Chapter 30 Elephant In The Room
Chapter 30 Elephant In The Room
TARA
A minute into the drive home, Aidan broke the silence.
“Her breathing evened out,” he said.
My head snapped to him, distracted. “Sorry?”
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Aidan tipped his head to the back of the car, and I followed the motion to see that Nadia was fast asleep in Aidan’s car.
“Oh.”
“She must have used up all of her energy in playing that she couldn’t wait to hit the bed,” Aidan added, and we both laughed.
“She sure did,” I responded.
With a little direction, Aidan’s car was now parked in front of our house only minutes later.
“I should get her inside now,” I said, breaking the silence.
Aidan nodded.
“I’m really sorry about my inconsiderate statement earlier, and also about how the evening ended horribly. I hope you let me make it up to you, Tara,” Aidan said. “And also make up for every other thing.”
With what Collin said earlier, I didn’t think that much would be possible. Sooner or later, Aidan would have no choice but to return to his people, and the last thing I wanted for myself or my daughter was to get attached, and then be heartbroken when it was time for that.
“It’s late,” I said, deflecting. “Goodnight, Aidan.”
I pushed the door open and went around to the trunk to get our bag, and many thoughts ran through my head as I did that.
“Let me help you,” Aidan’s voice came through, and I jerked, surprised that he came out of the car to me.
“You don’t have to,” I argued, holding on to the latch of the bag, so Aidan covered my hands with his in an attempt to take the bag from me.
As wrong as it should have been, I didn’t see myself pulling away from his touch.
I just hoped I didn’t make the wrong choices in this.
I didn’t know how long had passed since Aidan’s hand was over mine, but something finally snapped, disconnecting the tension between us, and I pulled my hands away, letting him have the bag.
“I’ll get Nadia,” I said, ignoring the sudden dryness in my throat.
Aidan shook his head, stopping me. “It’s not a hassle, Tara. Just get the doors and I’ll grab her without waking her up.”
With my heart on the tip of my tongue, I watched as Aidan adjusted the bag containing our clothes and essentials on one arm, pulled Nadia out of the back seat, and hoisted her up on his shoulder with his free arm.
Nadia snuggled herself up in the crook of Aidan’s neck, smiling to herself, and muttering unintelligible words as she did.
Aidan chuckled at her movement, and I couldn’t help but stare at them as I thought.
Aidan and Nadia looked perfect, and I would be a liar if I said I didn’t want this to be a norm for Nadia.
It was hard being a single mother, and although it was something I could do well on my own, it wouldn’t have hurt to have a consistent partner in our lives.
Collin was nowhere near that for us, and Aidan…Aidan wasn’t for us at all.
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Chapter 30 Elephant In The Room
Pulling myself out of my head, I closed the car door and padded the steps to open up the front door.
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From my peripheral view, I could see our next–door neighbor, Esme, peeping as me and Aidan made our way up, and I made a mental note to go over for drinks with her soon as it was our little tradition.
“I can take it from here, Aidan,” I said once we reached the entrance door. “Thank you for helping me. It would have been a real struggle to get her settled in on my own.”
I stood in between Aidan and the door, letting him know that I wasn’t comfortable with letting him into the house even if a part of me wanted to.
He must have gotten the memo because he shrugged the bag off, handing it over to me, and I dropped it on the floor inside.
“Believe me, Tara,” he said, smiling as he cradled Nadia’s head. “I’m more thankful that you let me. You have no idea how happy today made me.”
Aidan was Nadia’s father, and it was only natural that he had an instant bond with her, but that also made me wonder what it was like for Nadia.
I only nodded.
“If you would like, I could help get her in bed,” Aidan added cautiously, hope twinkling in his bright hazel eyes.
“No. I should let you head back and get your rest. I’m sure you must be stressed out from all the chaos of the day.”
“I promise you, I’m not. I want to do this instead,” Aidan replied, and having no more excuses to give, I hit the nail on the head.
“Maybe some other time, Aidan. This is all happening so fast, and I feel like we’re moving at a pace where we could make a wrong move and not know it. I wouldn’t want that,” I added.
I saw the disappointment in his eyes even though he tried his best to mask it.
It wasn’t fair to Aidan as Nadia’s father, but I was only trying to do what was best for us both.
“Yes, yes, I understand,” Aidan said. “I get it… you’re right, and I’m sorry. I’m content with moving at your pace, but you should know that I’m not going anywhere.”
“But you are!” I finally said it. I finally acknowledged the elephant in the room. I spoke on. “You are, Aidan, and we can’t ignore that fact. Collin might be a prick, but he was right. This isn’t your pack. You have a pack to lead, and soon, you will have to get back to them.”
“Not without fixing us, or at least trying my very hardest to,” Aidan replied, conviction swirling in his eyes.
An exasperated laugh bounced off my chest.
“If you think Collin is going to let you do that, then you don’t really know him.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Tara,” Aidan said again, and I exhaled a sharp breath. “I will find a way,” he added quietly. “I’ll let you both get some sleep now. I have a meeting with a client before I go to bed, so I should probably get on that.”
I nodded.
Gently taking Nadia from Aidan’s hands and groaning a little at her weight, I smiled.
“Good night, Aidan.”
He tipped his head to me as he took a step back. “Night, Tara.”
