"So, um…should we discuss…"
"Good morning, Millie." I exclaimed over his shoulder, relieved for the opportunity to change the conversation.
"Morning, dear." She patted my back, on her way to the coffee. "Did your father wake at all last night?"
"No, he slept straight through."
"Good," Millie sat down with a plate and began to eat. We finished in silence.
Pushing away from the table, I stepped to the sink and placed my plate in the basin. Loading up dad’s tray, I headed to the living room. He was lying awake. Millie came in behind me and we started getting dad out of bed. I didn’t even realize Aidan was next to me until I felt his body against my side, scooting me out of the way. He wrapped dad’s arm over his shoulder and helped him to his lounge chair.
"Thanks," Donald breathed.
Aidan massaged his shoulder.
"No problem," then he turned to me "Do you mind if I go take a shower?"
"Not at all, it’s at the top of the stairs."
He nodded and headed upstairs.
With Donald’s food before him, he ate heartily. I was happy to see his appetite returning. He seemed to be feeling better. I could only hope the medications would last and surgery would not be necessary, at least for awhile longer.
Aidan stayed at my father’s until the Sunday evening I was flying back. I’d avoided the conversation about our arrangement just because I wasn’t ready for the finality of the deal yet.
"What are you doing?"
I snapped my head over to see Aidan watching me at my father’s desk. "Printing my ticket."
"Cancel it, you won’t need it," he walked over and grabbed the printed ticket.
"What—"
"We’ll take the jet," he spoke like it was no big deal to just have a jet waiting, which, for him, I’m sure it wasn’t.
"Jet?" I cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah, the AIS Jet. It’s waiting for our arrival this afternoon," he pulled out his cell phone. Before I could say anything else, he began to make a call. After about ten minutes he snapped his phone shut. "Okay, your ticket is taken care of." He ripped up the printed ticket.
"Excuse me?" I furrowed my brow.
"What?"
"Can you at least let me decide if I’m flying with you or not?" I rolled my eyes.
"Lilli, be reasonable, it’s stupid for you to pay for a plane ticket when I’m flying out on the family jet to the same location" he looked at me as if I had three heads.
"I don’t like decisions just being made for me." Standing, I tried to exit the room. He grabbed my arm.
"I’m sorry," he looked into my eyes. "I’ll try not to take charge of things but I was only trying to help."
"I know." The words slipped out quickly and I shook off his hand.
The pull of his touch was way too tempting. I’d never had that happen to me before. Sure, I was instantly attracted to some people and when guys in my past had touched me it made my body react. However, this was a simple gesture of touching my arm. It wasn’t in a romantic or intimate nature, yet I felt prickling heat flowing from that point of contact. I grabbed my bags and headed toward the steps.
"Here let me help," I turned to look at him "Please?" I handed over the bags and he headed down the stairs. I took another long look at the house as I walked down the steps, taking it all in.
Donald was sitting and waiting for me to come tell him goodbye. I hated leaving him but knew that Millie would take care of him while I was gone.
"I’ll miss you," I whispered and kissed his head.
He smiled.
"Love…you…Lilli." His voice was still raspy but it sounded better than a few days ago.
"Love you too," I smiled and hugged him. I hugged Millie goodbye as Aidan said goodbye to my dad.
It wasn’t until we got to the airport and were walking toward the plane that I realized that we would be alone the whole flight. He was going to want to discuss things on the way there. I groaned internally even though I had agreed to this of my own will. We climbed onto the plane and I took a seat. I was still so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t realized that Aidan had sat down next to me.
I snapped out of my thoughts at a loud thud. A thick stack of papers sat on the small table in front of us. Aidan had a nervous but determined look on his face.
"We have quite a few hours till we get to New York. I was thinking we could discuss things before we get there," he rubbed the back of his head. It was clear he was forcing himself not to look in my direction.
I turned my gaze back to the stack of papers before reaching out and picking them up.
"Ok," I barely answered in a whisper. I took a deep breath and started to read over the documents.
Chapter Eleven
The Ring
Lilli