Page 76 of Stained Hearts
“Here you go, Rachel.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
He turned and walked away. Mom held the paper in her hand for a few moments, then held it out to me. The familiar scrawl on the front made my heart ache. With trembling hands, I took it from her and opened it. He’d written this one on a piece of light blue paper that made the black ink stand out like a beacon.
Tom,
You’ve finally said the words. You don’t know how happy that makes me. The problem? I’m going to guess you didn’t say them to Aiden, and that’s a pity.
Wait. How could Brian possibly know that it was Aiden I wanted to say I loved?
I can see your mind working even now, trying to figure out how I knew you’d end up with Aiden. The answer is simple, of course. I chose him for you.
What the absolute fuck?
All those times I spent with Noel, we were coming up with a plan to find you someone after I was gone. Aiden was the only person who I could even see you with. He was funny and headstrong and needed to be loved, just like I knew you would. When I met him, I knew he was the man for you.
This was too surreal. “Mom?”
She raised her hands. “Don’t look at me. I only heard about it after he did it.”
“You knew?”
She gave a sad smile. “We all knew. Brian went to me, your father, Robert, Galen, Andy, and Marco. He told us what he had planned, wanting us to help him. I was against it at first, but the more we talked, the clearer his idea was. That’s how much he loved you, Tom. He didn’t want you alone. Finish reading the letter.”
My palms were sweaty as I brought the paper back up to eye level.
Aiden had everything I knew would draw you to him. He was beautiful, sweet, caring, and he needed someone. You and your white knight complex wouldn’t be able to stay away from him. I told Noel he couldn’t have picked a more perfect person.
So now I’m guessing that you want to tell him you love him. I wish you could do it without prodding, but you always had to be the stubborn one. There’s a reason you haven’t said anything yet. You’re surrounded by memories of what we had. You’re afraid to say the words, because everywhere you look, you see me and what we shared.
Now I don’t know if you’ve asked Aiden to move in with you, but if so, what the hell were you thinking?
That brought me up short. Why was he asking?
It’s our house, our memories. You need a place where the two of you can make your own. Somewhere that doesn’t have reminders of the things we had everywhere you look. I want you to sell the house, sell the cabin, and get a fresh start with Aiden. It’s what he…. No, it’s what you both deserve.
This is going to be my last letter, Tom. You’ve done everything I needed you to do. You found love, and now you’re going to go out and show Aiden how you feel. Every day you’re going to wake up and thank the stars above that he’s with you.
You know as well as I do that you have to stand up and take what you want. If you wait too long, you could lose it, and then you’ll have nothing but regrets. I don’t want that for you. I want you to pull Aiden close and live a life filled with joy and love. And that’s what I see for you both. Happiness and new memories.
Thank you for all the years you loved me, Tom. They filled me with laughter and bliss. You made me complete, and I’m grateful you let me belong to you. You need to go show Aiden why he’s first in your heart now.
Be at peace, Tom, and know that wherever I am, you’ve made me happy.
Brian
I folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. Tears stung my eyes, but this time they weren’t for Brian. They were for Aiden, who had to suffer while I pulled my head out of my ass. I’d royally screwed up, and Brian, just like always, was more than happy to point it out for me.
“I fucked up, Mom.”
“I know.”
I glared at her. “Thanks. No, really.”
She chuckled. “You have no idea how many times I wanted to say something. Brian convinced us that you needed to find your own way, though. He said you would never learn a lesson if someone had to teach it to you.”
Wasn’t that the truth? I turned my head and saw Noel standing by the counter, staring at us. I waved him over, and he took a step toward Lincoln, as though he was afraid of what might happen.
