Page 56 of Stained Hearts
There was a quiet desperation in his voice. It was the plaintive sound of someone who’d been kicked aside his whole life by people who should have loved him and by others he had pinned his hopes on. And now he was doing it with me. He’d decided that I was the person who he could depend on, who would be there for him.
“Yeah, you’re very worth it.” I kissed him then, pouring all my passion and need into it. He whimpered and threw his arms around my neck. When I tried to pull back, he clung tighter. We probably would have kept at it if Olivia hadn’t cleared her throat.
“Your mom says dessert is ready.” She turned and went back into the house.
Aiden’s eyes were wide, his cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry! I—”
“We’re not done, Aiden.” I tucked a knuckle under his chin. “We’re just beginning.”
In that moment I decided I would tell him soon. Not now, when emotions were as raw as an exposed nerve, but soon, when he would know I wasn’t saying it to make him feel better.
And I couldn’t wait for that day.
THE SUNhad long since set. Aiden, Olivia, and I were ready to go, but he was pensive. When Mom came over and hugged him, he stiffened.
“I’m so sorry, Rachel. What I said was—”
She covered his mouth. “Nothing. You said nothing wrong, sweetheart.” She drew her hand back. “In your shoes, I doubt I would have reacted any differently. The whole incident is forgotten, okay? Now, give me a real hug.”
His lower lip quivered, and he threw himself into Mom’s arms. She held tight, stroking a hand down his back.
“This is your home, Aiden. We are your family. If you ever need us, you’ll call. If you’re ever scared, you let us know. We love you, and we want you happy.” She kissed him on the cheek.
Dad stepped up behind Aiden and wrapped his big arms around both of them. He leaned in close to Aiden. “What she said, Aiden. If you don’t mind, I’d like to impart one bit of wisdom on you. Something you can keep close to your heart for when times are tough. Are you ready?”
Aiden straightened his shoulders. “Yes, sir.”
“Farting on an elevator is wrong on so many levels. Always remember that.”
Aiden snorted, and then his eyes went shiny before he fell into Dad’s arms. Dad patted him on the back. “It’s going to be okay, son. One day you’ll know that you can trust us, and we won’t ever let you down.”
Then Dad kissed Aiden on the forehead, which surprised me. Dad might look it, but he wasn’t gruff or anything, though this type of affection was generally a rare thing for him. When I looked at his face, I could see the truth he wasn’t saying. He had already let Aiden and Olivia into his heart, but he was waiting on me before he said anything.
Galen and Robert hugged Olivia and Aiden, and then each of them hugged me. When it came time for Mom and Dad to hug me, I soaked up the warmth.
“Thank you,” I whispered to them. “For showing him he’s got someone.”
“He’s a lovely boy, Thomas. He and Olivia? They’re always welcome here.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Oh, I almost forgot!” She reached into her pocket and drew out a brown paper bag, which she handed to me. “It’s for later.” She leaned in and whispered in my ear. “For Aiden.”
I went back to Aiden and Olivia. “Ready to go?”
“They invited us back.” Olivia’s voice was filled with awe. Until that moment I’d forgotten that when she took Aiden in, she lost her family too.
“My mom loves you. She’s always wanted a daughter. I foresee many shopping excursions in your future.”
Her breath hitched. “Really?”
The vulnerability there, on display for anyone to see, could thaw the coldest heart. Their parents had destroyed everything family was supposed to mean, but I wasn’t worried. Mine would do what they did with Galen and Brian. They would be assimilated into this big, messy, Borg-like entity, which, in time, would make them one of us.
“Yeah, really. You and Aiden made quite the impression.”
Aiden opened his mouth, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.
“And not a bad one either.”
