really loved him.
Not in the way that came from years of knowing someone, but the kind of love that was instinctual, primal. He had a need to protect him, to provide for him, to make him happy, to encourage him, but he didn’t know how he could ever do that, having missed so many years with him. He was filled with so much regret, and if Will didn’t need him so badly in that moment, he’d get his nervous energy out by going for a ride…and then sitting down with a bottle of whiskey and drinking until he couldn’t remember how badly he’d screwed up this innocent boy’s life.
“Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you back there,” he began, his voice sounding choppy to his ears.
Will shrugged. “I don’t care. Didn’t bother me.”
Aiden took a step toward him. “I get that you probably feel like everything’s messed up right now. Who am I to interfere with the relationship you have with Janie? Who am I to jump in, right? I wasn’t there for you. For fifteen years, we didn’t know each other existed.”
Will shrugged again, his chin jutting out farther. “Doesn’t matter. I have a mom; she knew I existed and decided she didn’t want me. So, whatever, I don’t care.”
Aiden’s stomach twisted painfully, and he balled his hands into fists. “I’m sure it’s not that your mom didn’t want you, more that she had some big problems in her own life to take care of and Janie was willing to step in and help. But that’s not what it was for me, Will. I’d have been there from day one if I’d known. And I don’t know what kind of a dad I would have been, but I can tell you, with one hundred percent certainty, that I would have tried my hardest to be the best dad I could be for you. I would have made mistakes—everyone does—but I would have loved you. Instantly and imperfectly, yes, but I would have loved you.”
“Thanks,” Will whispered.
“It’s the truth. I won’t give up on you or leave you. Ever. And I would never intentionally hurt Janie. What you saw…” He let out a shuddering sigh, the cold biting at his exposed skin. He needed to wrap this up and get them both back inside. But he also couldn’t rush something this important.
“I’ll be completely honest with you,” Aiden said. “I have a connection with Janie. I…I think she’s an incredible woman, but we are taking things really slow. Despite what you saw or what you think is going on between us. We are also very aware that you are involved in our lives, and neither of us wants to hurt you. Janie loves you very much,” he said thickly. “And I love you, too.”
Will swallowed hard. “Aunt Janie is the only person in the world who I can trust. I would have been in an orphanage or something if she hadn’t— You know? I keep worrying that if something happens to her— I don’t know. I just can’t handle another adult falling apart on me.”
Aiden reached out to grip his shoulder and look at him dead-on. “Janie is the strongest person I know. She would never, ever, let you down. Do you believe that?”
Will nodded, looking down. “I feel really bad about how I talked to her.”
“We can all say things in the heat of the moment that we later regret. But I’m sure Janie would understand if you tell her how you feel. And she knows that you love her. Don’t ever doubt that. Even when things like this happen.”
Will looked up at him, and for a second, despite how tall he was, Aiden could see the little boy in him, in that vulnerability. “I screwed up a lot today. The horses. Then jumping to conclusions and getting mad at you and Janie.”
Aiden gripped his shoulder. “We all have days like that. I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself, either. You’ve been handling a hell of a lot of stuff, and you’ve handled it way better than I ever could have when I was your age. Will, a month ago we didn’t even know each other. You left the city with your aunt, came all the way across the country, and you didn’t even know if I was going to be a jerk to you when you got here.”
“Then you guys moved in with me. You’re keeping up with school work from home. You should be really proud of