by Sadie Grubor
"Are you okay?" Celia entered with Phoebe behind her.
I nodded.
"You didn't look okay when you left the room." Phoebe slipped her mask off and so did Celia.
"Demitri is here and Aidan isn't thrilled about it." I rolled my eyes. "He's being ridiculous." I growled.
"Tell us what happened." Celia sat down in one of the plush chairs and Phoebe put her arm around my shoulders. I told them the whole occurrence.
"What a dick!" Celia said bluntly and I laughed.
"So, I'm not overreacting?" I asked unsure of myself.
"Hell no," Phoebe concluded. "He is being jealous, and not a good jealous." She squeezed me tightly.
I took a deep breath.
"Thank you, I feel better." They both smiled at me widely and we group hugged. "We should probably get back before Dixon eats your entire meal," I half giggled toward Celia.
Phoebe and Celia laughed as we exited. Aidan was standing against the wall, waiting. Phoebe and Celia both squeezed my arm once more before walking away toward the ballroom.
I stood with my arms crossed over my chest.
"Lilli—" he was about to run his hand through his hair. I grabbed his wrist, stopping him from messing up his hair so early in the night. That movement had his arms around my waist.
"I’m sorry for being jealous, insanely jealous, of your...friend." The word friend came out in disgust.
"Aidan, I’m not going behind your back. I can barely think past my daily schedule for you to worry about me being with someone else. Besides, I would never do that to you and have never given you a reason to believe that I would."
He hugged me tighter.
"Forgive me? Please?" It was such a pleading question. I didn't understand why he was so desperate for me to forgive him.
"Of course I will, but just stop, okay?"
He nodded. As I pulled away I saw him quickly wipe his cheek.
"Aidan?"
"It's nothing," he mumbled.
"But—?"
Before I could finish my sentence, his lips were on mine. He pulled away from me and looked into my eyes.
"I don't want you to be upset with me. When you left me at the table, it killed me. I don’t want to hurt, especially by making you think that you would—"
I kissed him.
After returning to the table and going through the multiple course meal, the entertainment began. First, would be the speeches. Then, the children's choir would perform, followed by the auction and ending with the orchestra.
Aidan and Viola made their way to the stage. They both took turns discussing the foundation. It was going really well, until...
"I would like for my wife to join us on stage this evening," Aidan announced.
I shook my head.
"Lilli, go," Maggie whisper shouted. I looked at her and shook my head. She grabbed my arm and walked me onto the stage.
I smiled nervously and leaned into Aidan as he pulled me tightly to his side.
"You are so going to pay for this." I whispered.
"Ooh...promise?" He whispered back and when I looked at him, he was sporting his crooked grin. The hot bastard!
He took a step toward the podium after Viola talked about the foundation, the children's homes, thanked the contributors and announced my involvement.
"Lilli is the newest addition to the Isobel's Heart Foundation. I find it a little ironic that the foundation will now be jointly run by another strong woman with a similar passion to my grandmother, Mrs. Isobel Iverson."
At first I was taken aback that he had announced my 'joint’ involvement. Viola was beaming next to him as they both turned to look at me. Viola quickly hugged me and Aidan kissed my cheek, pushing me toward the podium.
"I didn't plan to speak," I hissed to Aidan.
"Just speak from your heart, Lilli. You will do fine." He kissed me chastely, standing close to me as I turned to the podium and looked out over the audience.
I smiled broadly, terrified.
"I, uh, hadn't planned on speaking tonight. I would like to thank you all for coming and for helping the foundation." All of a sudden I found a groove and went with it. "The children that we are helping tonight are not only beautiful and brilliant, they are also strong in their own special ways. Tonight you should congratulate yourself in making a difference for them. Thank you."
I stepped away and Viola was first to my ear.
"You are amazing, dear. That was perfect."
"I'm going to kill your nephew when we get home, by the way." I whispered into her ear and she hid her giggle in my shoulder.
