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Craig got up. “Very well, then, I think our job here is done.”
“So, is interfering in my life part of your job now?” Aiden teased as he helped Dylan and Riley pack up the little boy’s toys.
“When he makes a mess of things, yes.”
Grinning, Aiden slapped Craig on the shoulder. “Just remember—what comes around, goes around.”
“Just promise me you won’t get cold feet again,” Riley said. “I have other things to do besides worrying about my little brother’s love life.”
“Well, you can relax, I’m going, I’m going!”
It took another few minutes and a few trips to make sure they had all Dylan’s toys, but eventually, Aiden closed the door behind him, Riley, and Craig.
For a moment, he leaned against the door. He was going to see Vivian tomorrow. She might be working, she might not want to see him, but he wasn’t going to leave Marietta before he’d tried his best to win her heart.
His phone bleeped. It was a picture and a message from his sister.
Make sure you have one before you leave
He grinned. Of course. He would eventually have thought about it, but it would probably have been way too late by then. Thank goodness for a sister like Riley.
*
At twelve o’clockSunday morning, Vivian was on her way to Annie’s from her morning shift at the hospital. Because she was going to Portland, she’d moved her Monday and Tuesday shifts to later in the week, but there was no reason to miss this morning’s shift. She’d welcomed the busy few hours in the ER, actually.
Having something to do was infinitely better than keeping packing and repacking her bag, wondering whether she was doing the right thing. By the time she’d left Annie’s this morning, she’d changed the contents of her bag five times already. Worrying whether she’d actually have the guts to get on that plane this afternoon, fly to Portland, and knock on Aiden’s door telling him she was willing to move to Portland to be with him if necessary, was driving her crazy.
What if he didn’t want to see her? What if there was someone else with him? What if… Whaaa!
She checked her watch. There was still an hour before lunch. The contractor had asked her to give him a rough drawing of what she had in mind for the kitchen area. At least it was something she could do, and bonus, it would help kill some time before they left for the airport.
Quickly, she sent Annie a text to say where she’d be before she took the turn-off to her new house.
Minutes later, she stopped in front of her house and got out. Huddling in her coat, she couldn’t help smiling. Yes, it was sad-looking, dilapidated, rundown, but it was hers. Well, the bank’s and hers.
What would Aiden say about the place? Would he even consider moving to Marietta? His aunt was here, but he didn’t know anybody else. Groaning out loud, she quickly ran down the overgrown path, up the steps, and unlocked the front door.
She hadn’t really thought the whole thing through. Even if Aiden felt something for her, why would he move to a small Montana town? He had a job and probably a fancy apartment in Portland; he certainly wouldn’t want to change his whole life just for her. But if he didn’t want to move here, she’d have to sell her house and move to Portland. Leave Annie and Mitch and all the people she’d come to love in this small town? Could she do that?
Her phone bleeped. It was a message from Riley.
We’ve contacted Samantha. She’s spoken to Aiden. He’s on his way to see you.
By the time she’d finished reading, her heart was beating so frantically, breathing had become a problem. Three short sentences held a world of possibilities in store. The only one really registering, though, was that Aiden was on his way to see her.
Clutching her hands against her heart, she laughed out loud. She had a plane ticket to go and see him, but he was on his way to see her. She wasn’t quite sure why he was coming to see her, but even if it was only to tell her he’d spoken to Samantha, it would warm her heart.
She wanted him to be happy, to live a full life. He couldn’t do that when he still blamed himself for what had happened to the girl. And maybe, just maybe…
No, she wasn’t going to think ahead. She was going to see Aiden again. Nothing else really mattered. Taking out her phone, she began texting Riley to ask when Aiden would be here, but she quickly deleted it again. What if he’d decided he wasn’t flying to see her today? What if… Whaa? She was driving herself crazy. Sketches. That was why she was here.
*
It was justafter twelve on Sunday morning when Aiden knocked on Annie’s door. Wonderful smells from inside had his tummy rumbling. Eating had been the last thing on his mind.
He hadn’t slept much last night. Excitement and fear that he would mess up the whole thing took turns to keep him wide awake. Riley’s frequent texts, telling him what he should and shouldn’t do, really weren’t conducive to a good night’s sleep either.
On the positive side, he’d been up bright and early and had clocked in at the airport more than an hour before the time. It had taken forever to get a car at the airport in Bozeman, though, but he was finally here. In Marietta where Vivian was.
