Stay

by B. A. Wolfe

  “Yes. Aidan, I was gone.” I took a small breath through my soft cries. I had to tell him what else happened. I didn’t know if I had the strength, but I had to . . . for Jason. “Aidan . . . Jase said to tell you thank you for the letters. That he reads all of them.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath and then silent tears streamed from his eyes as he closed them. I cried with him, the tears now soaking everything, including my hospital gown.

  “He watches over all of us, he said.” The words were hard to say. They were comforting, yet shredded my heart as I spoke them.

  “Wh-what else did he say?” Tears dripped from the corners of his eyes and tracked down his cheeks.

  I peeled my hand from his and covered my face as I wept. This one hurt . . .”He told me thanks for taking care of his family.” Once I found the courage, I uncovered my eyes.

  Aidan’s hand covered his mouth. His eyes were closed and his body was slumped into his chair. I wanted to rip off all the wires and tubes, crawl in his lap, and cry together.

  “He told me he was sending me back, that you needed me, and that I-I belonged with you. I was so scared I wasn’t ever going to see you again.”

  Aidan opened his pained eyes and stared at me. “He said that?” His voice was shredded, broken. Just as I felt.

  I nodded, unable to form words.

  Jase told me things I never thought I’d get to hear. It pained me in a way I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t because I wanted him back. It was because I wanted him alive and living a life like I was. He deserved that. The last thing he said would stay with me forever.

  “Jase?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you . . . are you in any pain? Are you okay now?”

  He flashed his pearly white smile. One I never thought I’d see again. “I’m doing great, sweetheart. No more pain. You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t hurt anymore.”

  His response brought me a sense of comfort I never expected to have. A hard cry escaped my lips. “Aidan, he’s fine. Jase . . . h-he’s okay now.”

  Aidan grasped my hand and held it to his mouth. His tears landed on my fingertips. “I begged my brother to help me take care of you today.” Shades of green swirled deep in his eyes as he stared at me. “He did and I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him.” His voice was weak.

  I sniffled back the pain that was so bittersweet. “You already are. You’re here and taking care of me.”

  “Cassie, I thought I lost you. I don’t ever want to feel that again. You’re really here, right?”

  “I’m here,” I whispered. He peered at me for what felt like long moments before he really saw me. We both had had a day we wouldn’t easily forget. I placed my other hand around his and told him I was here once more. A weak, exhausted smile played on his lips.

  “Am I crazy? Did I really see Jason? It felt so real. He stood in front of me with a hat on his head and boots on his feet. Aidan, it was so real. But now it feels like a dream. I don’t know what to think.”

  He let go of my hand and grazed his fingers across my cheeks, catching the tears that continued to rain down. “You’re not crazy. Something or someone was watching over you today. I have to believe it was Jason. He’d never let anything bad happen to you.”

  I clenched my teeth together as I watched him fight back his own tears. “Neither would you. You’re my forever and I love you.”

  “Say it again,” he said with a small smile playing on his wet lips.

  “I love you,” I responded with a smile to match his.

  “I love you too,” he whispered as he brought his mouth to mine, kissing me for the first time in what felt like forever. A grin splashed across his face as he placed one last sweet kiss to my forehead.

  He sat in the chair beside me, our hands still intertwined. A slight panic came over me. “How’s your dad? And Jase?” It felt as though I’d been gone for months.

  His thumb brushed over my hand. “My dad’s great. The kidney’s been transferred to him and he’s up and well. He’s worried about you, though. Jase is with my mom. Mel and Moose are in the waiting room.”

  “Everyone’s fine?”

  “Everyone’s great. They’re just all worried about you. You scared us. I really thought I lost you.” His eyes lowered to the floor for a moment.

  The agony in his face was almost unbearable to see. “Aidan. I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t be sorry, baby. You did something for my family I’ll never be able to repay you for. You gave my dad what I gave my brother. Life. Don’t ever be sorry. Just know that I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” His lips curved to the side as he smiled through the pain that swept across his face.

  “I’m okay with that.”

