“Tell me about yourself,” she began. “Everything. Your parents, your school, your life before becoming who you are.”
“No. It's not something I like to talk about.”
“Why not?” she asked surprised at his reluctance to open up to her.
“I had a tough time Maddy. It hurts to open up those old wounds.”
“Please? I'd really like to know. Warts and all. You've helped me with my feelings today. Let me help you with yours.”
“Well, if you insist... But personally, I think you've had enough unpleasant realities for one day,” he began, giving her a concerned look.
“I do insist,” she pushed.
He took a deep breath and began. “I was born to a single mother. But not just any single parent. Oh no... She worked the streets as a hooker in the Bronx.”
“She was a prostitute?”
“She was mentally unstable and a prostitute. She was also a drug addict.”
“Jesus, Aden. How did you survive all that?”
“I don't know. Purely through luck, I think. She used to leave me at home for hours on end, all on my own with just the TV for company. When I was just a small kid. God alone knows what she used to do when I was a baby. I remember her being too spaced out to take me to school, too ill to make my meals, or to keep me or my clothes clean, and finally too far gone in her head to be a mother anymore. She was nice mommy, bad mommy, all the time. Like a horror movie. She dumped me at the children's welfare center when I was seven.”
“What happened then? Did things get better?”
“No. I was passed from one foster home to another. Because by then I had developed a bad temper and couldn't handle my anger issues. I was always angry with life. Swearing and picking a fight with anyone over nothing and getting into trouble. I ran away at fifteen. Travelled north, to Canada. I lied about my age and spent three years working as a general garage hand. That's how I got into cars and engines. I studied at night school and gained a few respectable qualifications and got a job as a certified mechanic working for an old fella in Calgary. He was one of our kind, although I didn't realise that until much later. Old Whittaker sold the garage to me for a mere pittance when he retired. I got the feeling I was the son he'd never had. Unfortunately, he died soon afterwards. Anyway, with a little help from the bank, I became a business and property owner."
"Shortly after that, I had my second life changing event... I was attacked by one of Whittaker's less than pleasant pals, who came looking for him when he was drunk. I was damn lucky because it was on the eve of a full moon. He turned in front of me, but I escaped with a small bite, on the hand. I locked myself in the garage restrooms, would you believe? Things were a little shaky for a while. But I got on with it. Learned all I could about it, and over time I discovered there were others who were the same. Lucas, Ben, Verity, Shane, and Mia."
"In short, I dragged myself out of the misery of my childhood and made a new start in life. Two new starts in fact,” he chuckled.
“It's such an inspiring story.”
“You think?”
“I do. You could have ended up a dead beat. A druggie or a drunk. On the streets yourself or in prison for dealing or pimping. That was where you came from, wasn't it? But like you said, you made a new life for yourself, and that's inspiring. So what happened to her? Your mother?”
“She disappeared from my life.”
“That's a shame. I'm sorry you lost her.”
“Well I'm not. She didn't love me or want me. I was a bad mistake. A slip up and an inconvenience. And it wasn't just her. No one cared enough to help the troubled little boy she raised. If that's the right word for what she did. Because neglected and ruined is a more apt description. I've found it hard to imagine anyone could ever have positive feelings for me because of where I came from and how I've been treated, and in truth I've not had good feelings for anyone else either.” His voice was quiet and low and it was obvious he was getting very emotional. She felt sure he had never revealed any of this before. Ever.
“Aden, pull over there, in the rest area ahead.” He drew the truck to a halt and turned to face her with glistening blue eyes. “That's simply not true. You have good, warm feelings for your pack. I see a lot of affection for them. And they love you for the care and protection you provide. I know Sammy and Shane think the world of you. I'm sure the others do too.” She smiled at him and he managed a small smile in return.
“Yeah, I suppose so. In their own way. They're my family after all. We have our squabbles and fights, but despite all that we're close enough.”
“Exactly. You're a kind and caring person Aden. How could anyone not like and love you?”