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Disappointment a bitter taste in his mouth, he walked back to the house. Aunt Janice had disappeared. He lengthened his strides. The whole incident had shaken her. She’d always hated any form of conflict.
He found her in front of the freezer. She handed him a bag of frozen peas. “For your chin.” Her eyes were wet with tears. “It’s all my fault.” She sniffled. “But I really thought you and… Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. I’m just so sorry about the whole mess.”
With the cold bag against his chin, Aiden looked at her. “You’re not mad at me as well for contacting the journalist?”
She patted his hand. “I know you, Aiden. You’d have a good reason for doing that. Want to tell me about it?”
Aiden nodded. “I’ll tell you about it, but I think it would be best if I leave tomorrow. It’s a small town, and I don’t want to upset you and Vivian any further.”
*
Vivian heard theknock on her bedroom door, but she couldn’t react. To call out, to move, she’d need to use energy, and she had none left. Drained, hurt, and feeling like a fool, she stared at the wall.
Without realizing it, she’d been guarding her heart studiously since their parents’ death. Up until then, she’d led a charmed life. They’d always been close to one another, and after the violent way their fun and loving parents had died, she and Mitch and Annie had been distraught. Nothing ever prepared one for such a tragedy.
Since then, they’d all been coping in their own way. It was only now her heart was breaking all over again she could see clearly what she’d done to protect herself. Not wanting to ever experiencing that pain again, she’d built high walls around her heart, making sure no one besides her brother and sister got close to her. Buried in her work, it had been easy.
But then Aiden O’Sullivan had showed up in the ER, and without warning, one look into his Irish blue eyes had been enough to trigger those high walls to start crumbling down.
“Viv?” Annie called out softly as she sat down next to Vivian on the bed.
Feeling like an old woman, Vivian turned to her sister.
Annie was chewing her lower lip, a clear sign she was troubled.
Vivian sat up against the pillows. The last thing she wanted to do was to upset Annie or Mitch. “Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. We’ve survived the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Having my heart broken at the ripe old age of twenty-eight doesn’t even come close.” She tried to smile, but her lips were trembling so much, she quickly gave up trying.
Annie touched her hair. “You realize what you’ve said?”
“What do you mean?”
“Having your heart broken… You’ve fallen for Aiden, haven’t you?”
Stunned, Vivian stared at Annie. “No, of course not. I… I… haven’t… I couldn’t have.” Minutes ticked by before she grimaced. “I’ve never believed in love at first sight. It’s a ridiculous notion. In lust probably.”
Sniffling, Annie hugged her. “I’m so sorry about the whole thing. Janice is so nice and has been a good friend but after what just happened, I don’t think she will ever speak to us again.”
Something in Annie’s voice caught Vivian’s attention. “Why? What happened?”
*
Ten minutes later,Vivian was again knocking on Janice’s door, her medical bag in her hand. She was embarrassed and upset and so angry with both Mitch and Aiden. Mitch, her brother who never ever hurt anyone, had punched Aiden. Mitch was a writer, a peacemaker, a softie. He cried when he watched movies with her and Annie. He didn’t go around punching people. What had gotten into him?
The door opened and Aiden stood there with a bag of frozen peas against his chin. Warily he stepped back. “Are you also here to deck me?”
“Are you still in kindergarten? Grown-ups don’t go around hitting people, for goodness’ sake.” She stomped passed him towards the kitchen.
“I wasn’t the one doing the hitting.”
“I have to apologize to Janice…”
“She’s just left for her weekly game of cards.”
Vivian pulled out one of the chairs. “Sit down. I want to check your face.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re holding a bag of frozen food against your chin.”
