Page 81 of Stained Hearts
“Tell me, please.” He drew in a breath. “I need to hear your voice.”
“Noel gave me a letter today that Brian had written. It was about you.”
“Me? Why?”
“It seems that our meeting wasn’t an accident.”
And I started the story from the beginning, telling him about their initial meeting and how Brian had gotten the family together in order to bring me and Aiden closer.
“So it was like a job interview?” His lower lip jutted out. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I don’t think so. Brian truly did like you. He said, of everyone, you were the only person he could see me being with.” I leaned in and kissed him. “And you know what? He’s right. I’ve known for months how I feel about you, and now that I think about it, I know Brian was a genius. You’re everything I could want in a person, and he knew I wouldn’t be able to resist you.”
“I love you too.” Aiden took my hand and kissed it. “I was afraid to say it, just in case you didn’t feel the same way.”
That was another thing that was on me. I should have let Aiden know his place in my life and in my heart. I would never make that mistake again.
“So another thing…. Brian wants me to sell the house and cabin. He wants me to buy something new where you and I can start building memories of our own and….” I wasn’t sure how he’d take this. “Raise a family.”
His eyes opened wide. “Really? You’d want a family?”
Brian had been adamantly opposed to a family. After what he considered his shame, he never wanted to pass that along to a child. I tried to talk to him about it a few times, but he shut me down hard. I gave up, not wanting to upset him.
“I’ve always wanted one. Having a child with you? That would be amazing.”
“I’d like that.” Aiden sighed. “It was one of the things I used to dream about. After I figured out I was gay, I often thought about having a child. In my heart, I knew I could raise them happy and they’d know they were loved for who they were, and that when the time came and they told me they were in love, I would tell them no matter who they loved, all they needed to do was love hard. If they could do that, then I was happy for them.”
The door opened and a tired-looking Meg walked into the room. “I thought I saw you. What’s going on?”
“Hey! It’s good to see you. Just getting off?”
She sighed. “I wish. I thought it would be great to have the promotion, but now? Ugh. I never get to see Katy, and that sucks.” She strode over to the bed. “So who do have we here? And what happened to you, sweetheart?”
Aiden’s lower lip jutted out. “I got mugged. They took my wheelchair.”
“Aw, I’m so sorry to hear that.” She picked up his chart. “It seems like you’re going to be able to go home today. The doctor will let you know for sure. Will you have someone there who can help you?”
“Meg, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Aiden. Aiden, this is Meg, girlfriend of Katy from the diner.”
“Hi, it’s good to meet you.”
He tried to smile, but I could see there were still conflicting thoughts in his mind. I figured it would take Aiden time to process everything, and that was something we had plenty of.
Meg smiled at us. A call over the PA system had her moving for the door. She glanced back over her shoulder. “Will I be seeing you at the wedding?”
“Wedding?” Then I remembered. “Oh shit. I didn’t RSVP, and it’s going to be Christmas Day!”
She chuckled. “Noel had talked about having it in the summer on the day they shared their first kiss, but when Lincoln mentioned Christmas Day, Noel jumped at it.” She cocked her head. “Are you going?”
“That depends.” I turned to Aiden. “Would you accompany me to a wedding?”
The little bastard gave me a smug grin. “I already RSVP’d. I’m going to be up with Noel. If you want, you can come as my plus-one, since I already said I was coming.”
“What about Olivia?”
“Already going. Noel said the guest list was longer than Lincoln’s…. Um, it was a long list.”
It started with a grin, which morphed into a chuckle, then became uproarious laughter. Meg and I both stared at Aiden, whose face was flushed. When he finally had himself under control, he turned to us.
