Page 123 of Northern Stars

I passed it over to her and stared forward, unsure how to feel. How to react.

Hailee began to read it out loud.“Aiden, first and foremost, I’m glad to hear your father kept your name. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I flipped through a name book for a week. I knew I wouldn’t keep you, but when I saw the name Aiden, I knew it was yours. It means little fire. It described what I did and probably still do throughout my life. I leave little fires everywhere I go, and I never extinguish them. I make people’s lives harder than they have to be due to my selfish ways. So I stayed away from you. You were the little fire I kept safe from spreading too far. You were contained and controlled, placed into a stable family unit. Which, oddly, is probably the most successful thing I’ve ever done.

“I saw you at the Oscars. I’ve also seen every single one of your movies. Bravo, Aiden. Bravo. Selfishly, I like to think you have my eyes, but I know they are much more like your brother’s.

“Which brings me to the next point: You have a brother in California.

“His name is Damian Blackstone. He just recently learned about me. While I have no desire to formally meet you because I know that meeting with me will only spread your little fire, I think I’s fair that you know your blood brother. On the back of this letter, I’ll put the location of his place of employment. You can do with it as you wish.

“I wish you the best, Aiden. I would call you son, but I know that title belongs to someone else. Take care of those who stayed beside you. They are worth keeping safe. -Catherine.”

Catherine.

Her name was Catherine.

“A brother?” Hailee questioned. “You have a brother?”

A brother named Damian Blackstone.

40

Hailee

He had a brother.

I still hadn’t wrapped my mind around that detail, and I was certain Aiden hadn’t either.

Aiden didn’t sleep much. When he woke up, he didn’t mention the letter at all. He simply headed to the gym to get a workout in. I’d messaged him a few times throughout the day but didn’t get much of a reply. I knew him well enough to know that he was in his head. I wasn’t going to push him to express himself, though. Sometimes people had to work things out in their heads before they were ready to talk about it.

When I was on my lunch break, I texted Laurie to see if she was at home and available for a conversation. I was relieved when she messaged me back, telling me to come over, so I headed straight to her.

“Hey, Laurie, how are you?” I asked as she opened the door. She smiled and gave me a hug. I knew it sounded odd, but I swore her son had her smile. The kind of smile that made every single heart feel loved.

“I’m doing okay, sweetheart. Did Aiden read the letter?” I nodded. She sighed. “How’s he doing? Did it give him the answers he was looking for?”

“I’m not sure. She didn’t seem interested in meeting him, but she dropped the bomb that he has an older brother.”

“A brother?”

“Yup. His name is Damian, and he lives out in California. I guess he’s a big successful real estate agent.”

“Aiden always wanted a brother.” Her eyes glassed over, but she didn’t cry. “He’s sad, isn’t he?”

“Yes. And confused.”

“I talked him into coming back home for a few months because I noticed how unhappy he’d been. I knew his mind was going to those dark places that he doesn’t speak about. Most people can’t see it, but I know you can, Hailee. So can you do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“When you see him getting lost in himself again, when you see him going down the road of darkness, I need you to help bring him back. I need you to keep my son safe.”

My eyebrows lowered. “Yes, of course. How do I do that, though?”

“The same way you brought him back these past few months…you show up. You stay. You’re his true north, Hailee. When you’re around him, he’ll always find his way back.”

That night, I stayed late at the inn, waiting for Aiden. When he did show up, his eyes were bloodshot, clear signs that he’d been emotional, but I didn’t call him out on it.

“Hey. You didn’t answer your phone today,” I mentioned.

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