Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) (18 page)

Aiden raised his glass and held it up. “To finding me.”

Everyone raised their class. “To finding me.”

Chapter Twen
ty-One

The alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. Aimee was awake. Her heart was breaking. She did not want to leave her friends. She had really come to think of Neahovia as her home now. She went down for one last coffee and sunrise.

Aiden was standing in the kitchen, cup in hand. She took the cup and walked outside with him. They sat in their usual spots. Neither of them speaking. Aiden reached his arm out for Aimee, and she followed him down the beach. He wrapped his arm around her as she cried on his shoulder.

He waited for her to raise her head before speaking. “You ok now?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I just can’t believe I am getting on a plane to go back to USA today.”

“School starts back in September.”

“I know. I think I may fly back in August, once we can move into our flat.”

“I am going to miss this.”

“Me too.”

They watched the sunrise over the ocean. Aiden took her hand and they started walking back to the flat. “Let’s go start the day and see what God helps us find out about ourselves today.”

“Yeah, it is pretty fun finding me in this crazy world.”

LJ called to see if they could do a brunch instead of lunch. He picked her up and they went to Franks for brunch. The crowd was light. They took a seat in the middle of the restaurant.

“What time is your flight?”

“Not till four.”

“Aimee, I am going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too."

They talked about things they are going to do on break. LJ’s dad was letting him take a two week vacation before he spent the rest of the break doing an internship at his office. Aimee was having two days off before she had a three week internship with her dad.

The drive to the flat was quiet. She gave him a hug by. He promised to text. She teased that she probably would not wait on them. Just in case he got too busy.

Colin was the first to leave the flat. He was going to spend some time with Josiah before he left for his treatment center. For the first eight weeks, he could not have any visitors. They all went in together for a gift for him. Shortly after Colin, Lexi left. She was going to her parent’s home then a family cruise was planned for the end of June. James, Piper, Aimee, and Aiden loaded all the boxes that was going to the Anderson’s garage until next semester into their vehicles.

Aiden arranged to have a car pick him and Aimee up at the Anderson’s home. So, as soon as the cars were unpacked and Aimee gave the keys to her car to Tessa, they headed to the airport.

The car drove around the side of the airport. The entrance was marked Private. Aimee turned to Aiden confused.

“School is out, all agreements with the press is now over.”

“What?”

“We had an agreement that they respect my privacy while class is in session.”

“I am sorry, I forgot about that. I tend to forget you are a Prince sometimes. To me, you are just Aiden.”

“Thanks. That is one of the things I love about you. You always see me as just me. Not as the title of Prince. However, I have the title of Prince, so we have to step up security again.”

“He took a cap and shades from his bag.”

“What are you doing?”

“We have to get you through security. I have a private plane waiting to leave whenever I am ready.”

“I can manage on my own. I did like three transfers to get here in September.”

“I want to wait, Aimee. If your plane is on delay, I don’t want you to have to wait alone.”

“Thanks, that is so sweet.”

Aimee checked her luggage and found out that her flight was on a two hour delay. The flight attendant escorted them to a private waiting area.

“How convenient to have a private waiting area ready for us.”

“I called ahead. Just in case your flight was delayed.”

Aimee sat and took a bottle of water from the beverage cart. “Thanks. I guess this is a good start to my long flight, a two hour delay.”

“Maybe something good will come out of it.” He sat down beside her and took a water as well. “So, what do you want to talk about?” He winked at her.

“The weather.”

“Be serious, Aimee.”

“Ok, where are you heading? On a family vacation?”

“I wish. Parliament meets for two weeks, then a few days at sea with my dad. My mom has the rest of my schedule.”

“Your schedule?”

“Yeah. I have a lot of Palace duties this summer.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s ok, most of them are with my brother so we will be together.”

“That’s good. Donovan seems fun. One question. Where is Ava fitting in this summer?”

“We are meeting in a few days.”

“And?”

“We will see. I told her we need to talk. So what are your big plans?”

“Nothing really. A three week internship with my dad. Then, probably spend time with my cousins at the country club or hang out with Maddie.”

Aimee looked down at her hands.

“You ok?”

“Yeah.”

“Really? You look a little nervous to me.”

Aimee noticed her fingers shaking. “I am ok.” She lied so poorly.

“Aimee, lying is beneath you.  That is why you are so bad at it. I think that being in here alone with me is making you nervous.”

“Ok, it does make me a little nervous.”

“Why?”

“Aiden, I am not sure what is happening between you and Ava. But I do know, she does not like me. If you end your relationship with her and then if she somehow found out about our evening at the country club…”

“Aimee, nobody knows what happen at the country club except us. I don’t plan on saying anything about it and I know you are not, so there is no need to worry.”

“I guess you are right.”

