by Susan Fox
“Of course.”
“I want to be there, too,” Kelsey said, brushing dampness from her cheeks. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“I love you all so much,” their mom said shakily. “I feel like I’ve let you down.”
They all hurried to hug and reassure her. While Kelsey helped Mom take a sleeping pill and get ready for bed, Eden fixed her dad a stiff drink and took it up to the bedroom.
Leaving their parents alone, she and Kelsey came downstairs and exchanged a long, wordless hug. Then, feeling guilty for leaving her family but knowing she couldn’t stay any longer without breaking down, Eden drove home.
Her computer told her she’d missed Aaron’s Skype call. She poured herself a glass of wine—the strongest thing she had in the apartment—and called him back.
The moment she saw his face on screen, she began to sob.
“Eden? My God, what’s wrong?”
“It’s . . .” She pressed her fingers under her eyes, trying to staunch the tears as she struggled to speak. “Mom’s cancer is back.”
“Oh shit. Jesus, that’s awful. I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.”
“I wish I was there with you.”
“I wish you were, too.” She took a deep breath, pulling herself back together even as she told him, “I could use a hug.”
“I bet. How bad is it, the cancer?”
“It seems there’s a recurrence, in her armpit. Mom and Dad were too upset to really take it in. We’re all going to the doctor tomorrow to get more information and to talk about treatment.”
“That’s scary shit. Your mom must be devastated.” Despite the limits of technology, she could see the sympathy in his eyes.
“She is. We are. Damn, Aaron, she was feeling so much better.” She raised her wineglass to slug back a healthy mouthful. “I feel so powerless. I wish there was something I could do.”
“I guess all you can do is be there for her.”
“This makes me feel vulnerable,” she admitted. “I like situations I can control. If it’s like this for me, I hate to think how truly awful it must be for Mom.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do. For you, for her, or for your dad or Kelsey.”
“Thank you.” As she reached for her wineglass again, she realized her head was pounding. If only she could lay it on Aaron’s shoulder and feel his arms around her. “Mom said it’s not fair. It truly isn’t fair to her. But Aaron, it isn’t fair to the rest of us either. Dad’s been through so much. Kelsey’s trying to be all mature, but she’s awfully young to be dealing with something like this. And then there’s us.” Feeling selfish and petty even as she said it, she went on. “What will this do to us?”
“There you go again, wanting to plan everything out,” he teased gently. “Everyone’s going to have to take this a day at a time. Right now, you don’t know exactly what your mom will be facing. Of course news like this is a huge shock, but maybe it won’t be such a big thing this time. They’ve been monitoring her closely, so they probably caught it really early.”
“I guess. But it can’t be good, having cancer again when it’s not much more than a year since her surgery.”
“Hang in there, Eden, and try not to jump to conclusions.”
“You’re right.” Of course she’d hang in there. Her parents relied on her to do that. And she wouldn’t jump to conclusions. She’d use the Internet to research cancer recurrence so she’d be thoroughly prepared to talk to Dr. Wong.
“Does Di know yet?” he asked.
“No. Mom and Dad were in shock. Kelsey and I are the first people they told. Maybe I should tell Aunt Di. Mom’s gone to bed now, but I bet she’d appreciate a chance to talk to her sister in the morning.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me.” He paused. “What could you use, Eden? What can I do for you right now?”
Find some way of holding me together because I feel as if I’m going to shatter into pieces. But out of long habit, she said, “I’ll be fine.”
“Sure you will. But how about letting someone take care of you for just a little while?”
She closed her eyes. Could she surrender control and let herself be looked after? Opening her eyes again, she admitted, “That sounds really nice. If you were here—” She had to break off, to choke back a sob. Why couldn’t he be here? “I’d ask you to crawl into bed with me and hold me. To speak in a low voice because I have a headache, and tell me stories about Destiny.” Anything to take her mind off the panic that threatened to overtake her. “Tell me about the baby seals, the orcas leaping out of the water, the hummingbirds doing that funny territorial dance.”
