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“Are you all right, Aiden?”
“You’re the one in the hospital bed, and you ask me if I am all right? You always surprise me with your selflessness,” he says.
“It all makes sense now. If his diagnosis is positive, then we can get him the help he clearly needs.”
“Jeni, sweetheart, do you need anything?” Mom asks.
“I have everything I need right here,” I say, gesturing to them all as I look around the room.
After a few hours of monitoring, I get the all-clear from the doctor, and Aiden takes me home. He carries me to the sofa and turns on the television while he prepares drinks.
Mom, Callie, and Mike join us at the house. Mom, of course, sits next to me on the sofa.
“Thanks for being here, Mom.”
She scoffs. “Honey, you were attacked, again. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Aiden brings us both a warm cup of coffee and sits down on the other side of me. Cuddling into his side, I spend the rest of the night being comforted in his arms, surrounded with those I love.
I turn to look at Aiden and find him staring at me. He runs his finger gently across my neck, tracing wha
t I assume are bruises. I swallow, and he gently moves his hand from my neck to my cheek. Then he leans in and kisses me softly.
“I have to go into O’Connell Finance today to deal with the accounts that Father was meant to be handling, but you need to stay home and rest.”
I shake my head. “Ah… no way. I’m coming with you,” I say but my voice is raspy, not wanting to let Niall’s attack get the better of me. I’m stronger than that now.
He exhales out a huff of frustration. “All right, but let it be known I’m not happy about it. I’d rather you stayed here, but if you want to come home at any point, we will.”
I simply nod, we get dressed, have breakfast, and Aiden insists on me having an extra glass of juice for energy. I don’t bother to argue. We head out the front, and Mike’s waiting for us, but he seems surprised to see me.
He looks at Aiden and raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, yeah, I tried to make her stay home, Mike, but she won’t,” Aiden relays, answering Mike’s unspoken question.
As soon as we arrive at the office, the elevator doors open to Bree working at her desk. When she spots me, her mouth drops open, and her eyes widen. “I wasn’t expecting you. How are you, Jeni?”
I shrug. “Fine. I want to keep busy.”
I notice Aiden glance at his sister while frowning. Brielle winks at Aiden, giving him the don’t-worry- I’ll-look-after-her signal. I roll my eyes, and we continue into his father’s office.
“Baby, you can use my laptop and stay in here with me rather than sit out there. I want to be able to see you and make sure you’re safe. I thought he was going to kill you. I don’t want to let you out of my sight,” he says, taking me in his arms.
I tilt my head. “Aiden, don’t be silly. I can sit at my old desk. I’m fine, just a little bruised.”
“Nope. No arguing. I want to be able to see you. I need you in here with me. This is for me, not you. I need to know you’re okay every second of the day. Plus…” he smirks, “… you’re really very pretty, and I like to look at you.”
How can I say anything to that? He’s so sweet.
Brielle comes in frowning, and her eyes are glistening with tears.
“What is it?” Aiden asks.
“Just had a phone call from Mom. The tests came back positive for dementia. They’re suggesting we get a nurse to watch and care for him. They’re saying it’s a swift onset, and he’ll need round-the-clock care. They say he’s also suffering from major depression.”
Aiden nods. “As much as I don’t give a shit about him, it’s good to know what’s wrong.”
I inhale slowly and look at Aiden. “I’m not defending or sticking up for him in any way, but he is your father, and although he’s an awful example of a father, at least you have one. He’s sick. He will need your help, Aiden,” I say.
