She hugged me tighter. Pulling back, I kissed her forehead and ran my fingers over her cheek. Her warm smile instantly brightened the sadness surrounding me.
Closing up a box which held about a half of a million dollars in jewelry, we moved on to the next. Inside were more photos, letters, notes, dried flowers and a silver brush and comb set. This had been my mother’s as well. Memories of sitting on her bed as she would brush her hair at her vanity flooded back to me. I clenched my hand around the small, silver hair combs as tears welled in my eyes again. Lilli move closer, sitting against my side and soothingly ran her hand over my shoulder.
"These were my mothers." I croaked, unable say anything else.
Lilli’s hand slid up the side of my head, pulling me to lean on her. Holding my head against her chest, she allowed me to sob over memories from so long ago.
Finally pulling myself together, I moved on to the next box. It was evident that these were Grandma Isobel’s things. There was a large, red leather book with her name in gold calligraphy across the front. Pulling it out, I leafed through the pages of what turned out to be her journal. Looking back into the box, there were a few more leather books. They were all journals. I put them aside for the moment and looked into the black box. Small tokens, lace gloves, a small, silk purse that held a lock of hair, a small photo frame of a couple, I assumed were Isobel’s parents, and then there were photos of two different babies. At first, I thought it was my father but realized the babies were in coffins. A chill ran through me.
Turning the photo over, I discovered two children my grandparents had lost. Both dated before the birth of my father. Grandma Isobel and Grandfather had lost two children. Once I processed the new information, I glanced at my wife’s swollen stomach.
Lilli looked up from the photos she was still perusing.
"Wh-what?"
Cutting her off with my lips, I put all of the emotions from tonight into worshiping her mouth. Deciding to forget the past for tonight, I picked Lilli up bridal style from the pool table.
"Aidan! Put me down!" She clung to me, fisting the material covering my chest. "I am too heavy for this."
Laughing loudly, I held her tighter. Even seven months pregnant, she wasn’t exactly heavy. Hell, she couldn’t have been more than a hundred and twenty pounds, at most, before she got pregnant and now, well, hell, she still barely weighed much. My laugh made her huff. Once we got to the bedroom, I laid her back onto the bed and curled up next to her.
"Are you okay?" She whispered.
"I’m more than okay." I kissed her lips and moved, hovering over her body. "You make me more than okay."
Brushing away a few strands of hair from her face, I moved my lips to the crook of her neck, tasting her skin.
Her pulse quickened under my lips.
"Aidan…" She panted.
Pulling my head back, I looked into her large, hazel eyes. She chewed on her bottom lip, remaining silent. Grabbing the sides of my face, she pulled my lips to hers. Her arms sliding around my shoulders, pulling me closer to her body.
Her lips parted and she darted her tongue out, licking my bottom lip. As I was about to open my mouth to her, she pulled away. Our foreheads pressed together, her eyes tightly shut, and she slowed her breathing. After a few moments, her eyes flashed open, looking directly into mine.
"I love you." She whispered.
Chapter Five
8 Months
Aidan
I laid awake in bed, watching her sleep. She said she loved me. Those three tiny, yet heartfelt, words pushed me over the edge. Any resistance I may have had tonight was blown. Gone. I made love to her slowly. Agonizingly slow. Every whimper and moan that escaped her lips served only as confirmation she was mine and she loved me.
It was extremely early. My mind kept racing. I was so wired and restless, consumed by my thoughts, that I decided to get up before I woke her up. Leaning down, I kissed her stomach and then her forehead before I left the room.
Arriving back in the bar, everything was still spread out on the pool table. I started to slowly put some of the things away. When I got to my grandmother’s journals, I decided to collect them up and head to the library. On my way to the library I passed Jay in the hallway.
"Good morning, sir." He nodded.
"Good morning, Jay." I smiled.
"Would you like me to get you anything?"
"Actually, could you get me some coffee? I’ll be in the library."
"Of course, sir." He nodded before setting to his task.
"Thank you." Saying the words over my shoulder, I continued toward the library.