Chapter 5
Chapter Five
élodie
S pending this time with Aiden has been so much fun. I miss our kids, but having this time alone has meant a lot to me. Now it?s time to head home and get ready for the new MotoGP season.
“Are you sure you?re okay with retiring?” I ask Aiden as we spend our last day sitting by the pool.
He sighs and looks at me.
“This last injury took a lot longer to heal than before.”
“I know, but if you?re not ready, I don?t want you to think you have to retire. Do I worry? Of course I do. But I know how much you love racing.”
“I do love it and I wish I could race forever. But I think it?s time for us to support our sons. We?re already making history this year. And as much as I would love to keep racing with our boys? I want to be able to watch them race. I want to cheer them on from their garages and not from mine because I have to get ready to race. ”
I nod. “I understand that. I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay with your decision.”
Aiden takes my hand and kisses it.
“I love you, élodie. Thank you for supporting me for all these years. When I lost my memory, you could’ve asked me to quit. But instead, you helped me come back and race again. Never once did you ask me to stop. I don’t know how you do it, but I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“I’ve always been so proud to be with you. Watching you race is the best thing to me. Seeing the happiness on your face when you win? That’s what makes me want to support you.”
When Aiden lost his memory, I thought that we would never get back what we had, but our love for each other kept us together. But we were lucky, he made a full recovery and regained all his memories. I never once thought of asking him to quit racing. It’s what he loves and I know that if I asked him to quit, he would. But then I would be taking away one of his loves. And I could never do that.
Aiden
My plan is to surprise élodie on the first race day with the sale of the castle. I’ve already talked to my daideo and he’s agreed to get all the paperwork done for me. That way I can keep it a secret for a little longer. And my grandparents are planning on being here for the first race.
We fly to Qatar for race one tomorrow. I’m not usually nervous before race season, but I am this year. I think it’s because I know the dangers of motorcycle racing and I don’t want my sons to get hurt. And on the other hand, I can’t wait to see their faces when they win. I’m so proud of our boys and what they’ve accomplished so far.
“Are you all packed?” I hear élodie ask the kids.
One by one they all say yes. For this first race, our entire family will be going. including my sister and her family. They all know this is my last season for racing and they want to be there with us. I wrap my arms around my wife and breathe her in.
“Are you ready for my last season?”
“The real question is, are you ready, my love?”
I sigh as I hold her.
“I’ll be honest. I don’t know. It’s such a hard thing to truly wrap my head around. I have twenty races and then no more. I think my first race and my last race will be the hardest. But I know it’s time. And I keep telling myself that.”
élodie holds me tighter, I know she feels what I do. I started racing years before I met her. But she’s been with me for so long, my memories of racing and my wife are intertwined. The good and the bad, she’s been through it all.
“I have something for you. I always have a hard time giving you gifts. Because what do you give the woman who means everything to you? The woman who’s stood by my side through every high and every low in my life. Well I finally figured out what to give you.”
élodie takes a step back and looks at me. I pull out the deed to the castle we stayed in. I watch her as she reads it.
“Oh, Aiden.” Tears start flowing from her eyes. “You bought the castle?”
“I bought you the castle. This is my gift to you, the woman that holds my heart and soul. The woman who has never faltered in her love and support for me and our children. I told you I would give you the world if I could. Since I can’t buy the world, I bought you the home you’ve always wanted.”
élodie wraps her arms around me and sobs.
“Thank you, Aiden. You are my heart and soul. I can’t believe you bought us a castle , I can’t wait to show it to everyone.”
“I was thinking maybe for summer break. We have a month off, we can bring everyone then.”
“I love it. That sounds like a perfect vacation.”