“I think you are right. I know I am glad I trusted my instincts and didn’t talk business with LJ. This explains why he was rude all the time. He was frustrated because I wasn’t given him the information he needed for his dad or get anything in return for his work.”
Aiden put her in a side hug. “Your right. We need to relax before the others get back and ask questions. Let’s watch a movie.”
Chapter Twenty
The months of October and November flew by like a breeze. LJ agreed to the terms Aimee had put in the contract her lawyers drew up for her. She had not heard anything from him or his family. She was so glad that part of her life is now history.
Aimee just finished her last test before Christmas break. The test was hard. They had two hours to complete the exam and it took Aimee one and half hours to complete. Now, she was sitting on a bench outside the classroom, waiting for Aiden.
She and Aiden still can’t date and she is finding it harder every day to pretend she doesn’t love him. She started praying for God to guide her and Aiden in the path He has made for them. She wanted His will to be done and she was not interfering.
Her friends helped her with an American Thanksgiving feast again this year. James surprised everyone by proposing to Piper. Their old roommate, Sophia, even came down from her culinary school to join them. Josiah video chatted with them. He was doing great at the recovery center. In fact, he told them he started taking some online courses for his teen substance abuse counselor major. It was amazing how God could change a person from something as evil and controlling as alcoholic and guide that person to become a counselor to help teens.
Christmas break begins tomorrow and Aimee was flying to the French Alps to meet her family at a skiing resort. It was rated the number one resort in the French Alps for its family friendly atmosphere. They even have Santa and his elves on the slopes for the kids. Aimee booked a two hour play time on Christmas Eve with Santa and all of his helpers including, Mrs. Clause for Mattie and her little brothers.
Tonight, everyone was meeting at the flat at eight to exchange gifts and have a Christmas Party. Aimee was finishing wrapping her gifts, when her cell phone rang to the tone she had set for Aiden. “Hello, Aiden.”
“Aimee, can you meet me on the back patio? The others have not arrived yet.”
“I just finished with my last present to take with me to the ski resort. I will be right down.”
Aimee checked her hair and make-up before going down to meet Aiden. She checked herself in her floor style mirror. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a deep purple sweater that brought out her hazel eyes.
Aiden was waiting for her in the kitchen. The smell of the food was making Aimee hungry; Sophia came down earlier in the day and helped the girls fix the food. She wanted to stay, but she had some kind of bake off tomorrow.
He held the door open for Aimee as she wrapped her coat around her arms. Aiden couldn’t take his eyes off her. “Feel up to a walk down to the beach?”
“Yeah.”
They held hands and walked the path that lead to their secret spot on the beach. When they reached the spot, Aimee sat on the blanket and looked out over the ocean. “It will be dark soon.”
“I have a light in my pocket.” He sat behind her and wrapped his arms around her. When his hands met hers, he handed her a box. “Merry Christmas, my love.”
Aimee opened the box. Inside was a locket couple necklace. One stone was a ruby for her birthstone and the other was an emerald, his birthstone. She took it out and admire it. He handed her a second box. It held the matching ring and earrings.
She turned to Aiden. “This is too much.”
“Nothing is too much, Aimee. I could buy you all the presents in the world, but nothing will ever touch how much I love you.”
Aimee kissed his lips. It was the sweetest kiss she ever shared with anyone. “Wow. That’s a first. You initiated the kiss.” Aiden commented after she broke the kiss.
Her face blushed. “I got caught up in the moment.”
“I love to see you blush. It is so sexy.”
“Stop it.” She took out his gifts from her pocket. “These are yours.”
He opened the first, it was a designer 10 karat gold business watch. “Turn it over.”
Aiden turned it over and read the engraving. I will love you until the end of time, Amelia.
Aiden pulled her into his lap. “I love you, Amelia Roselyn Pittman.” He gave her another sweet kiss. Then, she handed him his last two gifts, a set of ¼ karat diamond cuff links, with his initials engraved on them. His final gift was a designer pair of sunglasses. Which caused him to laugh when she told him they were for hiding from the paparazzi.
He wrapped her in his arms until she stood and dust the sand off her backside. “Aiden, we have to get back to the house.”
“I know. I wish we didn’t have to sneak to give each other gifts.”
“I like that we exchanged our gifts in private. It made it more memorable.”
“I know you can’t wear your couple jewelry yet, but it won’t be long. I think our time is nearly here.”
For the second time that night, Aimee initiated the kiss. “When LJ had me in that room, I prayed that God spare me. I was so afraid of what was going on. I told myself and God that day that I was not wasting my time dating guys I have no feelings for. I wanted to date the guy who I know is my real deal and who knows I am his real deal.”