Aidan finished speaking and announced the children's choir from one of the children's homes performing for us tonight. We stayed off stage as they sang multiple songs. Once they were finished, I hugged each one of them, as did Viola, before we returned to our table.
The auctioneer took the stage. I almost did laughing when he announced the first item up for bid.
"Our first item for bid tonight...is a dance with Mr. Iverson, himself." The auctioneer turned to Aidan and motioned for him to take the center stage. Aidan looked nervous. I couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled from within my chest.
I turned to Viola.
"Did you do this?" I whispered across the table.
She winked.
"He likes making you unexpectedly nervous, let's see how he does."
Maggie and I giggled ferociously.
"Remind me to never anger you." Jason mumbled to Maggie. We laughed harder.
"That would be wise, big man," Maggie flicked his nose playfully and then kissed his cheek. They were adorable together.
"So, do I hear one thousand dollars?" The auctioneer started. "Mrs. Iverson?" He looked directly at me.
I tapped my chin.
"I don't know..." the crowd laughed "Is there anyone else back there? You know, like Brad Pitt or..?"
Aidan scowled at me playfully and I laughed hard.
"One thousand dollars!" I turned to see a tall, voluptuous red-head in the middle of the room.
I looked at Aidan who was fixated on my reaction. I shrugged and giggled.
"Two-thousand dollars!" Now it was Aidan's Aunt Anne bidding.
"Three-thousand," Viola shrugged and then whispered to me, "Might as well try to get as much for him as possible."
I laughed.
"Four-thousand," I announced and raised my glass to Aidan, who looked relieved.
"Ten-thousand," Again, it was the red-head.
The auctioneer looked at me and I laughed because he thought he needed my approval. I stood up and headed to the podium.
"Excuse me," I grabbed the gavel and looked out at the sea of worried expressions.
"Sold! For ten-thousand dollars to the beautiful red-head in the back!" I laughed and the crowd laughed with me. "Oh, but can you return him before the end of the night? He has the keys to the house." I patted down my dress. "No pockets." Shrugging, I kissed Aidan on the cheek.
"Thanks a lot for pimping me out," he laughed, then kissed my lips.
"Hey, it's for the kids," I tweaked his nose and headed back to the table with him. "I can't believe someone paid ten-thousand to dance with you."
"Why is that?" He inquired.
"Oh, honey, you aren't that good." I giggled.
He tapped my butt and I squealed.
Once the auction was complete, the orchestra got set up and began to play. The red head made her appearance at our table. I ushered a hesitant Aidan up from his seat.
"Have fun," I waved and smirked as he headed to the floor with the woman.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Celia appeared next to me.
I shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Maybe because she is clearly interested in him and you just fed him to her." Phoebe appeared on my other side.
I waved it off.
"If he is stupid enough to go with it in front of me then he's an idiot." I snorted and sipped my drink.
Th
ey both got really quiet.
"What?" I asked looking between them.
"Lilli, Aidan is a very, very..." Phoebe started.
"Very, very..." Celia added.
"Attractive man." Phoebe continued, "Women will want him, regardless if he is married to you."
I rolled my eyes.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" They both eyed me. "Oh my God, do you think he is going to risk losing his inheritance by messing around with a woman who paid ten thousand dollars for him?" I looked at both of them, realization spreading across their faces.
"I-I guess you're right," Phoebe shrugged, but I could tell she was still hesitant.
"Excuse me." At the sound of his voice my stomach clenched. I slowly turned around. Celia and Phoebe both sucked in a large breath.
"Hello."
"Would you object to a dance?" He reached a hand out.
"Demitri, I really don't—"
"Oh, come on, it's just a dance, as friends." I eyed him leeringly. "I swear."
I stood and took his hand.
"I really appreciate the offer. However, I don't think that would be for the best." I smiled kindly.
"What is going on?" I turned to see Aidan's angry face.
"Well, I was trying to convince my friend for a turn on the dance floor." Demitri slyly smiled.
Oh God!
