Chapter Ten: What?
I know what the paper in my hand says but it's been 15 years since I thought everything was over and now he's free again! And for good behavior… I'm so mad but I don't want to scare Amy so I just show Aiden the paper and he nods, "we'll talk about it later baby" "sure" Our now 13 year old look at us frowning, "I would ask but I have a very long and important biology paper waiting for me" she drinks the last of her coffee "school? med school?" Aiden asks and she laughs "please dad, med school of course… I'm like a month ahead on my school work" I take Aiden's hand "go baby, college professors don't like to wait" she leaves the table in a hurry, something that doesn't surprise me anymore. "Now that she's gone… did you read?" he nods "Daniel is out" "I'm scared Aiden…" he hugs me "don't worry Emily, I'll protect you and our baby". Nolan knocks on our door a couple of minutes later, "I just read it, how did this happen?" he passes his fingers through his hair, "good behavior" I say angry "we won't let him get near you or Amy" I hug my friend "thank god Charlotte's in Berlin".
A couple of weeks later I forgot about the whole 'Daniel issue', that until I ran into him at the grocery store "Oh I'm so sor…Daniel?" I feel all the air leaving my body "Emily" he says "how are you?" I feel like slapping myself, I have to get out of here "Mom, I found the gloves but they don't have my size so I bought 2 pairs… who are you?" Amelia gets near me "No one baby, why don't you go with your dad? I'll be with you in a moment" "are you sure?" she whispers "of course, go" she leaves, hesitant but I need to do this alone; "I thought you couldn't have children…" my blood boils but I try to stay as calm as possible "thanks to you… no, I can't, Amy's adopted" he looks down, "Emily…I'm so sorry, I… you were right things would have been so much easier if…" I shake my head "don't…it's been 15 years, I don't need to open old wounds" he sighs, "you're right.." "Emily, are you ok?" Aiden asks concerned "where's Amelia?" I ask immediately "she's looking for some supplies for the first aid kit" I smile, my little doctor already worried about our health "Aiden… hi" Daniel says surprised while Aiden puts his hand on my waist "hello Daniel" I can feel the tension in the air and I just want to go "Danny I found th… oh" just when I thought things couldn't get more awkward Sara had to come looking for him, "Mom, Charlie called…she's going to be online in like half an hour, I want to see Josh" I close my eyes, my mind is screaming at me right now "Charlie?" "Charlotte" Aiden answers him and then looks at me "I'll be waiting in the car with Amelia" He kisses me and I smile "good, tell her we will answer everything later" I wait until they leave, "why would she call you on skype?" "she's living in Berlin, with her husband and her little boy, Josh" He looks surprised "Danny I'll go…bye Emily" I silently say goodbye, "wow, it's definitely been a long time away" I sigh "Daniel, like I said what's in the past it's the past but I don't think it will be good if we see each other again" he looks away "you're right…don't worry I think there's nothing else in the Hamptons for me, say hello to Charlotte… please". When I reach the car, I see Aiden waiting for me standing outside; he wraps his arms around me and everything is right again.
"Mom…who was that?" I always thought I could protect her from the mess my life once was; "Amy…remember when I told you I can't have kids?" she nods, "he's Daniel, Charlotte's brother and…my ex husband" she looks shocked and I take her hand "he's the one who attacked you?" I feel a lonely tear falling, "yes sweetie" she hugs me as tight as she can "why is he out of jail?" "he had good behavior… but don't worry baby, we will never see him again ok? Never" she sobs "it's ok, I'm ok…" I rub circles on her back, she may be a high school/med student but she's still 13, and she's still my sensitive little girl. Aiden comes into Amy's room a while later "she was trying to protect you" "what do you mean?" "Charlotte never called, she just wanted to get you out of there" my heart breaks, so little and already thinking about the safety of the ones she loves, Aiden puts his arms around us "I got you now".
"He what?" Margaux says irritated "he asked about Amy…then he said he was sorry and…" "what did you tell him?" "that I don't want to see him again…he said he was here expecting to see Charlotte but when I told him she was in Berlin…" She takes my hand "Oh Emily, we will make sure of it ok?" I nod and give her a little smile; "Carl was so worried" "why?" I ask her concerned "Amy texted him last night, she was worried about you" I sigh "I know, when I told her who he was she immediately connected the dots…" "that girl is too smart sometimes" I know realize something "wait, you told me she texted Carl?" Margaux nods, "Not Simone, Carl…" "yeah, she texted….oh, that's weird" "yes…kind of".
I watch my daughter talking with Simone, and suddenly she blushes… I rub my eyes, Amelia doesn't blush…right? I smile, my baby girl finally acting like a normal 13 year old…I'm not sure what Aiden is going to think about it though, but who says he's going to find out. "Mom, can moon stay tonight?" Amy asks sweetly "of course Amy, I'll go call Jack to let him know" She smiles "Moon! You're staying tonight" I laugh, and dial Jack's number "hello?" "hi Emily, are you dropping off Simone tonight or tomorrow?" he laughs "you know them well enough to know it's tomorrow" "that's ok, Carl is out with his friends too so Margaux and I can have the house for ourselves" he laughs "too much info Jack, good night" "night, Emily".
