47. Best Choice I’ve Ever Made
BEST CHOICE I’VE EVER MADE
AIDEN
When Tara told me she was going to spend the day at the hospital again, I offered to take the rest of the week off work so I could be there for her.
But she told me it was okay. I tried not to let the rejection sting, and considered just going to the hospital again after work, but decided against it.
Arriving at the office, it feels so strange knowing that Tara won’t be coming back again. One of the other assistants has taken on some of her work, but no one could ever replace her. It’s going to take some getting used to.
“Hey Celeste.” I nod towards the young receptionist when I head through to my office.
“Hi Aiden. How’s Tara?” she asks.
Not wanting to go in to details about Tara’s personal life, I nod and say “she’s okay.”
“Can you tell her I’m sorry?”
I study her for a moment. “What do you have to be sorry for?”
“For letting Felicity get in my head and believe that Tara was just sleeping her way to the top. I should never have listened to her. I know Tara would never do anything like that.”
Resisting the urge to tell her exactly what I think of Felicity, I simply nod. “I’ll let her know. Thank you for apologising.”
She gives me a relieved smile and I continue on my way, glad that at least one of the admin staff has realised the error of their ways.
After work, I stop at the shops on the way home to buy the ingredients for one of my mother’s favourite recipes when I was growing up, a simple beef stew with vegetables.
I’ve been feeling closer to the memory of my mother lately, and it feels like I’m sharing a bit of her with Tara by making her a meal that had brought me so much comfort growing up.
Letting myself into her apartment, I get started on the meal prep, and once she messages to tell me she’s on her way home, I go in to the ensuite and run her a bubble bath.
Returning to the kitchen, I open a bottle of wine, pouring two glasses and leaving them to sit on the bench.
When she walks in the door fifteen minutes later, I can see that the emotions of the day have worn her down again. The lines of fatigue and grief on her face have become more pronounced, and she looks ready to pass out.
Moving to stand in front of her, I pull her into my arms and she sinks into the embrace, bringing her arms around to cling to me tightly.
“Something smells great,” she mumbles into my chest.
“It’s one of my Mum’s old recipes. I thought you could use something warm and comforting tonight,” I reply.
She steps back and gives me a tired smile.
Moving back to the kitchen, I hand her one of the glasses of wine and nod towards her room. “I’ve run you a bath, and dinner should be ready in about half an hour. ”
She grips the glass while running her eyes over my face, her eyes starting to glisten a little. “You ran me a bath?”
“Yeah. I used some of the bubble bath you had in there, I hope that’s okay?” I ask, suddenly wondering if I’ve done the wrong thing.
Her lower lip wobbles and she launches herself at me. I catch her as she crashes into me, stumbling back slightly before finding my footing and holding her tight. She lets out a little sob while she squeezes me around the middle.
“You are too good to me,” she says, her words muffled.
I give her a gentle squeeze. “I just thought you could use some taking care of, with everything going on.”
She looks up at me, a tear rolling down her face. “I’m sorry this is all happening now. I hate that you’ve been dragged into all of this when you’re still dealing with your own grief.”
I wipe away the tear, cupping her cheeks in both hands.
“Hey. I want to be here, okay? I want to hold your hand through this. I want to be the one to wipe away your tears, and hold you when you feel like it’s all too much.
This is part of what being in a healthy relationship is like.
We can’t always be happy, but we ride out the storms together. ”
She swallows hard, her eyes shining while she studies my face. Raising up on to her tiptoes, she presses a soft kiss to my lips, before resting her forehead against mine.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“You’re welcome,” I whisper back, brushing my lips against her forehead when she lowers herself back down. “I love you.”
She smiles up at me. “I love you, too.”
As I watch her walk into the bedroom, my heart feels like it’s doubled in size, and I’m so grateful to have found her when I did.
That night, as we lie in bed, I tell her about filling in the application to finish my degree.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, stroking my cheek.
I cover her hand with mine before lifting it and kissing her palm. “I never would have had the courage to do it if you hadn’t pushed me.”
Her responding smile is so beautiful it hurts. “We’re a team, remember? I’ll always support you.”
“And I’ll always support you. I don’t know much in this life, but I know this.
The decision to sit down and talk to a stranger at a hotel bar was the best choice I’ve ever made.
We met at the right time, when we needed each other, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
” I reach up to rub my thumb over her lips before lifting my head to kiss her.
She kisses me back, and as the kiss grows and we begin to move together, shedding clothes before finding solace in one another.
It feels so right.
It feels like coming home.