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But he heard himself say, “Ike, I’m tremendously happy for you, but what if something happens to her like Mom or Sadie?”
“I’ll be devastated,” Ike admitted.
Exactly. This was what their dad had been helping them avoid.
“But I won’t live my life in fear.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t you find it ironic that the man who taught us to fear nothing, to be stronger than anyone, also taught us to let fear rule us?”
“He didn’t …” Aiden trailed off and studied the windows.
“Are you sure? What do you feel when you think about getting into a serious relationship?”
Fear. There was no denying it. It brought the terror of living a life that meant nothing in the end. His father had ingrained it deeply. Relationships and love were monsters you didn’t mess with, the only thing that could break a man.
“Listen, I’m going to be happy and love Myra, and I refuse to live in fear of something happening. ‘The brave might not live forever, but the cautious don’t live at all.’”
“Richard Branson,” Aiden said quietly. “Dad quoted that.”
“Exactly. Aiden…” Ike’s voice was suddenly serious. “I want you to forget about the oath you made to Dad and find love and happiness for yourself. Don’t let his pain from losing Mom and his fear of us experiencing the same rule your life any longer. His suffering and the mental instability losing Mom caused shouldn’t last throughout the generations.”
Aiden’s mind spun.
“You can still fulfill all your goals to protect and serve,” Ike continued. “Look at Sutton. He told me he’s stronger because of Liz. I know I’m stronger and happier because of Myra.”
Aiden sank onto the couch again. “Ike … I did find the love of my life. Everlasting love.”
“What?” Ike almost hollered into the phone. “Who? When?”
“Chalisa Anderson. She was my partner for the reality television show. She’s the sweetest angel I’ve ever known.” Someday maybe he’d tell Ike the whole story, but he was drained right now. Saying the words ‘sweetest angel’ to his brother was more than enough.
“Aiden. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard. Do you realize we basically fell in love in the same week? You can’t claim that isn’t heavenly intervention.”
“Heaven,” Aiden groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re praying for me too.”
“Always,” Ike countered.
Aiden should’ve realized that. The most important people to him—Chalisa, Sutton, and Ike—were all praying for him. What did it mean?
“An angel broke through your barriers.” Ike’s voice was filled with wonder.
It was a miracle, Aiden realized. Nobody but Chalisa could’ve broken through to his heart.
“Aiden,” Ike continued, “don’t miss out on love. Dad was broken emotionally by mom’s death. You know I’m right. He was brilliant and loving in every other area, but when he demanded we not make emotional attachments or form relationships, a little crazy was always in his eyes.”
Aiden swallowed. A little crazy. He’d always thought of it as zeal or passion. “Sutton said the same thing.”
“He would’ve recognized it.”
“I told him about the vow. He was upset. He thinks Dad is with Mom in heaven and neither of them would want me to keep the vow.”
“He’s right. A vow exacted by someone in an altered mental state isn’t valid. Dad loved us and wanted us to excel at all costs. He thought he was protecting us from pain with the never letting down emotional barriers garbage, but that’s living in fear. Dad’s happy and whole and with Mom again. He wouldn’t want you hurting and alone and missing out on Chalisa. No way.”
Aiden listened. Internalized the words. They felt … right. Just like he’d felt when he held Chalisa.
“The fact of the matter is,” Ike continued, speaking more than he ever did. “You’ve already given your heart away. You’ve already destroyed your emotional barriers and broken your vow.”