"And I was—"
"Aidan, I need for you to come, please?" Liam stepped up, but Aidan's eyes refused to leave my face. "Aidan?" He turned to look at Liam. "Mr. Regalie is here and would like to talk with us." Liam looked from Aidan to Demitri to me and back to Aidan.
"Sure," Aidan spoke curtly and walked away from us.
"What are you trying to do?" I sneered at Demitri.
He laughed.
"He is easily angered isn't he?"
"It's not funny," I scowled at him. "I have to deal with that later." I rolled my eyes.
"Oh come now, why would he get mad? You were rejecting my—"
"Yeah, but he didn’t know that and you sure as hell are doing your best to make it more uncomfortable for everyone!" I sighed heavily and pushed by him. He still chuckled.
After the final guests were leaving, Aidan and I slipped on our coats, heading to the car. He was being quiet, too quiet. The car ride was filled with uncomfortable silence instead of our normal banter. I knew that he was still seething over Demitri, but didn't we just have the whole jealousy conversation earlier in the night? He finally decided to speak five minutes before arriving home.
"So, Demitri—"
"Aidan, I wasn't going to dance with him." I sighed heavily, not wanted to have this argument again.
"Are you sure about that?" He snapped.
The car pulled up to a stop.
I glared at him.
"I am not doing this again." I retorted, clipping out my side of the car.
Not waiting for him, I walked around the car and slipped, grabbing onto the hood for balance.
"Lilli!" Aidan moved quickly to my side and grabbed my arm. I jerked my arm away from him and pulled off my shoes, stomping up the stone stairs in my pantyhose covered feet.
"Lilli, wait," Aidan yelled after me.
"Just leave me alone," I growled.
Jay opened the door.
"Mrs. Iverson," he nodded.
"Hey, Jay," I smiled as he took my shoes and coat for me. "Thank you, Jay."
"Lilli, I want to talk to you—"
"No, you want to act like a jealous jerk and make more accusations." I turned around and poked him in the chest. "Just leave me alone. I don't feel like arguing about this because it is stupid and pointless!" I stomped upstairs.
I was quickly out of my dress and in the shower. I heard Aidan enter the bathroom.
"If you dare get in this shower I will castrate you." I threatened.
He stayed silent.
Reaching out of the shower, I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around me before I stepped out and pushed passed him. He reached out for me.
"Just don't, Aidan." I took a deep breath.
"I don't like him, Lilli, and I don't want him around you. He is clearly trying to—"
"Aidan, he was trying to ruffle your feathers on purpose. I have made it clear to Demitri that I am with you, but that isn't good enough," I turned around to look at him, "even after our conversation earlier tonight."
His face was pained, slight anger lacing it, but I couldn't think about that at the moment.
"I just...I'm sorry."
"I get that." I said a little too curtly. "I just need to be alone right now. I'm angry and I just...I need to be alone."
Leaving Aidan in the bathroom by himself, I quickly got dressed and headed to the library to be alone.
I sat trying to read for a couple of hours, but I couldn’t focus. After reading the same paragraph three times, I decided to head to bed.
Upon entering the bedroom I saw that the bed was empty. I climbed in and quickly fell to sleep.
I'm not sure how long I'd been asleep before my cell phone ringing woke me up. Rolling around to grab my phone from the nightstand, I had to sit up to find it. In that instance, I realized I was in bed alone.
Momentarily, I wondered where Aidan was, but the ring tone of my phone sunk in. It was my father. Panic assaulted me.
"Hello? Dad?"
Chapter Nine
Road Construction Truck
Lilli
Millie hadn't called me back during my drive to Winter Harbor and I was losing my mind. Finally, I reached the hospital and rushed inside to the main desk.
"Lilli Snowe?" I was known too well from having been her with my father so many times.
"Where is he?" I panted.
"Third floor honey, room 314," I was already rushing to the elevators before she finished speaking.
The familiar ding of the elevator brought me out of my worry and fears. I burst into the small waiting area and followed the signs to room 314.
