the time Dad and Aiden came back, orange and red streaks were chasing the sun down into the lake. They were both sun burnt and beaming with pride as they presented their prized catch to me: a string of fish almost as long as my arm. The worry and stress that had me in such a piss poor mood all day melted away at the sight of their grinning faces. Aiden told me about the size of the ‘braw, muckle beauty’ Dad had hooked but that had broken the line right before they’d reeled him into the boat. Dad tried to look humble, but failed miserably. A giggle bubbled up from within me and I wanted to hug them both even though they stunk like fish.
Dad asked Aiden to stay for dinner and partake of the bounty they’d supplied, but he declined, saying he needed to catch up on some rest after the fiasco with the skunk the night before. My face fell when he turned down the invitation since I hadn’t seen him all day, but he was gone before I had a chance to protest.
Dad cleaned the fish and cooked them on the woodstove, then made us each a plate. He made little noises of bliss with each bite and I had to laugh at him, though I was still reeling a bit from Aiden’s abrupt departure.
“So you guys had fun then?” I ventured, wanting some insight as to what they’d talked about, but Dad wasn’t giving it up.
“Yep, he’s a good kid. And a damn good fisherman at that, even if his methods are a little strange.” He didn’t elaborate, but let his eyes roll back in his head with the next forkful of flaky white heaven.
He read a magazine in his chair next to the fire before going to bed and I tried to concentrate on a book myself, but my thoughts kept coming back to Aiden. He’d barely said goodbye after they’d returned with the fish and I’d told myself all afternoon that at least I’d get to see him at dinnertime. So I was pouting, feeling lonely and sorry for myself, which irritated me because pouting is just childish and stupid. I mean, would it have killed him to stay for dinner?
Dad lifted an eyebrow at me over his magazine.
“Are you okay, Linds? You’re over there making faces.”
“I’m fine,” I spat, then changed my tone. “I’m fine,” I said again, softer this time.
“Ooookay,” he replied and went back to reading, muttering something that sounded like “women” under his breath.
I finally gave up on the book and said goodnight to Dad, then made my way upstairs to bed. Curled up in a ball, cold and alone in the dark, I wondered why Aiden had left so soon. I’d just pulled the covers up under my chin, trying to get warm, when I heard his voice in my head.
Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams.
My breath caught in my throat. I was glad he couldn’t see my lip quivering in response.
I missed you today, I sent back, hoping he couldn’t tell how whiny and pathetic I felt.
Ah chèrie, tu me manquais aussi. But you need to spend some time alone with your Da. I’m not going to come by tomorrow.
I bolted upright in the bed as if he’d just stuck me with a hot poker.
What? Why? I didn’t care anymore if I sounded like a petulant child. I would not go another day without him. Period. His soft chuckle reverberated in my head.
I told you, lass. Your Da came to see you, not me, and I’ll not take that away from him. Just one day, then I’ll come by again. I promise.
I wanted to scream, to kick my feet and demand that he change his mind, but he was right. And that only made it worse. There was nothing I could do but to suffer through another day, not knowing where he was, not being able to see him or touch him. It shouldn’t have mattered; I should have been able to go a week without him. I was a strong, independent woman, for crying out loud! I hated this needy side of myself. What was wrong with me? I was just so freaking worried that something was going to go wrong and I wouldn’t be there to fix it, to help him. Everything was out of my control and it was making me insane.
Aiden’s earlier
Dad asked Aiden to stay for dinner and partake of the bounty they’d supplied, but he declined, saying he needed to catch up on some rest after the fiasco with the skunk the night before. My face fell when he turned down the invitation since I hadn’t seen him all day, but he was gone before I had a chance to protest.
Dad cleaned the fish and cooked them on the woodstove, then made us each a plate. He made little noises of bliss with each bite and I had to laugh at him, though I was still reeling a bit from Aiden’s abrupt departure.
“So you guys had fun then?” I ventured, wanting some insight as to what they’d talked about, but Dad wasn’t giving it up.
“Yep, he’s a good kid. And a damn good fisherman at that, even if his methods are a little strange.” He didn’t elaborate, but let his eyes roll back in his head with the next forkful of flaky white heaven.
He read a magazine in his chair next to the fire before going to bed and I tried to concentrate on a book myself, but my thoughts kept coming back to Aiden. He’d barely said goodbye after they’d returned with the fish and I’d told myself all afternoon that at least I’d get to see him at dinnertime. So I was pouting, feeling lonely and sorry for myself, which irritated me because pouting is just childish and stupid. I mean, would it have killed him to stay for dinner?
Dad lifted an eyebrow at me over his magazine.
“Are you okay, Linds? You’re over there making faces.”
“I’m fine,” I spat, then changed my tone. “I’m fine,” I said again, softer this time.
“Ooookay,” he replied and went back to reading, muttering something that sounded like “women” under his breath.
I finally gave up on the book and said goodnight to Dad, then made my way upstairs to bed. Curled up in a ball, cold and alone in the dark, I wondered why Aiden had left so soon. I’d just pulled the covers up under my chin, trying to get warm, when I heard his voice in my head.
Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams.
My breath caught in my throat. I was glad he couldn’t see my lip quivering in response.
I missed you today, I sent back, hoping he couldn’t tell how whiny and pathetic I felt.
Ah chèrie, tu me manquais aussi. But you need to spend some time alone with your Da. I’m not going to come by tomorrow.
I bolted upright in the bed as if he’d just stuck me with a hot poker.
What? Why? I didn’t care anymore if I sounded like a petulant child. I would not go another day without him. Period. His soft chuckle reverberated in my head.
I told you, lass. Your Da came to see you, not me, and I’ll not take that away from him. Just one day, then I’ll come by again. I promise.
I wanted to scream, to kick my feet and demand that he change his mind, but he was right. And that only made it worse. There was nothing I could do but to suffer through another day, not knowing where he was, not being able to see him or touch him. It shouldn’t have mattered; I should have been able to go a week without him. I was a strong, independent woman, for crying out loud! I hated this needy side of myself. What was wrong with me? I was just so freaking worried that something was going to go wrong and I wouldn’t be there to fix it, to help him. Everything was out of my control and it was making me insane.
Aiden’s earlier
Similar Books
