He’ll set them in a vase once she got home without fail, and he’ll always take out one solitary rose for me and place it in a small vase.
They did this for twenty years.
I still have my vase, but it’s been empty since he was murdered.
While I play with my solitary rose, gently plucking the yellow petals off in a childish game of ‘He loves me, he loves me not’, I tell him all about Aiden and what happened. I pray for him to show me a sign of what to do. I know he wouldn’t want this life for me.
Dad was a lead detective. The fact that Aiden’s tied up with criminals would be a problem, but I don’t think he’d hate Aiden. He’d hate what he got himself into, but Dad was an understanding man. He’ll get that Aiden’s just trying his best to build a life for himself with the shitty hands he was dealt.
I’ve never told anyone about Dad. Ashley knows he isn’t with us anymore, but she doesn’t know what happened on that cold winter’s night. I just can’t bring myself to talk about what happened to him. I know I should, but it breaks me to pieces every time.
I place my hand on his tombstone, blowing him a kiss. “I love you, Dad. So much.”
∞∞∞
It’s three when I pull into the driveway, deciding to check the mail.
It wasn’t a good idea.
A familiar voice shouts my name as I close the lid. My eyes roll dramatically into the back of my head as Caleb makes his way over to me.
“Em! I didn’t know you were home.” He smiles, pulling his blonde hair out of his face.
I stare, willing myself to be cordial even though I want to punch him in the nose. Our families grew up together, so I don’t want to be rude.
I fake a smile. “Hey.”
I manage not to contort my face with the simple greeting. Go, Emma.
I’m not jaded about what he did, but how he did it. He told me he was too busy at the tackle shop to hang out on my birthday. So you can imagine my surprise when I caught the rudest girl in school straddling him in his truck, her tongue down his throat, a few hours later at a bonfire.
I’ve gotten over it, but I can’t stand a cheater.
He steps in front of me, blocking my path to freedom, as I turn on my heel to walk away. This time, I visibly rolled my eyes.
“What’s up, Caleb?” I ask in a disinterested voice.
“Just curious what you’re doing back. I thought you had a place at college now?” He smiles.
I want to tell him how stupid he looks but I bite my lip instead. It’s summer, you idiot.
“Ah, I see you still have the habit of biting your lip.” He chuckles and crosses his arms.
I can tell he’s flexing his muscles on purpose. Aiden would crush him like a bug. I take my lip out from between my teeth and change the subject. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s great! She’d actually love to see you. Want to come over for dinner tomorrow? You and Mrs. Banks.”
I try to think of the best excuse I can but I’m coming up short. Besides, he’ll just ask Mom if I say no, and everyone knows Pamela Banks would never turn down a dinner invite because it’s rude.
I never told Mom Caleb and I dated. She always thought we were best friends. That way, he could come over and stay however late he wanted. It’s not like we ever did anything crazy; I kissed him but that’s it. Now I wish I had told her.
I hesitate for a moment before giving in, not figuring a way out. “Sure.”
He flashes me one victory smile. “See you later.”
I head inside, climb into my pajamas and sink into the warm bed. Speaking to Dad takes a load off me. I know he hears me; I just wish he was still here. It’s easy to pretend he’s here with Mom while I’m away at college, their laughter filling the house. But now, it feels empty. Mom tries her best, but we’ll always be a puzzle with a hundred missing pieces without him.
My heart aches for Aiden, but I can’t shake the nightmares. I’ve woken up screaming multiple times. Luckily, Mom believes me when I tell her it’s PTSD. I hate using Dad’s death as an excuse, but telling her the truth, that I was kidnapped, would break her. She’s always been so supportive of my decisions; I don’t want her to be paranoid.
A light knock on the front door prompts me to crawl out of bed. Mom’s at work and my heart pounds with anticipation that it may possibly be Aiden.
It isn’t.
Instead, a small Tiffany blue box sits on the front porch with a note attached.
You’re still mine as much as I’m still yours. Wear this so everyone else knows it too.
Aiden’s handwriting. I can’t help my smile.
I know that he knows where I am. It’s hard to not miss the black glossy escalade parked out front since I arrived. I didn’t have my ID on me when I was taken so I know they don’t know my address, and Ashley told them my name was Claire. But the extra security makes me feel better. Like Aiden is here himself, protecting me.
Gift in hand, I smile brightly at the car parked down the street and return inside. I carefully open the Tiffany box, too cute to tear into and ruin. I open the jewelry box and gasp when I see the beautiful necklace.
A delicate rose gold padlock is attached to a thin rose gold chain. The lock is closed, and the word ‘Aiden’ is embedded into the gold across the front. I put it on and admire how it looks against my skin. It’s small and subtle. Just perfect.
I resist the urge to call him, to tell him how much I loved it. I’m sticking firm to