  He didn’t respond. He only smiled. A smile I’d never tire of seeing.

  Six weeks later

  Cassandra

  I shut the door behind me and headed down the hallway. Jase and I were staying in Aidan’s room with him while I recovered. Not being allowed to take the stairs or walk far distances had me feeling like a caged animal. Bart recovered quicker than I did, but he hadn’t had my complications, either. Trish and Bart had gone for short walks this week, and each time they took Jase along in the stroller. I hated to admit it, but I seethed green each time I watched them leave. All I wanted was to go with them.

  I caught a glimpse of Aidan in the front room. He stood facing the window with the phone to his ear. My feet were headed his way until I heard his hushed tone. “Thank you, sir . . . Yes, I’m very excited for this.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “No, she doesn’t know yet. I’ll be telling her soon. Okay . . . thank you again.”

  What?

  Knots built in my stomach as I pivoted and continued toward the family room and sank into the couch. What didn’t I know yet? The pit in my stomach told me it was about Dallas. He had me thinking more and more that we’d be moving. Aidan’s heavy steps broke me from my thoughts. “Hey, beautiful.” His lips bowed as he bent down in front of me.

  “Hey,” I said, deciding whether or not to bring up the subject of who he was speaking to just a second ago. Unfortunately, I cowered away from it. What would I say that I hadn’t already said before? He knew I was upset because he never wanted to discuss it. There was nothing more to talk about until he decided to open up.

  “You excited to get out today?”

  “You have no idea,” I answered. My scar was healing nicely for it being larger than expected. I was getting better every day and was finally able to hold Jase yesterday. My arms had missed him. My lips split into a grin as I thought about it.

  “I love seeing you with this smile.” His fingers grazed along my leg. “Mel will be here in a few. You two are doing lunch today?”

  I was ready to be out of the house but sadly, it wasn’t Aidan I was leaving with. He had a few things to take care of today—or so he told me when the doctor gave me the go ahead yesterday. “Yeah,” I answered dryly. My eyes drifted to the floor as my stomach continued to coil. What was he so excited about? The conversation I overheard clouded my mind again.

  His warm hands framed my face, tilting it up. “Don’t shy away. Talk to me. What’s bothering you?”

  A deep sincerity swirled through his eyes as he gazed at me. I just wished I felt it in my heart. I hated secrets and for good reason—they always led to trouble. “You know what’s bothering me.”

  He released an exhausted breath. “I need you to stop worrying, baby.”

  “That’s easier said than done.” Especially when there’s something you haven’t told me . . .

  His eyes never left mine as his lips opened ever so slightly. “I almost lost you once; I’m not about to lose you again. I could live in a tent and be happy as long as it was with you and Jase. But you have to understand something, Sweet Tea.” He ghosted his fingers down my cheek. “I want to protect you and give you everything I can, because that’s who I am. I don’t want you to have to live in a tent on the
side of a road. I want to take care of you in every way I can. So let me, beautiful. Let me take care of you.”

  My pulse quickened at his words. How could I not let a man take care of me after a speech like that?

  A smile erupted from his once—serious lips. “You said you would go with me anywhere, right?”

  I did. “Right.”

  “I need you to trust me. How about we talk about all of this tonight? When you get back from your date with Mel, I’m all yours. We’ll talk until the sun comes up.”

  A glimmer of hope eased my mind. “You promise?”

  He rubbed the pads of this thumbs along the side of my face as he leaned in close, his mouth tickling my ear. “I promise.”

  Tonight was it. The moment of truth.

  Aidan left about an hour before Mel came in. My stomach somersaulted as I thought about the conversation we’d have later. I trusted him, so why was I so anxious? Because I didn’t want to move. I’d be far away from the only real family I ever had. For so long I’d dreamed of the life I was actually living and by tonight it could all vanish before my eyes.

  “Hey, mama! You’re lookin’ good.” She slipped in next to me on the couch.

  “Hi.” My voice was less than enthusiastic.

  “Um, it’s good to see you too. Did someone forget to eat her bowl of sunshine this morning?” Mel turned toward me and rested her arm on the back of the couch.

