Chapter Eight
Aaron
“Are you going to say good-bye to your family?”
I paused, turning to a frowning Patience. I hoisted a sleeping Kennedy a little higher up on my shoulder. Patience was holding Kyle in the same position, because he’d fallen asleep as well. It was close to ten at night and we were readying to leave Townsend Manor to head to our home for the night.
“No,” I answered curtly.
Patience rolled her eyes, pushing out a heavy breath. “No manners.”
I watched as she turned her back on me and moved farther from the door.
“Um,” she began, getting everyone’s attention. “I’d like to thank you for attending today. I’m sure all of…this,” she gestured to herself in the wedding gown and the children, “came as a bit of a surprise to you all.” She glanced back at me before returning her attention to the family. “I also wanted to thank you for welcoming Kyle and Kennedy into your fold. They’re, um, lucky and blessed to have you as their family. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” With that, she turned and didn’t bother giving me a second glance as she passed through the glass doors into the house toward the front entrance, leaving me to follow.
I looked back at my family, most of whom were smirking at me. Frowning, I turned to follow Patience to the awaiting car.
The fifteen minute car ride from Townsend Manor to our home in Cedarwoods—just outside of the city of Williamsport—was quiet, save for the light snoring of the children.
“I’ll put them to bed,” Patience insisted, attempting to take Kennedy from my arms once the short ride was over.
“You can’t carry both of them.”
She looked at me sharply. “I’ve been doing it for the last five years.”
“And now you’re not,” I explained just as sharply.
She glared at me before turning and going up the stairs to the children’s room. The home I’d had built almost a year ago was close to eight thousand square feet with five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half baths, plus additional spaces for a TV room or den, three car garage, and office space. The master bedroom, as well as the children’s separate rooms, were located on the second floor. The same day I found out about Kyle and Kennedy I had interior decorators over here, fixing up their bedrooms.
I passed by Patience as she took Kyle into his room, while I carried Kennedy to her room. I laid her on the Barbie bed the interior designer insisted every little girl would love, and then rifled through one of the dressers until I found a nightgown to put her in. I marveled at the way Kennedy barely stirred as I changed her clothing. Once I tucked her in, she rolled over and her snores grew in volume. I stood and was at the door, shutting out the light, when she turned over and kicked one leg out from underneath the blanket, but remained contently asleep.
“She sleeps like her mother,” I commented under my breath before turning the light out. I moved farther down the carpeted hall to the master bedroom and began removing my tuxedo jacket. I tossed it on the edge of the huge sleigh bed that had obviously been remade this morning, before retrieving a few items of clothing from one of the grey-stained wooden dressers. I glanced over my shoulder as Patience entered the room, pausing as if she wasn’t expecting me to be there. I stared as she moved to the far side of the room, going into her walk-in closet. I didn’t wait for her to emerge. Instead, I moved into the attached bathroom, taking a shower and then changing into a pair of plaid pajama bottom pants and a white T-shirt.
When I emerged from the bathroom, Patience was propped up in the bed, her back against the headboard. I let my eyes skim over the smooth, walnut brown skin of her bared shoulders. She wore a sleeveless silk top and matching shorts, which I saw peeking out from underneath the blanket she had tucked up to her waist. She didn’t even look up at me from her Kindle. A stirring in my groin began and I knew I needed to leave.
After gathering my cell phone and tablet that I placed on my dresser, I headed to the door.
“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.” I didn’t need to say it but it’d come out. Hearing her rustle in the bed, I turned to look over my shoulder.
She gave me a perplexing look. “Y-you’re not sleeping in here?”
“No.” I went to turn the doorknob.
“Why not?” Confusion laced her voice.
“Did you want me to?” I gave her a stern look.
She shook her head. “No.”
“Well then.”
“You can’t blame me,” she defended. “You didn’t want my children five years ago, and now you force me to decide between marrying you or losing custody of th–” Her statement was cut off by my slamming of the door.
“I never denied my children.”
A wrinkle appeared between her wide eyes. “Yes, you did. I–”
“I never knew you were pregnant.” My voice sliced through her argument.
Her face crumpled. “What?”
“She lied. I never knew,” I insisted.
