Griffin straightened and I could tell he was worried I was about to drop a truth bomb that would shake my entire family.
“No, I want you to lie to me.” Jerry was all sarcasm and snarl right now.
“The truth is I didn’t slam my car door into my hip yesterday and I didn’t want anyone to know – and by anyone I mean Aidan,” I said, deciding a small dose of truth to make Jerry feel better was worth the misery bound to come my way.
“What really happened?” Jerry asked, curious despite his rage.
“I didn’t check my file close enough yesterday and the woman I was there for was stabbed twenty times by her husband,” I explained. “He was still in the house, and I tried to escape through a window and I got hurt by a nail. I ripped a big hole in my hip.
“I didn’t forget you,” I continued. “I just … fell asleep because of the pain medication.”
“I’m telling Dad,” Aidan said. “I knew you weren’t clumsy enough to hurt your hip that way. Even you’re not that uncoordinated.”
“You’re not telling your father anything,” Griffin warned, wagging a finger in Aidan’s face. “She feels bad enough. Leave it alone.”
“You knew about this?” Aidan was incensed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I don’t think she needs you and the other brothers Grim laying into her right now,” Griffin replied. “She knows she made a mistake. She learned her lesson. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re being awfully calm,” Aidan pointed out. “You usually fly off the handle when she does stuff like this.”
“We had a talk about it yesterday and there’s no reason to keep harping on it,” Griffin shot back. “Leave her alone.”
“What is with you two?” Aidan asked. “You’re constantly huddling together and shutting everyone else out. I’m starting to think Jerry’s theory about Aisling being pregnant is right. What else would you two be hiding?”
“I’m not pregnant!” I glared at Jerry. “I don’t care how angry you are, you need to stop telling people I’m pregnant. If my dad thinks that’s true … he really will ground me for the rest of my life.”
“Whatever,” Jerry said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I want to know what you’re going to do about the pageant.”
“There’s nothing I can do. I can’t go back in time and watch it with you.”
“I recorded it on the DVR.”
Well, crap. There was no way out of this. “Then we’ll watch it tonight,” I said, forcing a bright smile.
“Ha, ha,” Aidan snickered. “Have fun with that.”
“And since we’re a foursome instead of a twosome now, I think Griffin and Aidan should watch it with us,” I added. “They can be our pseudo judges.”
Jerry brightened considerably. “That’s a great idea!”
“It is.” I stuck my tongue out at Aidan.
“I’m telling Dad you’re pregnant,” he muttered.
“I think I’m going to be sick tonight,” Griffin added.
“Speaking of your injury, I promise not to tell Dad how you really got hurt, but you have to let me go with you on your jobs today,” Aidan said. “We haven’t seen a wraith in almost two weeks, but if one attacks while you’re limping around like this, you’re toast.”
Aidan may not have seen a wraith in two weeks. I had. I couldn’t tell him, though. “I have two jobs at the retirement center over on Eight Mile today. No one is going to attack me at a senior living center.”
“I found out the truth about you because a wraith attacked you at a senior living center,” Griffin reminded me.
“Thank you for that.”
“I think you two should go together,” Griffin said, holding up his hand to quiet me before I could start arguing. “If you go together I’ll feel better about you going to work today. Not only that, I’ll buy the pizza for the Miss America Pageant tonight and not complain about having to watch it.”
Well, that sounded mildly interesting. “Will you dress up?”
“No.”
“Will you rub my back?”
“Yes.”
“Sold,” I said, turning to Jerry expectantly. “Will you please forgive me?”
“I guess,” Jerry said, sighing dramatically. “I expect you to be really snarky tonight, though.”
“I’m really snarky every night.”
“Yes, but you’ve tried to rein in the snark since you started dating Detective Delicious there,” Jerry said. Obviously his dislike of Griffin evaporated when the truth about my injury became known. “You don’t want him to think you’re mean.”
“Oh, I know she’s mean,” Griffin said. “That’s one of the things I like about her.”
“You two are an odd couple,” Aidan muttered.
“Look who’s talking.”
“I feel so much better,” Jerry said, turning back to the stove. “We’re going to have the best time tonight.”
“We are,” I promised. “I … I’m really sorry, Jerry. You know no one can ever replace you, right? It’s you and me forever.”
“I know,” Jerry said, not sounding entirely convinced. “You’ll always love me and I’ll always love you.”
He meant it. I knew he did. Still, there was something morose about the way he said it. I glanced at Aidan. He also knew Jerry wasn’t completely over it. He wisely kept his mouth shut, though.
“I’ll pick up ice cream on the way home,” I offered. “I’ll pick up crowns, too.”
“Make sure mine isn’t tacky. You know I hate tacky crowns,” Jerry said.
“I know.” Impulsively, I leaned over and hugged Jerry. “I love you, Jerry.”
Jerry patted my back. “I love you, too, Bug. Don’t get all melancholy. Everything is fine.”
I wasn’t so sure. I couldn’t tell him the truth, though. He wouldn’t be able to lie to Aidan – and I couldn’t ask him to. For now, we were at a crossroads.
