by Roy, Chelsea
“Momma, are all these people homeless?” She asked, curiously. They had just passed by an abandoned store front where several people sat with their belongings.
“Yes baby. The weather in San Francisco doesn’t change too much throughout the year so there are a lot of homeless people here. They count on tourists feeling bad for them and giving them money and food. It’s a hard, hard life,” Aimee told her softly. The plight of the homeless that lined the streets of her hometown had always saddened her terribly.
“But it’s so sad!” Brenna’s face showed her distress. Aimee watched in fascination as Brent reached forward and gently halted Brenna. He spoke in low tones that Aimee couldn’t hear and pressed something into Brenna’s palm.
“Do you mind if you and I switch places so Brenna and I can hold hands?” He asked Aimee. Curious, but trusting Brent implicitly, Aimee released Brenna’s hand so Brent could take his place at her side. They hadn’t even taken ten steps before Brenna was tugging Brent’s hand and leading him over to a homeless woman. Aimee watched, stunned, as Brenna handed the homeless person money. She said a few words and smiled while handing the money over. Brent stood sentinel, making sure no harm came to his daughter. The woman looked at the money disbelievingly and said a few words back. Brenna smiled, and then they resumed walking.
This routine was repeated at least six more times on the way to Benihana’s. Each time Brenna spotted someone homeless she would stop with Brent, say a few words, and hand over money. The recipient always had the same reaction. They would give Brenna a disbelieving look and then say a few words back. Aimee figured Brenna had to be handing out twenties instead of ones. San Franciscans weren’t known for their generosity, so Brenna had to be shocking the people she was interacting with. Aimee thought what Brent had done for his daughter was incredibly sweet and was teaching her a much needed life lesson. Aimee had never been brave enough to approach the homeless to help them do anything about their plight and she despised herself for that weakness.
Finally, she, Brent, and Brenna walked up to Benihana’s. Aimee was looking forward to eating there with Brenna. She’d heard so many positive things about the atmosphere and she was sure Brenna would never forget the experience. She had a wide smile on her face when she turned to tell Brent his idea had been a good one when she saw a familiar lanky figure approach him. Aimee gasped in disbelief. Rushing past Brent and Brenna, who were still holding hands, she ran the last few feet and launched herself into Eric’s waiting arms.
“I’m so glad to see you!” She exclaimed. Her head was buried in the thick flannel of his shirt so her words were muffled. She squeezed his waist tightly and felt tears prick her eyes.
Although Aimee had seen Eric the night of the concert, her focus had been speaking with Brent. She hadn’t gotten to spend any time with Eric at all. She hadn’t asked for his number from Brent because she’d been a complete chicken shit. She was fairly certain Eric harbored many negative feelings toward her for leaving, just the same as Brent did. She was having a hard enough time dealing with how Brent felt about her to try to deal with Eric’s disappointment too.
Eric returned her embrace, hugging her tight. His lanky arms were wrapped securely around her and he was swaying their bodies side to side, murmuring reassuring words into her hair. Aimee couldn’t stop tears from slipping free and running down her cheeks.
“Little girl,” he choked out, clearly as overcome with emotion as she was. Pulling back from their embrace, Eric framed her face in his hands. “I missed you so damn much,” he said. His eyes roamed over her face, something unidentifiable in his eyes. Aimee was filled with a profound sense of relief. Whatever she was seeing didn’t look like anger or disappointment.
She tilted her face into the rough palm of his hand and closed her eyes. She had missed him, too. So badly. He had been an integral part of her life, almost as important to her as Brent had been. Eric had been a constant ray of light in her life, always cheerful and lighthearted. During their short friendship, she had come to rely on him as a sounding board and as a mentor. He’d always delivered her and Brent a healthy dose of reality when it was needed and had slipped effortlessly into the role of big brother for her.
