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“She’s trying. And I can see you are too. You both have what it takes to make this work.”
Aaron swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat. “Thank you. I’d do anything for her.”
“I can see that.”
“Should we go see if Bently ever got that cocoa?” Aaron stood.
“Absolutely. But first, I need to use the restroom.” Belle got to her feet.
“Right around the corner. First door on your right.”
His phone rang in his pocket.
“Thanks.” Belle grabbed her coat and disappeared out the door as he pulled his phone up, glancing at the caller.
Wifey.
He swiped to answer. “Hey, sunshine, how’s your day going?”
“Good. How about you?” Brynn asked.
“Awesome. The tree is being decorated as we speak. I saved a few ornaments for Dani to add on after she gets out of school. You sent her with a note so she can be dropped off here, right?”
“Yes. I’m sure she’ll love that.” The gratitude was evident in her voice.
“We’ll be home by five thirty.”
“I was going to make some steak for dinner, then I realized I don’t know how you like yours cooked.”
“Medium-well, but I’m not picky.”
“You’re the most easygoing person I think I’ve ever met.” She chuckled, the sound but a tease of her joyous laughter that warmed his soul.
“I just don’t see the point in stressing over things that won’t matter a year from now. Hell, even a couple hours.”
She hesitated. “I like that about you.”
“There’s a lot that I like about you too. Maybe after dinner we can talk about it?”
Her breath was shaky on the other end of the line. “Thank you, Aaron, for everything you’ve done and keep on doing for us.”
“It’s been my pleasure.” When she remained silent, he asked, “What did the stamp say to the Christmas card?”
“I don’t have the slightest idea.” He could hear the smile in her voice.
“Stick with me and we’ll go places.”
Brynn’s light laughter chimed like the tinkling of bells, stirring him up and bringing a flash of warmth to his heart.
“I’ll see you at five thirty,” she said.
“See you then, sunshine.”
He waited until she ended the call before he pulled the phone away from his ear, his gaze catching on his reflection in the glass. Had he ever smiled this big? He tucked the cell back into his pocket and moved around the desk, his foot caught on something making him stumble. He reached out an arm to steady himself and focused on the ground to Belle’s bag that she’d left. He picked it up but managed to only grab one handle, some of the contents tumbling out, including a folder. He reached for the items, his hand freezing as his attention focused on Brynn’s name scrawled on the top by the Shattered Cove hospital records sticker. So, Brynn had visited the hospital here. And Belle must have treated her which meant . . .
Anger heated his veins as his grip tightened on the paper. Inside might be proof of what the monster of her past had done to her. His fingers itched to open the envelope. He wanted to know.
Aaron’s thumb brushed the flap of the folder. Just one peek and he’d get a glimpse into what happened to his wife. Wouldn’t that make him understand how to help her better? God, he wanted to help her so badly. And she was the farthest thing from an open book. Temptation wound around him. He grit his teeth.
No. Not like this. To open this folder would be betraying Brynn and all the trust they’d built, even if she never found out. If she wanted him to know, she’d tell him. And if she wanted to keep what happened a secret from him forever—as hard as that would be for him—that was her choice too.
He stuffed the envelope back into the bag and carried it out of the room to find Belle.
Tonight, he’d have dinner with his wife, and take another baby step towards building a future that would last.
