CHAPTER 24
Aidan
I knew that the girls were inside talking. Melissa had loose lips as seen at dinner, but she also knew me better than most people. She wouldn’t talk shit about me since I’d seen the way she looked at Elsa and me throughout the night. Melissa would tell her the best things about me, and I felt reassured by that as Matt and I talked about sports and cars in the backyard.
I looked around and realized that this is what I wanted without ever realizing that before. I wanted the kids and the yard and friends over for a barbecue with Elsa on his arm. I glanced inside and saw them by the sink as Melissa laughed, and Elsa smiled. I knew that Elsa had friends in her community but what would it be like for her to have a friend that wasn’t Amish? In some cases, that could be a disaster. Melissa was good, though. She was outgoing and funny, and one of the kindest people on the planet, and I watched Elsa relax around her through the window.
I listened to Matt talk about some things that he’d done to the yard and realized how happy he was with a job in computers while Melissa did part time work from home. Their lives were simple, but they both glowed. I guess I thought I’d grow into this at some point, but now there was no time. I only had this trip to look forward to, time with Elsa. I knew that I didn’t have years left, and emotion hit me as I wandered towards the edge of the deck. Melissa forgave me and welcomed me back into her life, not knowing the truth. I’d played it off as just some time off and suggested stopping by, never intending to bring a woman with me. “Are you okay?” Matt called out as I nodded and turned my head.
“Yeah, just enjoying the evening. It’s so peaceful out here,” I told him as Matt nodded.
“She was worried about you, Aidan. I watched her face light up when you contacted her since she was so relieved. Melissa loves you,” Matt told me as I nodded and looked at him. “I know what happened to you two. I’m fine with that because she and I are together forever. Besides, your heart is with Elsa, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure.” It wasn’t fair to say that out loud since I didn’t have the time to give her. I didn’t know what I had to give to her.
“I had the same look on my face when I met Melissa,” Matt had smiled at me before he started to close up the barbecue for the night. I walked down the steps and into the large yard to look around. This was a great yard for the twins, and I could see how much effort that Matt put into the swing set that was in the corner and the pool that was sparkling and clean on the other side.
In a different world, this would've been me. I opted for adrenaline and excitement and had lived a good life due to that choice. I had women that men would give almost anything to be with, yet none of them had ever made me feel the way that Elsa did after one night together. She gave me a spark that I wanted to drown as I thought about my ending life and I stared up at the sky for a long moment. I had the money to give her the world, but it was at the loss of my best friend, my brother. Elsa was getting a broken version of me, and I hated myself for wanting her so much right now.
“I think Mel made something for dessert. Want to head inside and talk in there for a while? There’s a creek nearby, and lots of mosquitoes out here. That’s the only downfall of this property.”
“I’d still take them,” I mumbled as I turned to head back to the deck. We cleaned up our beers and tossed them in a recycle bin before we went into the empty kitchen.
“Where are they?” Matt asked as he looked around before opening the fridge. He pulled out two more beers, and I took it automatically before I heard footsteps. Melissa breezed into the room first with a smile on her face as she shook her head at me. I smiled as Elsa and asked what they were up to, and Melissa told me that I should be proud of myself as I let my smile fade. I knew that there was information about me online, information that I’d once been proud to read when the military was my life. That seemed like so long ago, and I knew that I would trade it all as I looked at Elsa.
The look on her face showed pride in my actions. The computer always painted me in a heroic picture that revolved around the medals I’d received as well as the men that I’d saved. They didn’t mention the horror of death and carnage, and I stared into her eyes as she gave me a small smile. They didn’t motion everything that I’d lost.
I watched as Melissa kissed her husband and walked over to the fridge as I set my beer down. I didn’t want it anymore; I wanted Elsa. I stepped forward as Melissa pulled a cake from the refrigerator and my eyes moved to the red glass as I remembered my last birthday with Melissa. It had been before I joined the Army and she’d made the cake while my mom cooked dinner since nothing could top Melissa’s baking. “Is that what I think it is? I haven’t had one in years.” I slipped my hands around Elsa’s hips and gripped her hard as she melted against me.
Matt expressed his appreciation for the cake as Melissa lifted the lid to reveal the chocolate goodness that brought back so many memories, not just of her and I, but my childhood. I had remembered happier times before I’d reached for what I thought was my dream. I breathed in the scent of Elsa’s hair as my heart broke inside and I forced a smile on my face.
The sounds of kids filled the room, and Melissa dropped her head forward as she mumbled something. I felt Elsa move around as she looked into the living room and realized that she didn’t know what a baby monitor was. I told her to bring them down and give them some cake because their innocence and happiness soothed me, reminded me of Elsa.
Matt went to grab them as Melissa sliced them much smaller slices of the cake and we all gathered around the table as we chatted and ate. The once clean children were soon covered in sticky frosting, and I chuckled as their parents tried to clean them up before they took us to the living room by their little hands to watch a movie that had a girl named Elsa featured in it.
Elsa watched Frozen with wide eyes as Adriana cuddled in her lap and sang all of the words to the songs while Nathan played with a snowman figure that seemed to be in the film. I couldn’t believe that she’d never seen a movie like this when most kids watched them ad museum. Matt and Melissa cuddled on the couch as they watched their kids play with us and I felt Elsa scoot closer to me on the floor as I smiled.
The kids were passed out by the time the movie was over, and we transferred them to their parent’s arms as they told us good night. I looked down at Elsa as she swallowed and told them the same before she wandered towards the guest room near the office.
I knew that we were on a different floor and that nobody would hear us, but I wanted to ravage her tonight. I wanted to soothe my pain inside of her as well as celebrate my relief at being here and fin sing closure. I didn’t want to share her with the house or my friends, and I followed her into the room. It was nice, with a queen sized bed and very comfortable. I knew that we could stay here, but I wanted her in a room all to myself so that I could hear her without filters. I wanted her to cry my name, even scream it as I took her in ways that I hadn’t before.
“Elsa,” my words were spoken in a low voice as she stilled before me. “I want to take you somewhere else tonight.”
“You don’t want to stay here? We’re supposed to go to lunch tomorrow.”
“I’ll take them myself when we come back tomorrow. Do you want me?” I slipped my hand around her stomach and felt her shiver.
“I have since earlier today,” her voice was a whisper, and I leaned down to kiss her neck.
“It’s settled.” I grabbed our bags and glanced up the stairs to see Melissa walking down yawning.
“Where are you going?” She asked as I smiled at her.
“Hotel.” Her eyes twinkled as she shook her head and grinned. “We’ll be back tomorrow to do brunch before we hit the road.”
“Sounds great,” Melissa replied as she looked at us. I led Elsa to the door and out to the car as we heard the lock click behind us. I unlocked her door before I tossed our bags into the trunk and got in on my side.
Elsa opened the door for me now. I liked that.