“Then how… She said–”
“She was a fucking liar. And you believed her.” My voice was low, full of the betrayal I felt.
“I believed her? Of course I believed her. I wouldn’t have known she even existed if it weren’t for her.”
My jaw tightened and I gritted my teeth.
“It wasn’t like you told me you had a fiancée. Not until she showed up–” She cut herself off, turning her head away from me.
I directed my gaze down at the floor, my hand still resting on the doorknob. “I never would’ve denied my children. Ever. And the fact that you believed I would says everything I need to know about what you thought of me.” My voice dripped in an icy coldness that chilled the entire room. I gave Patience one last look. The frozen block in the center of my chest lurched against my ribcage at the expression of hurt that passed over her face. I turned, opening the door and shutting it behind me, moving down the hall to the stairs to get to the den that I used as a home office.
****
By the time I reached the den, my chest was heaving with anger, resentment, and a deep sadness I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in nearly six years. I flicked on the light and went to my large desk, plopping down in the leather chair. My gaze was pulled to the large sofa that was long enough for me to sleep on. I knew because I’d spent plenty of nights sleeping in this very room, even before Patience and the children moved in. Rising, I walked over to the opposite side of the room to the small refrigerator I kept in here, pulling out a bottle of water. I went to the window, opening the bottle and staring at the night sky.
“I told you she would be your wife someday.”
My lips pursed, the bottle stopped just inches from my lips. I remained silent and continued drinking, choosing to ignore the female voice in the background.
“You’re going to sleep down here while your wife and children are two floors up?”
I grunted, still gazing out the window. “You’re not real.”
The voice sighed. “You’ve been trying to play that game since you were eight years old. I’m very real and you know it.”
“Ghosts aren’t real,” I persisted.
“We’ve been through this. I’m not a ghost. I’m a spirit.”
I angrily turned from the window, to see the woman standing in the middle of my office. She wore a long white nightgown, same as always. Her dark brown hair hung around her shoulders.
“You’re not real,” I stated it again, more trying to convince myself.
“We both know the truth, Aaron. And despite what your real daddy tried to drill into that thick head of yours, you know I’m real.”
“Stop it!”
“You know it. The children around you see it. You have a gift and you choose to ignore it, making your life more difficult.”
I gave the woman, Emma, a deadpan expression. “My life would be a hell of a lot more difficult if I went around declaring to the world that I saw ghosts or spirits, whatever the fuck the difference is.”
“You don’t see spirits. You just see me. Your real gift is in your keen intuition. The insight you’ve been blessed with that no one else can see. It’s what makes you so great at your job. It’s a gift passed down from generation to generation on your mother’s side of the family.”
I snorted. “My mother, right.”
“It’s true. You have greatness on both sides of your family. The Townsends and your mother. There were a number of important businessmen, entrepreneurs, and politicians. It’s why your father chose her to marry.”
I gave her an incredulous look. “If she was so blessed with such keen insight, why the hell would she choose to marry him of all people?”
“She failed to listen to caution. Much like her son.”
I peered at Emma through narrowed eyes.
She shrugged. “It’s your distrust of others that gets in your way.”
I rolled my eyes, grunting. “Great. I get the spirit that loves to psychoanalyze me.”
She had the audacity to laugh. “I’m only calling it like I see it. Just like I told you nearly six years ago that Patience Thiers was going to be your wife. And now look where we are.”
I flexed my jaw again, remaining silent, but turning once more to stare out of the window, remembering that time six years ago, when Emma had indeed informed me that Patience was my destiny.
****
Then …
“You’re dining with Thiers tonight?”
“Yes, Father,” I responded into my cell, as I exited the door the driver held open.
“At his home?”
I glanced up. “No, at Buona Sera.”
“Okay, don’t forget to remind him of the agreement. You know our stock prices have dropped…”
I sighed. As if I would’ve forgotten such a thing. Thiers wasn’t even a big time power dealer in the world of energy, but he was a close family friend…well, as close as business associates could get. My father and Thiers went back years to their childhood, having grown up on different sides of the tracks but attending the same school.
“You need to be on top of things while I’m in Japan,” my father continued.
“You think I don’t take my position at Townsend seriously?”