“I have learned a lot about myself and where I want to go in life, in the past nine months and I am not so sure Ava will fit in. That is what our talk is going to be about. But, I don’t want to talk about her right now.”

“Ok. So what do you want to talk about?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you, when you come back in September, I want to help you find out more about your mom.”

“Thanks. I am going to look around for something more we can use. Plus, her diaries are my summer reading list.”

“Great. Text me if you find something I can help you with.”

They spent the next hour discussing how they had spent summers in the past. Aiden could sit and talk to Aimee for hours about anything she wanted to talk about. They had so many common interest.

The room was cozy and comfortable and Aimee fell asleep with her head resting on Aiden’s shoulder. He must have dozed off as well because when Bart (his body guard) came in, it startled him. “Mr. Aiden, they just announced they are starting boarding for Miss Aimee’s plane.”

His voice startled them both awake. Aiden looked down at Aimee and they both started laughing. Aiden stretched. “Thanks, Bart.”

Bart nodded. “I’ll just wait outside the door.”

“We got caught sleeping again.” Aiden looked at Aimee.

“I guess so.” She sat up. She loved the way it felt beside him.

“Let’s get you on your plane.”

Aimee sat up. “Ok.”

He took her bag for her and walked her to the door. “I can’t walk you all the way to the gate. The press is everywhere, and I don’t want to chance someone taking photos that will cause you any more unnecessary worrying.”

Aimee stopped him just as he went to open the door. “I am really going to miss you.”

Aiden turned and looked her in the eyes. He could not believe it would be ten weeks before he would stare at those gorgeous hazel eyes again. He took his hand and brushed her hair. “I’m going to really miss you too.” He was about to move in for a kiss, forgetting all the reasons he shouldn’t, but Bart knocked.

Aimee smiled. “We better go.”

“Yeah. I’ll walk a little with you, then Bart will take you to the gate.”

They walked silently down the hall to the door that lead to the gate. Aimee paused before entering. She turned to Aiden.

“Call me, ok?”

“Every day.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Let me know when you land safely.”

“Which time?”

“Every time you have to get on a new plane.”

“Good luck with Ava.”

Bart opened the door. “You don’t want to miss your plane.”

“Thanks.”

Bart joined Aiden shortly to let him know she was safely on her plane. “I like Miss Aimee a lot better than Miss Ava.”

“Me too. Me too.”

Aimee was finding it so much harder saying goodbye to Aiden than it was telling LJ bye.

Chapter Twenty
-Two

Aimee took her window seat in First Class. It was a surprise upgrade. She was just settling in, when she heard the voice. “I guess we are sitting beside each other.”

Aimee looked up at the older lady. “I guess so.”

“My name is Claire.”

“Aimee.”

Aimee checked her cell real quick before the flight attendant came over the intercom and announced to shut them off. LJ’s picture came up signaling a message.

“Is that your boyfriend?” Claire asked. Aimee was holding her phone out and she could see LJ’s picture.

“No, he is a friend. I am actually single.”

“That is smart, you’re young. Enjoy your life.”

The attendant gave her instructions. Aimee looked out her window as the plane rose in the air. She was so confused. A huge part of her wanted to kiss Aiden again today. But, he is with Ava for now. She could think of very few reasons, other than Ava and the roommate thing. Which is going to be totally different in the second year of college. It was more like living in a co-ed dorm than a flat.

“Dear, are you ok?” Claire had a very concerned look on her face.

Aimee noticed at that time she was crying. “Yeah, just thinking about leaving my college friends for the next ten weeks.”

“Oh, I remember my college days. My friends and I had so much fun. Is this your first year?”

“Yes, and I had so much fun while still managing straight A’s.”

“Impressive.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you flying to London to shop?”

“No, I am getting on a flight to New York. What is bringing you to London?”

“You will not believe it, but I am flying to New York as well. Are you from New York?”

“No, I am from the south. Virginia and Georgia is where I grew up.”

“Lovely states. Georgia reminds me a lot of Neahovia.”

“I hadn’t really thought about that much, but it does.”

The connecting flight to New York was on time. Aimee and Claire had been seated together again. Aimee wanted to nap, but she had too much on her mind. She had text Aiden early to let him know she arrived safe in London and that her flight was on time. He text her back immediately.

“You look like your mind is already in the States.”

“I am sorry, I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Guy trouble.”

“How did you know?”

“You have that look every girl gets when she is having man trouble and, my guess, is there is more than one guy on your mind.”

“Wow, I bet your kids didn’t get away with much.”

“No, they didn’t. What kind of guy troubles are you having?”

“I don’t know. I met two great guys. LJ has really been nice. He seemed to be considerate of my Christianity, but we shared our first kiss on Valentine’s Day. He said he would call. He didn’t. In fact, I didn’t hear from him again until I ran into him at SSC the first week of May. He gave me a spill on how he realized he was not good enough for me.”

