Shiver(84)

Raven hung up her coat and entered the kitchen, opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of pain pills, laying them along with a glass of water on the table. “Sit down before you fall down.”

Since his knees felt like willow branches, he had no problem doing what he was told and took a chair at the dining room table. Fox gave him a worried look, so Aidan put on a brave front. No sense in worrying the kid.

“Fox, will you stoke the fire and then set the table?” Raven asked, pulling the makings for a salad out of the refrigerator.

“On it, Mom.” He scampered over to the wood stove and stirred the banked coals, added wood, and lightly blew on the coals until the flames greedily ate at the dry timber. A grin spread over his face, and a dimple peeked as he set the table. The boy was enjoying having his parents sharing a meal instead of fighting.

At the lodge, the feelings Aidan had struggled with over everyone wanting a say over how they were going to protect him, hadn’t eaten at his heart the way this little family dinner was beginning to. This was his family. His son. And his woman. The simple affair caused emotions to tighten his throat.

What would it be like to sit down at the end of every day with Raven and Fox? The sweetness of the dream was just within his reach, almost tangible. If he shut his eyes, it felt as though he could hold it in his grasp.

Whatever it took, whatever he had to do, he would keep them safe.

They ate dinner. Fox carrying on most of the conversation, leaving him free to steal glances across the table at Raven, who was more focused on stirring the food on her plate than eating any of it. The longer dinner went the more pleased Fox seemed to become. The talk was mostly about school, friends, a girl named Janette.

After dinner was cleaned up and put away, Fox suggested a movie. Raven agreed, as soon as his homework and chores were finished. He grumbled, but went upstairs to do as she’d said.

“He’s a great kid.” Aidan approached Raven in the kitchen where she was trying to rub off the surface of the counter. She’d already washed everything down once. She stopped her frantic cleaning and looked up at him, her eyes wide and dark.

“You’ve done a wonderful job raising him, Raven.” He set aside the scrubber and took her hands in his. “Thank you.”

“Uh…you’re welcome,” she softly returned.

He smoothed the hair away from her face, tracing the fine bones of her cheeks, before cupping her cheek and lightly placing a kiss on her full trembling lips.

“Oops,” Fox said, sliding to a flailing stop on socks that wanted to skate over the kitchen tile. A blush bloomed on his face along with a smile that spilt from ear to ear. He looked down and rushed through the kitchen. “Don’t mind me. Carry on with…whatever. I’m gonna feed the dogs.”

“Let me help,” Aidan offered.

“No!” Fox’s blush deepened. “I mean, you need to be careful with your arm.” He put his hands out in the form of stop signs. “Stay here. With Mom.” He was out of the room in a flash.

“Well…” Aidan smiled. “I think we just made his night.”

“Uh…yeah. I’d better go talk to him.” She made to leave and he pulled her back against him.

“Let him go. Stay here…with me,” he repeated Fox’s words.

“This isn’t right. There is still so much that we need to figure out. I don’t want to get his hopes up.”

“What about mine?” He held his breath.

“I’m sorry.” She disentangled herself from him and went after Fox.



Raven let herself outside into the bitterly cold night. Fox’s dogs were yipping excitedly over their dinner. Fox made sure he gave each one needed attention before moving to the next one. He sure was a great kid. What had she been thinking to insist Aidan stay with them? She should have thought about the message she was sending Fox. Or what her actions were telling Aidan. For that matter, what were they telling her?

What did she really want?

Dinner had given her a glimpse of what she could have. What she could give Fox.

What would it be like to share her life with both of them? But could she find it in her heart to share Fox? He’d been hers for so long. Her little man. Looking at him now though, he wasn’t her little man anymore. He was growing up fast. And not just physically.

“Hey, Fox.” She joined him and the dogs. He looked up, the joy on his face dimming.

“We’re not having a ‘talk,’ are we?” He frowned.

Yep, the boy was growing up way too fast.

“’Fraid so.”

“Dang it, Mom, have you ever heard the saying, ‘go with the flow?’”