Maybe Forever (Missing Pieces Book 1)

by Keyanna Butler

  “Don’t think we’re leaving for lunch anytime soon,” Aiden says, grinning at Dakota.

  “Probably not,” he says and chuckles.

  “We could go pick up something and grab a movie. They probably want some ‘girl time’ anyway,” Aiden proposes. Dakota nods his head.

  “That sounds good. Let’s go,” Dakota agrees. After saying a quick goodbye to the girls, who barely acknowledged their leaving, they are on the road. Aiden is in the passenger seat googling places they could possibly go to for good take out.

  “Chinese?” Aiden asks.

  “Harper only likes Chinese food at night.”

  “Indian?” Dakota asks.

  “Casey hates Indian food. She says it smells.” Dakota laughs as he turns a corner.

  “Burgers and fries?” Dakota shakes his head.

  “If I eat anymore burgers, I’m going to go insane. That’s all Harper wants to eat these days, and she’ll put anything on it. Anything and give me those sad puppy eyes if I don’t experiment with her.” Aiden laughs.

  “What about Mexican? There’s a place like twenty minutes from here that has good reviews.” Dakota nods his head.

  “That sounds good.” Aiden puts the address into the GPS on his phone and then sticks it into the holster above Dakota’s rearview mirror so he can see.

  “Thanks,” Dakota says. There is a comfortable silence for several seconds as Dakota gets onto the correct road to find the Mexican restaurant. Aiden glances at Dakota every few seconds, wondering if he should start a conversation or not. This is the first time they have been completely alone since their truce. He decides to start a conversation.

  “So did you talk to Jamie about asking Harper beforehand?” Aiden asks. Dakota nods.

  “Of course. Yeah. I felt like it was the right thing to do. I felt like I needed his approval before I could do it.”

  “And his reaction?” Aiden asks, smiling slightly, already knowing what it probably was.

  “He was really excited about it. I hoped he would be.”

  “Of course he would be. He loves you,” Aiden says. Dakota glances at Aiden and sees the sincerity on his face.

  “I love him too,” Dakota says. Aiden nods.

  “I’m happy for you guys. I really am,” Aiden says.

  Dakota chuckles, shaking his head. “Did you ever think this would happen? You and me in a car and not ready to kill each other?” he says.

  Aiden laughs. “Not in a million years. I hated you, Dakota. Seriously I did.” Dakota nods. “But I realized I only hated you because you were able to do something I never allowed myself to. I just wanted to be you,” Aiden says honestly.

  “Well, I’m glad we were able to get past all of that because my intention was never to push you away. I always encouraged Jamie to continue pursuing a relationship with you. I know what it feels like not to have a family. I never wanted Jamie to feel how I felt growing up. I never want anyone to feel how I felt growing up.”

  “I can’t imagine what that must have been like.” Dakota gets off at an exit and heads down a long road. He comes to a light and slows down as it eases into red.

  “It was tough. I had a lot of dark days. Times when I felt like going through life wasn’t even worth it. I was really lonely and isolated for a long time. I was lucky to make it to eighteen.”

  “Do you remember your parents at all? Did you ever know them?”

  Dakota shakes his head. “No. All I know is my last name, and I know I was born in Atlanta.”

  “Have you ever thought about finding them?”

  Dakota scratches his head. “A few times when I was a teenager.”

  “What stopped you?”

  “I don’t know. I just…I figured if they let me go, if they didn’t want me, why would they want me now? I felt like I didn’t have anything going for me. Like…I still wasn’t good enough.” Dakota sighs slightly, taken aback at his own confession. He had never told anybody that besides Harper. When did Aiden become so easy to talk to?

  “I can understand that. I mean, you were wrong, obviously, but I can see your train of thought.”

  “I thought about it again these past few years, and now that Harper’s pregnant, it would be nice for our baby to know at least one set of grandparents.” Dakota shrugs.

  “I think you should do it,” Aiden says.

  “Yeah?”

  Aiden nods. “Yeah, I mean, you never know. They could be…looking for you too, you know?” Aiden says.

