AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Annie’s eyes were twinkling. “Another evening, maybe, thanks, Janice. We’re going to Grey’s Saloon tonight. You should join us there, though, if you like?”
“A saloon? Really?” Aiden asked.
Annie grinned. “Yes, complete with swinging doors on the front and a balustraded balcony, exactly like the ones you’ve seen in movies. I love the place.”
“I was going to take him there last night, but I was so worried about his foot, I took him to the ER instead. Vivian was there, but then…” Aunt Vivian gave him a reproachful look. “Things didn’t quite work out as planned.”
Smiling, Aiden hugged her shoulders. “You could’ve warned me about your plans. I’ve tried to tell you I’m fine.”
“Well, if your foot is better, you should join us tonight,” Annie said, picking up her basket again. “I have to go.” She took a few business cards out of her bag and left them on his aunt’s table. “Hand these out wherever you go, please?” Annie asked Janice with a grin. “I’m hopeless at marketing, Mitch tells me. Nice meeting you, Aiden.”
“You, too.”
His aunt followed Annie to the front door.
“Next weekend, our first guest will be arriving for the Valentine’s ball on Saturday evening,” Annie was saying.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you…”
Aiden sat down at the kitchen table, the women’s voices fading away. He’d woken up this morning with one clear thought—he had to get away from this town and the gorgeous doctor as soon as possible.
Apart from the fact that he couldn’t remember ever being this cold, his reaction to the doctor surprised… no, that was way too mild. It disturbed him. Truth be told, he’d been sucker-punched there for a minute after she’d opened the curtains in the ER. In that second, he’d noticed everything about her. It was the quick reaction of his body, though, that was particularly scary.
He liked women just fine, but before the first date, he usually made sure they knew he wasn’t interested in anything long-term. It had never been difficult to say his good-byes. Being confronted daily with the reality of what people did to one another, he’d decided a long time ago, love was an illusion, a myth kept alive only by the romance and movie industry.
Couples might fall in lust—he’d been there himself a few times—but it never lasted. The initial euphoria didn’t remain for more than a year, tops. Listening to his disillusioned friends after a few months of marriage had cured him of the misapprehension that love lasted forever.
Their parents had seemed happy enough. He remembered a few occasions when he’d heard raised voices or angry words, but before long, they’d be kissing or cuddling again. But then they’d both died within twelve months of one another, leaving the three of them behind, grieving and struggling to make sense of what had happened. Not really his idea of a happy ending.
Doctor Vivian Miller scared him. He wasn’t sure why, but in between last night’s steamy dreams, he’d come to the conclusion that it would be wise to leave Marietta as soon as possible.
So, why was he still here, sitting at his aunt’s kitchen table and not packing his bag?
“Oh, so sorry, sweetie!” Aunt Janice called out as she hurried back. “Everything is ready; let me just take it out of the oven. We’ve started with preparations for our Valentine’s ball, and you’re welcome to join me this morning. You’ll be able to meet more people and can see how we go about organizing the first big event of the year.”
“First event? How many events do you have in a small town like this?”
Aunt Janice laughed as she put the bacon and eggs in front of him. “You’ll be amazed. In summer, there is the big Marietta fair, then there’s homecoming when alumni from Marietta High return to their roots and we have big party all weekend long. There is also the famous bachelor auction…”
Alarmed, Aiden looked up. “Hopefully, I’ll be back safely in Portland before then.”
Smiling, she continued. “The Rodeo is another favorite event, and so is the gingerbread competition just before Christmas, and then of course, during Christmas, we have all sorts of magical things happening.” She touched his arm. “My dream is that you three will join me for Christmas one year when your schedules allow it. But now…” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I have to go. What about you?”
“I’m going to clean up here…”
“You don’t have to do that…”
“Of course, I do. You cook, I clean. That’s what you’ve taught us, remember? I’ll join you later.”
Smiling, she hugged him quickly. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you. Okay, see you later!”
Guilt washed over Aiden as he cleaned the kitchen. He couldn’t believe his aunt had been living here for more than five years, and none of them had been to visit her. They all had good reasons, true, but she’d been there for them when they’d needed her.
He should talk to Craig and Riley. Maybe they should try to visit her this Christmas. As an afterthought, he put Annie’s card in his wallet with Vivian’s. Maybe he could do a little marketing for Annie once he was back in Portland.
*
It was bitterlycold when Aiden drove away from Aunt Janice’s home. He’d thought of walking the three blocks to the hotel—his foot was much better—but in this weather, he’d probably freeze before he’d reached the place.