My father grumbled, “I did not say that, Aaron. I know more than anyone how hard you work. You want the CEO position, and as far as I’m concerned, once I retire, it’s yours. But I’m not the only one who has a say on the matter.”
“I understand.”
“I know you do. Go have dinner with Thiers. Give him my apologies for missing this outing and get back to work tomorrow morning.”
“Will do.” Hanging up the phone with my father, I entered the restaurant door that was held open by the door attendant.
“Welcome, sir. Your name?” the hostess asked.
“Reservation is under Thiers, first name, Gary.”
She smiled, beckoning me to follow. “Right this way.”
I did so, scanning the dining space as we moved through it. I caught Thiers’ eye a moment before the hostess stopped at the table that sat next to one of the restaurants’ windows.
“Aaron.” He stood, extending his arms for an embrace.
I frowned.
“I forgot,” he chuckled, then reached out for a handshake.
I obliged. My father was more of the hugger, at least with Thiers he was.
“How’re you doing these days?”
“I’m well.”
“I bet you are. Next in line to be CEO of Townsend and not even thirty years old.”
“I’ll be thirty in a few months,” I reminded.
“Nonetheless, you’re on track to surpass even your father’s expectations, I’m sure.”
I nodded. “And yourself? How are you?” Unfolding the cloth napkin in my lap, I leaned back against the wooden chair, awaiting his reply.
“I’m very well.” He smiled. “Ju-Oh, Patience.”
I looked over my shoulder to see the same hostess approaching our table, this time a woman behind her. I squinted, noting the walnut skin, and sepia, wide-set eyes. I let my eyes trail down her frame which couldn’t be more than five-foot-four. She wasn’t overweight but her body was incredibly curvy. Our eyes locked as soon as she arrived at the table. Hers widened in surprise and the muscles in my stomach clenched.
“Patience,” Thiers stated.
She pulled her gaze from me. “Dad.” She smiled and moved to place a kiss on his cheek.
“Patience, you remember, Aaron, Robert Townsend’s son.”
She turned to me again, nodded. “Hello.”
I had an urge to crowd her space, to pull her close to me, but I clamped down on that compulsion, instead, taking her proffered hand into mine. Something sharp moved through me at the contact. I stared at our joined hands for a moment, trying to figure something out before she pulled hers away. She moved around the table and for a second I let my eyes drop to watch the sway of her hips as she walked.
“I hope I’m not late,” Patience stated, sitting next to her father.
“Not at all. I was just preparing to get Aaron up to speed on what I’ve been up to since I got back into town two weeks ago.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Patience’s body stiffen. I turned to see her doe eyes wide, lips turned downward.
“Two weeks ago?”
“Yes,” Thiers responded. “You knew I was out of town on business.”
“Yes, I thought you returned today. You’ve been back in town two weeks?”
I heard something in her voice that made me want to comfort her, which was completely opposed to my normal interactions with women, or most people for that matter. I turned accusing eyes on Thiers.
“Yes, well, I had business matters to tend to. You’re a busy graduate student. I figured you wouldn’t want to be bothered by your old man.” He waved off her obvious disappointment as if it were no big deal.
I glanced at Patience who lowered her eyes before reaching for the glass of water in front of her and taking a sip. No more questions came from her regarding her father’s whereabouts.
“Aaron, tell me about the Collins’ deal you and your father are working on,” Thiers continued.
I gave Patience one last look and then turned my attention on her father, answering his question about Townsend’s newest venture. We talked for a few more minutes before our waitress arrived, taking our orders. Thiers then talked a little about his business that had taken him to Canada. The entire time I kept an eye on Patience who silently listened, as if she’d had years of experience being in the room being neglected.
Once our food arrived, the conversation shifted a bit, but that was because Thiers received a call. I looked again to Patience whose eyes skirted away from me.
“You’re in graduate school?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“For what?”
She cleared her throat, sitting up a taller.
I bit the inside of my bottom lip at the way her movement made her breasts stand out against the blue V-neck she wore.
“Library sciences.” Her voice was soft, yet strong and steady. Welcoming.
“A librarian.”
She gave me a half-smile and again something in my chest shifted.