“I’m not disappearing this time,” she assured him, opening her eyes and gazing directly into his. He nodded and passed his big thumbs over her cheek bones before releasing her. She stood back and looked at him. He had definitely aged, but it looked really good on him. Eric’s attitude of perpetual lightheartedness coupled with his naturally youthful looks had always made him seem boyish. The years had turned the prankster boy into a devilishly handsome man.
“Introduce me to this beautiful girl,” he told her gruffly, peering over her shoulder. Aimee smiled and turned to her daughter. She couldn’t help but notice the enormous smile on Brent’s face and realized he had invited Eric to join them for dinner. She smiled at him gratefully. Somehow he had known she needed to reconnect this last bit of her past to the present to finally make peace with all that occurred and he was handing it to her on a silver platter.
“Brenna, this goofball is Eric. He’s your dad’s best friend. And, well, mine too I guess.” Aimee squeezed Eric’s hand.
Brenna smiled at Eric and walked directly up to him. She gazed at him, her eyes sweeping over the stud in his nose and the small black gauges he wore in his ears. “You’re the drummer with my dad,” she pronounced. “You’re really awesome.”
“You follow our band, beautiful?” He asked. His free hand tugged at a lock of Brenna’s long hair, reminding Aimee how tactile Eric was. Sometimes his personality put people off, but Aimee knew Brenna would cuddle right back.
“I do. My momma always shows me news clippings and articles about you guys. She said that she knew you and my dad before you made it big and that you guys were awesomely talented.” Brenna smiled at him. “And I think she’s right.” Eric nodded solemnly at Brenna, giving her words weight.
“Your mama always supported your dad and me. She thought we were awesome before anyone else did.” Eric’s voice was rueful. “Even when we made so much noise she couldn’t study.” Brenna laughed.
“My mom talks about you all the time. She said you helped my dad understand what it meant when she found out she was pregnant. It was, like, the most important thing to her, ever.” Eric looked flummoxed at Brenna’s proclamation. Aimee knew the entire conversation was highly unusual, but so were the circumstances.
“I knew your mom was carrying the best thing in the world in her tummy. I figured your dad should probably know that too!” Eric’s words were exactly right the right thing to say in the moment. Brenna shocked Aimee by sliding her arms around Eric’s lean waist and leaning in for a hug.
“Thanks for being such a good friend to my mom. I’m sorry she had to go away for so long. I know she hated it.” And there it was, Aimee’s life summarized in the words of a ten year old girl.
“Aw, kid, you’re gonna make me cry,” Eric said hoarsely, as he hugged her back. He was a guy who wore his heart on his sleeve and Aimee had no doubt Brenna had just choked him up in a big way.
“Let’s go eat before we all start the waterworks.” Brent suggested. Aimee realized his eyes were just as glassy as everyone else’s, proving this reunion was much-needed and very overdue. For Brent, Aimee, and Eric, it was healing a friendship that had been fractured a decade ago. For Brenna, it was the introduction to the man that, had Aimee not been forced away, would have been her uncle in every meaningful way from day one.
Brent held the door open for their group and they all shouldered in close together. Brenna was pressed next to Brent. Aimee was pressed just in front of Brenna, and Eric just in front of her. She was sure their group looked a little strange but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. She was just so happy they were all finally together, the way it should have always been.
When Eric’s body shifted and Aimee was finally able to see past him, she could immediately see a fire sizzling at one of the t
ables. Brenna must have spotted it to because gasped excitedly. Aimee had never taken her to a restaurant like this, so the experience was going to be a real treat. Sometimes Aimee forgot to do the simpler things like this for Brenna. She was so focused on making a good life for them by running Brenna to the dance lessons she wanted, or signing her up for the volleyball league she just had to participate in that she forgot to let her hair loose and just be silly. Aimee knew double-parent families weren’t always possible or ideal, but when they worked out with two parents who cared about their child, it truly eased the burden of responsibility. For this reason alone, she was glad Brent was back in their life.
