Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) (10 page)

“No, I was just thinking.”

“What about?”

“Life and love. I know this is silly, but I wonder how much my parents really loved each other.”

“I am sure they did.”

Aimee stopped.  “Ok listen, life is too short to waste our time on loveless relationships. What if my parents had put off getting married or having kids? She died at the age of thirty one. We never know when our time on earth is through.”

“I agree, Aimee.” Piper was thinking of her and James.

Lexi sighed. “It would help if love was easy.”

“Yeah, but love is not easy.” Aimee started walking again.

Piper walked beside Aimee. “I think we have to find ourselves first.”

Aimee held the door to the lodge for the others. “Finding me is just as hard as finding love.”

♥
♥

Finding someone to spy on Aimee during this ski trip proved to be a difficult task. But searching for the right person paid off. The couple was able to keep a safe distance, blending in with the crowd.

The information they have brought back was priceless. Aimee and been out on a lot of dates with LJ Edward. They even managed to take photos of them holding hands and wrapped in one another arms on the slopes. But they never saw her kiss him.

They also found out that Aiden’s girlfriend, Ava, did not trust Aimee. In fact, there may have been some sort of altercation that went down; because, nearly everyone in the lodge was awakened by Ava yelling at Aimee.

Their last day proved to be interesting as well. The girls spent the day together. The part that interested Lady Y was that Aimee feared her parents did not love one another. She also seemed to struggle in relationships. That was heartbreaking, she was left alone during a time in her life when she needed a woman’s advice. Deandre was not there for her.

The past could not be changed.  So now, the focus needs to be on what the future holds for Aimee.

Chapter Ten

College life was back to normal. Ava flew back to Italy. James and Piper were falling more in love as the days passed by. They were attending a young couple’s class at church. It consisted of several young couples at church. Piper was really enjoying the class. It was being taught by a young married couple and they were discussing how to date and still stay true to their religious beliefs.

Drew came down last weekend and took Lexi on a date. He text her a couple of times. He said he would call her about Valentine’s Day. He had yet set a Sunday to come to church with them. However, Lexi keeps talking about joining them soon. She even had Aimee take her to a Christian Bookstore and help her pick out a Bible.

Colin was taking out a girl from one of his classes. So far, they had gone out for two weeks. Aimee was wondering if maybe he had found his real deal.

Josiah, well who knows, he was rarely at the flat. He seemed to be more withdrawn lately.

Sophia was just happy about her time at the NCS (Neahovia Culinary School). She was accepted and classes began two days after the spring semester at Ancaster ended. Everyone was happy for her, but said she would be leaving. She spent a lot of her time talking to a few friends she made during vacation.

LJ had been over a few times, but had not officially ask Aimee out on another date; which was ok with her, because right now, she was using every waking minute she had not studying, reading her mom’s diary. So far, the diaries started when she was eighteen years old and she was having a hard time deciphering the abbreviations her mom used.

Today was Saturday, and Aimee was doing some work for Introduction to Management class. It was a computer assignment, that took forever, but she just finished it when Aiden came down.

“Did you get the Introduction to Management assignment done?” He sat down on one of the oversized chairs.

“I just finished it.” Aimee laid her head back on the couch. She was sitting on the floor between the couch and coffee table.

“Classes are harder this term.”

“Yeah.”

Aiden started to say something, but his cell rang. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know who was on the other end. Aimee took the opportunity to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner.

She was making a large Taco Salad for dinner. The meat was simmering on the stove with the spices that Sophia pre made for her to add to the meat. She was taking out the refrigerated ingredients when she heard Aiden enter.

“Need help?”

Aimee got a tomato knife from the utensil drawer and handed it, along with the tomatoes, to Aiden.

“So, would you like to tell me why you are avoiding me?”

Aimee took the lettuce and began cutting it in shreds the way Sophia taught her. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

Aiden stopped dicing. “Aimee, I thought we settled this. Ava cannot come between our friendships.”

“Look, Aiden, we all know your relationship with her is rocky, to say the least. I don’t want to be the reason she starts fights with you.”

“Well you haven’t talked to me, aside from class assignments. We still fight, but that is between me and her. She has no one else to blame. In fact, she is on this kick now that I should do whatever she wants.”

Aimee mixed the lettuce and tomato in a bowl and stirred the meat. Sophia went to get some fresh tortillas for the salad. She text Aimee and said she would be there in about five minutes to finish the taco salad.

Aiden came over and took Aimee around the waist turning her to face him, causing them to star into each other’s eyes. Neither saying a word for a second. Then Aiden stepped back quickly.

“Aimee, I miss having you as my friend. Watching the sunrise is not the same without you. I really miss our long talks. If Ava doesn’t like us being friends, that is her problem, because I am not given up our friendship.”

Aimee smiled. “I miss our friendship too.”

Aiden grabbed her and hugged her.

When Sophia returned, Aimee gave her back the kitchen. She said the others will be there in like thirty minutes.

Aiden joined Aimee at the coffee table in the front room. “What is all this?” He pointed at her mom’s diaries.

“I found this at my dad’s over Christmas Break. They are all dated in the late 80’s.”

“Your mom was still here in the 80’s?”

“Yeah, but even then, she wrote using initials. I am having a horrible time deciphering any of it.”

Aiden looked at the stack. “Which one is the first diary?”

Aimee handed him the first one. “The start date is May 4
th
, 1986 her 18
th
birthday.”

Aiden opened the book and Aimee took out the notebook she was using with it. “I’ve been trying to write down the initial and how many times they appear.  But it doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Can I read it out loud?” Aiden turned to the first entry.

Aimee nodded.

