She grabs my hand, leading me to the garden at the back of the shop. I smile as we pass the wall of yellow roses. “Oh honey, it’s wonderful! I had an investor come in. He wanted to support hometown businesses.” She claps her hands together.
Noting that no one is around, I can feel the tears brewing again. I’m happy for her, but I feel so broken. I force a smile, but I know it’s only a matter of time.
“We have enough to keep the shop open for another twenty years!”
The overwhelming relief of not having to worry about Mom mixed with the utter heartbreak of leaving Aiden overwhelms me, and I envelope her in a hug and burst into tears. Sobbing uncontrollably.
Minutes pass before she pulls back and studies me. “I know you’re happy for me, but those are tears of sadness too. I’m your mother, I can tell these things.” She gives me the look.
I nod once.
“Come!” She leads me inside. “I’ll get one of the girls to run the shop for today. We can head home. I drove the work van here so we can take your car.”
∞∞∞
Relief floods me as the familiarity of my childhood home surrounds me.
The scent of cinnamon and apple wafts through the air. Our home smells like fall all year round, and I love it. Baby pictures of me lining the hallways make me smile, but it’s the golden lab that is currently barreling towards me that warms my heart.
“Rex!” I exclaim in delight, falling to the ground from his weight as he jumps on me. “Who’s a good boy?” I hug his soft golden body as he wiggles underneath me, his tail wagging hard. I missed him.
My mom laughs before she helps me up and guides me to the kitchen table, the place where we have all our important discussions.
I tell her everything.
Well, not everything, but the gist of it. That I met a guy and I really liked him, but something happened. She hounds me, wondering if it’s his fault, but I assure her that it isn’t. I just want to come home and relax.
She’s quiet as we sit at our old kitchen table. Scratch marks from years of use make me smile. She places her hand on mine and changes the subject, for that I’m grateful.
“What do you want for dinner? Absolutely anything. You name it, I’ll make it.”
“Umm, roast? And maybe apple pie?” I look at her hopefully.
∞∞∞
I throw on a pair of slippers and go to grab the mail for Mom the next morning, Rex trotting along beside me. He’s been following me everywhere. I think he knows that I’ve broken my own heart.
I see Caleb across the street. The boy who broke my heart in high school.
I stare as he washes his white truck in his driveway. The same truck he kissed the head cheerleader in, while we were dating. Why was I so caught up with him back then? That slight pain is nothing compared to the breaking of my heart when I left Aiden behind.
What if I made a mistake?
What if he’s the one?
Fifteen
Aiden
∞∞∞
When you find the one, you’ll know.
I know it.
She knows it.
Fuck. Everyone knows it.
And yet, she left me.
I don’t blame her though. I quite literally put her life in danger. But I’ll be damned if I let something as miniscule as the fear of the Mafia separate us. We’re bigger than that. We’re destined for something greater.
I’d let her live without me, if I were a better man.
But I’m not, and she’s mine. It’s all very simple, really.
I’ll get her back. I’ll find her.
It won’t be hard.
Ashley tried to keep it from me, but after I asked her fifty times, she broke. I found out Emma’s been calling every few hours, wondering if I’m okay.
She’s too precious.
I know she’s safe. I only bothered Ash because I wanted to know if Emma contacted her. Em had a security detail on her since she left the hospital. Luckily, I told Ricky of my plans to have my best detail on the girls at all times before I got shot. I wanted them to follow her at every turn, and that’s what they’ve done.
I’m upset that she left her stuff behind. I enjoy her having nice things. Her phone is the worst though, smashed on the side of the road. I hate having to check in with the security personnel to get an update on her. My clever girl threw it out in case the guys that took her had implanted a tracking device.
The hospital wanted to hold me longer but fuck that. Ricky was cleared the day after we were brought in and he’s been taking care of Ash.
I want my girl, she’s the one that can heal me. A bullet hurts less than her leaving. But again, I can’t blame her. I need to prove to her that I can protect her. I’ll let her breathe for a couple of days before coming for her.
I throw my hoodie in the backseat of my car, knowing she likes to sleep in it. I also sent her a gift, to let her know I am thinking of her.
I hope she likes it.
Sixteen
Ipull on a light blue dress I had stuffed in the back of my closet and head to visit Dad. I stop by Mom’s shop to grab a dozen yellow roses. It’s a ten-minute drive and I’m so nervous the entire way. I already know I’m going to tell him everything. He always listens.
I gently place the flowers on the lush green grass at the bottom of his tombstone. I shed a million tears as I hug the cool marble slab. Yellow roses are what he bought for her every Friday when he got off of work.
She’ll check him out and blush, asking, “For someone special?”
And he’ll always respond with, “Only the most beautiful girl in the
