AllFreeNovel
Share Us
35
AARON
Aaron shifted his SUV into gear and pulled away from the airport into traffic heading back to New Hampshire. His mother’s perfume filled the car as holiday music drifted quietly through the speakers.
“You look good. Marriage seems to be agreeing with you,” his mother said, turning towards him slightly as he navigated through the city traffic.
Aaron nodded. “Yup . . . so you want to tell me what’s going on?”
She straightened and rested her hands on her lap. “You never did beat around the bush. Always straight to the meat of things.”
“Don’t see a point in pussyfooting around the issues.”
She sighed. “I left your father.”
“So you said.”
“We . . . had a lot to talk about after our visit with you and your lovely family.”
“I bet you did.” Aaron merged onto the highway as tiny balls of snow drifted down from the grey skies.
“I hated how things ended.”
“So did I. And as much as I love you, Ma, if you make Dani or Brynn uncomfortable, I’m gonna have to take you to a hotel.”
She was silent a moment before she responded, “I know. And I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Your father and I got into a huge argument over this. You know how much I hate when we’re in a disagreement . . . but I can’t lose another child.” Her voice broke with emotion.
Aaron’s hand darted out to hers, and he squeezed tight. He wished he could pull the car over for this conversation, but they were in bumper-to-bumper traffic inching down the highway.
“You haven’t lost me yet, Ma.”
She sniffled. “I thought about what you said to us. I couldn’t let it go.”
“What did I say?”
“About how I could worship a god who would send the people I love to everlasting torture.”
“Oh.”
“The greatest commandment in the Bible is to love. Love others as you love yourself, as Christ loved us—the golden rule. And you’re right. I can’t follow a religion that would have me reject my children because how is that love? I did it, and thought I was doing what was right, and look what happened! My baby is dead.” She pulled a Kleenex from her purse and wiped her eyes. “I won’t lose you too. There has to be a way to have both. My belief in God, and my son.”
“There is, Ma. I’m not asking you to give up your faith.”
She squeezed his hand. “I know. And these last couple weeks, I’ve done a lot of soul searching and research, and a whole lot of praying. I know I have so much more to learn, but I want to. I want to be in your life and get to know your family.”
Aaron fought the emotion welling in his own eyes at his mother’s confession. How many years had he wanted this, and thought it impossible? “That’s all I ever wanted, Ma. For you to try.”
She reached across the console and hugged the side of him before settling back in her seat. She cleared her throat and patted her eyes dry again. “As for your father . . . He’ll come around. I left him with a lot to think about.”
“I can’t believe you left him.”
“You’re worth it. And I know he loves us. Deep down he knows this is the right thing to do—he just needs to push his pride out of the way long enough to listen. Being on his own should light a fire under his britches.”
Aaron pulled his mother’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I hope so.”
She breathed out. “Me too. Now, tell me what’s new with you.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m trying to surprise Brynn for her birthday tomorrow. Any ideas?”
His mother smiled with glee, her eyes lighting up as she rubbed her hands together. “You know I do. We’ll give her a birthday she won’t soon forget.”
He smiled and eased the car over the border to New Hampshire. “Sounds perfect.”
Now if only he could find a way to get through to his wife that he wasn’t going anywhere, and they’d figure things out between them. Because he wasn’t letting her go without a fight.
