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I can see whatever it is, he’s not going to sway on it. “Okay?”
“I am leaving the business. I know you don’t want me to leave here, Jeni, but I don’t see any other option. I have more than enough money for us to start a new company, and I have plenty of clients who are loyal and will transfer. They deal solely with me, anyway. Plus, I can’t stand to be around him or even in the same proximity as him right now. Fuck, probably ever.”
Aiden needs this, I see it clearly. He needs time with me, and I really need some time with him, so I agree. His hand moves to entwine his fingers with mine. I look down at his right hand, and his knuckles are bruised and bloodied. I wince and bring his hand up to my lips to kiss.
“Let’s go home,” he says.
And with that, we turn and walk out of O’Connell Finance for the last time.
The past couple of days, we’ve slept in, spent a day at the park feeding the birds, and even managed to take a walk along the beach. After everything that transpired, we’ve definitely needed the quality time together.
I’m not looking forward to today, though. We’re going to see Dr. Lovett together, and for some reason, my nerves are back.
Instead of Mike driving, Aiden drives us to the clinic. An odd silence fills the air on the commute. For me, I know my nerves are amping up. I can only imagine what’s going through his mind.
Parking, we make our way inside holding hands. Upon entering the office, I say hello to Tracey, the receptionist, who warmly smiles at Aiden.
We haven’t been waiting for more than about five minutes before my attention is drawn to laughter, and I see Dee walking out with a patient. “You’re doing so well, Jane, keep up the good work. I don’t need to see you for another month,” she says, then looks over to acknowledge me.
She gestures for us to follow her, and we stand and walk toward her room, making our way into her office and the sofa.
“Jeni, it’s so good to see you again.” She glances at Aiden. “I’m Deanna, but you can call me Dee,” she informs Aiden.
“I’m Aiden, Jeni’s fiancé,” he replies, sitting on the sofa.
She smiles. “How have you been, Jeni?”
All I can do is exhale in disappointment at Niall, but mainly at myself that I let it go this far. I look at Aiden, and he smiles, comforting me.
“We’ve had a setback but otherwise, I’m okay.”
“Well, that’s a step in the right direction. But Jeni, I want to see you happy again, not just okay.”
“Me, too. I want nothing more than for Jeni to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” Aiden laments. I take his hand and entwine our fingers.
Dee smiles and writes something on her notepad. “So, tell me what’s been happening since I last saw you with your sister-in-law.”
I look up at the ceiling and sigh. “So much has happened. Where do I start?”
“At the beginning,” she says with a kind smile.
I take in a deep breath. “Well, I admitted everything to Aiden about what his father was doing to me.”
“That’s good. Aiden, how are you dealing with all of this?”
He grimaces. “Not too good. I ahh… don’t know how to feel toward my father. I hate him for everything he’s done to my girl. I can’t believe the lengths he went to, to torment and abuse her, when she’s never done anything but be civil toward him. I have a lot of anger issues, and they all stem from him… I ended up hitting a client because he was flirting with Jeni, and I think my anger is getting the better of me. With everything that’s happened to us… well, I guess I’m starting to feel it. I’
ve left the family business, but I know Jeni doesn’t want us to. She has father issues of her own that stem from her father abandoning her, and she has some twisted idea that because I have a father, I should learn to deal with him and try to mend our relationship.” He takes a long, drawn out breath. “I can’t… not now. The damage has been done. I can never forgive my father for what he’s done to Jeni… to the both of us.” He tightens his hand in mine. “But I do love my job, and I can’t help but be sad at the thought of leaving.”
“Can you work there and not associate with your father?” Dee asks.
“No, it would be impossible. Our offices are next to each other, so I would still have to see him every day. I have no ties to him as father and son, that bond was broken ages ago, and it’s not Jeni’s fault. It’s his.”
“You are correct in that assumption, Aiden. Jeni, this is not your fault. Aiden’s father sounds like he destroyed his relationship with Aiden all on his own. He’s to blame, Jeni. Not you.”
I sigh. “In my head, I know that, but I just can’t help but think what if I’d never come into Aiden’s life? Would his relationship with his father be okay? My answer always comes back as yes.”
“But, Jeni, you can’t live your life with ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes.’ Aiden has you in his life, and he doesn’t want to change that. Is that right?”
