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“Only you and Aidan can work on that. But if you feel you need to give him more time to sort things out, for the two of you to figure out what you want, then you’d better tell him that.”
He came around the island and hugged her tight. “Sis, one of the principal traits of a Barton is to let our hurt feelings rule our thinking. I’m proof of that. Maria has helped me see how easily I can be hurt, then withdraw to lick my wounds. For my money, that’s what you’re doing now.”
“You think I should go back to Spartanburg?”
“I think you should do whatever it is that makes you happy. You and Aidan have been happy and will be again, but not until you work out your differences. Listen to Aidan. Find out what he’s going through. I’m betting you’re both going through a lot of the same stuff.”
“But he’s ready to jump into fatherhood without so much as a word of how it will work with Emma, a child he knows nothing about. He is so stubborn,” she said.
“That’s part of what you can help Aidan with. You understand what a huge change this is for Emma as well as for both of you.” He touched her cheek. “You’re not a quitter. Talk to Aidan again. Tell him how you really feel…”
He looked into her eyes and she saw how much her brother cared. She wasn’t in a strange city trying to cope with a little girl who had been traumatized. She really didn’t understand what her husband was going through right now, and she never would if she didn’t get in touch with him again. They had so many issues to work on, but none of it would matter if they couldn’t talk to each other.
“Okay. I guess it wouldn’t hurt for me to make the first move. I’ll stay here tonight, then head back tomorrow morning.”
“As a show of support, I’ll take your car and gas it up before I head over to my condo. Maria is anxious to hear how you and Aidan are doing.”
“That’s so sweet. Visited any jewelry stores lately?” she teased, feeling a little better, not quite so desperate.
“I’m not telling you, Ms. Matchmaker,” he said, laughing as he went out the back door.
She watched him leave, thankful she had a brother and aware of how much she depended on him for advice. Aidan didn’t have the option of relying on a brother or sister, something she hadn’t taken into account in this situation. She would remember that the next time they talked…if they talked.
Should she call him now? Her stomach clenched at the thought.
After an hour of indecision, Grace dialed Aidan’s cell phone. He answered on the first ring. “I’m so sorry, darling, for everything,” he said, his voice warm, caressing her senses. “I felt so awful when you left here. I wanted to beg you to come back.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked, knowing full well that she probably would have stayed if he’d done that.
“I don’t know. I don’t understand what is going on with me. When I met Emma she screamed, didn’t want me near her. All I could think about was that you’d have done a much better job than I did. You would have known instinctively what to do.”
Feeling closer to Aidan than she had since all of this began, she held the phone tighter. “Aidan, why did you have an affair?”
She heard his sudden intake of breath and waited to see if he’d answer her.
“I want to tell you the truth, but are you sure you want to hear what I have to say?”
“Yes. I am.” Her knees threatening to give out on her, she sat down on the sofa.
“Okay, but what I have to say is going to sound totally selfish.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sure you weren’t aware of this, but I seldom felt you were hearing me about anything other than trying to get pregnant.”
