FAITH

“Are you feeling any better, Madame?” I asked Del and felt her head.

Finally, no fever. The poor thing had run a temperature, on and off, for the past few days. Hopefully, she was on the mend.

She nodded but didn’t talk and drifted off to sleep again.

With her being sick, and all the drama with Abbey leaving Scott and moving back in with her family going on in the group that week, I hadn’t time to really think about things with Aaron. 

Honestly, I missed him. The first few days he’d called and left me voicemails, but after that they’d slowed. As I sat there on the sofa, staring at my phone, I finally realized it was time to deal with Aaron and what had happened.

I wasn’t being fair not letting him explain, and I had so many questions. There was only one way to sort it out, and it had nothing to do with me being a coward.

I’d wait until Delaney fell back asleep and then I’d call him.

The sofa was littered with blankets and pillows, and finally, I found the remote and changed it to the news.

“Meth lab explosion sends Wynne’s Sheriff, a fireman, and one other to the hospital. More details at ten,” said the reporter on our local station. I rewound the commercial to hear it again and panic bloomed inside me.

I wasn’t sure who to call or what to do, but I had to know if it was Aaron. I dialed my mom and walked to the kitchen to talk.

I skipped pleasantries when she answered. “Did you hear about that fire?”

“We just did. Darrel saw the trucks heading out of town about an hour or so ago when he was on his way back from the store. I hope everyone is okay.”

“What if it was Aaron?”

“Oh, sweetie. Don’t worry. Aaron knows what he’s doing.” She tried to make me feel better, but I could hear the worry in her voice. Of course he knew what he was doing, but his work was so dangerous.

I paced between the table and the sink and prayed he was safe.

“I think I’m going to call his phone and see if he answers,” I said. “Maybe it’s under control now.”

“Let me know if you hear anything. I’ll call you if we do, too. Del feeling any better?” she asked before I had the chance to hang up.

“No fever, just sleepy.” My pulse was racing and I felt helpless. “I’m gonna let you go.”

“Love you, honey.”

My hands were shaking so much I nearly dropped the phone. “I love you, too. Bye.” I ended the call and went straight to his number. It rang and rang, and then went to voicemail.

“Aaron, it’s me. Call me as soon as you get this. I just heard about the fire.” Everything started to hit me at once, and my voice cracked. “I hope you’re okay. Call me back.”

I placed my cell on the counter and then leaned against it for support. He had to be okay.

Time slowed and I searched my phone for anything I could find on what had happened, but I had nothing. There was a Facebook post on the local news’ page, but it said basically the same thing the commercial had. People were leaving comments and prayers, but other than that, I was in the dark waiting for ten o’clock.

After I carried Del to her bed, I walked circles around the house and looked out my window every few minutes. Finally it was time, and I swear they were just trying to make me crazy as they gave the same vague information at the top of the newscast. Then, annoyingly, I had to wait until after the commercial.

One last time, I moved the blinds to look down the street and there he was. Walking up my driveway. I ran to the door and threw it open. He stopped when he saw me.

As I went down the steps, I said, “You’re okay.”

His face was dirty and he looked haggard and tired. “I’m better now. I got your message.”

“I was going to call, and then I saw the news. I thought...”

“I’m fine. One of our volunteers took in too much smoke, but he’s doing okay. Marv needed some stitches.”

My hand covered my heart, thankful. 

“I should have called you this week. I was just confused and angry. I should have let you apologize.” I rambled, but with him there the words came easier than I expected.

I went to him and my arms wrapped around his body, taking in the fiery scent on his clothes. He kissed the top of my head and smoothed a hand through my hair.

He spoke calmly. “I’m glad you called, but if you want me to apologize I don’t think I can. I don’t regret it, Fay. I might have been wrong, but a real man doesn’t apologize for what he wants, and I’d never apologize for something I’d do again.”

I lifted my chin and met his gaze. “But...”

He was unwavering. “I don’t care. He’s bad. He’s dangerous. He could have killed someone, and he almost killed himself today.”

My mind reeled. “The meth lab? That was Chad?” I’d only focused on the injured fireman part of the story.

“And the Gunters, who ran off and left him.” His fingers moved back and forth over my cheeks, and even though we were putting it all out there, I leaned into his touch. I’d missed him.

“I’m not sorry for wanting to protect you, for wanting to take care of you. Those aren’t options for me. You’re not an option for me.”

His words touched me. I’d waited all my life to hear—to feel—those words.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I knew it wouldn’t make you happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted: you and Delaney, safe and happy. I want it more than the money, and more than winning this argument, which I’m sure I’ll lose.”

There was no doubt he meant what he said, and I understood where he was coming from. Aaron keeping a secret like that from me for so long was hard to swallow, but it wasn’t like I hadn’t done something similar. Later, when Delaney was older, I’d have to explain some choices I’d made on her behalf, and she might not agree with them, but they were made out of love.

Coincidentally, the same day Aaron removed Chad from our lives, I had too in a way. I never added him to Del’s birth certificate, and I never planned on doing it. I’d cut him out of my daughter’s life, and I couldn’t fault Aaron for doing the same thing for me.

“I can’t keep that money, and you can’t keep secrets from me,” I argued while I had a platform.

“You are keeping the money, and I won’t,” he acquiesced. Then he gave me a guilty half grin. “Probably.”

“I don’t like being mad at you,” I confessed. “It sucks when you’re not around, and Delaney missed you.”

His hands made their way around me and he gathered me up in his arms. “I missed her too. So you’re not angry anymore?”

I linked my fingers behind his head and quickly pressed my lips to his. They were right there and it had been so long since they’d touched mine. “I’m still a little angry, but I love you. So I guess if you go get Smokie and come back, you can stay the night and make it up to me.”

He smiled, and inside his eyes I saw his reply. He loved me. He loved my daughter. And when he said, “I love you too, Faith,” I knew it was forever.