Page 11 of Aaron's Patience

He smiled. “My name is Joseph, I will take you wherever you need to go.”

I wrinkled my forehead.

“Mr. Townsend insisted I wait for you and see to it that you were delivered back home safely.”

“My hotel,” I corrected.

He nodded. “As you wish.”

“I have a nine a.m. flight.”

“We will pick up your belongings and I will get you to the airport on time for your flight.”

I didn’t have time to think. I just got in the back and allowed this man to take me to my hotel to gather my belongings. Once I was back in the car, I pulled out my cell and opened one of the three messages from Judy. I responded to her, telling her that I was fine and on my way to catch my flight. I left out any details of the previous night. Of course, she insisted that I call her as soon as I got home. I agreed and stuffed my cell back into my pocket just as we were arriving at O’Hare.

I refused to let myself even think as I charged through the elevator, thankful that I’d gone with the early check-in, saving me time. Thirty minutes after making it to my gate, my flight was boarding and soon enough I was on my way home. I tried to sleep but images of the previous night kept replaying in my head. I finally gave up the notion of sleep and instead pulled out my Kindle to get some reading done.

Hours later, I was greeted at my apartment door by my two shrieking children.

“Mommy’s home!”

“Yay!”

They both ran up to me, hugging my knees. The tension that I’d been feeling since I’d awakened that morning began to ebb just a little. I sank to my knees after smiling over their shoulders at Ms. Sheryl, their babysitter.

“Did you bring us anything back?” Kyle asked.

“Did you have fun, Mommy? Bring any books?” Kennedy chimed in.

“How about toys?”

“Did you meet anyone nice?”

My heart plummeted at Kennedy’s final question. Of course, I wasn’t about to tell my five-year-old daughter that I’d ran into the father I’d led them both to believe was up in heaven. Instead, I pulled my babies to me and then showed them the keepsakes I’d brought back for them.

Chapter Three

Aaron

“Is that the case, Mr. Townsend?”

I ran my thumb across my lower lip, absently staring out of my office window, taking in the Williamsport skyline.I wonder what she’s doing right now.

“Mr. Townsend?”

I blinked.

“Jerry, why don’t we give my brother a break. We’ll reconvene later this afternoon.”

I stuffed my hand into my pants pocket, sighing heavily. I waited until I heard the door to my office shut to finally turn around and glare at my second youngest brother.

“Why the hell did you send them out?”

Joshua didn’t even flinch in the face of my harsh tone. He pushed out a full breath and went to sit in one of the chairs across from my large wooden desk, propping one leg over the other.

“You’re out of it today.”

My ever-present frown deepened a smidgen. “I’m right fucking here.”