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“Well... At first you asked me not to talk about Aiden or his family. Then he asked me not to tell you. He said he didn’t want you coming home for the wrong reasons. So I didn’t say anything.”
“But he doesn’t get to decide the reasons why I come back.”
Her mom shrugged. “We thought we were looking out for you, so that’s what we did.”
“You and my ex?”
Her mom lifted an eyebrow. “Yep. I don’t like ‘ex.’ You should snatch that boy up. I like him. I would love to have him as a son-in-law.”
Bex laughed. “Thanks for the input.”
Her mom winked. “You betcha.”
Despite her better judgment, Bex googled her name.
The article at the top was an exposé of Aiden’s life, featuring a section about Julie and her disease.
“Fuck. Aiden is going to kill me.”
Bex put her phone on the counter and covered her face with her hands.
“You need to talk to him first before you make any rash decisions. That’s where you two failed before,” Bex’s mom’s voice of reason broke through.
“You’re right.” Bex lowered her hands. “Can I borrow the car?”
“Sure thing, honey.” Bex’s mom slid the keys across the counter to her. “Eat something first.” Out of nowhere, she produced a plate of toast and a glass of orange juice.
Bex studied her phone as she polished off the food. She had to protect Julie at all costs.
“Thanks for breakfast. I’ll be back.” She grabbed the car keys and headed out the front door.
Bex nodded at the few paparazzi standing near her mom’s maroon car. “Hey Frank. How’s the wife?” she said to one.
“Good, thanks Bex. I’ll tell her ya asked about her.”
“Good man. Sorry you had to travel so far from home,” Bex said as she ducked into the car and started it.
Bex backed out of the driveway and drove to Miller’s Pub.
She parked in the lot near the front and strode inside.
Her eyes met Aiden’s across the room. He looked her up and down intensely. He must have noticed something off, because his eyes narrowed. “I’m taking my break,” he hollered to someone in the back. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Gotcha, man!” she heard someone yell back.
Aiden crossed the room, took her by the elbow, and led her outside to his car.
After he safely deposited her in the passenger seat and rounded the car to sit in the driver’s seat, he finally met her gaze. “What’s wrong? You were fine when I dropped you off. What’s happened since then?”
“The paparazzi is already at it.”
He surprised Bex by remaining calm and simply nodding. “Okay. We knew that was a possibility. What’s the problem?”
She showed him the picture from the patio and the exposé on his mom.
He said, “Okay. I’m disappointed that I have to warn the nursing home already, but it’s a fact of life. I knew this would happen eventually.”
“This is the bad side of being with me.” Tears flooded Bex’s eyes. “There is no privacy. I’m so sorry.”
