6. Aiden #2
“Then start in on those two.” Dominic pointed at me and Trent. “At least I gave marriage a try. They’re not pulling their weight at all. At this rate, Hailey’s going to start college before they do anything productive with their love lives.”
“He’s right,” Dee said, sipping a glass of wine. “Any prospects I should know about?”
Trent scoffed. “We have this conversation every week. You’d know if there was someone.”
I shook my head. “I’m too busy with work. We’ve started development on Elixir Free. I definitely don’t have time for a relationship right now.”
“Work, work, work,” Dee complained. “It can’t be all about work.”
“Says the furniture mogul,” I said.
“Who also made time to have a family,” Dee pointed out. “And look after you boys.”
“Touché,” Vincent said. Oh, sure, now that he was all loved up with Piper, he was on Dee’s side.
“Hmm…I wouldn’t be too quick to believe this one when he says he’s got nothing going on, Dee.” Dominic nodded in my direction. “I’m pretty sure I saw some sparks flying between Aiden and a certain someone.”
“Who?” Piper and Chloe demanded at once.
I frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on,” he teased. “You and Cora?”
“What about her?”
“In the cafeteria? Talking about that Hemingway-something-or-other.”
“You mean when we were arguing?” I asked, emphasizing the last word. All Cora and I had done since reconnecting was fight. But Dominic wasn’t paying attention to me, instead mouthing the word sparks to Dee while making an explosive motion with his hands.
Dee clapped excitedly. “Now this is a development. Finally!”
“Nothing is happening,” I insisted. “And nothing is going to happen.” I wasn’t even sure Cora and I should be allowed to eat lunch in the same room.
“Deny, deny, deny,” Paul said to the table. “That’s how you know it’s real.”
Vincent and Trent burst out laughing.
I shook my head. “It’s really nothing.” Right? “I mean, sure Cora and I have a past, but—”
“Yeah, and what exactly is that past?” Vincent pressed. “All I know is you dated her in high school. What’s the rest of the story?”
“There is no rest of the story,” I insisted.
“We were kids—it didn’t work out. Nothing surprising about that.
” And no need to go into the rest of it.
I wasn’t exactly proud of how things had played out, but it was over and done with.
No need to dredge all of that up again now.
Besides, what high school relationship actually lasts?
“You’re sure there’s no rekindling of old feelings?” Trent teased.
“Trust me. It’s ancient history.”
Nana Dee glanced at me from the corner of her eye. “Uh-huh,” she said, skeptical.
“You spend a hell of a lot of time checking out that ancient history,” Dominic pointed out. “And she spends nearly as much time checking out you.”
“That’s not the p—wait, what does she do?”
They all laughed at me.
“Are you blushing?” Vincent asked.
“Shut the hell up.” These were my closest friends.
It was harder to lie to them than it was to lie to myself.
Did Cora affect me? Yeah, maybe. She was incredibly attractive.
But could I stand being around her for more than ten minutes without needing a stiff drink?
Absolutely not. Still, the thought of her checking me out, liking what she saw…
I couldn’t pretend it was a bad thought.
“Daddy, can I go look in the greenhouse?” Hailey asked, pulling at Dominic’s sleeve.
“Maybe when we’re all done eating,” he said.
I jumped up, spotting my out. “Come on, Hailey. I’ll take you to look at the greenhouse.”
“Oh wait!” Dee said, getting to her feet. “Let’s do the cake first.”
“There’s cake?” Trent teased.
Dee nudged him as she passed. “Of course there’s cake. You know that.”
“Cake!” Hailey cried, content to remain at the table now.
I sighed. Oh well, at least the attention was off me. Plus, cake! I pulled out my chair to sit down again, but from the corner of my eye, I saw Dee stumble. Next thing I knew, she was on the ground.
“Nana Dee!” Trent said, bounding to his feet.
I reached her first, crouching next to her. “Jesus, Dee, are you okay?”
“I’m all right,” she croaked, attempting to roll over. “I just…I tripped over my own feet. I’m okay.”
“Sit up slowly,” Trent said as we helped her adjust her position.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere?” I asked. “Did you bang your head when you hit the ground?”
“No, no. I’m fine. Don’t fret.”
Don’t fret? “You broke your fall with your arm,” I said. “We should at least check to make sure nothing’s broken or sprained or—”
“It’s not a big deal,” Dee said, but Trent was already gingerly pushing up the sleeve of her cashmere sweater.
“Have you fallen recently?” he asked, pointing out old bruises. “What is all this?”
Dee bit her lip, her brow furrowing. “It’s nothing. Really, I—”
“Dee,” Vincent said as he came to stand by my side. “Please don’t lie to us.”
“Oh, all right, maybe I’ve had a few more dizzy spells lately,” she admitted, clicking her tongue, trying to sound dismissive even as she avoided eye contact with all of us.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Trent asked. I could hear the growl in his voice. I knew he wasn’t angry though; he was worried.
“Because I am fine,” she insisted. “Now help me up.”
We did, slowly pulling Dee to her feet, all of us on edge. It’s like we were waiting for her to spontaneously crumple.
Dee put her hands on her hips. “See? Good as new.”
“Dee,” Paul said. “This sounds like an ongoing problem you’re ignoring.”
I caught Trent’s eye. We all remembered that dizzy spell Dee had a little while ago. The one that led to her falling down the stairs. At the time, we’d thought it was an isolated incident, but apparently not.
“I’m not ignoring it,” Dee argued. “I just haven’t done anything about it yet.”
“Well, I don’t think this is just going to go away,” I said softly. “Maybe it’s time to see a doctor?”
“You promised to tell me if it got worse,” Trent said. “This is worse. I think Aiden’s right.”
“It’s not that serious,” she tried to insist.
“Dee, we’re all here and we’re telling you it is,” Vincent said. “Will you please do this for us? I can’t handle more stress than a new baby and a wedding.”
“Oh, all right,” Dee huffed. “I’ll make an appointment tomorrow. But in the meantime, how about that cake?”
“Yes!” Hailey announced. “Let’s have cake!”
“I guess we’re helping with the cake,” Dominic said as Hailey ran for the kitchen door.
“I’ll help,” Piper added, getting up.
“Me too.” Chloe stood. “We’ll see if there’s enough room for all the candles we need.” She nudged Trent teasingly as she passed.
“Har har,” he said.
“I could have done it,” Dee said, but she didn’t argue as we guided her back to her chair. Maybe the fall had scared her more than she was letting on.
By the time the girls and Dominic returned with the cake—a towering red velvet slab covered in cream cheese frosting and way too many candles—Hailey was practically vibrating with excitement.
“Hurry up,” I told Trent as we finished singing “Happy Birthday.” “I think Hailey’s been patient for long enough.” She looked up at him with big brown eyes.
He laughed and blew out his candles in one go. “Who wants the first slice?”
Hailey’s hand flew up in the air. “Me!”
“I never would have guessed.” Trent cut and divvied up the cake and we tucked back in.
“So?” Dominic said, turning to Trent. “Best birthday ever or what?” He asked us all that same question every year.
“All in all,” Trent said. “Not bad. Though I’m a little disappointed Aiden didn’t end up in the pool again.”
I laughed, forever grateful I was able to spend time with these people who meant so much to me.
“There’s still time,” Vincent said. “The day is young.” He checked his watch. “You know how things start to get wild at four p.m. now.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were hanging out that late,” Trent teased.
“Yeah, you’re about to be a dad,” I said. “You better go home and nap while you can.”
“A dad who can still drink you under the table.” Vincent picked up Trent’s birthday present and set it down in front of me, smirking the entire time. “C’mon, Cocktail King. Pour.”