“Okay, then here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll sign off Skype and you go take a couple of pills for your headache, brush your teeth, and climb into your pj’s. Get into bed and give me a call. You can curl up with the cell by your pillow and I’ll tell you stories.”
The research could wait until morning. This was exactly what she needed right now. She guessed he’d done something similar for Miranda when she was little and feeling scared. He would do the same for his and Eden’s children.
If events didn’t keep conspiring against them and they did actually manage to build a future together.
Chapter Twenty
Eden had it down to a routine, which was a good thing because she was physically exhausted and emotionally raw on this last Friday of August. She’d flown from Ottawa’s international airport to Vancouver’s, traveling with only her big purse and a zippered tote bag because she had summer clothes and toiletries at Aaron’s.
Her flight had arrived early and she’d climbed into a taxi for the short ride to the public seaplane dock on the Fraser River, getting there in time to see the blue-and-white de Havilland Beaver touch down lightly on the water. She waved as it motored toward her. Aaron would have already picked up his afternoon passengers from the Vancouver Harbor terminal.
When he hopped out and tied up, she waited impatiently and then he was hugging her tight. “So good to see you,” he said.
“I know. It’s been forever. I’m so sorry you couldn’t come to Ottawa in August.” They had planned for it, but then the recurrence of her mom’s cancer had thrown a monkey wrench into everyone’s plans. While Aaron could still have visited, Eden had been more or less at her parents’ beck and call, plus seeing him would have stressed out her mom even further.
It had been tough enough for Eden to get away for this long weekend.
“I wish I didn’t have other passengers,” he said, “so we could be alone and talk.”
“It’s okay.” He’d warned her it was a busy weekend for Blue Moon Air. His relief pilot wasn’t available due to a family wedding, and Aaron and Jillian were both fully booked with multipassenger flights. “We’ll have time later,” she assured him, but under her breath she added, “I hope.” What with his flight schedule and the presence of Miranda and Ariana at his house, who knew when they’d find some private moments?
“I have a surprise.” He picked up her tote. “We’ll have the house to ourselves.”
“Really? What happened? Miranda hasn’t moved back to Vancouver, has she?” Eden hoped not, because it would mean Miranda going back to jobs like waitressing and not having the time to pursue her long-term plan of improving her education and job prospects.
“No, she’s still sticking with her courses and her job at Blowing Bubbles. But Lionel’s staying with Marlise this weekend and my sister and niece are at his house. Lionel left you his car, so when I’m flying you can go into the village, get together with friends, whatever you want. Or you can just stay at the cabin and rest. Laze on the deck or the beach.”
An ounce or two of the tension that weighted Eden’s shoulders lightened. “I’m grateful to all of them.”
Using his hand for support, she climbed into the Beaver. As she made her way to her usual seat, the one beside his, she murmured hellos to the passengers: a pair of outdoorsy-looking young women, a thirtysomething man and
woman who were wrapped up in each other, and a man in business attire, his suit jacket on his lap and his tie loosened.
Once Aaron had the plane in the air, he said to her, “We have two for Galiano, one for North Pender, and the other two are coming to Destiny with us.”
That meant no private conversation, but once the flight ended, they’d have the whole rest of the day—and night—alone.
Stretching back in the seat, she resolved to stay in the moment rather than worry about her mom. She caught drifts of conversation from the pair of women about campsites and hiking. The madly-in-love couple spoke only in murmurs, but an occasional female giggle drifted forward. The businessman was silent and so was Eden. On another day, she might have enjoyed talking to the other passengers, but now she relished the peace.
Aaron had told her that some passengers described the flight from Vancouver to a more rustic destination as an easing of pressure, an experience as relaxing as a massage. She got it. He’d also used the term Zenlike when he talked about flying and so it was: gazing at the ever-changing seascape and noting each tug and log boom, each tanker and container ship, each sailboat with sails unfurled; seeing the waving hands of people on those boats and wondering about their lives rather than worrying about her own.
