by S. J. West
Malcolm just shook his head at me in dismay. I shrugged. I didn’t have a clue how to erase Tristan from Mae’s mind. I think we all hoped time would do that for us.
Brand walked into the room then and announced, “Lilly just called. They can’t delay their return any longer. They’re about to phase home.”
“We’re done,” I said, taking one last look around the room. “Do you think we should have put candles in here?”
“I don’t think you have time,” Brand said.
“I’ll go grab some and light them,” Desmond offered. “Try to keep her busy for a few more minutes.”
I nodded. “Ok, I can do that. Thanks.”
“Text the others and let them know to get ready to do their part while I handle the finishing touches,” Desmond requested.
“I’ll do that,” Malcolm volunteered, fishing his cell phone out of his pants pocket before looking at me. “You just worry about stalling Caylin for a few more minutes.”
“Thanks.” I told him.
We all went downstairs just before you phased home.
The sound of crying babies filled the house.
“What’s wrong with the twins?” Will asked your mom, looking at them from his seat at the kitchen island.
“They don’t like being phased for some reason,” Lilly replied, walking around the double stroller the newest additions to the Cole clan were sitting in.
Lilly took Xavier out because he was the noisier of the two while Tara picked up Ariana.
“Little girl,” Tara said, rocking your sister in her arms, “you have nothing to cry about. In fact, you dodge a bullet because of your Aunt Tara. Do you know your momma wanted to name you after me? I just couldn’t let her torture you like that for the rest of your life.”
“I wanted to name them after my two best friends,” Lilly argued. “Malcolm was happy to let me use Xavier. I don’t know why you resisted it so much.”
“I wasn’t about to let you give this sweet baby any name my momma gave me. I’m just glad you agreed to making up a new name out of the letters in mine. That was a much better idea, if you ask me.”
I walked up to you and gave you a small kiss on the lips since we were in mixed company.
“You look beautiful. I love the dress,” I said, admiring the lacey peppermint red sheath dress with mesh crisscross bands, which accentuated the contours of your waist and hourglass figure. “Did JoJo’s gift include a mini-makeover too?” I asked, pretending I didn’t know exactly what would happen when you went over to see JoJo.
“Apparently,” you replied, self-consciously running a hand from the back of your softly curled and swept to the side hair. “I feel a little overly-dressed for a family dinner.”
Just then, I and everyone else in the living room, including you, heard the creaking of floorboards come from the second floor. I knew it was Desmond quickly setting up the candles I had requested.
I saw your head tilt up, noticing the racket, but before you could question what was causing it, Jess and Mason came through the front door with their kids to distract you. Both Leah and Joshua walked in also, having hitched a ride over because they both wanted to be there for one of the most important nights of your life. I had to swear them both to secrecy about my plans for that evening.
Brynlee ran straight from the door to me with her little arms stretched out wide, utterly expecting me to pick her up immediately. I did, of course, because disappointing the women in my life was something I tried very hard to avoid.
“And how is one of my favorite girls today?” I asked her, pretending to steal her nose with my free hand.
Brynlee giggled.
“I went to the potty all by myself, Uncle Aiden,” she proudly announced.
“Good girl!” I praised, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I knew the trouble Jess and Mason were having getting Brynlee potty trained. They had resorted to letting her run around the house butt naked. However, if her declaration of independence was any indication, it seemed to be doing the trick.
Mason walked over to us, and Brynlee went into his arms without any argument. Brynlee might love me, but she loves her father more, which is how it should be. You, more than anyone, understand the dynamics of my relationship with Brynlee. It’s almost identical to the one you share with Malcolm.
“So,” you said, as you turned your attention back to me, “what did my dad show you how to cook this time?”
I didn’t know what to say. Anything that came out of my mouth would be a lie because I didn’t help Brand cook any portion of the meal.
“I cooked your favorite from when you were a little girl,” Brand said, having heard your question and saving me from having to come up with something on the spot. “Spaghetti and meatballs.”
“You haven’t cooked that in years!” You said excitedly, completely forgetting that you had even asked me a question at all.
“In fact,” your dad said, coming to stand beside you, “it might be a good idea if you changed out of that dress before dinner. I would hate for my sauce to be the culprit in ruining such a lovely gown.” He held out his arm to you. “Can I escort you upstairs, my lady?”
You giggled because you thought your father was just being silly.
“Yes you may, kind sir,” you replied, playing along with his game.
Brand gave me a wink, indicating I should get prepared.
Have I mentioned that your father is a complete genius?
While your dad kept you distracted with small talk as you both walked up the stairs, your mother touched my arm.
“I think that’s your cue,” she told me with an encouraging smile. “Go make my daughter the happiest woman on Earth tonight.”
