Shiver(113)

Fiona reclined in a corner chair talking with a woman dressed in a designer suit and snow boots and a man, wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt, holding a television camera.

Fox tore his gaze away from the couple when he noticed Aidan. “Dad!” He smiled, his teeth showing bits of potatoes as he continued to cram fries into his mouth. “How’s Mom? Can I see her yet?”

“Not yet. But she woke for a bit and it looks like she’s going to be fine.” He shared a reassuring glance with Fiona who discreetly dabbed at the corner of her eyes. “What’s going on here?” He addressed the question to the two strangers.

“They want to do a story on us,” Fox said. “On TV. Isn’t that cool?”

“What kind of story?” Aidan frowned.

The woman in the smart navy suit was the one to answer him, offering him her hand to shake. “My name is Brooke Malone. I’m a correspondent for KTVF Channel 11. We’d like to do a follow up on the—” she glanced at Fox and lowered her voice “—the unfortunate incidents of yesterday.”

“She means Mr. Harte’s murder, my kidnapping, Mom’s shooting, all done by the famed Lonely Lady stripper, Genie in the Bottle,” Fox said around a mouthful of fries.

Aidan tried not to smile. “Hmm.”

“It’s a hero piece, Dad. Isn’t that perfect?”

“Hero piece?”

Brooke Malone stepped forward, gesturing with her hands. “We want to tell about what you did, rescuing your family under such hostile conditions. You’re the hero of the hour and we’d like to do a special interest report on it.”

“Uh…” A rush of emotion stole Aidan’s breath. Hero? Him? He wrote about heroes. He’d never been the hero in anything.

“Isn’t that cool, Dad.”

“Uh…yeah.” He needed some air. “If you’d excuse me for a moment, I gotta…go.” Before he melted like a snowman under a spring sun, Aidan rushed out of the room, down the hall, until he found the stairwell. He pushed the metal door open and fell back against the cool surface. What the hell was wrong with him? He was acting like a sissy girl all because someone thought he was a hero. He was no hero. He hadn’t done any more than any other man would have done for the people he loved. So why were tears flooding his eyes?

He pushed away from the door and sat on the stair riser before his legs gave out. What a mess he was. A blubbering, sniveling mess.

The door cracked open and Fiona peeked her head around the corner. “I thought I saw you duck in here.” Rather than leave him in peace, she entered the stairwell and sat next to him.

He quickly wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt. “Fox okay? Raven?”

“I’m more worried about you right now. It’s difficult seeing yourself in a different light, isn’t it?”

He nodded as emotion, he couldn’t seem to turn off, flooded him.

She gently smoothed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead. “I always knew this man was in you. I’m glad you are finally meeting him.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “That son of yours wants to be on TV.”

Panic stirred in with the other crap he was trying to stamp back in its place, making breathing next to impossible.

“You can’t disappoint him.”

That was the crux of the problem. Dealing with people seeing him as he’d always wanted to be seen scared the shit out of him. What if he failed them now?

“Come on. Go and splash water on your face, maybe take a quick trip out in the cold. You’ll look refreshed rather than spent.” Fiona smiled at him with love shining from her eyes. “Either that, or I have some makeup in my bag we could try.”

He choked out a laugh, got himself under control. “Thanks, Fiona.”

“No. Thank you.” She smoothed back his hair again, looking deeply into his eyes until she touched his soul. “I love you, Aidan, just as much as if you were one of my own.”

Tears tightened his chest. He couldn’t keep himself from reaching out and wrapping his arms tight around her. She smelled like blueberries.

Fiona rubbed his back and held him for a moment, then patted his shoulder. “Go. Get yourself cleaned up. I’ll hold off the reporters until then.”

He released her and stood, helping Fiona to her feet. “Thanks, again. And just so you know, I’ve always loved you and Fox senior.”

“I know you do, Aidan. I’ve always known.”



Dealing with reporters was hell, but the news segment was taped and due to air that evening. Fox was over the moon, he’d spent the rest of the afternoon calling all his friends. The doctors had released him, but decided to keep Raven one more night. Aidan was relieved when she awoke again to see that the dark film of pain had released its hold on her and the deep, warm brown of her eyes was showing through.