Millie sat next the hospital bed and, as I took in my father, I felt hot tears stream down my cheeks. His skin was pasty white and his lips were tinged blue.
"Oh, baby," Millie rushed to my side before I could collapse to the floor.
"W-what h-happened?" I got to the side of his bed and placed my hand on his arm.
"His heart is just weak, baby." Millie rubbed my back; she was really becoming like that mother figure a nanny to a rich child would be. "He is stable and is number one on the donor list for surgery."
I sobbed into Millie's shoulder for at least an hour before finally settling enough to set up camp in his room. We had been there for an entire day; taking turns going outside or to get food. I had spoken with Aidan twice, convincing him to stay in New York.
Dixon and Phoebe showed up in the afternoon, both converging on me with a swarm of 'what do you need', 'what have the doctor's said', 'what can I do'. I loved them, but I had to kick them out of the room before I killed them.
Day two arrived and Donald was still in his medically induced coma. Doctor Larken arrived during his afternoon rounds.
"Ms. Snowe," he nodded. I didn't correct him. I was more concerned about his comments regarding my father. "It seems we have your father stable enough to transport him to Eastern Maine Med Center." He smiled at me and my eyes widened.
"Does that mean—?" He was already nodding.
"That means that we do indeed have a donor for your father and he will meet his new heart there." I latched onto Dixon who was sitting with me. "We will begin preparations for his flight in the next couple of hours."
"Flight?"
"Yes, in order for him to get prepped in time for the transplant surgery we need to have him flown." He returned his attention to the clipboard he was holding.
"So, I can't go with him?" I asked concerned.
Dr. Larken looked up at me and sighed.
"I'm afraid not, only medical—"
"I'm a nurse with flight clearance, can I go?" Dixon blurted out.
"Can he?
"
"Well, we would have to run your credentials, but I don't see why not." He smiled widely and Dixon handed the doctor his medical badge.
"Thank you so much, Dixon," I hugged him tightly.
"No problem, Lil." He squeezed back. "By the way, you may want to call Aidan and tell him we are on our way to Eastern Maine so he doesn't drive to Winter Harbor." Dixon looked a little nervous and rubbed the back of his head.
"But, I told him—"
"Do you really think that would stop him?" Dixon shook his head.
Phoebe burst into the room with Millie.
"Is it true?! They have a donor?" I nodded and Phoebe covered her mouth and started jumping up and down.
I called Aidan and caught him right before he was about to take off.
"I thought I told you not to—"
"Like I'm going to leave you there alone."
"I have Dixon and Phoebe."
"Yes, who I made sure got there until I could arrive," he informed me smugly.
"Thank you." He was killing me. I wanted to kill him two days ago for being a jealous idiot. Now I wanted to kill him for giving me, yet another, reason to fall in love with him.
Damn thoughtful, sexy Aidan Iverson.
"Don't thank me. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you." He paused, almost as if he was going to say something else, but didn't. "I'll see you soon."
We said goodbye and hung up.
Millie and Phoebe were going to take Phoebe's rental car back to the house to collect some things before heading to Eastern Maine Medical Center. I was leaving immediately, so I could be there as quickly as possible. I knew that I should have left before they took Donald to the rooftop, but I couldn't leave him until I knew he was on the move. They were pulling him out of his room when I stopped them.
"Wait," I shouted and ran to him. I pressed my lips firmly against his forehead, tasting my own salty tears as they ran down my face. "I love you, daddy," I whispered into his ear before I let them pull him down the hall toward the elevator.
Once I was in my car, I sucked up my tears and began my journey. When I saw the signs informing me I was only fifteen minutes away, I got extremely anxious.
Switching lanes for my exit, I moved over. All of a sudden, a large truck swerved into my lane, I gasped.
I slammed on the breaks. The breaks squeezed before the sound of crushed metal and shattered glass resonated. Then there were blackness, the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber. The last thing I heard, before succumbing to the darkness, were mumbling voices.
