The Absolution of Aidan(66)

“Come on.” Reaching for my hand, he pulls me behind him into the living room where we now have two more people joining in.

“Uncle Sal. Aunt Corrina!” I squee like a little girl.

“Look at you, little mama.” My uncle walks toward me with his arms stretched wide. I enter them happily. Even though we’ve chatted on the phone, it’s been a month or so since I’ve seen him. And my aunt. I haven’t seen her since Diesel was born. Last I heard, she was visiting my cousin in Italy as she had a baby a few weeks after I did. I turn from his arms and stroll right into hers.

“Where’s that handsome little boy?” she asks.

“He’s sleeping, it’s been a long day, even for him.” I look over to Aidan. I’m surprised he didn’t run into the baby’s room first thing.

Silence abides the room. I pull back from my aunt, my fix remaining on Aiden.

“You are all up to something. What did you do? Read my mind today and buy me a house with two kitchens?” I verbalize teasingly. Although, secretively I wish they did. Or I wish I could anyway. My savings have all dried up by keeping the rent up-to-date on the apartment while I was away. That’s one of the reasons I need to start working again. This is something I haven’t conveyed to Aidan or to my parents, even though I’m sure they know.

“Not exactly a house.” Dad steps forward.

Reaching out, my dad takes hold of my hand, holding it palm up into the air, then my uncle steps forward, a peak of silver leaves his hand as he places a key onto my palm before he clenches my hand closed while leaving his over the top of mine. I’m baffled to say the least. My head is spinning as I look at the faces of my family. Tears are escaping my mother’s eyes, joy whispering across my aunt’s face. And pride fleeing my dad.

Strong arms wrap around me from behind, holding me close. “What’s this?” I lift the key for them all to see.

“That, my sweet niece, is the key to the bakery. Your bakery.” My head shakes in a stultified manner. “My what?” I then look to my dad. Aidan’s grip on me tightens.

“We’re retiring, honey. I’m not about to sell my bakery to someone I don’t know. I want a person who has the same passion as I do. I want my legacy to go on. My legacy is you.” Oh, my god. I don’t know what to say.

“So, this is where you were today? Did you buy this for me?” I spin around to study Aidan’s reaction.

“It’s where I was today. And yes, I bought it.” I take a long, slow breath, reigning in my anger. He cannot go out and buy me a bakery. Jesus. This is too much.

“Why?” I simply ask.

“Why not?” Is his response. “Well, for starters, you do not buy a business for someone who you just started dating. That’s preposterous.” He tilts his head a little. A wide smartass smile spreads across his face.

“I can if it only cost me one dollar.”

“One dollar?” Right then the room starts to spin. I literally feel dizzy, wrapped up in all of this confusion, driving my brain to overload.

“And we didn’t even want to take the damn dollar.” I believe that’s my aunt talking now. I really do feel dizzy. Taking the few steps needed to reach my couch, I fall backwards, still clutching firmly to the key. The key to my bakery that cost a dollar.

“I’m grateful. I’m a little ruffled, really. Your bakery is worth—”

“Knowing my niece is going to take good care of it. To your aunt and I, that’s worth more than any amount of money, Deidre.” Oh, my god. I have a bakery. My own business. A place I’ve worked at for years. A familiar atmosphere with people I love. Now, I am going to cry.

“Thank you so much.” I hug Aidan hard. “I love you,” I say then turn and hug everyone else. This is perfect. I can work and have my child with me. I can leave when I want to. Go in when I want to. And I can bake!

“Where the hell are Dilan and Anna? They’ve been gone for an hour.” I’m still clutching my key in my hand. I cannot seem to let it go. The reality of it still hasn’t sunk in, even though I keep repeating it in my head over and over that it’s mine. It really is mine.

Ten minutes after my jagged, short-lived, happy little breakdown, my aunt and uncle left. My parents and Beth are still here, and now my mom’s bodyguard is inside. The atmosphere is filled with tension. Something is wrong. I can feel it. I think we all can.

“He’s still not answering his phone.” Aidan runs his hands through his hair.

“Neither is Anna.” Beth declares.

“I’m going to look for them.”