May 4, 1986,

Today is my 18
th
birthday. I never thought I would celebrate this day without my dad. He has been gone for nine months now. Mom is doing great; she has really taken charge of the business world. Tonight, AES is throwing my 18
th
birthday party at MPB. I just pray that MAL does not show up. He ruins everything. Ever since dad has passed on, MAL thinks he can control everything. Mom promised she has managed to keep it a secret and that HAL was going to keep him occupied tonight.

On a good note, RGA is coming and I think he may ask me to be his girlfriend tonight. I will keep you posted.

“Her initials are marked out with a black marker.”

“I know. Does any of those initials make sense?”

“The names could be anything, but let’s do a search on MPB. It could be a club, city, or anything.”

Lexi came through the door and sat beside Aimee. “What are you doing?”

“Reading my mom’s diary.”

Aiden brought her up to speed. “Try beaches, May 4
th
, the weather is warm enough for a beach party.”

James and Piper entered just as Lexi suggested beaches. “Who is having a beach party on May 4
th
?”

“No one.” The group yelled for Sophia, just as Colin walked in. Aiden brought everyone up to speed.

“Mystique Paradise.” Piper smiled. “It is about 3 hours south from here. My parents took us there a few years ago.”

Aimee wrote that down. “Ok, there is one option.”

“Let’s eat, and then, we can read some more; maybe she’ll describe the party and we will have something to go on.” Aiden stood and lead the group.

That was probably the fastest meal they had. Clean up as well. Aiden took out the diary and turned the page.

May 4
th
1986….

The beach party was a total blast. MAL stayed away, just as mom promised. RGA arrived early. We went for a walk before the party began. We are officially a couple.

Aiden stopped. “I’m sorry, are you ok with hearing her talk about another guy like this?”

“I have already read it.”

Piper frowned. “That is why, at the resort, you said you wondered about your parents love?"

Aimee nodded.

He is so tall and his hair is brown, with just a hint of red hues. His light orange t-shirt made his blue as sparkling as the blue ocean water. He caressed my lips with the most gentles kisses. I am so glad the two years difference in our age caused my mom to not permit our relationship. I could not ask for a better gift than to finally become RGA’s girlfriend. This summer is going to be the best summer of my life. It is two weeks before I graduate and I am so excited. I just know he is the guy for me.

He kept peace at the party as well.  He made sure no one snuck any alcoholic beverages to the party. He danced every slow dance with me. We even watched the sunset over the water. I t was so depressing to me, but RGA reminded me that every sunset is followed by a sunrise the next day, and that sunrise represents the beginning of a new day. A fresh start. A time to get out there and find out who we are.

Aiden closed the diary. “Ok MPB is a beach.” He looked over at Aimee, she sat so still, her face white as snow. The fact he was staring at her caused everyone to turn to her. James got up and went to her. She may not be his true younger sister, but the bond was there just the same.

He wrapped her in his arms as she cried. Everyone else sat silent as Aimee sobbed in her self-proclaimed big brothers arms. Aimee regained enough composure to tell the other's how her mom always said a sunrise was a new day with a fresh start. It was time for us to get out there and find out who we are.

The room fell silent. No-one knew what to stay. Aimee got up and went out on the patio for fresh air. She had read that first day entry over and over. It was never easy to hear.

Piper came out. “Hey, Bestie. You ok?”

“No. I knew that finding out things was going to be hard, but I never thought I would react like this.”

“Hey, we all like to think our parents only have eyes for one another.  But, the truth is, our parents dated other people before they settled. Just like us.”

“I know… I guess I always thought that my dad was why she came to the States.”

“This entry was dated four years before your mom came to the states in 1990. A lot can happen in four years.”

“Your right, let’s go search Mystique Paradise Beach.”

Aiden had his laptop on the table. “We read ahead a bit, she describes a few landmarks about the beach. We did a search and think it is Mystique Beach. I just booked us a weekend trip there the first week of March. Sorry we couldn’t do it sooner.”

“Its fine, next weekend is Valentine’s Day and most of us will have plans. Maybe we can read more of the diary before we go and find some other spots to check out.”

Colin went to answer the door bell that had rung. He entered back into the room carrying a rectangle package. Aiden jumped up. “Great, it came.”

He headed to the steps. “It is addressed to Aimee.” Colin reminded him.

Aiden turned back around. “Ok, it was something I wanted to get you to apologize for Ava’s attitude toward you at the lodge, but now…”

“Don’t be silly.” Aimee took the package and opened it. It was a canvas painting of the sun rising over the Loopy Mountains.

“I love it.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Aiden, I still love sun rises.  It will always be something I shared with my mom. No matter who got her to love them and to say it is a promise of a new day and fresh start.”

Colin looked at the painting. “This would look great over the fireplace.”

Aimee’s cell vibrated.  She looked at the ID as she walked to the kitchen. “Hello.”

“Hey, Aimee.”

“LJ, a call instead of a text? Wow.”

“Well, I can’t ask a girl out with a text message, now can I?”

“I guess not. Some may consider that a huge turn off.”

“Aimee, would you do me the pleasure of being my Valentine?”

Aimee giggled. “It depends, what do you have planned for your Valentine?”

“Well, I have two theater tickets and dinner reservations.”

“That sounds great.”

“So, I will pick you up at six on Saturday and the dress is semi-formal.”

“Thanks for the warning. About the semi-formal wear, I mean.”

LJ laughed. “I love how you make me laugh. So, I will see you then. I may even send a text between now and then.”

“Ok, I will see you then and I may text you back.”

Lexi, Piper, and Sophia had joined her in the kitchen and had eavesdropped on the call.

“See you then.” Lexi laughed.

“Maybe I will text you back.” Piper raised an eyebrow.

Sophia started laughing hard. “My favorite was, thanks for the warning.”

Aimee turned her head. “Shut up. We have to go shopping after church tomorrow, I need a semi-formal dress for Saturday.”