Page 106 of His to Cherish

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Page 106 of His to Cherish

“That’s all him.”

I meant it, too. My insides fluttered as I watched Aidan, a man who just a month ago couldn’t bear to see Shane in the hospital. Now he was holding his hand and comforting him—or instilling fatherly wisdom in a hurting young boy.

Beth and I were quiet as we filled three mugs with coffee and one with hot chocolate for Shane. I smirked when I saw the innocent childhood treat, but Beth shrugged, a slight smile on her face. “It used to be his favorite.”

I said nothing.

My emotions were on overdrive, threatening to spill over.

“You’re good for him,” Beth said, catching me by surprise as she loaded cream, sugar, and spoons onto a tray. “I’m glad he has you.”

I looked out at Aidan and felt my eyes go hazy. “I’m glad I have him.”

As we reached the family room, I returned Aidan’s smile when he saw me, but it was only a quick glance before he gave Shane his full attention again.

“So I’m behind in school and baseball started a few weeks ago, but my tutor says I should be able to get caught up quickly with everything.”

“Not surprised. You’re a smart guy.”

Shane beamed with the compliment before his face fell. I watched him nervously suck his bottom lip into his teeth.

His hand ran through his sandy brown hair. “Yeah, but it’s baseball that has me more worried. I mean, I’m not the best player anyway, but Coach Taylor has been awesome about letting me join when I can—”

He stopped.

Aidan bristled at the sudden pause, the way the sentence lingered in the air like a thick blanket.

Beth and I were sitting on two leather wingback chairs as we watched them with rapt interest. It hadn’t been a conversation I could contribute to anyway, and I liked watching Aidan talk to Shane. It showed me the kind of dad he had been to Derrick and only made me love him more.

He was good with kids.

“Yeah…but I was wondering…” Shane’s voice drifted again before he finally seemed to gather his courage. “Will you help me with my pitching? Like you used to?”

Aidan stiffened further and his eyes focused on the large window facing Shane’s backyard. I could see the struggle in his eyes as he considered the request.

The poor kid looked terrified as he stared into his mug of hot chocolate.

“It’s okay if you can’t, I completely get it. But my therapist says I need to try to do things that Derrick and I did, and try…I don’t know…to go back to normal or some crap.”

Aidan shook his head. His chin wobbled before he sucked in a breath and blinked harshly. I watched a myriad of emotions scroll across his face before he seemed to gather his own strength.

“Of course I will. I made you a promise when your dad died that I’d always be here for you. Losing Derrick—” His voice broke and I longed to move to him from across the room, but I didn’t. Whatever Aidan had to handle with Shane was their business.

I looked to Beth to see tears slowly and silently rolling down her cheeks again.

“Losing Derrick is something I’ll never recover from,” Aidan said, his voice stronger but still heavy. “But I’ll be there for you like I promised, whatever you need.”

Shane’s own eyes watered and tears spilled over. “Sometimes I think you should hate me.”

“God,” I choked out over a sob.

Aidan’s head snapped to mine and his eyes were wet as well. Hell, we were all a crying, sobbing mess. This couldn’t be good for Shane.

With a shake of my head and tight, small smile, I let Aidan know I was okay before he looked back to Shane. When he did, he put both of his large hands on the boy’s knees.

“I can’t lie and say there aren’t a lot of things I’m not angry with about that day. But you did nothing wrong. I know you’re working through this and I know the guilt you carry. Someday you’re going to have to realize that it was an accident. It’s no one’s fault, not even yours.”

His voice was stern but overflowing with love and care for the hurting boy in front of him.


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