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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
For over an hour, Aidansat in the armchair in the corner, waiting as Lily and her mom grieved. At one point Lily rounded the bed and hugged her mom, the two of them just standing there staring down at her father.
It wasn’t comfortable being there, but Aidan refused to leave. If Lily needed him, he wanted her to know he was there.
So, he would wait for as long as it took.
A while later, Lily glanced around and spotted him. “Aidan?”
“Yeah, babe.”
“You’re still here,” she said, surprised.
“I told you I’m not going anywhere,” he said gently. “When you’re ready, I will take you both home.”
Angela wiped her eyes and began to chat with one of the hospital people who entered the room.
Lily walked over to him. He opened his arms, and she fell into his chest. “I knew this was going to happen, but it still feels like my heart has been ripped apart,” she cried.
Aidan nodded, even though she couldn’t see him.
It made him reflect on how angry he’d been with his father. None of them lived forever and while Andrew had been completely out of place, if the man dropped dead, Aidan would regret not clearing things up.
Were they close as father and son? Not really.
But they hadn’t been at war like it felt they were right now. Not just him, either. Now he knew their father was doing the same to Amelia. It was pretty clear the man was going through something.
Perhaps Emma was right, and it was their nuptials that had triggered it.
Or something else.
Financial maybe? Was he having troubles?
Aidan promised himself he’d call his dad and have a chat. Right now, his time belonged to Lily.
And his heart, apparently.
She’s mine.
She lifted her face to his. “Thank you for being here.”
Aidan tugged her against his chest again and rubbed her lower back. He wanted to get her home so he could look after her properly.
Over the top of Lily’s head, he saw her mom nod at the hospital woman. Then her eyes lifted to his, and she smiled warmly at him as he continued to embrace her daughter. She glanced down at her husband once more, leaned down and kissed his head, and then straightened.
Slowly, she moved the sheet over her face and turned away.
Jesus.
He wished he could take their pain away. Aidan couldn’t imagine losing someone you loved that damn much.
“Let me take you both home,” Aidan said as her mom walked over to them, placing a hand on Lily’s shoulder as tears poured down her face.
When she nodded, indicating she was ready to leave, Lily pulled out of his arms, and they grabbed their bags and walked slowly through the hospital.
“The Uber will be two more minutes,” Aidan said, glancing at his phone.
“Lily!” a deep voice called out.
