Aaron POV
Four months later
Lyrics by The Ramones
The next four months passed with Bree and me spending as much time as possible with Lisa and Larissa. Once it had settled in that Lisa and Larissa knew I was there brother, our life became a lot more hectic with questions and reesponsiblities.
We had both decided that they should continue living with my grandparents since they still had school and Cecilia was still living with them.
Bree, on the other hand, was pretty busy with school work and working in the studio with my mom as well was attending the counseling sessions with her dad.
Most days I didn't see her except for lunchtime and our friends were always around, so we never had any private time to ourselves.
On top of that she was still not wearing my ring, but at the same token our friendship status had someone changed and on most nights that we should have been studying we were making out with one another. So even though we hadn't vocally said it, Bree was in every sense of the word my girlfriend.
Todd surprised all of us and began dating another girl named Mindy. Mindy was quiet but nice and I was much happier with Todd's friendship with Bree.
Lisa and Larissa were pretty patient and seemed alright with our decision to wait. They had both made it clear to us that they wanted to live with us if we accepted legal custody.
They had indicated that they did not want to live with their mother and would help us out as much as they could, in order for us to keep them.
The night before Bree's concert, my cell phone rang at 12:20 p.m. I was home alone because my parents and Amanda, along with Pablo and my grandparents had gone to New York to visit my Uncle Matt and Aunt Mary.
They were due back tomorrow in time for Bree's concert. I thought it was weird that everyone had left but my mom had been insistent when my dad said that he would stay behind and because my mother had been rather moody lately my dad went with her.
Cecelia had opted to stay at home to watch Lisa and Larissa and to keep an eye on Bree and myself. Or so she had said. The past week Lisa and Larissa had eaten dinner with us every night as Cecilia went out.
That night the twins had said that they would stay at home since they wanted to attend Bree's concert.
"Hello?" I answered half awake as I heard crying on the line.
"Aaron?" a voice said as I asked "Lisa? Are you alright? What's the matter?"
"I called Bree but she wasn't answering…mom was drinking and then she came home and started yelling at us…"
"Where are you now?"
"We are in grandpa's office…I think she passed out already"
"Where is Larissa? Is she alright?"
"She's fine, her cheek is red from when mom slapped you and Bree come and get us?"
"I'm on my way" I said hanging the phone up as I grabbed my cell phone and keys, throwing on a sweatshirt.
I drove over to Meredith's where Bree was sleeping over. Ten minutes later, Meredith opened the door. "Hey….what are you doing here? Can't you spend one night without Bree?"
"Very funny Meredith, is Bree still up?" I asked her as she smiled saying "Nope, she fell asleep two hours ago."
"May I come in? She needs to come with me."
"Is everything okay?" Meredith asked as she let me pass through and I followed her to the basement.
"I am not sure. I hope so" I replied as Meredith bit her lip and then asked "Is it about Lisa and Larissa? Are they hurt?" I shook my head as we walked into the room.
"Who was at the door Meredith?" a girl asked as they all turned their attention to me. Then they all gasped and started freaking out as some ran to the other side of the room, hiding their green speckled masked faces from me.
"Meredith! I thought you and Charley were dating?" another girl asked in shock as Mindy piped up "Yeah that is totally harsh that you are making a move on Bree's boyfriend"
"I am dating Charley! And Bree is my best friend, why would I betray her trust? Plus Aaron doesn't even look at other girls"
The girls nodded a bit as they turned thir attentiuon on me. One of them looked slikes jse was going to faint as I smiled at her and she fell flat on the floor.
As the girls shrieked and began reviving her I walked over to where Bree was sleeping sprawled out on the couch. I had to smile at the picture she made as I walked over to her and knelt down, gently shaking her.
"Bree? We have to go. It's an emergency"
"What…what's the matter?" she asked, her eyes still closed, as she moved closer to me. I gently brushed a lock of hair off her cheek as I softly said "Lisa called. Cecilia is passed out"
Immediately Bree sat up as she looked at me in horror before I took her hand. We said bye to everyone and walked out to my car.
Once we arrived at my grandparent's house, we could see the lights were on. We walked in through the side door and Bree called out "Hello? Anyone here?"
"So the brats did call you huh?" we heard a voice ask as we turned to see Cecilia walking unsteadily towards us. The whole room reeked of alcohol.
"Hello Cecilia. How are you?' Bree asked calmly smiling as Cecilia looked at her confused.
"Why are you here?" Cecilia questioned as Bree shrugged and then said "Well…I was at a sleepover with Meredith…you remember Meredith right? Pretty girl with brown hair… anyway I thought to myself…I wonder if Lisa and Larissa ever had a slumber party."
Cecilia looked at her and said "and?"
"Well then I called Aaron because I still don't have my license and I thought maybe we could have the sleepover here or better yet at Aaron's house. That way the girls will be with us and they can come to my concert. What do you think?"
"I think that is a great idea. I have a lot of things to do and those kids just cramp my style….you know?"
"I imagine" Bree answered, her voice wobbling a little as I stepped in "So where are the girls? It is pretty late, we should get going"
"I don't know. They are so weird sometimes…I think they got that from Simon….I miss Simon" she said forlornly as Bree stepped forward to hug her and softy said "I know you do"
At that moment the twins came out to the kitchen, their face was streaked with tears and Larissa's cheek was red.