“Let’s get this breakfast on the road,” Aidan said. “Aisling and I have a busy day of old people in front of us.”
“I’m on it,” Jerry said. “I can’t wait for tonight. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Fourteen
“I don’t care what you say or how you try to manipulate me, I am not wearing a tiara tonight,” Aidan announced, getting out of his Jeep Cherokee at Gray Seasons Manor two hours later.
I rolled my eyes but followed him, working hard to keep up while my hip screamed for me to slow down. “Did I say you have to wear a tiara?”
“You bought four of them.”
“I … .” I narrowed my eyes. “How did you know that? You were on the other side of the store when I picked them out.”
“Because I’m not stupid and I watched you in the shoplifting mirror at the back of the store,” Aidan replied. “I saw you pick four of them out..”
There was obviously no sense in denying it. “You’ll wear it and like it.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Come on,” I pleaded. “Jerry is really upset with me. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“Because Griffin locked the bedroom door and I didn’t want to interrupt you two … you know,” Aidan answered. “Seriously, what is with you two lately? Does he have a magic penis or something?”
I scowled. “Don’t be gross.”
“Hey, if you think he’s gross, maybe you shouldn’t be sleeping with him.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” I snapped. “I can’t talk about sex with you. It’s too weird.”
“Well, you’re not talking about it with Jerry and he’s upset about that, too.” Aidan glanced at his watch. “We have twenty minutes before the first one dies.”
“How is he going?”
Aidan flipped through the file in his hand, barking out a harsh laugh when he got to the cause of death. “I’m not sure you want to know.”
“Try me.”
“You just said you didn’t want to talk about sex with me.”
Wh
at was that supposed to mean? Realization dawned. “Oh, gross. Is some old guy going to drop dead while having sex in here? I didn’t even think that was possible at their age.”
“It is when you overload on Viagra,” Aidan said, perched on the wooden bench in front of the assisted living center. “Sit down, gimpy. Let’s talk.”
Uh-oh. That was the last thing I wanted to do. “I’m fine standing.”
“You’re in pain,” Aidan said, patting the bench. “Sit down. We have a few things we need to discuss.”
I dejectedly eased myself on the bench and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” Aidan replied, not missing a beat. “Let’s talk about Jerry first. I know you’re caught up in your own head right now and I think you’re keeping it to yourself because you don’t want to burden anyone. You seem to forget that I was there with you when you tossed the candle that … you know … burned everyone in the mausoleum.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I said. “I just … don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to,” I snapped. “I’m trying to come to grips with it myself. When I want to talk, I’ll let you know.”
“At least tell me you’re talking about it with Griffin.”
“We’ve talked about it ad nauseam.”
“Well, that’s something,” Aidan said. “I have to admit, he’s been at your side through this entire thing. I wasn’t sure he had it in him to accept our lifestyle, but he’s been better than I expected.”
“He’s been great.”
“You’re falling for him hard, aren’t you?”
I glanced at Aidan, surprised. “I … yes.”
Now it was Aidan’s turn to be surprised. “I can’t believe you just admitted that,” he said. “The old you would’ve denied it until all of the oxygen was sucked out of the atmosphere.”
“There’s no reason to deny it,” I said. “He’s … he’s been amazing.”
“I’m glad that you have him,” Aidan said. “It’s just … you have a family, too. You have Jerry. You can’t make Griffin your whole world.”
Did he really think that was what I was doing? That was disheartening. “That’s not what’s going on.”
“Maybe he’s using Viagra,” Aidan mused.
I slapped his leg. “I’m not talking with you about that. Stop trying to goad me into an argument.”
“You don’t have to talk to me about it,” Aidan conceded. “In fact, I’m perfectly happy not knowing. I do think you should talk to Jerry, though. He feels … abandoned.”
I knew it! “What has he been saying to you?”
“He doesn’t say much,” Aidan said. “It’s more that he … slips things into conversation. He was crushed last night. He kept waiting for you to remember. When that bedroom door didn’t open … .”
“I honestly fell asleep,” I protested. “I took the pain meds that were left over from my last personal injury travesty and conked out before ten. I think Griffin was up for hours after I fell asleep.”
“Watching over you,” Aidan supplied.
“What?”
“He watches over you,” Aidan said. “He can’t help himself. Today he almost got into it with Jerry because he thought you might get hit with a spatula. He’s a macho guy and you’re his woman. All he’s missing is a club to beat you over the head with.”
“Don’t be a pain,” I grumbled. “That’s not what he’s doing.”
“Ais, don’t kid yourself,” Aidan said. “You two are so into each other that it would take a crowbar to pry you apart. I’m fine with it. I like him. He irritates me sometimes, but who doesn’t? I’m happy for you because he seems to adore you.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“Jerry,” Aidan replied. “He sees himself being displaced. I know you don’t mean to do it. Just … try to give him some attention. He’s been biting his tongue the past few days and I think he’s about ready to flip his lid.”
“I didn’t mean to neglect him.”
