AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For the first time in years, Aero felt like everything was exactly as it should be.
“I was planning on loose meat for dinner; is that all right?” Cathy asked, looking at Aero and pulling him from his musings.
“Sure, Mom, that’s fine.” His stomach growled almost excitedly at the idea of a home-cooked meal of his mother’s. With no disrespect to Ma and her incredible cooking, Aero was thrilled by the idea of the messy, meaty, delicious sandwich of his youth. “I’m gonna show Sam around, if that’s okay.”
“Oh, of course, make yourself at home, dear,” Cathy said to Sam, watching as Aero led her from the table and out into the living room.
“This is the house you grew up in?” Sam asked, looking around. The room had a brick fireplace with floral-patterned furniture, built-in bookshelves, and heavy drapes. It was cute and homey, and Sam felt immediately at ease.
“Yeah. That’s me.” Aero pointed to the shelves, where seemingly hundreds of framed photos were displayed. Sam leaned in and saw a photo of three kids, one boy and two small girls, all blonde and smiling, in a blue plastic pool out on the lawn. Sam grinned.
“You were so cute,” Sam said, taking in his youthful green eyes. They were still bright and beautiful, but the older Aero’s held the weight of everything he’d seen and experienced.
“I’m still cute.” He pushed out his bottom lip in a pout, making her laugh.
There were photos of his parents, him, and his sisters as they grew, and images from birthdays, graduations, and holidays. Aero looked so handsome in his uniform in his formal Army photograph, with the American flag behind him.
Sam’s chest ached when her eyes landed on one photo in a golden frame.
A younger Aero, Sarah, and a baby that had to be Nora were smiling at the camera, seated on the front porch swing. Sarah was smiling at Aero, who was holding the baby tightly against his chest and grinning up at the camera. They were a beautiful family.
“My parents loved Sarah,” Aero said gruffly, having seen the photo too. “Nora wasn’t their first grandchild, but she was everything to them.”
“I’m sure she was, love,” Sam smiled, taking his hand.
“I’d like to give them more grandchildren,” Aero admitted, gazing down into Sam’s eyes.
Sam blushed.
“There’s no rush,” Aero said, “but maybe someday…”
He trailed off, and Sam nodded, blinking back tears. She nodded slowly.
Aero let out a slow breath. “All right, I’ll show you the rest of the house.”
Upstairs, Aero showed her three bedrooms, all wallpapered and carpeted circa 1940, pointing out the smallest one as his childhood bedroom.
“This is a beautiful old house,” Sam said, moving back down the stairs.
“I know,” Aero said, heading back toward the kitchen. “I’d love to have a house like this.”
“You don’t wanna stay at the compound?” Sam asked. Gemma and Evie had moved onto the compound with their husbands and babies, all cohabitating with the club. Now, Blaze and Evie were buying a house nearby, while Zed and Gemma were still looking. Ratchet moved out when he and Sydney bought their house, but still came to visit all the time. Sam had assumed Aero would want to stay on the compound, too, but she was glad he was looking toward making such a big change. It was indicative of the progress he’d made, literally moving outside his comfort zone. It was a joy to see.
“I’d like to have a home,” Aero said. “Sarah and I rented our houses because we never knew if I was gonna be relocated. To have something that’s all mine, where my kids can grow up, somewhere I can call home, that sounds good to me.”
Sam smiled. “I’d like a house with a big yard, a flower garden, maybe a pool.”
“I can make that happen,” Aero murmured, holding her close and kissing her softly.
Sam’s heart fluttered in her chest, the idea of sharing a home with Aero making her grin. They’d stayed the night in each other’s beds, shared their bathrooms, and had clothes stored at each other’s houses, but the idea of sharing a space and building a home of their own, one that might become home to their own children, made her mind start whirring with hope and possibilities.
“Marcus, come set the table,” Cathy called from the kitchen, and Aero immediately responded.
“Yes, Mom,” and Sam giggled.
“I hope our kids are as obedient as you,” she joked, and he chuckled, kissing her forehead before releasing her to do as his mother said.
“So, Sam,” Bethany began, stirring her drink with the red cocktail straw. “What’s going on with my brother?”