I smiled back at her and phased onto the slight slope of the roof right outside your bedroom window. I turned to look behind me and saw Desmond, Daniel, Brutus, Andre, and Jered standing in your front yard. When they saw me, Desmond brought his violin up to rest on his shoulder and underneath his chin. Both Andre and Daniel positioned their hands on the strings of their guitars. Brutus got ready to play his double bass, and Jered placed his fingers on the ivory keys of the grand piano he phased in. They were all just waiting for you to appear in the window before playing our song, the one we shared our first kiss to, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
I turned back to watch the door of your bedroom so I could witness your expression when you stepped inside. Desmond had been true to his word and had lit at least twenty white candles scattered inside your room. I heard you laugh at something your father said as you were walking up the stairs.
When you reached the other side of the door to your room, I heard your father say, “I’m glad you and Aiden decided to come over and have dinner with us tonight. I would have missed seeing you today, and I’m grateful he was willing to share you with us.”
“He knows how much my family means to me,” you told him.
“I hope he knows that we consider him a part of our family now,” your dad said, knowing I was probably listening in on the conversation. “I’m so grateful you found someone who loves you with all his heart and who only seems to want the best for you. I don’t think any parent could ask for more for their child. I know he’ll do his best to make you happy.”
“He already makes me happy,” you reassured your father.
“I can see that.” There was a pause and you told me later that your father kissed you on the cheek before saying, “We’ll be waiting for you downstairs. Take your time. We’re not in any hurry.”
When I saw you turn the knob to your door, I bent down on one knee outside the open window, picked up the single rose I had laid down earlier from the windowsill, and waited for you to walk inside your room. The boys began playing our song after seeing me kneel.
The light emanating from the flickering flames of the candlewicks danced in the grey pools of your eyes as you took that first step across the threshold. Your gaze travelled around the room until it came to rest on me. I watched as yo
ur eyes glistened with tears when you fully realized what was happening.
I held out the single red rose I had in my hand to you through the window.
You walked across the room, sat in the chair I had strategically placed in front of the window for you, and accepted my offering of love.
As our friends continued to play our song, I took in a deep breath because I suddenly became nervous about asking you to marry me. I know that might seem silly. Why would I be nervous when your acceptance was essentially guaranteed? I suppose, in the back of my mind, I still didn’t feel worthy of being granted such happiness. You were, and still are, like a dream come true for me, Caylin.
I remained silent, drowning in my own self-doubt, when you finally said, “Was there something you wanted to ask me, Aiden?”
It was only your gentle prodding and the warmth of the smile on your face that gave me the added courage I needed in that moment.
“When my life began, I never thought I would find happiness or love. They were foreign concepts until you smiled at me for the very first time. That moment changed my life forever and set me on a path I never thought I would be able to walk down on my own. For the first time, I knew exactly what I wanted in my life. I wanted the chance to make you smile and laugh. I wanted to become a man who was worthy enough to kneel before you, as I am now, and ask you the most important question of his life. Caylin Rayne Cole, will you do me the great honor of not only becoming my wife but my partner in life? If you say yes, I promise to do my best to never make you regret putting your trust and faith in me. Even if you say no, I will continue to love you for the rest of my life because you are the keeper of my heart, to have and to hold for all of eternity.”
“How can you even doubt that the answer will be yes?” You asked me, freely letting your tears flow down your cheeks.
“Nothing in my life has been certain except for my love for you, Caylin.”
“And nothing in my life would be worth near as much without you standing by my side and sharing the experiences with me. I want to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you, and live a life most people in this world never get to live. And when we die, I know our love will help us find one another in Heaven.”
“So that’s a yes, right?” I asked, partially to tease you and make you smile.
And you did smile. “That is most definitely a yes.”
I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out the diamond ring I had for you. When I slipped it on your finger, I was finally able to take in a deep breath. We leaned in towards each other and kissed.
Now, our wedding day is almost upon us.
In a way, I feel selfish for asking you to read this journal, but I need you to know exactly who I was, am, and hope to become. I feel as though I’m still a work in progress, Caylin. There is so much I want to share with you in this life and the next. So much, in fact, that I’m glad I have an eternity to try to give it to you.
I love you, beautiful. And I hope after reading this, you still love me too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
I lay my pencil down for the last time and close the journal. I stare at its tattered cover for a moment thinking about everything I’ve written on its pages. Before I lose my nerve, I pick up my phone and call Caylin.
“Aiden?” She answers after the first ring.
“Hey, beautiful,” I say, closing my eyes and enjoying the sound of her voice. “Where are you?”
“I’m in my apartment. Are you through writing your journal?”
I feel a moment’s hesitation but answer, “Yes. Are you ready to read it?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I don’t want to lose my connection to Caylin so I pick the journal up and phase to the living room in her apartment without ending the call until I’m standing before her.
She stands up from her couch and sets her phone on the seat beside her before walking over to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. As she lays her head on my chest, I feel the warmth of not only her body but also of her love for me.
“I’ve missed you,” she tells me, tightening her hold. “I don’t ever want to be separated from you for that long again. I don’t think I can bear it.”
