Chapter 9 Be There #2
Max started then chuckled, his wide shoulders shaking.
“No,” Wren choked. “Not yet.”
“I have tried, God knows, I have tried,” Kian joked as Isaiah jumped down from his seat at the announcement from Julian that the dessert table was ready.
Wren swiped a finger under her eye. “He reminds me so much of Aaron at that age.”
Kian’s eyes snapped to hers, a fierce hunger on his face. “Do you have pictures?”
Wren nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. I’ll put a small book together for you.” She tilted her head to the side. “They look alike, for sure, but it’s the sweetness and mischief they share that stands out the most.”
A silence, heavy with everything unsaid, hung between them.
Kian turned to Max. “You must despise me for what I put her through,” Kian stated, his mouth drawn tight.
Max, the remnants of an ancient pain flitting across his face, reached for Wren’s hand. “I don’t hate you. You gave her Aaron. And you weren’t the first to fail her. I’d be a hypocrite if I judged you for an error you had no way of rectifying.”
Kian leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Wren,” he began stiltedly. “I am sorry. I know the money I put aside all these years doesn’t make up for anything, but it is yours.”
She reached out and laid a gentle hand on his forearm. “I don’t need it, Aaron will. It’s been a rough year for him. Give him time?”
Kian nodded, his jaw tight.
I sat as still as I could, my legs quivering as sorrow, deep-seated regret, and half-buried grief swirled thickly around me.
Wren gave his arm a little shake. “You’ll give him time?” She studied him anxiously. “You’ll love him? Love doesn’t leave, Kian.”
Kian’s eyes widened as his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
I desperately wanted to lay my hand on his thigh to let him know he wasn’t alone. But he wasn’t mine to claim.
He nodded tightly. “I’ll stay.”
Relief softened the worry on her face, leaving her free to offer him a genuine smile, perhaps the first since they reunited.
Wren was the best of people. So was Max. Stumbling into Sage Ridge, I’d fallen into a welcoming hug.
“Thank you,” she breathed, relief relaxing the lines in her pretty face.
Max sat back in his chair, rubbing soothing circles over her lower back.
Kian searched Wren’s eyes, his face stricken. “I am sorry,” he stressed, his voice heavy with regret.
She stood and passed behind Max’s chair, then drew Kian to his feet and offered him a hug.
He bent and wrapped his arms around her loosely, but she held on tight. “I know you’re sorry, Kian. I’m sorry, too,” she admitted, her voice pained. “I wish I’d kept tabs on you. I failed him, too.”
Kian shook his head, the muscle in his jaw feathering wildly.
She laughed and wagged her finger at him as she drew back, her eyes glossy. “Oh no, there are no martyrs here shouldering the blame for the masses. We both made mistakes.”
“What’s going on here?” Aaron’s hard voice interrupted what had been a beautiful moment.
Kian’s spine stiffened as he drew away from Wren, wary eyes skimming over Aaron’s face.
“Some much-needed healing,” Max intervened smoothly.
Aaron’s gaze shot to Max, seeking reassurance.
Max gave him an easy nod. “Your mom’s good, Aaron.”
“Who’s this guy?” Audrey, Wren’s teenage, autistic daughter, uncharacteristically elbowed her way in and joined the conversation.
Up until this point, she’d shown no interest in either Kian or Isaiah though, according to Wren, she’d met them in passing several times.
“You look like a fatter version of Aaron.”
Kian’s jaw dropped.
Wren slapped a hand over her mouth.
Max chuckled, Nadine giggled, and even Aaron cracked a reluctant smile.
“This is Aaron’s father,” Wren explained.
At that, Aaron’s smile disappeared beneath a heavy frown.
“Yeah?” Audrey tilted her head to the side and studied Kian. “Where’ve you been?”
After a rather pregnant pause, Max murmured, “We’ve learned it’s best to answer Audrey’s questions as succinctly and honestly as possible.”
Kian gave a short nod, opened his mouth, and promptly closed it.
She narrowed her eyes. “Were you lost?”
“No.” Kian shook his head and took a breath. “I lived far away for a long time but now I’m here. To stay.”
She stepped closer and looked up into Kian’s face.
Wren held her breath, her eyes wide with surprise.
“You have a nice face,” Audrey commented. “I’m glad you’re here.” She considered him for a moment longer, her brow furrowing. “Are you my dad, too?”
A choked grunt escaped Wren’s throat.
“No,” Kian replied softly. “But if I was, I’d be happy.”
She shook her head and stepped back. “Sorry. My Max is my dad now.”
Max gulped audibly, his voice as strained and tight as Kian’s was as he rasped, “That’s right. She’s my Audrey, you can’t have her.”
Tears burned the back of my eyes. I wasn’t going to make it through this godforsaken party. Daire needed to blow out his damn candles before I turned into a weepy puddle on the floor.
I was about to make a joke when Aaron spun on his heel and stalked away, Nadine’s hand clasped tightly in his.
Kian watched as Aaron led her to a small table apart from the rest of us and pulled out her chair before dropping down across from her.
Nadine reached for his hand, and he held on tight, his head bowed as she leaned close, talking quietly.
Max sighed. “He reminds me of Hunter in so many ways.”
Kian turned toward Wren to find Max standing right behind her, his hand cupping her shoulder.
“He does,” Wren murmured. “So full of fun and mischief, but when he hurts, he hurts big.” Turning to Kian, she explained, “Hunter was Hawk and Harley’s brother as well as Max and Noelle’s best friend.
I still have the teddy bear he bought me when I was pregnant with Aaron.
Hunter died in a car accident a long time ago. ”
“He was the life of the party,” Max added with a wistful smile. “He got us into the best kind of trouble and then charmed his way out of it.” He met Kian’s eyes. “Aaron will come around. He just needs time.”
Wren nodded and leveled Kian with her gaze.
“Audrey’s father was the only dad Aaron knew until he walked out when Aaron was 10.
My father was his only male role model, and he wasn’t always the best. Aaron has suffered a great deal of loss in this department.
Max is here for him, you don’t have to worry about him, but I need to know you’re going to stay. ”
Surprising me, he reached down, his fingers splayed, asking for my hand. After I slipped my palm across his, he gave me a squeeze. His face resolute, he promised, “I’m not going anywhere.”
I breathed a mental sigh of relief. Him staying in Sage Ridge was a huge step in the right direction.
But where would I be?