Aiden kissed her. “You have come a long way, Amelia. I am proud of you and you are my real deal too.”
The others walked through the front door, just as Aimee came back from her room. They spent the evening eating and exchanging gifts. The gifts Aiden and Aimee exchanged were less personal. Aimee noticed that Mark and Tessa were eying her and Aiden, like they could tell that tonight they made a breakthrough by admitting the time was close for them to be together.
Piper clanged her glass to gain everyone’s attention. “We have some announcements to share with our family and friends. The first announcement is why we wanted my mom and dad here tonight.”
James took her hand. “We set a wedding date for the twenty fourth of June.”
“What year?” Her mom ask.
“In like seven months from now.” Piper grinned
“Piper, you will still be in college for another year.” Her mother was not happy.
“I know, but James graduates this year and he already has job offers.”
James kissed her cheek. “I promise I will take care of her and she is finishing college. We both agree on that. The next announcement we want to share is that I have been called to preach God’s word.”
Tessa looked at Mark. “You knew this and didn’t tell me?”
“I couldn’t, this was his to tell, honey.”
“I am announcing it at church on Sunday, but since all of you will be gone, we wanted to tell you guys first.”
“Wow, Piper is going to be a preacher’s wife.” Aimee smiled and hugged them both.
“Watch out Ancaster University.” Colin teased.
The rest of the evening was talk of wedding plans and James preaching. He wanted to make sure Aimee and the others would be at church before he preached his first message. Around eleven, everyone who did not live in the flat went home.
The kitchen was clean before the others left. Aimee went to her room to finish packing and admire her gifts. She took out her locket and opened it. He put the picture Lexi took of them on the night they went to their first year dinner. In the top of the box she found a note.
Aimee, as much as I denied it to myself, I have loved you ever since I first saw you singing with a towel on your head. And no, that is not why I broke up with Ava. I respected you too much for that. Ava and I split because we wanted to go different ways in life.
You have showed me what life is really about, even when you don’t know you are doing it. If not for you, I would be lost spiritually and in life as a whole. You make me laugh and feel good about being in
the world. You never look at me as if I am the spare. The only other people in my life that do that are my parents.
I know that God sent you to me. I thank Him for that every day. I read the following verse the day after I bought your gifts. Proverbs 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price [is] far above rubies.
Love you,
Aiden
Aimee folded the note and placed it in the box. She put the jewelry in her carryon bag. Tonight, she went to bed full of mixed emotions. She loved Aiden so much, but until God spoke to them, telling the time was right, they were both stuck.
Aimee’s plane left at eleven. She had all her bags ready and at the doorway by nine thirty. She had to be at the airport in twenty minutes to go through customs. Aiden arranged for a car to pick him, Lexi, Aimee, and Jaxson and take them to the airport. Once she had boarded the plane, Aiden had lined up a private jet, to take the others, to the palace.
Aimee’s plane was on schedule and she enjoyed the short flight to France. Her dad was waiting for her at the airport. He arrived two days ago with Deandre and the kids. They took a cruise to France for the first part of Mattie’s Christmas Break.
Mattie was waiting for Aimee at the door, when they reached the chalet she jumped into Aimee’s arms. “What do you want to do first, Aimee?”
“Unpack and then I thought we could go visit the chocolate factory if that is ok with dad and Deandre.”
Deandre looked up at Aimee. “That is fine, all she has talked about for days is seeing you.”
Aimee went to her room to unpack. When the door opened she turned to see Deandre standing by the door. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” Aimee sat on her bed, while Deandre took the other.
“I owe you like seven years of apologies. I have not been a good person to you, let alone a descent stepmom.”
Aimee wanted to say that it was ok, but she was shocked. She just looked at her with wide eyes.
“When your dad told me what happen at the Ball, I was sick. I was ashamed that I was never there to teach you the things you needed to know as a lady. I had told myself those fancy schools your mom had set up for you was doing that job.”
Aimee could tell Deandre was sincere. “Deandre, I never came to you to ask for guidance. I realized that when I was trying to figure out how to dump LJ.”
“Over the summer, you brought to your dad’s attention to how little time he spends with his other children. I am sorry we were not there for you. We got caught up in the world and forgot what really matters.”
“Thanks. I think we all got caught up in our own world.” Aimee was crying and so was Deandre. “This is the first time we have ever bonded, Deandre.”
“I know. I want us to start over today. I am glad God opened my eyes because there are so many things I want to share with you. I wish we had enough time on this trip, but in case you didn’t notice, there is no Nanny on this trip.”
“Wow. I can help you with the kids. If you and dad want a date night, let me know.”
“Thanks, Aimee, I will let you unpack. We are going out to eat tonight, but Christmas morning you and I are going to fix our first Christmas dinner.”
