Page 70 of Wreck Me
But at thirteen and with his older brothers gone off to school or whatever it was they did at the time, his dad, Paul, had always told Aidan he was the man of the house while Paul was gone. He’d need to protect his mother and sisters. Protect the home.
It was a job that Aidan had always taken to heart.
He’d done his best to help his mother, but there were just some things he couldn’t do. But when they told his mother her life would never be the same, he’d done all he could. But he’d still felt helpless. Much like he did right now.
He listened to the mournful sounds of a woman who’d lost her husband, knowing he’d never hold her again, kiss her, make love to her, take out the trash, protect her when she’s scared, and be a united front against the world.
It was when he promised himself to never feel that kind of pain. Certain pains were inevitable because he loved his family. He’d be devastated to lose any of them in a tragic accident like his father or Rob.
But to love someone with your heart and soul so that once they come into your life, you can’t imagine them not being there? It was a different type of love than sibling or parental love. One he’d never experienced. One he never wanted to be vulnerable to.
Megan’s face came to his mind. The breath in his lungs backed up, and it was hard to breathe.
“Mommy, are you okay?”
Margot’s head came up and she wiped away her tears. “Um, yes. I’m fine, baby.”
Aidan took Margot’s hand. “Look at me.”
She brought her watery stare to him.
“Don’t lie to her, Margot. Trust me when I tell you this. I’ve been in her shoes. She needs to know the truth so you both can grieve. Don’t push her away.”
Margot stared at him for a moment before tears filled her eyes again and streamed down her face. She nodded. “I forgot about that. You’re right.”
Abby stood at the bottom of the steps in her footed pajamas with puppies dressed as ghosts on them. A little hand came up and rubbed one of her eyes but she was watchful.
Margot held out an arm. “Come here, baby. I have to tell you something.”
“Where’s Daddy?” she asked, padding over to her mother. “He said he was going to get donuts. Said since I was such a good girl last night, I could have a frosted one.”
At her words, Margot bit her lip and looked at the ceiling, tears falling into the edges of her hair. Abby stood next to her mother, those greenish brown eyes confused. “Why are you crying, Mommy?”
Aidan cleared his throat. “Hey, Abby. Remember me? We met last night at the festival?”
Her eyes lit up and she smiled. Aidan’s heart broke. Abby had her father’s smile. “You and that nice lady gave me the tiger.”
He forced a smile on his face, though he didn’t have to try too hard. Like her father, her smile was infectious. “That’s right. And you were very brave to take that tiger. Miss Megan was having a terrible time making it behave.”
Abby giggled. “He’s the best tiger ever. He’s a good boy for me.” She tapped a little finger on her chin. “Maybe Miss Megan didn’t give him enough treats.”
Aidan chuckled softly. “Maybe not. But see how brave you are? And you know what? Your mommy has something to tell you. And when she does, I want you to remember how brave you were taming that tiger, okay?”
Abby squinted her eyes and pursed her little lips but nodded, looking at her mother. She climbed into Margot’s lap, who instantly pulled her daughter close and held on like it was her last lifeline.
In that moment, it was.
He cleared his throat and stood. “I’m going to give you some privacy, okay? When you’re ready, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Margot wiped her nose and sniffed. She looked over her daughter’s shoulder, nodding. “Thank you, Aidan.”
He walked outside and got back in his SUV, not wanting to hear the cries from a little girl who’d lost the first man she’d ever loved. Who didn’t have near enough time with him.
Again, he thought of Megan. His heart turned over in his chest thinking of her now and as a little girl like Abby, learning her parents were gone. It just dawned on him that Charley and Megan were near the same age when they’d lost a parent. Or in Megan’s case, parents.
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, trying to ignore what he knew in his heart. Because the one thing he did know was that the pain he just witnessed in Margot’s eyes, that he’d seen in his mother’s years before, and Marcus’ face when he lost his wife, he wanted no part of at all.
Megan had thrown him off course a bit, but what he’d just had to do reminded him of the promise he made himself twenty years ago. The only people that could have a place in his heart were his family. It would be bad enough to lose them. But if his heart and soul were involved? If he loved someone like Megan and life decided to take her away?