This living-in-the-moment thing was something Aaron had taught her, not by instruction but by example. She turned her head to smile at him and he caught the motion in his excellent peripheral vision and glanced at her with a return smile.
They landed at a public dock on Galiano Island to let off the two women. Aaron unloaded intimidatingly large backpacks, which they hitched onto their shoulders without apparent effort.
A great blue heron stood at the line where ocean met rocky beach, elegantly posed on one leg, intent as it waited for fish to come by. When Aaron motored the plane away from the dock, the heron flapped away on giant wings.
The next stop was North Pender, where the businessman deplaned, his jacket on now, tie adjusted, carrying only a briefcase for luggage.
The romantic pair were still whispering sweet nothings in the backseat, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world. Eden leaned over and touched Aaron’s bare forearm. The warmth of his skin, the firmness of his grip on the steering yoke, were like an infusion of vital, healthy blood into her worn-out body and brain.
When he smiled over at her, she whispered her own sweet nothing. “I love you, darling.”
“Love you back.”
Content in this moment, she released his arm and watched the now-familiar scenery below as they approached Destiny Island.
Once they’d docked and Aaron had dealt with the passengers, he and Eden went to the office. She and Kam chatted while Aaron did his paperwork, and then he left Kam to clean up the Beaver and refuel. Jillian, who was currently out with the Cessna, would be handling another Beaver flight later that afternoon. And Aaron was off work, all Eden’s for the rest of the day.
Soon the Jeep, top down, was on the road. She pulled a flyaway lock of hair back into her ponytail and raised her sunglasses to study her bare arms. Despite all the sunscreen she’d applied over the summer, she’d developed a golden-brown tan she quite liked. Here, she was Aaron’s girl. A woman who had interesting new friends and activities to add variety to her life. A woman who was loved and who’d discovered within herself a deeper capacity to love.
When she was on Destiny, she could almost believe that everything—her mom’s health and her own future with Aaron—was going to work out.
Outside of the village, the Jeep passed an SUV with two kayaks on the roof, a trio of horses sticking their heads over a wood fence, a pair of cyclists with packs on their backs, and the alpaca farm. In the parking lot by the We Got It general store, a truck towing a sleek powerboat sat beside an old Volkswagen van with flower-child paintwork. The sound of a plane’s engine made her gaze upward, where a small aircraft approached, almost buzzing them. The wings waggled and she laughed as she and Aaron both raised an arm to wave at Jillian.
Destiny Island. She could be happy here. If only her mom was well and happy herself.
The roads got progressively narrower and the scenery wilder, and then they were in the parking area by Lionel’s house, pulling up beside the old Corolla Aaron had bought for his sister. There was no sign of Miranda or Ariana, which suited Eden just fine right then.
She and Aaron took the path to his house and she followed him as he went to the bedroom to drop her bag. She took a quick check down the hall, finding Miranda and Ariana’s room empty and unusually neat. The entire house was spotless, as it always was since Miranda had moved in. Aaron’s sister said it was one tiny thing she could do for him.
He came up behind her and Eden turned into his arms. “I love your sister, but it’s very nice to think of an entire evening, the two of us alone.”
“You love my sister?”
She hadn’t thought before speaking, just used a common expression. Now she considered and said, “I do. I love Fairy-ana, of course, because who wouldn’t?” She’d adopted his nickname for his niece. “As for Miranda . . . well, she’s feeling vulnerable, depressed, and threatened, so she’s kind of moody and even bitchy sometimes. But Mom’s like that, too, so I understand it.” And Aaron hadn’t complained, not even once, about her mother’s insecurities and demands.
“Your sister’s been the closest person in the world to you since she was born,” Eden went on. “And I’d love her for that fact alone. But she’s worth it on her own merits, too. She’s raising a wonderful little girl and always struggling to do her best for Ariana. It’s not easy for Miranda, sacrificing her pride, living here, letting you help her.” She grinned. “Taking your advice.”
