something outrageous, while Cassie snuck in and stole the show the way she always did. Maybe Wes, and Natalie, and Alice, and Letitia would be there, too: Part of the family now. They’d drink and laugh together, before heading home – with the ones they loved.
He felt a sharp pang of envy. All this time, he’d rolled his eyes at their decisions to move to Sweetbriar Cove. He’d figured they were being irresponsible, as usual: Chasing a permanent summer vacation, or quitting their real lives when things got rough. Not thinking about their careers, or futures, or who would pay the bills if something went wrong.
But he’d been the one who hadn’t understood. In their own ways, they’d all found lives that gave them meaning, full of purpose and love. He’d been so busy feeling responsible for them all, he hadn’t stopped to realize: They weren’t just his younger siblings anymore. They didn’t need his protection, or for him to offer a security net when times got tough. They’d grown up, and figured things out for themselves.
He was the only one still left spinning, less certain than ever of what the hell he was doing with his life.
Before he knew it, Aidan reached his building. “Mr. Kinsella,” the doorman nodded, as he stepped into the lobby. “You just had a delivery, I was going to take it up.”
“That’s OK, Pete. I can do it.”
Pete handed him an expensive-looking box, hand-delivered from Wealthfront just a few minutes ago. “And you have another surprise waiting upstairs.”
“Thanks.”
Aidan checked the card as he rode the elevator up.
‘Ready to toast to our new partnership!’
He lifted the lid. It was a bottle of wine, a 2010 Chateau Petrus Pomerol. Aidan knew a bottle like this went for $5,000, at least.
He closed the lid again, and sighed. Why couldn’t he be excited about this job? It was everything he’d dreamed about – before two months in Sweetbriar Cove had made him question what the hell he was doing with his life.
Did he even want this anymore?
He’d been so determined when he left, determined to get far away from Stella, and the way she’d made him feel. But the days passed, and the ache in his chest didn’t ease; if anything, it got worse.
He missed her.
He missed the sparkle in her eyes, right before she kissed him. He missed her impulsive streak, and the way she would laugh so joyfully, and those quieter moments, too, when all her walls were down, and she let him see the sweetness and vulnerability behind that determined smile.
And most of all, he missed the way he felt when he was with her. Lighter. More free. Like the responsibilities he’d carried all his life suddenly weren’t such a burden.
Like he was more than just the dollar amount in his savings account, an insurance policy against rainy days to come.
With Stella, it was all sunshine, even in the dark November chill.
All the wine and gift baskets in the world couldn’t compare to that. They weren’t even a consolation prize. Aidan got out of the elevator, wondering what other surprise the firm had sent over, but when he tapped in the code on his keypad and opened the door, he found it wasn’t a luxury hamper or gadget waiting for him inside.
It was his mother.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Frances Kinsella smiled, smothering him in a massive hug, the moment he set down his things. “Look at you, so smart! Did your meeting go well?”
“Fine…” Aidan answered, reeling. “What are you doing here? Is everything alright?” he asked, suddenly worried. “Is Dad OK?”
“Everyone’s fine,” Frances gave him a reassuring smile, from behind the tortoiseshell glasses she loved to wear. “Do I really need an excuse to come see you?”
“Without warning, all the way from Philadelphia?” Aidan asked, not quite relaxing just yet.
His mom laughed. “It’s barely a couple of hours on the train. I heard you were back, so I thought I’d drop by and find out how everything’s going. You haven’t called in weeks,” she added, lightly scolding him. “I have to find out everything second-hand from Cassie.”
Aidan exhaled in relief. There was no disaster – unless he counted his mom’s inquisitive look.
“There’s nothing much to tell,” he said, going to the fridge and getting a bottle of water for her. “I’ve been busy, that’s all.”
“With Earl’s boat.” Frances took a seat on the couch by the windows. “I saw the photographs, it’s looking great.”
“With that,” Aidan agreed, going to join her. “And… other things.”
“Ah, yes.” His