Aimee was in shock when Deandre left the room, she called Aiden to tell him what had happened. He laughed. “Prayers work. I have prayed for months that God fix your relationship with Deandre.”
“Well then, I thank you for caring enough to pray for us.”
“Aimee, honey, have you not got the picture yet?”
“The reception is fuzzy, like we have some sort of small issue that needs resolved.”
He laughed. “Well, when that issue is resolved, I will make sure you get a clear picture.”
Aimee laughed. “I found my letter last night.”
“You did?”
“It really touched my heart.”
“The Bible verse is right, you are more precious than rubies.”
“Thanks. So are you.”
Mattie came running in the room. “Aimee, can we go now please?”
“I need to go. Mattie and I have a date at the chocolate factory.”
He laughed. “As long as it is Mattie, I am fine with it. Have fun.”
“Thanks.”
Chapter Twenty One
The day was Christmas Eve and Aimee was taking the twins and Mattie for their date with Santa and his friends. The date included baking cookies with Mrs. Clause. When Aimee told her dad about the date with Santa, her dad made plans to take Deandre ice skating and out for dinner for a Christmas date.
Aimee was enjoying Santa time as much as the kids. Santa helped them build a snowman, sang songs with the kids, and he even told them a Christmas Story about his reindeers. The elves gave the kids treats and helped them play tricks on Mrs. Clause. Then, Santa took a sleigh ride with each individual child; while, an elf waited at the bottom of the bank and took a picture. Then, the last thing he did before Santa had to get ready to fly back to the North Pole and get ready for his busy night, was letting the kids sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Aimee loved seeing the joy in their eyes as she took photos of them helping Mrs. Clause make fresh homemade cookies for them to leave out for Santa. When the two hours was over, the elves gave Aimee a scrapbook kit to go with the photos they took throughout the day. When she and the kids returned home, she and Mattie made the scrapbook and wrapped it for Deandre and her dad, while the boys took a nap. Then, she took the kids to meet her dad and Deandre at a kids Christmas Party at the main lodge.
Once dinner was over, Aimee gave each of the kids a gift from her to open. She had bought them each a pair of red/green/white pair of lounge pants with a white thermal Henley for the girls and green for the boys. Once they took showers, Deandre took the kids to the living area to sit and wait on Aimee. Aimee came down in matching PJ’s, which caused the three youngsters to go wild.
Just as soon as they posed for pictures using goofy and normal faces, Aimee got a message from Aiden, he wanted to Skype. Aimee got her laptop from the kitchen counter and turned on Skype, Aiden was waiting on her. “Hey.” She was grinning.
“Hey. How was your day?” Just seeing her brightened his day, even if it was on a computer screen.
“I think today maybe one of the best Christmas Eves I have had since I lost my mom and Gran.”
“That is great. Seven years is too long to not have an amazingly fun Christmas Eve.”
“Aiden. Aiden.” Mattie was jumping in and out of his vision. “Look what Aimee bought, we match.”
“Wow, you do. That is so cool.”
He made Aimee grin. She knew it was corny, but the kids really enjoyed the fact that they all match. She got the idea from an article she read about how to bond with younger siblings. The twins came and sat on Aimee’s lap. “Wed atch oo.”
Aiden laughed. “I see, you match too.”
“Our tirts are dreen.”
“I have a green shirt like that too. I love green.”
“Wed to.” They answered together.
Aimee and Aiden talked for the next half hour with the kids jumping in and out of the camera. He didn’t seem to mind, in fact, he started up a game of I see you with the twins that had everyone rolling over laughing. Just when she thought she could not fall any deeper in love with him, God shows her she can.
“Piper is trying to beep in. I will call you later.” Aimee hated to end the skype with him, but it was getting close to bedtime for the kids and her dad was going to read the Christmas Story from the book of Luke to everyone.
“Piper. Hey.”
“Hey, who were you skyping?
“Aiden.”
“Oh. He hasn’t skyped me.” She teased.
“His yped Aimee al time.” The twins commented.
“Really? Well, it seems Aimee and Piper need to talk when we go back to our flat.”
Aimee heard her dad coming down the stairs. “Who is ready to hear the story of the birth of baby Jesus?”
The little ones were jumping up and down. Aimee moved herself and the laptop, so she was sitting in front of the Christmas tree, like she did when she was their age and her dad read the story to her. “Piper, dad is going to read the true Christmas story from the Bible; do you want to stay on and listen?”
James popped his head in. “I loved hearing your dad reading that to us as children.”
“Aimee, let’s do a group chat and everyone can listen.” Piper seen the twinkle in her eyes.
BREAKTHROUGH (Love's Not Easy Series Book 2) Page 19
