Aquarius_Mr. Humanitarian_The 12 Signs of Love

by Tiana Laveen

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The Next Generation

  One month later…

  Addison looked at the greasy piece of pizza lying in the box and wanted to vomit. Someone had brought it in to share at work, but instead of grabbing a slice and tearing it to smithereens, she fought the urge to race to the bathroom. She hadn’t been feeling well all morning. Aiden had commented that she’d been finicky about her food lately, and her sister had complained that she’d gotten snippy for no reason while on the phone. She walked into her office and closed the door, then pulled up her menstrual calculator on her phone.

  Two days late…shit.

  She hadn’t even noticed. She’d stopped taking her birth control pills only a month prior, and she and her husband had forgone condoms eons ago. Tapping her finger against her chin, she wondered if she should call Aiden as a heads up or take a pregnancy test first. They’d agreed that if and when she became pregnant, they’d accept that. They were taking no measures to prevent it, but she honestly didn’t expect for it to happen yet. After all, she and her ex-husband never used protection, she’d forget to take her pills often, and she never ended up conceiving.

  Twenty minutes before my next appointment… The Walgreens is right up the street…

  She grabbed her keys and headed out, fingers and toes crossed…

  “You look.”

  “No, you look.”

  “Just do it!” Addison laughed as she stared at their bathroom master suite counter, the pee stick sitting on the edge waiting to reveal their fate. “Come on, go look, Aiden!” She pushed him on the shoulder, made him rock back and forth, but the asshole wouldn’t budge. He took a sip of his water, put the bottle casually down on the nightstand, and then stared at her. “What?”

  “I put my prized condo up for sale so we could buy this overpriced house to start our new life in. I did your laundry and mine all week, and,” he said, his finger in the air, “I gave you a back massage because you said you were going to give me one too but then you fell asleep!” She burst out laughing and rolled her eyes. “So, you owe me… go in there and look.”

  “No, I’m scared!” She fell back onto the bed. The man shook his head at her, got up, and marched over into the bathroom. She quickly sat up and covered her mouth, afraid she might scream when he got back inside. Aiden turned the stick to and fro, his brows bunched, as if he were trying to read a foreign language and make heads or tails of it.

  “Well? What does it say!”

  “It has a line on it. Why didn’t you get the digital kind?”

  “Because those were expensive.”

  “Uh, Addison, this wasn’t exactly the time to bargain shop or try and save a buck!” Her shoulders dropped as she tossed him a helpless expression. “What does one line mean?” He shouted.

  “It means not pregnant.”

  Okay then. She was surprised that she felt a bit disappointed. In fact, it crushed her.

  “Well, we’ve got two lines…Happy Mother’s Day.”

  “OH SHIT! OH MY GOD!” She jumped out the bed and heard him chuckling as she spun around. Aiden turned the bathroom light off and casually made his way back over to her, wearing only his white pajama pants. Gathering her in his arms, he kissed her along the neck, driving her crazy with his heated passion in their joyous moment.

  “I’m so happy, Addison.” He brought her closer. “We’re having a baby… oh my God.” He said the words softly, as if he, too, were under a spell. She kissed him and ran her hands along his back, giddy with excitement.

  “Yes, we’re having a baby…” Her cheeks warmed as she said the words and her heart filled with immeasurable joy. She’d been taken by surprise, but she couldn’t imagine a better gift…

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The Age of Aquarius

  One year later…

  Greg Bernard lived on thirty acres of land. He had a big old house his father had owned, interesting similarities he and Aiden’s mother shared – they’d both been left a house from a deceased parent. Aiden had driven the route several times now to have dinner with his father and discuss the things that made him who he was. The guy appeared genuinely curious, wanting no informational stone unturned.

  He learned that his father had been in fact a wild and crazy man back in his youth, but now was a family guy who appeared well-adjusted. Aiden expected to see his bubbly sister Rebecca, his brother Steve who did look just like him—it was uncanny—during this visit. He’d spoken to them several times on the phone as well, and they were open and friendly, even offering him and Addison to stay for the weekend. But then, there was their mother, his father’s wife…

  Vicki never had too much to say to him, and though he found it a bit unnerving, he couldn’t say that he blamed her. She must’ve been filled with emotions he’d never experience or understand, being a wife whose husband had betrayed her time and time again, fallen in love with someone else, and fathered a love child. And now, she had to look that child, now grown, in the face. But, despite all of this, Aiden’s existence wasn’t his fault, and he damn sure wasn’t going to apologize for living and breathing air. He deserved a good life just like everyone else. Life went on, shit happened.

