Discovering Pride (Pride Series) (16 page)

“
Aaron. We are shocked to hear you’re in Oregon and don’t know what you’re doing there. We’ve talked to Jennifer and think it’s time you resolved your problem and stopped running away from your commitments. Your father and I expect this embarrassing situation to be handled before the wedding. We expect to see you in California when we get there after the New Year.
”

No “hello;” No “goodbye;” No “how are you?” Nothing personal—that was his parents.

Storming to the fridge, he yanked it open and grabbed a beer. He needed it now along with a few others.

T
he days after a holiday were always busy. It was strange how people flocked to home-made food one day and then the next they wanted someone else to do the cooking for them. Maybe it was the dishes they didn’t want to deal with, or maybe it was just getting away from their homes. Whatever it was, Lacey enjoyed these busy times.  The sounds and smells of it all felt like home to her.  She knew that people were out making their black Friday purchases, pushing and shoving each other at the closest malls. She, on the other hand, had nothing to worry about because she had most of her Christmas shopping done early—thanks to her favorite online stores.

It was half way through the dinner rush when she felt that familiar tingle down her spine. Looking over, she saw Aaron walk in and take a seat at the bar located along the far wall. Mary, the bartender on duty, quickly rushed over to take his order.

After dropping off her latest order she took a minute to stop at the bar.

“
Did you want some dinner?” she said kissing him quickly. She sat next to him and tried not to notice how he had stiffened a little at her light touch.

“No, just a quick drink
, that is all I want right now,” he nodded his thanks as Mary set down a whiskey. “Since this is the only bar that’s opened right now…” he trailed off and drank the whiskey in a single swallow.

“
Oh, okay,” she said, and noticed she was being hailed by the couple at table twelve. “I’ll be right back.” She rushed back to work.

Twenty minutes later she stopped back at the bar. She didn’t know how many drinks he’d had, but by his look, she was sure the bar stool wouldn’t hold him up much longer.

“
Want that dinner now?” she asked him. Her shift was almost over, and the majority of people had cleared out, leaving the restaurant almost empty.

Mary delivered another drink to Aaron, shook her head at Lacey, then went to the end of the bar and started clearing some dishes, leaving them alone again.

“
Are you alright? Has something happened?” she asked placing her hand on his forearm, noticing his eyes were red and blood shot.

He laughed quickly. “My life,” he shook his head after downing the whiskey.  “My parents,” wishing for another shot, he started to wave to the bartender.

Lacey quickly grabbed his arm.
“How about I take you home; you can tell me about it.”

Looking in to her eyes, he saw the concern and something more—he saw trust.

“I just can’t deal with this
,” he shook his head and started to get up. She grabbed his arm and shaking her head she looked into his eyes.

He could only guess at what she saw there. Hell, he’d gotten drunk two nights in a row—not just a little drunk, but rip-roaring drunk. He had woken with the taste of cotton in his mouth and his head felt as if someone had split it in two with an ax.

He had thought about his messed up childhood and his potential marriage disaster. Now, according to his parents, he was the one screwing this up.  It appears they expected him to make it “
right” 
before the wedding; just what the hell did they mean by that?

“
Aaron,” His name seemed to shake him free and he looked into her face. “Let me take you home.”

“
I’m fine.” he started to walk away. He would walk home maybe that would clear his head. He doubted it, but it was worth a try.

“If you don’t want me to stick around, I won’t.” she said taking his arm again to steady him. “But, I’m still driving you home. It’s going to snow later.”

As they walked by the end of the bar, Lacey informed Mary that she was dropping Aaron of at home. “Tell Katie to take over my tables will you?”

“Sure, I’ll let her know. Goodnight.” Mary gave Lacey a quick smile.

When the cold night air hit
 him, he seemed to wake up through the haze his mind had been in since he received the phone message.

“My trucks over there,” he said handing her his keys.

He remained silent during the short drive to his place.  His mothers’ voice was playing around in his head as they passed the large pine tree in the middle of town square. The tree was decorated with all different colored lights and ornaments. He noticed that each of the street lights had ornamental decorations hanging from them. Each house they passed had lights or decorations; it seemed the whole town was lit up.