  Dakota nods. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll keep thinking about it,” Dakota says.

  “Good,” Aiden says. “The place is coming up here on your right.” Aiden looks out the window, searching along with Dakota. They spot it in the middle of a busy shopping center and pull in. They both get out of the car and head into the restaurant, going over what they think the girls could possibly want, laughing as they think ordering the entire menu might actually be a promising idea, knowing both of their girlfriends. Once they decide on six or seven items on the menu to give them a variety, they decide to pick up some wine and a movie. The two were surprised at how easy it was for them to get along with each other. How easy it was for them to laugh about normal things like sports, lame pop songs, and Jim Carrey movies. But today they also realized they could talk about more than that. They never would have predicted almost seven months ago that they could actually have things in common like their weird love of corn, obsession with designer suits, and fear of clowns. Who would have thought they could actually be friends?

  ***

  “So you and Dakota seemed to be getting along really well,” Casey says later that night after the couples decided to retire to their respective rooms for the night for some alone time. They are in the bed cuddled up with the television showing a random movie they aren’t really paying attention to. Casey lays on Aiden’s chest while he has his arm wrapped around her waist and the other behind his head.

  “Yes. Yeah, he’s a really good guy. Think we might actually be becoming friends,” Aiden says.

  “Jamie’s going to love that.” She looks up at him. Casey kisses him sweetly. He kisses her back, but she feels that he’s distracted. He has been all day from time to time. Casey looks at him.

  “Are you okay?” she asks. Aiden looks down at her.

  “Yes…” he says.

  Casey scrunches up her nose at him. “I don’t believe you.” She pokes him in the chest. Aiden chuckles slightly.

  “I’m…I’m okay,” he says. He kisses her forehead. “I just think I’m going to take off a couple days of work and visit my parents in Atlanta. Maybe see if I can plan a trip for Jamie to come up sometime in the summer. They haven’t seen him since he was really little.” Casey nods.

  “Okay. That sounds nice. I’m sure Jamie would like that. He’s never been to Atlanta,” she says. Aiden nods. They both look back at the TV.

  “I still don’t believe you’re okay, but whenever you are ready to talk about it, I’m here,” she says.

  Aiden looks down at her. He wasn’t aware of the fact that she could read him so easily.

  “Thank you,” Aiden says, taken aback. He didn’t know if he had a reason to be upset yet or to talk about anything, but he did know one thing: He was falling in love with Casey Reynolds, and he didn’t want it to stop.

  Chapter Twenty

  Dakota

  Jamie sits on the long sofa in his living room staring out into the hall where Dakota and Harper should be entering any moment. They said they would be back early Sunday morning. He cooked breakfast for them: pancakes, bacon, eggs, and potatoes. He had it all set out and ready for them at the dining room table, and in his lap was a gift for them that he made to help them remember this moment. They hadn’t called him, and he was freaking out, but he was hoping it was only because they were too busy…celebrating themselves. He takes another long sigh, and then he hears the door opening. Seconds later, Harper and Dakota come in the living room. Jamie shoots up from his seat, hiding th
e wrapped gift behind his back.

  “Hey!” he exclaims. “How was the wedding? How was the trip? Long drive?” Harper hugs him first and kisses his cheek.

  “Hey, sweetie,” she says. “The wedding was beautiful. They looked really happy.” Dakota nods his head, smirking at Jamie, sure that he’s waiting with bated breath to find out the results of their conversation a couple of days ago.

  “The drive wasn’t too bad. Just a couple of hours. The town was really nice. Not too small. It, uh, had a Starbucks,” Dakota says.

  “Yeah? He finally let you have coffee, Mom?” Jamie asks. Harper nods excitedly.

  “We got more than just coffee, though, at…this Starbucks,” Harper says, smiling at him. Jamie swallows.

  “Yeah?” Jamie asks. “What else did you get?”

  “Oh…just engaged!” Harper shouts. She holds out her hand and flashes him her ring. Jamie’s hands shoot up in the air.

