Again he turned his eyes to the man seated on the stump. "Whatever you decide,
Michael, I hope you come to find that, too."
Michael studied him for a moment, "I suppose we're all walking wounded.
Peace...I've spent my entire career searching for it for others. Perhaps it’s my
turn now. Thank you, Alistair. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time.
When and where would you like to meet with Toni and Richie?"
"I seem to be free today, Michael. Do you have any
idea what would work for them?"
"Tomorrow morning might be better if that's alright with you. We've left them
without transportation and with a few hours to themselves today. I need to let
Richie know it's all going to be okay now. He was in quite a state earlier today
when he came back from Coffs with Jude. I really appreciate this, Alistair, and
hope I will see you again." Jude joined him and shook Alistair's hand.
"Good luck with your new church. You have a beautiful place here," Jude smiled
and followed his father back to the car.