  His father was having a cookout and invited everyone out, including Perry. Mom had declined, saying it would feel too awkward, but she and Greg had spoken on the phone. Mom had been an emotional mess for a few hours after that, but she’d been happy he called.

  “Don’t miss the road again. There it is.” Addison pointed up ahead at a little bumpy path that he often inadvertently drove past.

  “I see it, I see it.” He smiled then looked in the rearview mirror to see his two and half month-old daughter, Allison, fast asleep, and her uncle Perry nodding off, too. “All right, here we go.” He held tight to the steering wheel as the car went over the choppy, bumpy path until they arrived at his father’s house. He still couldn’t get over that…

  My father’s house…

  He and Addison got out of the car. She grabbed the baby bag and Perry finally woke up. He’d just recently gotten married to Denise, but she couldn’t come due to work obligations. With a goofy smile, his brother leaned over and carefully took the harness off Allison, then, like a little precious feather, he gathered her to his chest and got out the car. Addison reached for her but he turned quickly away from his sister-in-law, as if annoyed.

  “Addison, I got this. She wants to be with Uncle Perry. Why can’t you just let us be great?” he teased, causing Addison to grimace and storm ahead and Aiden to laugh. Before he could even get to the door, Rebecca swung it open and stepped out wearing a bright yellow romper.

  “Aiden! Addison! Allison! Perry!” Everyone laughed as she charged towards them with open arms. After she greeted everyone, she went straight for the baby and walked off towards their father who was standing at the grill wearing biker jeans, a long black ratty tank top, and boots. His hair was pulled into a ponytail and he was bobbing his head to some old music, perhaps “Bat Out of Hell” by Meatloaf. Dad met eyes with him, saluted him, and turned back towards the ribs he was babysitting.

  “Where’s my grandbaby?” he asked, placing a bottle of beer down on a nearby stool.

  “Rebecca stole her and took her in the house.” Addison walked up to him and he pulled her to his side for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing good, Greg. How about yourself?”

  “Better now that you all are here. Hey, there’s some salad and stuff in the house, drinks and all of that. Help yourself.”

  “All right, I think I will. I’ll be right back, Aiden.” She winked and as she passed by, he swatted her behind and watched her sway on into the house. Perry pulled up a lawn chair beside him and dropped himself into it.

  “Where’s Steve?” Perry asked.

  “He’ll be down in a little bit. Had to pick up his son from his ex-girlfriend’s house first… Look, I wanna tell you guys that I want the four of
us to go out for a boys’ night soon. I guess that’s what I’d call it… like up to Canada at the Hakai Lodge. They’ve got good salmon fishing there. I’ve been many times. I think it’ll be a good chance for us to, you know, spend a little time together.”

  “That sounds great!” Perry’s cheeks warmed with a reddened hue.

  “It does. I’d like that. Perry and I have never been fishing before, Dad.” Suddenly, his father turned to him with a serious expression. He blinked several times, then turned back towards the meat, clearing his throat as if he’d gotten choked up. “What’s wrong?” Aiden questioned. “Did I say something to upset—”

  “No, you didn’t say nothing to upset me and nothing is wrong. That’s uh… that’s the first time you called me Dad is all, Aiden. Usually it’s just Greg. Thank you.” The man sniffed and turned over the meat, clearly feeling emotions he no longer wished to express. “Perry?”

  “Yes?”

  “Not gonna twist your arm or anything, but uh, you can call me Dad, too… if you want.” Perry looked at Aiden in a strange way, then back at Greg. Aiden had already told his Dad all about the issue with Perry’s parentage. At the time, the man hadn’t said much about it, but Aiden could tell he’d been churning over the information, and there was no denying that Greg liked Perry very much, and the feeling was mutual.

  “Drinks!” Addison burst through the screen door, barreling towards them, her arms full of ice cold beers. She gave one to each of them, then cracked open herself a root beer. She was still breastfeeding.

