Page 47 of Pregnant by the Texan
Stella stared into space, stunned by Paige’s revelation. “He’s never told me,” she said, talking more to herself than Paige. She realized Paige had asked her a question and looked at her. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t told you. I’ve always known— Cole and I went to the service. A lot of people in Royal knew. I think his baby was a little over a year old. The little boy and Aaron’s wife were killed in a traffic accident. It was sudden—one of those really bad things. He’s been single since then. It was six or seven years ago. A long time. I don’t think he’s dated much since, but I know the two of you have been together. I figured that’s because of the storm.”
“He doesn’t talk about his private life or his past and I don’t ask. I figure he’ll tell me what he wants me to know.”
“Men don’t talk about private things as much. Aaron may be one of those who doesn’t talk at all. I know at one point Craig said Aaron was having a tough time dealing with his loss.”
“Paige, I just stayed at his house in Dallas this week. I didn’t see any pictures of a wife and child.”
“He may not have any. That wouldn’t occur to some men.”
“Maybe. I also wasn’t all over the house. I was just in the back part and the guest bedroom. We didn’t even eat there.”
“Well, then, it would be easy to not see any pictures. Especially if he has a big house like Cole. Sorry if finding out about his wife and child upset you.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. It’s common knowledge as you said. I’m glad to know. He’s just never talked to me about it. It does explain some things about him. Well, back to this Christmas drive—” Stella said, trying for now to put Aaron and his past out of her thoughts and concentrate on working out last-minute details of the event with Paige.
They worked another fifteen minutes before saying goodbye. Stella watched Paige walk away, a slender, willowy figure with sunlight glinting on her auburn hair, highlighting red strands.
Stella sat in the car, still stunned over Aaron’s never mentioning his loss. Now she had the explanation for the barrier he kept between himself and others, the door he closed off when conversations or situations became too personal.
No wonder he held back about personal relationships—he was still in love with his late wife. And he’d lost his baby son. That’s why babies were so special to him. Stella was unaware of the tears running down her cheeks. She had to stop seeing so much of Aaron. She couldn’t cut him out of her life completely because of their baby, but she saw no future in going out with him. She didn’t want to keep dating, because she was falling more deeply in love with him all the time while his emotions, love and loyalties were still back with the wife and child he had lost. She was glad he loved them, but he should have leveled with her.
Tears fell on the back of her hand and she realized she was crying. “Aaron, why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered. If he really loved her, he would have shared this hurt with her, shared that very private bit of himself. Love didn’t cut someone off and shut them out.
She wiped her hand and got a tissue to dry her eyes and her cheeks. Knowing she would have to pay attention to her driving, she focused on the car lot as she turned the key in the ignition.
She drove to the Cozy Inn and stepped out of the car, gathering packages to take inside. She hoped she didn’t see Aaron before she reached her suite. She wanted to compose herself, think about what she would say.
She would have to make some decisions about her life with Aaron.
She would see him tonight at dinner. Once again her life was about to change. The sad part was that she would have to start to cut Aaron out of it and see far less of him.
Stella was tempted to confront him with the information she’d learned and ask why he hadn’t told her, but instead she wanted him to tell her voluntarily without her asking about it. There was no way she would accept his marriage proposal when he didn’t even trust her enough to tell her something that vital. And if he still loved his first wife with all his heart, Stella didn’t want to marry him.
Sadly, he wasn’t ready to marry again—at least not for love. He had to love his late wife and child enormously still, maybe to the point of being unable to let go and face that they had gone out of his life forever.
Deep inside, her feelings for him crashed and shattered.
Eight
For their dinner tonight, Stella wore one of her new sweaters—a pale blue V-neck—and black slacks. She wore his gold-leaf necklace and bracelet but fought tears when she put the jewelry on.
She went to meet him, her body tingling at the sight of him while eagerness tinged with sadness gripped her as she crossed the Cozy Inn lobby. Aaron was in a black sweater, jeans and boots. She really just wanted to walk into his embrace, but she had to get over even wanting to do so.
“You’re gorgeous, Stella. I’ve missed seeing you all day.”
She smiled at him as he took her arm. As soon as they were seated, she picked up a menu.
After they ordered and were alone, he looked at her intently, his gaze slowly traveling over her. “I can’t get used to the change in you. I’ve seen women change hairdos, men shave their heads and grow mustaches, a lot of things that transform appearances, but yours is the biggest change I’ve ever seen. I never expected you to change this much. It’s fabulous.”
“Thank you,” she said, beginning to wonder if he would lose interest if she returned to looking the way she always had. The minute she thought about it, she remembered that it wouldn’t matter because she was going to see him less often.
“Several people have called to thank me for getting you on television because they’ve found the agency they need for help.”
“Good,” she said. It was the first bright bit of news since she had sat down to dinner with him.
“Club members have been getting word out that the entire town is invited to the TCC Christmas festival, so I think we will have a big turnout.”