  “Yes! I knew you would say yes! I’m so happy for you guys!” Jamie says, pulling them both into a hug. Harper and Dakota laugh, and before long they are all laughing.

  “Why did you do that to me? I felt like I was going to pass out!” Jamie says, smiling. “You guys suck!”

  “Sorry, baby boy. But you’re so cute when you’re about to have a nervous breakdown,” Harper says, laughing and squeezing his cheeks.

  “And to think I slaved over a hot stove for you people,” Jamie says. He leads them into the dining room, and Harper looks at the table like she just struck gold.

  “You are the best son in the world. I’m starving,” she says and heads for her seat at the table. Dakota squeezes Jamie’s shoulders.

  “Thanks, kid. This is really sweet.”

  “Whatever…” he says, and they both sit down at the table. Jamie hands them his gift once they have their first helping on their plates. It’s a framed picture of Dakota, Harper, and himself from their beach trip this past summer. Jamie is in between them with one arm around each of their necks. They are all smiling their biggest smiles, the ocean behind them and the sand glistening at their feet. It was his favorite picture of the three of them. At the top of the frame it says ‘Montgomery-Daughtry Family’ in beautiful script writing. Saturday afternoon, after his shift at the Grill, he and Bianca spent the remainder of the day looking for a place that would create the frame he wanted for the perfect picture. Harper looks up at him, smiling with tears in her eyes.

  “This is amazing, Jamie. Thank you,” she says.

  “Wow, Jam. It’s great. The picture looks professionally done,” Dakota says, also touched by the custom frame.

  “Well, I figured we’ve been a family all this time. It’s only right that we have a family portrait hanging up in the house,” he says softly. “And now that you’re engaged…we’ll officially be a family.” Harper and Dakota look at each other and smile.

  “Don’t worry, we’re going to have so many family portraits in here soon…you’re going to be sick of me,” Dakota says, and they all laugh. Nothing more needed to be said really. Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction for them. It was everything they always wanted. It was a dream come true.

  ***

  Aiden

  “It’s so good to see you, sweetie!” Aiden’s mom Charlotte Daughtry embraces her son when he appears at her door. Aiden smiles brightly at her, hugging her back tightly. There was no woman he loved in the world more than his mother. No matter how old he was, he always felt like her little boy. When they break apart, Aiden follows her into his childhood home, passing family pictures of him and their family along the hall walls, the quaint living room decorated in bright colors, and then to the kitchen where she has started preparing lunch for the three of them. His father stands at the island of the kitchen chopping up various vegetables for what looks to be for a salad. Aiden walks over to him and slaps him on the back.

  “Hey, Dad,” he says, and Greg Daughtry smiles. He wipes his hands off on his khaki pants and hugs his son.

  “Hey, son. Good to see you,” he says, hugging him tightly. Aiden walks around the island and has a seat on one of the stools.

  “Hope you’re hungry, son. Your mom made some amazing chicken salad and baked an apple pie.” Aiden smiles and nods enthusiastically.

  “I’m ready. You know I never leave home without my stomach,” he says. Charlotte laughs.

  “If it’s one thing you always remember, it’s your stomach, baby. Want some sweet tea?” she asks in her sweet southern accent. Aiden laughs and nods his head as she goes into the fridge to get the pitcher. “So how is everyone? How has life been for you? I know we talk on the phone every couple of weeks, but it’s different hearing about your life in person.” Aiden smiles. She pours him a glass and gives it to him.

  “Everything is going great. It was rough for a little while because I was being…well, me, but things are getting better every day. Jamie and I are closer than ever, and me and Harper are friends.” Charlotte points at him with her finger threateningly, and Greg just smiles.

  “That is so good to hear. I’m glad you finally gave up on pursuing Harper. I know you always loved that girl, and you probably always will. She’s the mother of your child, but she has a right to live her life the way she wants to live it. Jamie is a great boy, and it’s not for lack of bad decision-making. She’s a good mother.” Aiden nods his head.