  Tears trickled down my cheeks. It was hard to hold back my emotions in front of my best friend. “Mel, I overheard him on the phone.”

  “Who?”

  “Aidan. I think we’re really moving to Dallas. He won’t talk to me about it and I hate it.”

  She shuffled in her seat and put her arm around my shoulders. “Damn it. I really don’t want you to move, Cass.”

  “Me either. I told him I would, though. But now . . .”

  She pulled away from me. “You’re having second thoughts?”

  I nodded, letting my head answer for me. “He’s just trying to take care of you. If you don’t want to leave, then why don’t you tell him that you’re staying here? That man loves you more than anything. He’d understand.”

  I peered up at her and didn’t waver once as I parted my lips. “Because I’d rather be with him anywhere in the world than ever be without him.”

  She flashed a knowing grin. “I think you just told yourself exactly what you needed to hear.” Mel stood and reached for my hand to help me stand. “Come on. Let’s get you out of the house.”

  I grabbed my jacket from the coat rack before we shut the front door behind us. The feel of crisp air tickled my face and I smiled. With ease, I made my way to the passenger side of her vehicle and sank onto the seat.

  A sigh escaped me as Mel’s car passed by the bare trees lining the road. It was unusually warm for February. We didn’t get much snow this year, but Colorado always seemed to get more snow in March than any other time. At least Dallas was a warmer climate. One positive thing. “You’ll come visit me?”

  With her eyes ahead on the road, she smiled. “You better believe it. We’re talking Texas here. Cowboys. Hot cowboys.”

  I huffed and made a smacking noise with my mouth.

  “What?”

  “Don’t play coy with me. You don’t need a cowboy. I’m pretty sure you already have someone else.”

  The smile on her face grew to epic proportions. “Listen, it’s not really anything right now, okay? Let’s just say Moose isn’t as bad as I once thought.”

  I flashed a cheeky grin. “Mmm hmm.”

  “Stop it before I turn this car around and make you sit at the house.” She wore a tight-lipped smile as she continued to drive.

  “Who told you about this place?” I asked, lifting another cheesy slice of pizza from Tomato Tomat-ho to my lips. I couldn’t deny I loved the little pizzeria. It’s cute red and white plaid-covered tables didn’t go at all with the country music that played, but it had Keaton written all over it.

  She grinned as she wiped her face with her paper napkin. “A little birdy named Aidan told me you’d like it.”

  “He did, huh?” I looked down at my slice, reminded of our first date. My heart swelled. He really was a great guy. And he was my great guy.

  Donald the owner appeared at the front of our table. “How are you ladies doing over here?” The wrinkles around his eyes deepened as he smiled at myself and then Mel.

  “Perfect, Donald, but can we get a box?” Mel’s eyebrows lifted as she asked him. He nodded politely and then off he went.

  Her wide eyes stared down at the half eaten Hawaiian pizza in front of us. “I’m stuffed, babe. I don’t think I can eat another slice.”

  I took a bite of my crust, set the rest on my plate, and leaned back into the booth. “Me, either.” I rubbed my belly and looked out the window. The sun was trying to peek through the clouds.

  “Here you go, ladies.” Donald’s voice brought my attention back to the table, catching him as he set a small white box in front of me.

  I cocked my head and stared blankly at him. “Donald, this isn’t big enough for all of our leftovers.” My eyes flicked between the large half eaten pizza and the four-by-four-inch box, and then finally to Mel, who wore a sneaky grin.

  Donald chuckled under his breath and reached into the pocket of his apron, pulling out a napkin. “Here you go.” Before I could ask what was going on, he left.

  I narrowed my gaze at Mel. Her head rested in her hands as she bit her lip, that damn grin still plastered on her face.

  “What’s going on, Mel?”

  She bounced her shoulders up and down. “Just flip the napkin over and open the box.”

  My heart began to race as I took the napkin and did as Mel directed. I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath. Sure enough . . . Aidan.

  I hope you enjoyed your lunch, Sweet Tea.

