Page 9 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“Aaron,” I pressed.
“Your father figured out Caleb’s feelings for you and wanted him gone.”
“So, how did Caleb convince him to keep his job? I know how my father can be when he makes up his mind about something. He doesn’t easily change his mind.”
“Miss Murphy.” Aaron’s eyes were pleading, but I wasn’t backing down.
“Aaron, enough is enough.” My voice was firm, and I wasn’t fucking around. Caleb’s letter had given me the leverage I needed to demand answers. “What contract did Caleb have to sign to keep his job? What did Caleb have to give up?” I was beginning to learn my father never allowed something without taking something for himself. Looking back at my life growing up, it had always been that way. Like the more recent,You can live on your own, but you’ll have more security.
“You.”
“Excuse me?” I almost choked on my saliva.
“He gaveyouup.”
No. “H-how?”
“How do you think?” He clicked his tongue and looked away.
“A contract?”
Aaron nodded.
“Another NDA?”
He nodded again.
“What were the consequences of breaching said contract?” I asked, aware that I was pushing Aaron too hard. I needed to tread carefully if I wanted this conversation to continue.
“Miss Murphy … I’ve said enough,” he said, his tone resolute. “I suggest you take your questions directly to your father. You can always say Caleb mentioned something of the sort in the letter he left for you. You need to understand I’m legally bound, and if it weren’t for that, I’d tell you everything I know.”
Everything he knows.
“Okay,” I said with a sigh. “I understand.”
I wondered if he meant this matter in particular or if there were any other things—important things—he was leaving out of the conversation.
My head was pounding at this point, making me feel almost lightheaded with anger and disbelief. The lengths my father had gone to to get his way. It was beyond frustrating and disappointing.
“Aaron, you need to know that I will request to have my security removed when we get back to New York.”
It was best to tear off the band-aid at once. It felt like a breakup. But worse. Aaron was like a brother; losing him would feel like losing a limb. I’d already lost Caleb, and half my heart was gone with him. And a part of me felt peace knowing that as long as Aaron was around, we would somehow keep Caleb’s memory alive longer than we ever could on our own if we parted ways.
Aaron chuckled under his breath. “Don’t worry, miss. I don’t think you’ll have any security left by the time you address this issue with your father.” He took a deep breath as if trying to gather himself emotionally. The tension and vulnerability of the situation was palpable, and it was hovering relentlessly around us. “We will be replaced, Miss Murphy. But I doubt your father will let you walk away from this without getting his way.”
“I don’t want to replace you, Aaron,” I quickly said. “But you need to understand that I can’t live like this forever. I need to live and breathe on my own. It’s been too long.”
He cleared his throat a couple of times. “I … agree. And it’s what Caleb would’ve wanted. To see you living your life being free, making mistakes, and learning from them. On your own.” He cleared his throat again. “I think I have something stuck in my throat. Please, excuse me for a second, miss.” He got up and fetched his glass of water.
I could feel my eyes gathering moisture, and suddenly I had “something stuck in my throat too.” The thought of not having Aaron around was hard enough. But not having him around now that Caleb was gone? I wasn’t going to be able to deal on my own. Knowing I had William by my side to help me through this would provide me the confidence I needed to confront my dad about all these matters. It would be the end of an era—a rebirth of sorts.
Aaron retook his seat next to me, looking a bit more collected.
“I must admit I was furious,” he said with a faint laugh. “I am a man of routine and loyalty and duty, and … I know things will change after this. Whether we’re ready for it or not.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered back. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.” I leaned in and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back and patted my shoulders in a very Aaron-like manner, as if terrified to reveal any emotion in the exchange. Irested my face on his chest and felt how he finally relaxed and allowed himself to give in to the warm embrace.
He then held my shoulders at arm’s length, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “Never be sorry for wanting to live your life on your own terms.”
