Forty-Eight
Aspen
“You gave us all quite a scare, Kaiden,” Mika tells my husband, who looks better with every hour that passes.
I guess no one should ever underestimate the power of the positive mind.
“Sorry, boss.” Kaiden doesn’t say much to anyone, but his eyes, whenever they capture mine, have entire conversations.
“So, when can I go home?”
“I don’t think you quite understand what a close brush with death you’ve had, Mr. Brooks,” the doctor admonishes. “You need to continue with the antibiotics and be monitored for a while longer before we make any decisions.”
“I’m on the mend now, doc. Surely that’s all that matters.”
“On the contrary, even when you’re well enough, you will still need to be supervised in case you have a relapse.”
“He can come home with me.” I don’t hesitate to offer. “Our son is getting pretty desperate to see him.”
I’m aware of the looks of surprise that bounce between us at the mention of Kai, but I’m done hiding him. Kaiden is a family man. It’s time everyone knew that, including the man himself. You know, just in case he was in any doubt.
“Is Kai okay?” Kaiden asks softly, taking his cue from me.
“He’s been worried, of course. But I’ve told him he’ll see you soon.”
“Surely I’m well enough to leave already?” he implores the doc, but his words are starting to slur, his eyes are heavy, no matter how hard he fights against them closing, and the little energy he has is waning fast.
In the end, it’s another three days before the doctor pronounces Kaiden fit enough to come off the drip. I’ve been here as much as I can, but we haven’t had the opportunity to talk in that time. There hasn’t been enough privacy for all the things we need to say to each other.
Today, though, he’s coming home. Well, back to my home. Whether it’s ours, I guess is one of those things we need to talk about.
The drive back to my house is quiet. Mika provided a driver and we’re seated in luxury, Kaiden sitting in the back of the roomy town car, pale but conscious, his eyes finding mine every few seconds like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he looks away for too long.
He’s changed, somehow, since his brush with death. He seems more vulnerable. Like the experience peeled away some of the layers he used to protect himself with.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask, wondering if we’ve moved him too soon.
“I can’t lose you again, Aspen,” he tells me. “I won’t survive. I wouldn’t want to.”
“I’m right here,” I promise. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
“Really?” His eyes bore into mine as if they’re searching for the truth. “Or were the things you said just born of fear because of the situation?”
Is that what he’s been thinking all this time? Kaiden has always seemed so confident. So sure of himself. It’s a shock to realize how much doubt he’s been harboring.
I reach across the seat and take his hand in mine, threading our fingers together. His skin is still warmer than it should be, but nothing like the terrifying heat from days ago.
“I meant every word,” I say firmly, holding his gaze. “I love you, Kaiden. I’ve always loved you. The things I said at Prospect House - well, I was hurt, and scared, and jumping to conclusions. But none of that changes the truth. You’re it for me. You always have been.”
Something shifts in his expression, the tension around his eyes easing slightly. “I should have told you everything from the beginning. About Mika’s request. About the trouble at Prospect House. About all of it.”
“I understand you were trying to protect me,” I say softly. “That’s what you always do. But I don’t need protecting from the truth, Kaiden. I need you to trust me with it.”
He lifts our joined hands and presses his lips to my knuckles, the gesture achingly tender.
“I’m sorry. For everything. For leaving you ten years ago.
For not fighting harder to find a way back.
For letting you think, even for a moment, that I didn’t want you more than anything else in the world.
You only need to say the word, and I’ll walk away from La Cosa Nostra again. I’ll do anything for you and Kai.”
“Let’s not do anything hasty, huh?”
“Okay,” he agrees, but he still sounds uncertain, so I continue.
“What we all need right now is stability. And when we get home, the first thing we need to do is talk to Kai. He needs to know you’re not going anywhere. That we’re a family. That’s the priority. Whatever comes next, we’ll work it out as we go along. Together.”
Kaiden nods, a small smile lifting his far too kissable lips. “Together sounds like my kind of perfect.”
The car glides through the city streets, and I watch the familiar buildings pass by, each one bringing us closer to home. To Kai. To the life we should have had all along.