Seeing his own newly installed driveway lights did little to lift his spirits. He had wanted to see her, but when he sat at the bar the only thing he could think about was the phone message, and naturally self-pity took over. What was he doing here? Did he really think he could hide from his parents? Did he really want to?  Did he really think he could start fresh?

Man, he wanted another beer. Drowning his problems had worked for him last night. Sure he had woken up on the floor in his living room with a splitting headache, but he was sure he had spent most of the night on the soft leather couch.  Maybe he should have stayed home tonight.

Stopping just in front of the newly installed garage doors
, Lacey turned off the truck and turned to face him.  She could hear the light drizzle of rain hitting the roof of the truck.  They sat there for a while looking at each other.

“
Please tell me this isn’t to do with us.” she said.

He quickly turned his head towards her.

“
No.” he turned back to look at his house. “It’s funny, you know, you think I wouldn’t put so much stock in something like a house.” He sat and looked at the place. She turned and did the same.

“
It’s a nice place. It doesn’t even look like the same house on the outside and the inside.”  She turned to him.  “You should be very proud of it and yourself.”

When he let out a large breath, she asked, “Are you going to tell me what this is all about?”

“Let’s go inside, I’ll get a fire going.” He got out and made it half way around the truck before she started to follow him.

As he bent over the paper and wood in the family room fireplace, she walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

After the coffee was done, she took two mugs into the room. She saw him sitting on the large couch staring into the flames. For the first time since meeting him, he looked lonely and lost.

“I thought I could
 break away from them,” he took the mug from her and set the cup on the coffee table without taking a sip.  She shook her head and sitting next to him handed the cup to him again; this time she made sure he took a drink.  “I don’t drink like that often,” he sat the cup down again. “I just wanted you to know.”

“I think I’m a good judge of character Aaron. I don’t see “
alcoholic
” written anywhere on you. Please, just talk to me; tell me what set this off.” she reached for his hands and held them.

He laughed, “What else—my parents.”

“A
nd?” she said tucking her legs under her.  She could hear the rain start up again outside,  and grabbed her mug to warm her cold hands.

“Apparently, they just found out that I moved here and they are not pleased.  They expect me to be back in LA by New Year’s,” he set the coffee down again and looked into the fire as if to find a solution there. “All my life I have done what they expected of me. Thinking,” he shook his head, “no, hoping, that by obeying them, I would change them. Change the way they felt about me.”

He leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

“It was always like this. I went to the schools they wanted. I took the jobs they wanted. I remember before I graduated, sending out my internship requests; I wanted to intern in New York. They wanted me to intern in Boston. More money, more power, to them I was a pawn they could move around to better their lives.”

He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

“So, I interned in Boston; afterwords, they wanted me to take a job in Philadelphia. Taking the job in Los Angeles was the first thing I had ever done against their wishes. Now, they are upset at me that I left the job in L.A.” short burst of laughter escaped and he shook his head.

“I’m tired of trying to please them. Taking over for my grandfather was the first thing that I have done right. This house feels right—it is right—being here.” He stopped and looked at her. Words could not express what he felt, or how he felt.

“
Aaron, from the sound of it, your parents aren’t much, well…,” she didn’t quite know what to say, “…parents. I’m so sorry they hurt you.” Setting her own coffee down next to his, she took his hands again.

“I can’t imagine the childhood you had being an only child and living alone in boarding schools. I have always had brothers who helped me through rough times like when we lost our father.   They were always there for me growing up, but I can’t imagine what it would be like without love and support of a family. I do know this though, your grandfather loves you. Further, you are here now, in this place, with us, and you have friends and a home. Blood makes them your parents, but that doesn’t make their opinion of you important. You can make your own choices now; you have to make a life for yourself, one that you can live with.”  Taking his face in her hands, she pulled him in for a soft kiss.

“I’m sorry that they’ve caused you pain, but that’s all over now. You’re here, with me.” she kissed his lips again.

He found her lips like a drug: soft and smooth. Running his hands up her arms, he could feel her shiver at his touch. Her hands were in his hair pulling him in closer. She hadn’t meant to come here for this. This was, in her mind, the first time he’d opened up to her. How could she not come to his aid?