He pulled off the clasp that secured her ponytail, stuck it in his pocket, and ran the fingers of both hands through her hair. Each stroke eased tension from her body.
“You’re right,” he said. “Miranda’s special. I’m glad you can see it. But enough about my sister. What do you want, Eden? Right now?”
What had she done to deserve such a generous man? “I want you, naked, in bed.” Before him, she’d never been bold about stating her needs, but she had learned. “I want to make love slowly and gently, because I’m feeling tired and fragile.”
“Your wish, my lady.” He hoisted her effortlessly and carried her to the bedroom, where he eased her down to lie atop the navy-colored duvet. “Bed.” With careless male efficiency, he stripped off his Blue Moon Air T-shirt, jeans, and boxers, to reveal his mouth-watering body, browner than ever at the end of summer, and a rising erection. “Me naked.” He leaned over her and kissed her, an achingly slow and tender caress that, inexplicably, brought moisture to her eyes.
Her emotions were so close to the surface these days. Rather than surrender to the tears and ruin this moment, she said, “I forgot a step. I want me naked, too.”
“That goes without saying and we’ll get there.”
He trailed kisses across one cheek, around the outside of her ear, and then inside the shell, adding flicks with the tip of his tongue. As she shivered with arousal, he kissed his way down her neck, along the flare of her collarbone, into the notch at the base of her throat. Downward he went, to the open collar of her butter-yellow sleeveless shirt. He undid the first button, spread the cotton an inch or so, and planted more kisses.
She propped herself higher on the pillows so she could watch his progress and rested her hand on his head, feeling the springy warmth of his dark hair. Sensations spread through her, a lazy, sensual arousal seeping through her blood.
Moving down one button at a time, he opened the shirt and spread kisses down to her waist. And then he moved up again to undo the front clasp of her bra and spread the cups to reveal her breasts. Her nipples thrust upward in a blatant invitation.
He brushed the tips of his fingers over them, a caress and a tease. Bending, he licked first one and then the other, and after that he used his lips and tongue in combination, sucking them until her entire
body trembled with need.
She tugged on his hair. “There’s another part of me that could use that sexy mouth.”
“I thought you wanted slow.”
“I changed my mind. You changed my mind, darling. I want to come. Make me come, Aaron, with your mouth and your hands. And then do it all over again, with that lovely big cock of yours.” Until him, she’d never spoken the word cock, but when she was feeling sexy, saying penis just didn’t fit the mood.
Besides, when she talked sexy to him, it always got results—whether in person or over the phone. It did again tonight as he not only obeyed her instructions but added a few improvisational flourishes of his own.
By the time he’d finished with her, she was limp, covered in sweat, and utterly satiated.
Aaron raised himself off her. “Hey,” he said, “d’you want to sleep or to have dinner?”
“Both,” she mumbled. “Can I do both at once?” But she forced herself up. Much as she craved rest, she didn’t want to miss out on an evening with Aaron. Besides, she was starving. “Shower. I need a shower. A refreshing one. Alone.”
He chuckled. “I’ll get dressed and go start dinner.”
The shower did refresh her, as did the aroma coming through the open kitchen window. She followed her nose out to the deck to see him at the barbecue. “What smells so good?”
“Cedar-planked sockeye salmon steaks glazed with a mix of maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. I also made a Greek salad. Could you take it out of the fridge and slice some of the French bread that’s on the counter?”
“Sure.” She went inside and was about to follow his instructions when she saw a box on the counter, wrapped in sunny gold paper with an explosion of multicolored ribbons. Beside it was a folded note with Eden written on the outside.
She was reading it for the second time when Aaron came inside. “Did you know about this?” she asked.
“No. Miranda put it there after I left this morning. I didn’t read the note. What did she say?”
“It’s for my mom. It’s one of those bubble kits, with a fancy wand and bubble liquid. Miranda says it’s up to me to judge if it’s appropriate, but that when you blow rainbow bubbles on a sunny day, it’s hard to feel too awful.” She smiled up at him. “And here’s another reason to love your sister.”