“I know you didn’t,” Aidan said, patting my knee. “You can make it up to him tonight.”
“That’s why I got you a tiara, too.”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “I will not wear a tiara.”
“You’ll wear it and like it.”
“Want to bet?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded.
“You’re on!”
“WHY DID you want to stop here before going home?” Aidan asked, following me as I picked my way through Eternal Sunshine Cemetery a few hours later. “I thought you wanted to pick up ice cream and rest your hip before Jerry makes you walk the stage later tonight?”
“I do,” I answered. “It’s just … I need to see the mausoleum.”
I’d been dying to revisit the cemetery since Fontaine’s death. I wanted to see whether anyone was loitering around – or leaving flowers behind. When lilies began appearing near my mother’s final resting place, I thought for sure they were being left as a message for me. Now I was starting to wonder whether my mother was leaving them on her own empty grave. That was freaky … and completely narcissistic. That wasn’t the mother I remembered.
“Why do you want to see the Olivet mausoleum?” Aidan asked. “It burned to the ground. We all saw the news coverage. They said it was a total loss.”
“You wouldn’t understand if I told you,” I said. “It’s just … I have to see. I can’t explain it. I don’t know how to make you understand. It’s something I need to do and I’d rather do it with you than with Griffin.”
“Why?”
“Griffin has been so great about all of this,” I explained. “He rushed headlong into a fight that day and he had no idea what he was fighting for. If I can’t explain this to myself, how can I explain it to him?”
“He knew what he was fighting for,” Aidan replied. “He was fighting for you. That’s all he cared about.”
“This whole thing is spiraling out of control,” I said. “I … what if he leaves?”
“He won’t leave.”
“He might.”
“He won’t.”
“What if he does?” I pressed. “How did I get to a point where it would crush me to lose him?”
“The same way I got to the point where I can’t live without Jerry,” Aidan answered. “You love him.”
“I … .” I bit my lower lip, mulling Aidan’s words. Was that true?
“Oh, don’t even think about arguing with me,” Aidan said. “You might not be ready to tell Griffin that you love him. I know you do, though. It’s written all over your face whenever you look at him.”
That was a frightening thought. “I’m not sure … .”
“Shut up, Aisling,” Aidan muttered. “You love him. You don’t have to admit it to me and you definitely shouldn’t admit it to Griffin yet. It’s too soon. You might want to admit it to yourself, though.”
Well, this sucked.
“You might even try admitting it to Jerry,” Aidan suggested. “That might be a nice way to make him feel better.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said. “I … I’ll think about it.”
Aidan grinned. “If you’re worried that he doesn’t love you back, you can push that thought right out of your head,” he said. “He’s in love with you. Don’t doubt that for a second. I can see it whenever he looks at you … or jumps to your defense … or takes care of you after one of your accidents.
“He’s not ready to admit it either,” he continued. “You both need to admit it to yourselves first. It won’t be long, though.”
“Since when did you become psychic?”
“It doesn’t take magic to see how you two feel about each other.”
“Whatever.” This was not a conversation I wanted to have – especially here. I pulled up short when we crested the final hill and found … nothing. The burned out shell of the Olivet Mausoleum was gone. “Where is it?�
�
“I’m sure they knocked it down as quickly as they could,” Aidan said, moving to my side. “It was an eyesore … and dangerous. I’m sorry. I know you wanted to see it.”
I sighed. Did I want to see it? Why was I really here? “Let’s stop in at our family mausoleum.”
Aidan balked. “Why?”
“I want to see Mom.”
Aidan, falling in step beside me, didn’t offer further argument. To my surprise, the door to the mausoleum opened and I instinctively grabbed Aidan’s arm and dragged him behind a nearby tree.
“What the … ?”
I clamped my hand over his mouth and peered around the oak’s huge trunk for a better look. I had no idea what I expected to see. Part of me thought there was a chance my mother would stroll out of the mausoleum and the journey would end before it really began. Instead, the tall figure moving away from the small family tomb was familiar.
“What is he doing here?”
Aidan wrenched my hand from his mouth. “Probably the same thing we are.”
“Do you think?”
Aidan sighed. “He misses her, too, Aisling.”
The sun glinted off my father’s sunglasses as he turned down the path, moving away from our hiding spot. I was relieved. “Why do you think he didn’t tell us he was coming?”
“Why didn’t we tell him we were coming?”
“Do you have to be so … difficult?”
“That’s rich coming from you,” Aidan retorted. “I … why is he so dressed up?”
That was an interesting question. Dad liked his expensive suits for meetings and general appearances, but when he was bumming around he preferred jeans and sweaters. The black suit was one of his most expensive offerings. “Let’s find out,” I suggested.
“How?”
I arched an eyebrow, daring Aidan to get to the answer before I had to lead him to it.
“Good grief. You want to follow Dad?”
“Let’s just see where he’s going.”
“Fine,” Aidan grumbled. “When he’s going someplace boring … like the library … you’re going to owe me.”
“If you’re right, you don’t have to wear a tiara.”
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