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“I knew your dad well,” Sutton continued. “He loved you and Ike. You were his entire world after your mum died. He loved your mum deeply. That’s why her death was so devastating. Do you really think he saw things clearly? He’s healed now, and I don’t believe he or your mum would want you to dedicate your life so completely to security jobs that you’d miss out on a family, on happiness, on everlasting love.”
Had he really just said those words? Everlasting love. Chalisa. Aiden jumped to his feet and paced again.
“But …” he tried to protest. “This is easy for you to say. You had already achieved the top security specialist spot when you married Liz. Once I reach those goals, then I could feel my vow was fulfilled and incorporate marriage and family into the path.”
“Aiden.” Sutton laughed his deep, rich laugh. It was irritating. “You’ve got it all wrong, chap. I would’ve married Liz as a scrawny twenty-three-year-old with no accolades to my name. Our path was long and excruciating and not the choice either of us would’ve made. And you don’t ‘incorporate’ marriage into your path. Liz is my path. She’s the goal and the dream. She and our family mean everything to me. With Liz and God on my side, I can do anything. Without them, any ‘accolade’ would be empty.”
Aiden tried to process that. It was too much. He already felt the same about Chalisa. With her, the goals and the plan could be incredible. Without her, they’d be meaningless. It was like she’d said; she’d work hard in her hospitals and centers and help so many people, and the service would be fulfilling, but without their love it would be a sad life.
He still didn’t know how to break the vow and deathbed promise to his dad, even if his dad hadn’t been in his right mind regarding relationships. Aiden had still sworn.
And of course Sutton would bring heaven into it. Was Chalisa praying for him even now?
His phone buzzed with an incoming call. He startled and glanced at the screen. Ike. His heart thumped hard against his chest. What were the odds?
“Sutton. Ike’s calling.”
“I’ll sign off. Liz and I will pray for you.”
“Thank you,” he managed. Prayer. He’d never needed or asked anybody to pray for him. Now Chalisa, Sutton, and Liz were all praying for him. He needed it now. For the first time in his life, he was in a desperate situation that he couldn’t escape from or battle brilliantly on his own.
“Cheers.”
Aiden pushed a hand through his hair.
A man is only as good as his word.
His dad had been his world, and he’d promised him.
Chalisa was consuming his mind now. Was that wrong? He didn’t know how to drop his pride and pray like everyone else seemed wont to do.
He accepted Ike’s call.
“Aiden!” Ike called through the phone. “You’re back.”
“We just flew in.”
“I thought you’d have your phone today. Bro, I could hardly wait to tell you ...” Ike paused and Aiden thought it was odd if he ‘could hardly wait to tell’ why he was pausing.
Ike cleared his throat and admitted, “I’m in love.”
His brother didn’t even sound like himself. What was happening? Was his dad groaning from heaven, or was he with their mom and directing them both to find love?
“Myra?” Aiden managed. He wanted to hear all about his brother’s love and happiness, even if he never figured out how to have his own.
“Yes, Myra.” Ike’s voice calmed a bit but still was much too … happy. It was a stark contrast to how Aiden felt about his own life at the moment. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. Are you in Long Island?”
“No. The Westin in Carlsbad, actually. The woman I did the reality show with … I flew her home to Oceanside.”
“That’s great. We’re in Dana Point with our friend Beau Alexander.”
His friend? A lot had changed in a week. Ike was in love with Myra and friends with a famous quarterback.
“Can we meet up in the morning?” Ike asked.
“Sure.” His people had been running everything without him for a week. He’d be back to work soon enough. That thought startled him. His work was his life, not something he pushed away. “Tell me about Myra and how it happened.” It was the right thing to say, and he would be happy for his brother no matter what.
Ike told him the story, the pretending to be dating to keep her safe from Beau while she pretend-dated Beau, then realizing Beau was a great guy who was in love with Bermuda Gray, who he didn’t cheat on with Divine Destiny. The story went on. Aiden listened, amazed. His brother was truly in love, and Myra sounded perfect for Ike. He was happy for them. Very.
