“Only way to go,” Bree said. “Plunge in and go for broke. Will you?”
“One step at a time,” Liz countered. “I have to see if this new, sane me is real. If I’m ever going to have a relationship with someone, trust has to be a part of it. I can’t freak out over every little thing the way I did over this. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“But you are going to try,” Bree pressed. “Starting today.”
“I’ll speak to Aidan and try to clear the air,” she promised. It was as much of a commitment as she could make for the moment.
“And you’ll be at the family dinner at Mick’s on Sunday,” Susie said as if it were a foregone conclusion. “It’s going to be an official welcome for Aidan as an O’Brien.”
“Let’s see how it goes,” Liz equivocated.
The only way she could go to an event like that was if she and Aidan had reached some sort of understanding, if he’d forgiven her for overreacting and lumping him in with Josh. If he was the man she’d believed him to be, he’d understand, but she also knew how difficult it was to move on once harsh words had been spoken in anger. She’d already dismissed the things he’d said as an overheated reaction to her behavior. But if he couldn’t forgive the accusations she’d hurled at him, it might be over between them, and she’d have no one to blame but herself.
* * *
Aidan’s heart ached for Liz and what she’d endured, but he hadn’t deserved the way she’d lashed out at him the night before. If there was so little trust between them, how could they possibly move on? And right this minute, he had other things on his mind, such as figuring out how he fit in with this new family that was opening its arms to him.
He found himself once again reaching out to Thomas, as a son might reach out to a father, for advice. They agreed to meet on neutral turf, along Shore Road.
“I’ll bring coffee,” Aidan told him. “I’d like to talk some more about where we go from here and the fallout from the big announcement.”
“Happy to do that,” Thomas said.
Aidan had anticipated being alone with Thomas, but when he arrived just before ten, he found him there with Connie and Sean.
Sean ran toward him and threw his arms around his waist. “Wanna go fishing? You can take me this time. Our dad has to go to the office later.”
“Aidan and your dad need to talk,” Connie said. “You can go fishing another time.” She smiled at Aidan. “Don’t mind us. Sean and I will be heading to the bookstore. We were just keeping Thomas company till you got here.”
Relieved, Aidan watched them go, then sat down and handed Thomas a cup of coffee. “You were right about the grapevine,” he said. “I was on my way to see Liz after I left your place, but before I got to her, she already knew something was up.”
Thomas looked chagrined. “My fault. I thought I should tell my brothers. I told them the news was strictly confidential. Apparently it took each of them about ten seconds to agree to meet at O’Brien’s. I doubt they’d have blabbed to everyone else, but the place was crawling with family. Liz was there with a bunch of the women. Apparently Susie picked up on just enough of her dad’s conversation with Mick to stir up trouble. I’m so sorry.” He regarded Aidan with real concern. “How’d it go with Liz?”
Aidan shook his head. “Not good. She threw me out of her house, refused to let me explain anything.”
“I could speak to her, tell her you’d kept silent at my request,” Thomas offered.
“I don’t think that will matter to her,” Aidan said. “She has some real deep-seated issues about trust. I knew that when I kept this from her.”
“Still, I feel responsible for your being in that position.”
Aidan shook his head. “I put myself in that position.”
Thomas studied him. “So, what’s next for the two of you?”
“I have no idea. I was wondering how things went on your end.” He allowed himself a faint smile. “Sean seems to be doing just fine with the news.”
Thomas laughed. “I told you he would be.” His expression sobered. “Aidan, you do want to have a relationship with me now, don’t you? I could understand if you have reservations.”
Aidan gave the question some thought. The fact that Thomas was sensitive enough to have asked it really mattered to him.
“There were times in my life when I resented the man who hadn’t cared enough to stay with my mom. Even when I first got to town and saw you with this huge family and with a wife and son, it stirred up those old resentments.”
“Understandable,” Thomas said.
“But wrong,” Aidan told him. “You never knew about me, and that was my mom’s decision, not yours. Maybe things would have been different if you’d known, but more likely there would have been another divorce in your past.”
“I’d like to think otherwise,” Thomas said, “but I can’t deny the likelihood.” He gave Aidan a lingering look. “You had a good life, though, didn’t you?”
Aidan smiled, remembering. “For the most part, I did. The only thing missing was having a dad. There were times when that was huge, but in general I have no complaints. My mom gave me love and values and a good education. No parent could have been more supportive of my choices in life. Nobody yelled louder than she did when I was on the field.”
Thomas smiled at that. “I imagine she was very proud.”
“She was. I’m glad she got to see me play professionally before she died.”
“She must have loved that.” He gave Aidan a sideways glance. “I saw you play a time or two. I know how good you were and how