“Sorry about that. That was my Canadian contact,” Thiers informed, picking up the conversation where we’d left off, once again leaving his daughter out of it.
Upon finishing our meals, Patience stood. “I need to go to the restroom.”
“Okay.” Her father nodded.
I watched her as she walked away, willing myself not to completely turn my back on Thiers just to watch the effort of the jeans she wore to contain all those curves.
“Tell Robert he owes me a round of golf for skipping out on our monthly dinner.”
I nodded, standing along with Thiers. “He sends his apologies for missing it.” I glanced down at my watch.
“You know what? I hate to eat and run but I just remembered I had a late evening appointment.”
I picked my head up, a wrinkle in my forehead due to his abruptness.
“Do me a favor,” he began, tossing a few bills on the table, “tell Patience I will give her a call in the next day or two.”
I leaned back, surprised, but Thiers came over, tapped me on the shoulder as a way of saying good-bye, and was headed toward the door in less than a few seconds. I glowered at the back of his head as he crossed the street, wondering why he couldn’t even say good-bye to his only child.
Instead of dwelling on Thiers, I headed in the direction of the restroom, not totally understanding why I felt the need to be there when Patience emerged.
****
Patience
I exited the bathroom and got the surprise of my life to see a scowling Aaron standing there. I glanced over my shoulder just to make sure I hadn’t accidently entered the men’s room instead of the women’s bathroom. Nope. That wasn’t the case.
“E-excuse me.” I went to step around him but he didn’t budge in the tiny hallway space.
“Your father left,” he said.
I paused, easing back to stare up at his face. I tilted my head to the side. “He left and is coming right back or left for the night?”
“He’s not coming back.”
I swallowed down the sadness that overcame me. I barely had a chance to even speak with my father. I had thought this was a dinner just between us. Instead it was a business dinner where I find out he’d been in town for two weeks and hadn’t bothered to call or stop by my place. Now, he’d run out while I was in the restroom without so much as a good-bye. Whatever. That was my father’s style when it came to his relationship with me. No use dwelling on it.
I stood, squaring my shoulders, and figured I had other things to do anyway. I looked up into Aaron’s hazel eyes, a heated feeling overcoming me as I realized he’d been silently watching me. “Thank you for sticking around to tell me he’d left. Um, enjoy your evening.”
Again, I went to step around Aaron and again he didn’t move. In fact, he seemed to have moved closer, as there was barely more than a few inches separating our bodies. I felt my body growing warm all over.
“Did you drive here?”
I shook my head. “I took the subway.”
“I will give you a ride home.”
I swallowed. “That won’t be necessary. I wasn’t going home.”
“I will give you a ride wherever you were going.”
Somehow I knew he wasn’t asking, nor was it negotiable. Wherever I was going, Aaron Townsend was giving me a ride.
He stepped to the side, allowing me to pass. Once I did, he followed closely, placing his hand on my lower back and holding the door to the restaurant open for me to pass through.
I turned to him once we were out on the sidewalk. “I understand if you have somewhere else you need to be. I wasn’t going directly home.”
He stared down at me, not saying anything. The look he gave me should’ve intimidated the hell out of me. And on some level, it did, but something inside of me also wanted to reach up and pull his face to mine. And that scared me more than anything. Even at twenty-three, I hadn’t had a lot of experience with the opposite sex, but I knew men like Aaron Townsend were one of a kind. And dangerous.
“Where are you headed?”
“Right down the street,” I answered, nodding in the direction of where I was headed.
“I’ll walk you.” He turned and made a motion with his head. Out of nowhere, two burly men stepped forward.
I gave Aaron a confused look.
“My security. They will follow us,” he responded to my silent question as if it was no big deal.
“You travel everywhere with security?” I had to ask.
“Just about.” He was short on words, but strangely I didn’t mind that at all.
I felt his firm hand at my lower back and a shiver ran through my body. I silently prayed he hadn’t felt it.
The walk was mostly silent, but it was short—only about a block down from the restaurant.
“A bookstore,” he commented.
“Not just any bookstore. They sell vintage books,” I defended.
He snorted but used his free hand to pull the door open, his other hand still at my back.