  “Thanks, baby.” Aiden grabbed the woman and placed her on his lap.

  Perry started telling a good story about a guy at work stealing butter, making them all practically choke with laughter.

  “Rebecca!” Dad called out, his hand on his hip and brows furrowed. “Bring Allison out here please so she can give Grandpa a kiss! Hoggin’ up the baby again!” A few minutes later, Rebecca appeared at the door, clearly not wishing to be there by the expression on her face.

  “Make it fast, Dad. I was just getting ready to read her a story.”

  The old man rolled his eyes, set the grilling tongs down, and took the baby in his hands, grinning as wide as the moon.

  “This baby don’t care about no damn stories, do you, cutie?! She wants to see her grandpa, being the grill master that he is. Isn’t that right, you sweet little angel?!” Allison looked down at him, her big brown eyes syrupy and almost cartoonish as she sized the man up.

  “Uh, Dad, be careful holding her high up like that. Today she’s been—” But it was too late. Allison spit up all over him, causing Perry and Rebecca to burst out laughing.

  “Oh no! Allison… my Lord.” Addison covered her mouth with her hand and fought a giggle.

  “Well, shit!” Dad cursed, then burst out laughing. “That’s how you say hello, huh? Well, I tell you what. Never—”

  “Greg, I’ll take her. Her tummy has been a little upset today, I believe,” Addison explained.

  “Nah, I got her. Maybe in some cultures that’s good luck, huh?” Laughing, he headed towards the door, the baby in his arms. “I’m gonna go clean both of us off. I’ll be right back.”

  Rebecca chased behind him and looked over her shoulder at them with narrowed eyes.

  “Dad doesn’t know what he’s doing! I’ll make sure everything is all right. Don’t worry.”

  They smiled at the woman as she disappeared inside the house, the door slamming behind them. Perry pulled out his phone and started to mess around with it. After cracking the hell up at the whole damn incident, Aiden pulled Addison closer to him and pressed his lips against hers.

  “Next time we come out, we should invite your parents. How’d you think they’d feel about seeing my father’s chicken fried steak contest t-shirts he is so damn proud of winning and his plastic beer mug collection?” He guffawed at his own joke and all she could do was smile at him and shake her head.

  “You’re so silly. I think you know that visit probably wouldn’t go too well, but that doesn’t mean it should never happen.”

  “I agree with you, there, baby. Might be good for everyone involved.”

  “You know what might be good for me, though?” She whispered in his ear.

  “I don’t know, baby.” He slicked his tongue along his lower lip in anticipation of something raunchy spilling out of her mouth. “Tell me…”

  “An awesome garage sale they’re having at the English estate! You should have seen the advertisement in the paper, Aiden!”

  He rolled his eyes and screamed, which only caused her to cackle. The damn woman knew she’d set him up.

  “No more garage sales, Addison! I can’t take it!”

  But she rattled on about all the deals she’d probably be able to find. He sat there looking at her, falling in love with her harder than ever. Taking a deep breath, he trailed his gaze around the land, his father’s land, then thought about his mother. About how she’d gotten a nice new apartment within her budget, and she seemed to be finding her happiness again. He thought about Perry, hanging on, being himself… one of his best friends in the world. Then, he teared up as he thought about his daughter, a beautiful baby girl with large almond-shaped eyes, curly black hair, and a smile that rivaled the sun.

  …And then he looked at Addison again, and there was no doubt in his mind, that when he’d found ‘the one’ she’d not only helped him find his voice, to allow himself to love wholly and freely, but to be who he was without shame, guilt, or burden. Aiden was a humanitarian who needed to heal the world, but now, he’d begun that process by starting with himself…

  THE END

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  About the Author

  Tiana Laveen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio though her soul resides in New York. She is a USA Today bestselling author of over 35 novels and lives inside her mind, but her heart is occupied with her family and twisted imagination. She enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life that includes writing books, drawing, painting, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

  Tiana Laveen is a uniquely creative and innovative author whose fiction novels are geared towards those who not only want to temporarily escape from the daily routines of life, but also became pleasantly caught up in the well-developed journeys of her unique characters. Tiana creates a painting with words as she guides her reader into the lives of each and every main character. Her dedication to detail and staying true to her characters is evident in each novel that she writes.

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