I wrap my arms around her too but refrain from saying anything.
After a while, she pulls back just far enough to look into my eyes.
“Did you write everything you wanted me to read?” She asks.
I nod. “I think so.”
“Do you want to stay with me while I read it?”
I instantly shake my head. “No. I don’t think I’m strong enough to do that. Just come to the apartment in Istanbul when you’re finished. I’m not sure what day this is. How long before the wedding rehearsal at the church?”
“Twenty-four hours,” she tells me. “I have plenty of time to read it, Aiden, if you still want me to.”
“I need you to,” I reply, knowing our life as husband and wife can’t truly start until she knows everything about me.
“Then I will,” she says with an understanding smile before letting her arms drop from my waist. “Now go so I can get started. I’ll come to you when I’m done.”
I’m about to phase when Caylin grabs my arms and says, “Wait!”
She leans into me and kisses me. The sweet taste of her mouth intoxicates my senses, and I groan in frustration when she pulls away.
“Now you have my permission to leave,” she tells me with a coy smile. “And stop looking so worried, Aiden Keles. I love you. Nothing will change that.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak and phase back to my apartment to await my fate.
However, when I go back to my apartment, I find that the wait is unbearable. So I call Desmond and ask him to come over.
“You realize there’s nothing to worry about, right?” He asks me.
“Says the man who doesn’t harbor deep dark secrets in his past,” I said as we sat across from each other eating some Chinese take-out Desmond brought over.
“Everyone has secrets,” he replied. “Mine might not be as dark as yours, but they still affect me.”
“If she still wants to marry me…
“She will,” Desmond interrupts, sounding confident.
“If Caylin still wants to marry me after she reads the journal,” I continue, “I plan to do something at the wedding that I think she’ll like.”
I tell Desmond my plan.
Immediately, he asks me, “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yes. It’s time.”
He doesn’t say anything for a while, then his face lights up with mischief.
“You know what this means, right?” He asks.
“No,” I say drawing out the word because Desmond rarely looks mischievous, “but I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”
“It means we have a good excuse for an all-out brawl again,” he replies excitedly. “Who knows when we’ll get another chance?”
“Desmond, doesn’t what I just said prove I’m a lover now and not a fighter?”
Desmond waves one of his hands in the air at me as he reaches for his phone on the table with the other. “You’ll enjoy it. You know it. Don’t even try to argue that you won’t.”
It doesn’t take Desmond long to get every Watcher we know who is still angelic to meet us at Mason and Jess’ beach house in the Bahamas.
“You know none of them have a chance of beating me,” I say confidently just before we phase over there.
“Yeah, I know,” Desmond answers. “But it’ll still be fun to watch them try.”
I just shake my head at him as we phase.
“Hey, lover boy!” Jess calls out to me when we appear on the beach behind her home. She’s sitting on a wooden lounge chair underneath a large blue umbrella. “I put my money on you, so don’t you dare lose!”
“I still can’t believe you bet against your own husband,” Mason complains good-naturedly, leaning down to give her a kiss.
Brynlee, who is sitting on Jess’ lap, puckers her lips and patiently waits for Mason to finish kissing her mommy before giving her one too.
“Good luck, daddy,” Brynlee says.
Mason leans down again and gives kisses to both his girls on top of their heads.
“Go get him, Dad!” Max cheers, giving his dad a high-five.
The other Watchers begin phasing in, bringing the count well over the hundred mark.
I strip off the white polo shirt I’m wearing as I face them all.
“I didn’t realize so many of you were that eager to have me crush your self-esteems,” I jested, tossing the shirt over to the side on the sand.
“Oh,” Mason said, “this might be a good time to remind everyone that there are children watching this competition, my children. So, no dismembering of limbs.”
A general groan of disappointment ripples through the crowd of Watchers.
“You always did know how to take the fun out of something, Mason,” Malcolm grumbles, stripping off his shirt too.
“And when you have little ones running around, you’ll understand that they are more important than what you might want.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Malcolm complains. “That’ll probably never happen for me.”
I look at Malcolm and smile. “I think it will.”
Malcolm shrugs, not wanting to argue about something that may or may not happen in the future. Silently, I pray my father will one day give Malcolm a woman who matches him in every way.
“Ok,” I say, “who’s first?”
“First?” Brutus questions brusquely as if I’ve lost my mind. “There is no first. Only you against us. Consider this your wedding present from us all.”
I smile because I couldn’t have asked for a better one.
By the time I get back to my apartment in Istanbul, I see that only three hours have passed. I knew it would take Caylin more time than that to read the journal. So I decide to run to the grocery store to make her one of her favorite sweets and have it ready for when she does finally come to me. Unfortunately, making her a batch of chocolate fudge only takes me an hour. I then decide to experiment and make her other types of fudge. Chocolate would probably still remain her favorite, but the effort would at least take up some more of my time. Five hours later, I have ten different flavors of fudge made and find that I prefer the sea salt caramel one.