  I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you today, but I do have a surprise for you in the box! And when you’re done with your dessert there’s something waiting for you at the tree.

  Aidan

  Using the back of my hand, I wiped a few happy tears from my eyes and peered up at Mel. Her smile couldn’t have been any wider. I clutched the napkin to my chest. I loved that Aidan knew me. Knew I’d love coming here for lunch. Knew I’d love dessert. I laughed inside as I thought about how he knew me like a book. The beginning, the middle . . . the only thing left was my end—our ending.

  “He’s a good birdy.” Her smile went to her eyes this time.

  I nodded, lay the napkin down, and eagerly opened the white box. A huge piece of cake sat pretty in the box and the smell of deep rich chocolate now invaded our space. “German chocolate cake,” I mumbled with a heartwarming grin.

  “All the way from the bakery on Larimer Street,” Mel added in a chipper voice. I narrowed my brows at her. “Aidan asked me to pick it up,” she responded, with a shrug of her shoulder.

  I stared at her, speechless. She waved a fork in front of me. “Start eating, babe. I believe there’s somewhere else you need to be after this.” She flashed a quick wink and I couldn’t deny the flutters that took over. Even though Aidan couldn’t be with me today, he sure wasn’t letting me down. I grinned, stole the fork from Mel’s hand and dug into the huge mound of cake.

  Cassandra

  ANXIETY ROLLED THROUGH ME like waves in an ocean as Mel drove us toward the place where it all began for me . . . the tree.

  My heart swelled as I stared out the passenger side window. I knew now more than ever that I’d go anywhere with Aidan. I loved him unconditionally. He was everything I had ever wanted and I never even knew it.

  I closed my eyes briefly, remembering our first encounter.

  The minute Aidan’s arms wrapped around my broken body I was his, in every way possible. He truly did have me before I even knew it. Fate intercepted and led us back to one another.

  “It’s all right. I’ve got you.”

  “That’s it. Just breathe. You’re oka
y.”

  Those three words, ‘I’ve got you’ meant as much to me as the words ‘I love you.’ They always came from his heart. A place so large I probably didn’t even realize its true depth. Those words gave me the power to breathe again. All I wanted was to crawl in the ground that day, but he wouldn’t let me. He saved me too, and he continued to save me. He stayed by my side when he had every reason to run the other way. He made life easier when it always wanted to get harder.

  Love’s a powerful emotion. I didn’t know its true power until the day I decided to run away. I’d be forever grateful for every chain reaction that happened in my life. Fate works in weird ways, but it’s always with reason. Fate knows what we don’t.

  “We’re here, Cass.” Mel’s soft voice brought me to.

  I opened my eyes, the leafless tree came into view, and I couldn’t deny the smile that tugged on my lips as we drew closer. Mel stopped the car in the middle of the street, with the tree adjacent to me. “Are you coming?” I turned toward her.

  She kept her hands on the wheel as she shook her head. “No. I’ll go park down the way and wait for you. Go have your moment. I’ll be close by.”

  “Okay,” I said with a grin. My stomach fluttered as I reached for the handle and stepped out of the car. The little girl in me wanted to sprint to the tree to see what was waiting there. The older, less naïve, girl was afraid. Scared that there would be something I didn’t want lingering next to it. What I didn’t realize was that my feet already had me only steps away from the tree. While my mind had contemplated what to do, my heart took me where it obviously knew I should be.

  Its bare branches dangled overhead as the elephant-sized trunk stopped me from moving any further. My lips curved into a grin as I let my hand graze against the tree, rounding its base and heading toward the back where initials were carved. Three large steps and I faced dozens of hearts and letters engraved in the rough bark.

  Each carving meant something to someone, and each one except mine had an initial next to it. My eyes toured the area, knowing exactly what it was looking for, but a note dangling at chest level caught my eye instead. As I noticed it, I realized it was hanging from the exact spot where my initial was carved. My insides fluttered, half of me excited, the other in a state of anxiety. I pulled the nail out of the note and clasped the paper between my fingers.