She was amused when Brent checked in with the hostess, who did a double-take at the handsome man speaking to her. Stammering and blushing, she immediately grabbed menus and led them over to an empty table. Usually seven or so people sat on each side of the table. Aimee looked at Brent suspiciously.
“What did you do?” She asked him. He smiled unrepentantly.
“It’s nice having money sometimes,” he told her smugly. She cocked her eyebrow at him and he smiled wider. “I rented out both sides of the table for two hours so we’d be alone. I wanted us to have a chance to catch up without people listening on. This way, we can talk somewhat freely and have a good time without ending up on some silly social media site later.”
Aimee pretended to scowl at him, but she was secretly delighted he had gone through all the trouble to set this up. He was really making an effort to be charming at his efforts weren’t lost on her. The extra chairs had been removed, giving them a little more elbow room at the table. Aimee was seated between Eric and Brenna, with Brent on the other side. Conversation flowed easily around the table. Aimee told stories about her experiences as a pediatrician that had the entire table laughing. They had to be reminded several times to review the menu before they finally placed their order. Brenna shared funny moments from her last season in dance, including an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction that one of the other girls experienced right before hopping on stage. As the chef arrived at their table and began flipping his knives, Aimee knew they were going to have a great evening.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Brent’s heart was beating a little quicker than normal. He was certain the elevated rate could be directly attributed to the knowledge that Aimee would be sharing his suite tonight. Sure it was two connecting suites, but still. They would be sharing the same small living quarters. He had no qualms admitting he was hoping to see Aimee in something revealing. If he was really lucky, maybe he’d get to see her wearing nothing at all.
Brent snorted at himself and earned himself an odd look from Aimee, who thankfully wasn’t privy to his internal monologue. He was behaving like a horny teenager and it was ridiculously embarrassing. He wasn’t sure he had been this desperate when he had been a horny teenager. He was part of a successful rock band, for God’s sake. Having a woman at the ready was never an issue. Naked women were a dime a dozen. But none of those women were Aimee. They had never meant anything even close to a fraction of what Aimee had.
“I reserved connecting suites so you guys could stay with me,” he said out loud to Aimee as he pulled into the hotel valet area. He had never understood the appeal of the Bay Area. Everything was so small and cramped. Parking was a damn nightmare anywhere you went and it cost you half your life savings to get a decent spot. He didn’t know how the valet attendants parked cars night after night without scratching them all to hell. “I figured we could just leave the door between the rooms open and hang out wherever.”
“That sounds great,” she responded. “Brenna will really enjoy sharing the space with you.”
Brent frowned and decided the direct approach was best. This was Aimee after all. “Just Brenna?” He asked her, mindful an extra set of ears were listening in and that he could absolutely not sound like he was flirting.
“I’m sure mom’s happy to be staying with you, too,” Brenna interjected. Aimee looked at Brent and rolled her eyes. He smiled ruefully at her. It occurred to him that they were in a parental dance as old as time and as irritating as it was to have to watch his words, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“Thank you so much for inviting Eric tonight. It was so amazingly wonderful to reconnect with him,” Aimee said softly. She squeezed his arm lightly and his skin tingled in response. “I was so worried he would be mad at me too, but it seemed like everything was forgiven.” She sounded awed with Eric’s easy acceptance and he felt a pang of regret that he couldn’t give her the same.
“He was really happy to see you,” Brent agreed. And he frowned again because Eric had seemed overly emotional tonight and had continuously reached out to Aimee. Eric was definitely the most touchy-feely guy he’d ever known, but tonight had felt different. Brent had never questioned his friend’s feelings or intentions toward Aimee, always assuming they were brotherly like he portrayed. Tonight Brent had wondered more than once if Eric cared for Aimee in a romantic way and he felt a little disquieted about what kind of dynamic would develop if he did.