  “I know, Mama. I know. I guess I thought I could move there and make up for everything I’ve done my whole life. Not being there. Being so selfish.” He takes a sip from his tea. Charlotte kisses him on the forehead.

  “We all make mistakes. You learned from yours and righted the wrong. That’s all you can ask for.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Your pep talks are legendary,” he says, teasing her. She points at him. She was famous for her threatening point. That was all she really needed to do his entire childhood, and he would know he was in big trouble. Except for when he got Harper pregnant. For that he actually got poked…repeatedly.

  A couple of hours later, they had finished lunch, satisfied and full, and retired to the living room. Aiden and his dad enjoyed an old school basketball game on the television while his mom read one of her guilty pleasure romance novels on the loveseat beside them. Aiden clears his throat, his heart racing with nerves. He had been putting off the real reason he came to them since he walked in the door. He told them stories of Jamie and a few moments about him and Harper communicating, and he even told them about Casey, a topic his mother was happy to pursue for nearly an hour. It was now or never, really. He would never get the answers he’s looking for if he stayed to himself.

  “Hey, Ma, Dad…you think I could talk to you about something? It’s kind of serious.” Mamma Daughtry looks up from her novel and nods her head. She removes her reading glasses and sets them in her lap, closing her book with her finger to save the page.

  “Sure, honey,” she says. Daddy Daughtry picks up the remote and turns the television down slightly.

  “Is everything okay, son?” he says, concern in his voice. Aiden turns his body to face them.

  “I don’t know, to be honest. I just…I have some questions about what happened a long time ago when I was a kid. I remember that you, Daddy, were gone from the house for a few months, and you told me that you and Mom weren’t getting along and you needed some time apart.” His mom and dad frown slightly.

  “Well, you were maybe eight or nine years old then. What about it?” his father asks curiously.

  “I need to know why you left. Even when you came back and everything was back to normal, we never really talked about it. I know it was for my own protection, but well, I’m an adult now, so I feel like I can handle it.” Aiden’s mom sets her book and glasses on the table beside her, saving her page no longer on her mind.

  “Well, yes, we did decide to keep the problems in our relationship back then a secret, but I just don’t think there’s need to bring up anything from the past. Has it really been bothering you not knowing what happe
ned?” Aiden nods.

  “It has recently. I don’t mean to cause any discomfort or to start any trouble. I just really need to know, and I’ll tell you why shortly.” His dad sighs deeply and glances at his wife. She nods her head, giving him permission.

  “Back then when I left, it was because I made a terrible mistake and cheated on your mother with a woman I met in town.” Aiden nods his head, figuring that was exactly what they were hiding. As a kid, he didn’t notice it, but once he was a teenager he could put two and two together and get the answers a little better.

  “You cheated on Mom?” Aiden says. His dad nods, shame on his face having his dark secret out for his only son to hear.

  “Yes. It was stupid and selfish, and I have regretted it every day since.” His mother takes her husband’s hand and smiles warmly at him.

  “After I found out, I told your father to leave, and after a few months I realized that it might take some time but I could forgive him for what he had done. We loved each other, and even though I hated him for what he did to me, we had made vows to each other, and we could make it through it. Nobody is perfect, baby. Everyone makes mistakes. Big ones…little ones…and even medium-sized ones, if you can imagine that.” She chuckles slightly. “But I don’t want you to look at your daddy any other way than how you have been looking at him your whole life. He’s a good man who made a bad decision. I forgave him, and so can you.” Aiden takes a deep sigh.

  “Of course I can forgive you, Daddy. I’m not here to judge. I’m not here to judge at all.” Aiden hugs his father, reassuring him, and his father nods.

  “Now why are you asking, son?” Greg asks. Aiden pauses for a second or two, trying to figure exactly how he’s going to say this.

  “Well…” Aiden pauses again. He gets up and starts pacing the room. “You know Dakota? Harper’s fiancé?” The two nod, their eyes narrowed curiously. “Well, we’ve been really getting to know each other lately, and he’s actually not the devil I assumed all these years.” They chuckle slightly.