Page 9 of The Ties that Bind
“This is the house I grew up in,” Aiden said, sending a sweeping look around the beautiful home. “My foster parents loved this place and they left it to me. It has a lot of memories. Some of them are good and some of them aren’t, but I wouldn’t lose any of them for the world.” He took a moment to polish his glasses that had become suspiciously moist. “I want to move to California, I really, really do. It’s a wonderful opportunity and a chance for a fresh start with the woman I love. But I love this house, too, and I really couldn’t bear the idea of just putting it up on the market and selling it to strangers…”
Marty’s eyes went wide. Clearly, he understood where Aiden was going with this. I still had no clue.
“I want to give you the opportunity to lease it… and then maybe a lease purchase if you decide you want to live here permanently. Both of you, Maggie and Marty, are people who will take care of the old place. And I know you two care about your Louisiana roots, too, and will appreciate the history of the home… even before my parents bought it. I don’t want my family’s home to fall into the hands of strangers.” Zoe had to hop out of her chair and perch on the edge of Aiden’s so she could hug away a rush of emotion. He gave a quick cough for show.
“Oh my gosh, Aiden,” I finally managed, completely blindsided and staggered. “Are you sure? You really… Would you really like for us to live here?”
Aiden smiled a wide smile. “Definitely. I’ve thought about it a great deal, and it’s silly - but I’ve kind of already decided you’ll live here, in my mind, anyway. I know you haven’t said yes yet, and you might already have somewhere else lined up for all I know.”
“No, no,” I hastened to assure him, floored by the sudden nervousness on his face when he realized we might not accept. Aiden really, truly wanted us to have his home. “We would absolutely love to live here. It’s so close to my work and Marty’s new shop, and it’s- it’s- just incredible,” I finished, at a loss to express how much this meant to me.
Aiden smiled. “It means a lot to me, it really does. As you know, Zoe and I will be moving out in late June, so we can work out the details before then. Plus, you have way too much on your plate with the wedding already.”
Marty shook Aiden’s hand again. I hugged Zoe and also Aiden this time, then both of them at once. “You guys…” I choked on emotions.
Zoe and Aiden took a moment to look into each other’s eyes. “Yeah, us too.”
Marty and I left together. I wasn’t sure what we had just agreed on, but it felt right and good, and one more thing had fallen into place for us, thanks to our incredible friends.
Chapter Five
Abigail
The last time I had made the trip from New Orleans to Miami, I’d spent the whole flight with my face pressed against the window staring down at the scenery with melancholy. Even though I was only leaving for a few weeks; I had said goodbye to everyone I knew in New Orleans. A few weeks ago, that trip had felt so final.
Now, it was a few days after the sleepover with Maggie and Zoe, and I was boarding a plane to make the same trip. But this time it was different. No goodbyes were necessary because I would be right back in a week or so for Maggie’s wedding - no need to think about our final goodbyes until after the ceremony. So, I was looking forward to spending time with my own boyfriend again before our big summer tour started and focusing on practicing with the band.
And Vaporized had a lot to do. Not just for the tour, although I wanted to meet the new drummer, and we all needed to start practicing together regularly in preparation to play on stages across the States. And, of course, the band had agreed to do the music for the wedding, too. That meant we needed to put our heads together and plan out which existing pieces to use. And decide whether we should come up with anything more appropriate since a lot of Vaporized’s music was anything but. In that regard, at least, the new album was finished and had quite a softer sound to it than any of the previous ones.
Despite the fact that Vaporized mostly had everything we needed - with mild modifications - to play at the wedding, one more thing still worried me. I was a bridesmaid, so I wouldn’t be able to play the actual wedding march itself. That didn’t bother me at all. I would a million times over rather be at Maggie’s side as she said her vows than behind a piano. But, later during the reception, I would be playing with the band. We had no way of knowing exactly how long the reception would be since it was a fairly informal setting with a tight-knit guest list - not a venue rented for a specific amount of time.
That meant Vaporized might need more music than we had that would be appropriate to play at a wedding. It might also mean that the band, as the sole form of entertainment and background music, might be expected to play throughout the reception, with me, one of Maggie’s best friends, stuck at the piano the whole time.
I doubted Maggie wanted that. In fact, I knew she didn’t, but this little hitch probably hadn’t even crossed her mind. She was so busy planning everything out… Hm. I would have to think about this problem and find a way to work it out. I really didn’t want to bother Maggie with it, not on top of everything else.
I was still mulling over the issue when Al’s car swung around the curve to pick me up at the airport. Briefly forgetting my worries, I could hardly wait for him to get out before I flung myself into his heavily inked and muscled arms. “I love you,” I murmured into his chest, letting his familiar strength and scent envelop me.
“I love you too, and I missed you.” His breath stirred my hair, and that voice from all my favorite songs reminded me that somehow, I had found Al and he had found me - and we were meant for each other. “And I missed you, too.”
“A week is too long,” I agreed, finally extricating myself so we could get my luggage in the car and stop holding up the right lane of traffic. “But you’re going back with me next time!”
“Of course.” Al glanced over at me as we simultaneously sat in the car. “I can’t handle another week with just the boys. And I’m not letting you leave me again so soon.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m a grown woman, Al. Perfectly capable of flying between New Orleans and Miami on my own.”
“Sure you are. But you would have more fun if you were with me.”
A cocky statement, but it was a true one. I just acknowledged it with a little resigned shake of my head. Al’s mention of the band brought back my concerns about Vaporized playing at the wedding, though, so I lost the little smile his words had put on my face rather quickly. “Hey, you know how we’re supposed to play at the wedding?”
“Yeah?” Al’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “It should be great. We can play our new, softer music.”
“Yeah, the music isn’t what worries me. Not exactly. The reception will be over an hour at least, probably more like two or more.”
“Oh.” Al’s fingers tapped the steering wheel. “I get what you mean. I’m sure the band will be able to take breaks. Play on and off.”
“Maybe.” Unconvinced, I resisted the urge to succumb to restlessness as well. “It’ll be kind of hard to scatter and start conversations, then get everyone back together every few minutes. And usually, receptions have constant background music playing.”
“That is a hard one. The only thing I’ve got is maybe half the band can play at once? I can do a couple acoustics, then take a break, and you and the others can play something a little more orchestral. That sort of thing.”