As Brent shouldered his girls’ belongings, memories began flashing through his head like an old-fashioned movie reel. Eric protecting Aimee. Eric championing Aimee to Brent when they had disagreements. Eric rearranging his plans to be home so Aimee wouldn’t have to stay alone while she was pregnant and Brent was working. Eric running out to help fulfill Aimee’s every little craving. Eric’s utter devastation when Aimee disappeared. He felt like pieces to a puzzle he hadn’t known about were clicking into place.
“Oh God,” he muttered out loud. His stomach churned unpleasantly. He didn’t know how he’d missed this.
“What’s wrong?” Aimee asked. Her hand gently landed on his shoulder blade and his gaze shot to hers. He saw nothing other than genuine concern for him there. He swallowed convulsively.
“Just remembered something we need for tomorrow night. Last minute details,” he muttered. He hated lying to her, but until he had a chance to talk to Eric about the massive revelation he’d just had, he didn’t want to say anything to Aimee. What if he was way off base and his suppositions made everything uncomfortable between the three of them when they didn’t need to be?
“Dad, this hotel is awesome!” Brenna exclaimed in a hushed voice. Somehow he’d handed off keys to the valet and gotten them all inside without realizing it. He shook himself, determined to rise from the haze he was in and looked around the marble lobby with fresh eyes. Everything about the San Francisco Ritz Carlton screamed tasteful and it was one of the reasons the band chose it for their stay this time. With little Elliott and now Brenna, it seemed to make more sense to stay somewhere with better amenities.
“Bug, this hotel is awesome. You can pretty much get anything you want here,” he told her. Her eyes were wide.
“Really?” She breathed. Brent nodded. A huge grin cracked her face.
“So if I wanted, like, a giant banana split tonight they’d make me one?” She asked disbelievingly.
“You’re hungry after Benihana’s?” He asked incredulously. The amount of food they’d consumed at dinner had been almost grotesque. Christ. He’d heard about the phenomenon of kids being like an empty pit but he thought that applied more to boys. Apparently he’d thought wrong.
“I didn’t have dessert!” She exclaimed, like it was a given that she do so. Aimee chuckled lightly.
“Brenna is a sugar fiend,” she told Brent conspiratorially.
“Like her mom, I guess?” He commented dryly. Aimee’s sweet-tooth was so bad it was almost legendary. No doubt guessing his thoughts, Aimee chuckled again.
“One of the very few of my traits that broke through your super-power DNA,” she teased.
“Well, bug, best way to find out is to try to order one, right?” He asked her as they stepped onto the elevator. He chucked her chin lightly and she wrapped her thin arms around his waist.
Brenna stayed leaned into him quietly while the elevator silently rose from floor to f
loor. Somehow Aimee’s hand found its way into his and he felt a sense of calm come over him. He realized this was the first time he had felt truly at peace with life since Aimee had stepped into that car all those years ago. As the elevator stopped and the doors began to slide open, Brent wished he could freeze this moment in time. He wanted to always remember the exact moment the heartache that had been his constant companion since that horrible day finally lifted. In this moment, he could breathe easier. He felt lighter. He felt loved.
“Brent?” Aimee prodded softly. He realized he hadn’t moved and both Aimee and Brenna were staring at him.
“Sorry guys. Tired I guess,” he said, playing off his feelings. He led them down the hallway to their rooms, the plush carpeting muffling the sounds of their footsteps. He opened the door to the smaller suite first so he could deposit the bags he carried. He had been in the rooms already and had opened the joining doors between his larger suite and Aimee and Brenna’s room. There were two sofas in his area so it was logical for them all to hang out there. He set Brenna and Aimee’s bags down on their beds and started to back out of the room and into his own suite. The next move needed to be Aimee’s and she didn’t disappoint.
“Can I keep you company while Brenna showers?” Aimee asked him, tossing her jacket onto one of the beds.
“Don’t you want to change first?” He asked her. “I know I should probably get out of my suit before it’s wrinkled all to hell.”
“I like you in your suit,” Aimee told him, grinning. “It’s so…powerful.” She smirked a little.
“Are you flirting with me Doctor Lansing?” He teased. She laughed and nodded.