"Girls, why don't you get into the car with Aaron" Bree said quietly as the girls followed me out to the car.
By the time Bree came back out she looked tired. She made a quick phone call and then said to me "can you drive downtown to the Palladium"
"Why?"
"Well we are all up and I might as well practice, plus the girls need something fun to take their mind off their alcoholic mom"
"You were pretty outstanding back there" I said quietly my voice full of praise.
"Let's just say I have experience with that from my own abuelita" Bree replied sadly before smiling at me "besides after tomorrow the twins won't have to worry about that again"
We got to the Palladium and Bree's band was there waiting on the stage. They all looked pretty tired but perked up when she greeted them individually.
I felt my fists beginning to clench as the drummer held on to her a little longer than normal before Bree stepped away from him.
"Girls I need your help with one of my songs. I just need you to tell me if you like it"
"Okay" Lisa said as she and Larissa smiled and Bree nodded to her band
What I like about
you
You hold me tight
Tell me I'm the only one
Wanna come
over tonight?
Keep on
whispering in my ear
Tell me all the things that I want to
hear
'Cause it's true
That's what I like about you
What I like about
you
You really know how to dance
When you go up down, jump
around
Talk about about true romance
I laughed as Lisa and Larissa jumped up onto the stage and began dancing as they followed Bree around. They started singing as well and it was pandemonium to say the least.
It was at this moment that I feel in love with Bree all over again. Her hair was messy and she was wearing sweat pants and my sweater but she was still beautiful as she led Lisa and Larissa around the stage, taking their hands and letting them sing into the microphone.
Keep on whispering
in my ear
Tell me all the things that I want to hear
'Cause
it's true
That's what I like
about you
That's what I like about you
That's what I like about
you
I then noticed that
Bree was walking towards me as she continued singing taking my hand
and dragging me up on the stage with Lisa and Larissa as they danced
around us and Bree looked up at me smiling.
What I like about you
You keep me warm at
night
Never wanna let you go
You know you make me feel
alright
Keep on whispering
in my ear
Tell me all the things that I want to hear
'Cause
it's true
At that moment we heard "kiss, kiss" as we turned our attention to Lisa and Larissa who were giggling slightly.
"We most likely shouldn't disappoint our fans" Bree whispered smiling slightly as I nodded before bending down to kiss her on the lips. We pulled apart when we heard cheering.
"Okay calm down in the peanut gallery" I said as Lisa and Larissa giggled once more, the smiles on their face much brighter than before.
That's what I
like about you
That's what I like about you
That's what I like
about you
When we returned home, Lisa and Larissa were passed out in the back seat and it was 2:30 in the morning.
"What time are you going down to the Palladium?" I asked Bree as she yawned slightly before answering "at 5:30 tonight. Concert starts at 7:00"
After the girls were in the spare bedroom and Bree was asleep in my bed I walked downstairs to the mantle place where the letter was sitting. For the past four months that letter stood there because I wasn't ready to read it.
Howvere tomorrow after Bree's concert we had to make a decision that would affect all our lives and I needed to know why he decided to give Bree and I custody.
I took a deep breath and opened it up
Aaron, My talented Son,
There is so much I would like to tell you. I remember the day you were born. I was so happy and proud even though I didn't know you were mine. I didn't find out until you were nine years old. I was angry, surprised, disappointed, and scared. You recognized Martin as your father and I was afraid. I was married, we had the twins. I had a new life and I didn't know where you would fit in and how my wife would feel that I got another woman pregnant.
I know I was cruel and I pray someday you will truly forgive me. I hope you are not as angry as you were when I died. I know you are probably wondering why I gave you and Brianna custody of Lisa and Larissa.
Your sisters have missed ten years of your life and I would like to give them the opportunity of getting to know you. You, Aaron Brewer, are an incredible person. I watched how your self-confidence and maturity has blossomed through the years.
I can't erase the past but I can hopefully shape your future by linking you and Brianna together for as long as your natural life allows. You two are soul mates and I hope you recognize the outstanding gift you have been given from God. You have someone who loves you unconditionally, don't mess it up over something that is purely physical. You deserve to be happy and the happiest I ever seen you is when Brianna is at your side.
Once you and Brianna marry you will come to recognize that is was worth the wait. Just ask your mom if you don't believe me.
I love you and I am so proud of the man you are today and the man you'll be in the future.
Love always,
Your father,
Simon
I read the letter twice before I walked upstairs to my room and found Lisa and Larissa curled up on either side of Bree who was sleeping.
I walked in quietly as Bree stirred and then whispered "Aaron? Why are you still up?"
"I couldn't sleep" I said as I held the letter up and she sat up and asked "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I want to talk but not about the letter" I finally said as she nodded and carefully extracted herself from the twins as we walked out of my room and sat in the hallway.
She shivered slightly before leaning on me as I automatically slipped my arm around her waist.
"I love you" I said quietly as she turned to look my in the eyes before responding "I love you too. Tomorrow evening Aaron I'll let you know where I stand with you. If you can be patient for one more day"
I nodded my head and replied "I can wait one more day. Let's get some sleep."