"Pancakes and orange juice?" I smile watching Aiden in the kitchen "yeah, you know I can't say no to the girls" I shake my head and wraps my arms around him "believe me, I know" "let me take this upstairs and then we can have breakfast" I kiss him, "sure, go ahead". He comes back five minutes later, "can you believe Amy's showing Simone how to do a suture?" I raise my eyebrows "sutures?" he laughs "well, she's not using actual sutures… but Simone brought her a needle and apparently youtube has everything" "Our baby, she can't wait to be an actual doctor…" Aiden hugs me and kisses me, "have I told you how much I love you today?" I blush "no, I don't think so" he puts his hands on my face "well Emily Mathis, I" he kisses my forehead "love" now my nose "you" and finally my mouth, I smile into the kiss "I'm so lucky".
Jogging along the beach I find the peace I was looking for since I saw Daniel at the grocery store, I can finally gift him my forgiveness… I thought everything was over 15 years ago, but the truth is I needed this closure with him; a part of me tried to save him of the Grayson's inevitable fall but he chose to join them… don't get me wrong, I admit my part in it...but I don't regret it… there's only one thing I regret, lying to him about the baby. I sit on the sand, enjoying the wind on my face and decide I won't think in all the what if's that haunt me, I have a beautiful family with me and the mess I created a lifetime ago is finally behind me. I slowly return to my house and watch Aiden playing with Amelia by the pool, and a smile instantly appears on my face. "Where were you all morning?" Aiden asks me, "I was jogging…I needed to clear my head" he kisses me "I get it, I need that sometimes too" I lean on him, "I guess we will never be safe from the ghosts of our past" he runs his fingers through my hair "but we can always focus on the future" I nod, "I agree".
I give each of the guys a glass of wine, while Margaux and I enjoy some champagne; Nolan looks at our children and smiles "they're so big!" Jack laughs "you're so old!" we all laugh watching Nolan's face, I watch outside… Simone's painting and Carl has his arm around Amy, he has always been the protector of the girls especially now that Amy is in his class. "What do you think Emily?" I shake my head "sorry, what?" Margaux smiles "see I told you she wasn't paying attention… we were thinking about giving the kids a special gift" I raise my eyebrows "what?" "A trip to France, one of cousins just moved to Paris and she's dying to meet all of them…and Pascal will be there too" I look at Aiden and he nods "Pascal will be there?" Jack nods and Margaux rolls her eyes "of course, otherwise I wouldn't allow it" I nod and she smiles "then it's settled, I'll call Pascal tomorrow" "and I'll buy the plane tickets" Aiden and Jack immediately start arguing with Nolan "we can't let you do that" they say and Nolan snorts "they're going to Paris, I'll buy the tickets and you two give the kids a lot of money to spend there ok?" Jack sighs defeated "If my moon is anything like her mother…" "hey!" Margaux pushes him and we all laugh, Aiden raises his hands "fine, I'll let him buy the tickets" I kiss his cheek.
We prepare everything before letting them know, so a few days later we all meet in our house again, Simone runs inside while Carl follows her laughing "Hi Emmy" he says kissing my cheek "hi Carl" "where's Amy?" he asks "upstairs, we'll call you when dinner is ready" he nods and goes upstairs, I'm sure Simone's already there. Margaux hugs me "sorry, my daughter believes she lives here too" I shrug "don't worry she says hello everyday". We wait for Nolan before telling them anything "why are we all here again?" Simone asks and Amy looks at her "we're waiting for Nolan" she huffs and crosses her arms "we're going to be waiting forever then" Carl laughs "don't be a drama queen" suddenly the door opens "yeah don't be a drama queen please…better late than never right?" we all laugh "you're right… guys we have a gift for you" I say standing up, I watch them…their eyes shining with expectation, I go get the kids passports while Nolan takes the plane tickets, Jack explains "since you have all been very responsible with school-he looks at Amy- and college…" Carl chuckles and Amy pushes him, Margaux rolls her eyes and continues "like Jack was saying, we decided you deserved a very nice gift" Nolan can't keep the secret anymore "you're taking too long, you're all going to Paris for 2 whole weeks!" The kids seem to be processing the information and like always Amy's faster "WHAT?" I chuckle, I was expecting something more elaborated "he's right, you're leaving next week" Aiden gives her a ticket and her passport "and you're flying first class" the three of them stand up and take turns hugging all of us, "I have one more surprise for you" Nolan says and now we all are looking at him "since I know how much you all miss Charlie, I added one more week in Berlin" Amelia, Simone and Carl jump to hug Nolan again and when they fall we all laugh.
"Amelia, take care ok?" she rolls her eyes and Aiden hugs her once again "Dad, I already told you I will…don't worry Pascal will be waiting for us at the airport" I hug her now "he's just worried sweetie, we know you'll be careful" "of course mom, I'll call you when we land" "good, say hello to Charlotte and the boys for us" "I will, goodbye mom" she kisses each one of us goodbyes and goes; we watch Margaux and Jack say goodbye to their kids and then the four of us leave together, our babies are growing too fast.
~A&E~
Ten ! so, two more and it's over … I had the feeling things with Daniel weren't over yet and I ended up with this. Like always I hope you like it! Let me know what you think…
Kisses, Cami