He didn’t have to say it. I knew what he was implying and yet, I couldn’t say the words for him not to tell me.
“I didn’t want to have the baby. I begged her to have an abortion. Pleaded on my hands and knees, knowing what pregnancy would do to her mind. It would take her away from us quicker, faster. She wouldn’t survive. Bailey was adamant she was going through with the pregnancy, so fuckin’ hurt that I’d even consider getting rid of the life growing inside of her. She said she knew in her heart it was a girl, our family was finally going to be complete. So, you see, Faith…is it making sense now? Why I couldn’t hold Journey? Why I couldn’t hold my baby girl?”
“Aiden… come on, you know anyone in that position would choose their spouse. You’re being too hard on yourself and that’s not fair.”
“I didn’t want our unborn child to take away my wife. What kind of father does that make me? What kind of man?”
I stepped toward him, but he instantly stepped back. “Okay.”
“Journey did take my wife. The mother of my children died a month after she was born. And since then…until you…I was dead too.”
“Aiden, I—”
“Do you understand why we can’t talk about it? Why my kids, why my family, why no one can talk about it? Is it registering in your head? You’re in nursing school, Camila, you know what’s still ahead.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “They haven’t taken the genetic test?”
“They fuckin’ refuse to, saying they don’t want to live life knowing they might not remember living it. All three of our kids have a higher risk of getting early onset Dementia. Are you following now? Is it all making sense? We all died with Bailey, until you, Camila. Until you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You brought life back in our home with your smile, your laugher, your ass-shaking dances.”
I scoffed out a chuckle, never expecting him to follow it up with that.
“I had a dream last night and Bailey gave me her blessing.”
<>Aiden<>
It was my turn to take a step toward her. Reaching out, I caressed the side of her face with the back of my knuckles. Needing to feel her soft skin for what I was going to share next.
“She told me she brought you to me through the sunflowers, and our middle holds the truth.”
She lowered her eyebrows, not understanding.
“I’m assuming it’s Jagger. He wanted you to find our wedding video. I think he knew it would bring us together.”
“You hated me.”
“I loved you. I love you.”
She gasped, “Aiden, don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“Do I ever say things I don’t mean? You more than anyone know I don’t.”
I wiped away the tears as they fell out of her glossy brown eyes.
“Bailey wants me to move on. She wants me to be happy, and I think a huge part of me already knew that. Although, I still couldn’t get rid of this guilt, this remorse that festered in my heart. I tried to not love you. I tried to stay away from you, but I couldn’t, my Tiny Dancer. You were mine since the first time you opened your eyes. Bailey is my past and you’re my future. She will always have a place in my heart as my first love and mother of my children, but that doesn’t take away the love I have for you. You’re my last and forever love. My second chance at happiness. Do you understand me? You’re mine, Faith. You’ve always been mine.”
“And what if she hadn’t appeared to you, Aiden? Would I still be here? Would you still want me? Would I still be your choice?”
“Yes, I can’t live without you anymore. I’m standing here with you, at my wife’s gravesite, where we laid her to rest, telling you… I. Choose. You.”
“Don’t hurt me.”
“I’d die before I ever hurt you. I love you. I’ve loved you since the moment you were born.”
“I love you too.”
I growled, pulling her toward me. Kissing her fucking senseless.
For the first time since Bailey left me, I knew it was time for me to move on. With the only other woman who’s ever consumed me.
Faith.
My Faith.
Has been restored.
All thanks to the woman standing in front of me. She was mine now and forever more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
<>Camila<>
“Ma! Ma! Ma!” Journey shouted as loud as could be, barreling down the hall into my bridal suite.