“You don’t believe him?”

“No. I think he was upset that I didn’t go any further with him.”

“If he was upset for that reason, then he isn’t really considerate of your Christianity.”

“I know. I told him we could be friends. So far, he has been cool with that.”

“You are still afraid he isn’t sincere?”

“Yeah. The next ten weeks will tell.”

“And the other guy?”

“The other guy. He is equally great. He is one of my roommates. We have the same major. We have so many things in common, we love to watch sunrises. I can talk to him forever.”

“How did your dates with him go?”

“I never actually went on a date with him. We did eat dinner several times as friends. He has a girlfriend.”

“Oh, honey, you don’t want to get involved with all that.”

“I know. I told him that several times after we almost kissed.”

Aimee wasn’t sure why, but she found herself telling Claire almost every detail about Aiden and LJ. In fact, the only thing she left out was that Aiden was Prince Aiden. She even talked about her mom and how he wants to help her find more out about her. How she and all her roommates felt that he and his girlfriend were on the verge of ending their relationship. She even shared how it was so much harder to tell Aiden by.

“Aimee, honey, I am sorry about your mother.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I know I am not your mother, but can I give you some motherly advice?”

“Yes, please.”

“Be careful with LJ. He sounds like he could be a player. As for Aiden, be careful there as well, you don’t want to be the rebound girl.”

“You have confused me more.”

“I am sorry. Love is not easy, honey. It is hard and confusing, but in the end, when you find your true love, it will be worth everything you went through to find love.”

“I am finding that out.”

“Pray to God about this. Be careful and make sure you are following His guidance. Don’t let your hormones overpower your brain. Sometimes our hormones overpower our brain and heart.”

“Thanks, I appreciate you listening to me. It was nice to talk it over with someone.”

“You are welcome, dear.”

“I am sorry, I have talked so much about myself, Claire. Are you flying to see family?”

“My sister lives in Canada. She was in an accident years ago that left her paralyzed. I found the best facility for her in Canada. I fly to see her every few months. This time, I am staying for a while. She has lived longer than the doctors ever thought she would. Her health is starting to decline.”

“I am sorry. I will pray for her and remember the doctors are not God.”

“Thanks, dear.”

“Claire, how long have you lived in Neahovia.”

“Off and on my whole life. I recently moved back. The base of my company franchise is in Neahovia and I decided it was time for me to stay there and run the company from Neahovia.”

“Can you tell me anything about the Radical War?”

Claire sighed before she told Aimee about how cruel the war was for the ladies her age. They had daughters that were in their late teens, early twenties during that time. All the mothers could think of, was about ways to save their families from the Radical men.

The men would try everything in their power to take over their homes. At first, it was just by trying to take care of the finances. Run their business affairs.  The elderly ladies without children were the first victims. Then, they moved on to the widowers and young girls a few years later.

It was all about control. That was why they wanted to overturn the king. The radical leader thought he had a foolproof plan. He carefully chose the homes with the greatest social status, that he personally would take over. He wanted to force a young lady to marry the Prince; and then, after she did, he would kill the Prince and the King. Then, he would have her make him King.

She was unsure how he planned to do the last part. The mothers of the girls caught onto his plan and that was when they banded together and started protecting their families. One of the mothers had a direct connection to the Palace and she warned the King what the Radical Party was planning. That was when the King called and asked the Americans to help protect the ladies of Neahovia.

Aimee was so pale. She knew some of this from what her friends and Alice told her, but Claire was giving her a different view of the era. She closed her eyes and imagined the fear that her mother and Gran had to feel during those days.

“Claire, if he succeeded, do you think he would have possibly killed the girl after he killed the Prince and King?”

“I think he was capable of anything.”

The attendant announced the plane would be landing soon. Aimee hooked her seat belt. “I wish I had more time to talk to you. I am so interested to find out about my mom and Gran and their life in Neahovia.”

“Oh, sweetie. I know it must be hard. Just keep in mind, a lot of women don’t like to talk about that time in their lives. I think that if your mom and Gran wanted you to know how they escaped the Radicals and made it to the states, the answers will be close to you and, when God thinks you can handle the story of your mom and Gran’s life in Neahovia, He will lead you straight to them.”

“Thanks, I haven’t really thought about not being ready. I just feel that if I find out more about them, I can find me.”

“You don’t have to know their past to find you. The things you do and say, how you live your life, is how you find yourself. Learn from your mistakes and grow from them. If you see something is working, don’t change it.”

“Thanks. So how old were you when you figured out who you are?”

The flight attendant announced that it was time to exit the plane.

Claire gave Aimee a hug as they made it to the gate. “I hope we meet again.”

“Me too.” Aimee was walking to the lounge, she had thirty minutes to find her connecting flight’s gate.

“Aimee.” Claire turned and smiled at her. “I am still finding me.”

********