Chapter 47/ Aunt Dana
Andrea's POV
I hadn't seen my Aunt Dana in a while. That's sad because she was part of the reason I wanted to move to Memphis. She is my dad's sister and the only family member left. She is married to a woman named Lisa Carter, and they adopted their daughter, Caroline.
"Where is Lisa?" I asked, looking for her. Lisa is a pharmacist at the local Kroger, so I knew she'd most likely be at work.
"You know, Lisa is a workaholic. But she sends her love. We're both so proud that you finished law school," my aunt Dana said as we sat down at her kitchen table. I had a rare moment to visit my aunt alone while Philip took Eliza to her friend Kelsey's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. "Thank you. You know being a lawyer is all I ever wanted, but I just found out I'm expecting again," I said, taking a deep breath.
"And did your husband suggest that you stay at home with the baby again?" she asked, concerned. She had poured me a glass of sweet tea and cut me a piece of her famous strawberry cake.
"No, it was actually my decision. I am sort of second-guessing it," I admitted, taking a bite of the cake.
"I stayed home with my daughter Caroline and never regretted it. And if that's what you want, Andrea, I will support you. There is no wrong choice as long as it's your choice and not Philip's," she warned.
"You really don't like Philip," I said, remembering why I didn't visit a lot.
I wouldn't say that. Philip is very smart and rich. The age difference concerns me, and the fact that he is just so overprotective of you. I know you said he has been through a lot, so maybe I am misjudging him. But I always thought you'd end up with someone else," she says, looking at me with her green eyes.
"Who, Aunt Dana?" I wonder who she was going to say.
"Remember that boy you dated in high school, the one you got a tattoo for. The way you two looked at each other, I figured you'd marry him. His name was Shane Walsh, right?"
"Yes. He actually became a cop and married one," I said, hoping she'd drop the subject of Shane.
"Too bad you let him go. You'd have beautiful babies," she said without thinking.
"You can't get a prettier child than Elizabeth," I reminded her of her great niece.
"You are right. She is a gorgeous girl. I guess I just thought Shane was the one for you," she said, getting up to put the tea in the refrigerator.
"The timing was off with Shane. We were too young to make it last. It was puppy love," I said, knowing I needed to go soon. I didn't need anyone else bringing up a past I couldn't change.
He doesn't think about you. His new wife is beautiful. And I didn't want to break up his new family or mine. I only think about what might have been. That's not unreasonable. I knew Shane my whole life. Falling in love with him was easy. Letting go was hard. Especially when Eliza reminded me of him. Her eyes had changed from hazel to completely brown.
"I am just happy you are happy. Philip does seem to worship you, and he takes care of you," my aunt said finally.
"Yes. I am very lucky. He saved my life after Amy died. If Negan hadn't introduced us, I don't know where I would be. Philip gave me a place to live and paid for my college. He's my true love," I said definitively.
"If you are happy, I am happy," she said, offering me a hug. I hugged her and drove home. I went into the guest bedroom where I had hidden my box of things from my relationship with Shane. But somehow, the box was gone. I knew I should not have kept it, but the things inside the box were mine. About this time, Paige came in, cleaning up the room.
"Did you see a box in here that said 'old stuff'?" I asked, probably looking desperate.
"We were cleaning in here, and I think Martinez threw it out before I could stop him," she said honestly.
"I know I shouldn't keep it, but those things were special to me. There was this bear I got at the fair that I called Jessie. I held him when I felt overwhelmed." I said tears coming to my eyes.
Philip had been the practical and logical choice. When I flew to New York, everything felt so romantic. I got caught up in it all that I failed to realize my heart wanted Shane. I couldn't change my heart anymore than I could get him back. The fact that Philip had forgiven me was a surprise alone. Shane is married to what appears to be his perfect match, and I am having another baby by my husband. The man who pretty much would give me the world but for some reason would never be good enough. What the hell is wrong with me?
Paige sees the tears in my eyes, and she knows that box means a lot to me. "Do you ever think Eliza looks a lot like Shane? Would it be possible that Shane is actually her father?"
"Possible, yes. Likely, no," I said, not letting that thought enter my mind. We were only together once. There was no way.