Entering the bookstore, I inhaled the scent of old and used books, loving it. “Hi, Sam,” I greeted the clerk who seemed to always be here at the store.
He lifted his head, his wire-framed glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as he did. A smile blossomed on his handsome face, but it quickly disappeared when his eyes moved from me to the man standing closely behind me.
For some odd reason, I felt the need to make introductions. “Sam this is, uh, Aaron Townsend. He’s a friend of my father’s.”
Sam’s pale face seemed to grow even paler, his lips clamping together before parting. “Aaron, nice to–”
“Mr. Townsend,” Aaron corrected.
I looked back at Aaron who was staring at Sam, relaying something silently with his eyes. I had no idea what was going on. I turned back to Sam, whose eyes had narrowed, but he quickly looked away from Aaron.
“Sam, did you get the books in?” I asked.
He nodded and went to move from behind the counter but stopped when he took a quick glance behind me. “They’re on the shelf in the back row. You know where we keep them.”
I wrinkled my forehead but nodded and proceeded down the two stairs to enter the main part of the store. Aaron followed me all the way to the back of the bookstore. I smiled widely when I saw the newly stocked books on the shelf. Stooping low, I took out a copy of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, followed by Home. I stood with the books in my hand, and that giddy feeling I always felt when I wrapped my fingers around new books overcame me.
“They just got these in,” I stated, smiling, my eyes still trained on the books. “This one was published this year.” I held up the copy of Home. “I’ve read this one but this is a vintage copy. One of the first published. I’ve been waiting weeks for the bookstore to get it in.” I went on to talk more about the books, but paused when I saw Aaron simply staring at me, his usual scowl set in place. “I’m sure you have better things to do than to watch a librarian geek out over books.”
He lowered his chin, eyes boring into mine. “I’ll let you know when I have other matters to tend to.”
I swallowed, feeling uneasy and oddly comforted under his penetrating gaze. How was that even possible?
I turned back to the bookshelf, realizing Aaron wasn’t going anywhere unless he wanted to, and for now, he didn’t. I didn’t want him to leave either, but I’d never say as much out loud. Browsing some more, I picked up two more books I hadn’t intended to get right then but just couldn’t turn away. I headed to the register, placing the books down on the counter. Sam gave me the same smile he always gave whenever I was in the store, until, again, he ventured to look behind me.
“That’ll be two-hundred–” Sam was cut off when Aaron thrust a credit card in his face.
I turned. “You don–” My refusal stopped short on my lips when Aaron turned stern eyes on me, telling me without words that his paying wasn’t up for debate.
Sam silently took the card and rang up my items.
With Aaron’s hand again at the small of my back, we exited the bookstore.
“Do you like ice cream?” I questioned without thinking.
Aaron lifted an eyebrow and I dipped my head on a smile. He looked perplexed, as if he was trying to figure out what he was still doing with me.
“There’s a shop right across the street. I was going to stop by to get my favorite praline ice cream before heading home for the night.”
He turned his head in the direction of the ice cream shop I’d just gestured toward and then nodded.
I took that as a yes, especially when he placed his hand at my back again, urging me forward. We got our ice cream—my vanilla and praline while he ordered regular chocolate—before he offered me a ride home. After telling him that I opted to walk, he took that as an opportunity to walk me all the way back to my third floor walk-up apartment.
“Your father allows you to live here?” he questioned once we reached my door.
I squinted. “He doesn’t allow anything. I’m twenty-three. He doesn’t really have a say in the matter.”
That frown deepened.
I angled my head. “The neighborhood isn’t that bad.”
He didn’t respond but the expression on his face revealed he didn’t think too highly of my neighborhood.
I went to thank him for purchasing my books and walking me back home, but what came out instead was, “Would you like to come in?” I had no idea where that came from. A part of me wanted to get away from this man as fast as I could. He both intrigued and intimidated me.
He stared down at me for a few heartbeats. His face remained set but I could feel an internal debate happening. “You live alone?”
Fidgeting with the bags in my hands, I nodded.
He gestured toward the door with his head and I moved to unlock it. He followed me inside, after saying something briefly to his guards who’d followed us up the stairs, then shut the door, locking us in.