Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“My husband never had a good example of a father, and Aiden stepped in when he was fifteen and took on that role. For that alone the family is thankful. They owe a lot to Aiden for saving Noah in a sense.”
Hearing her speak his name, had my already overly active mind spinning out of control. Leading me back to wanting to know every last detail about him.
I casually probed, “Is Dr. Pierce grateful I’m here too?”
“Of course. I’m sure wherever Bailey is, she is as well. You’ve been a godsend, Camila.”
“Skyler, where is Mrs. Pier—”
Her cellphone rang, cutting me off.
“It’s Noah, I have to run. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” She kissed Journey on the forehead. “Have fun with your favorite person.”
“Bah!” she replied, agreeing with her.
Skyler left, leaving me disappointed.
“Journey, do you know where your momma is?”
“Bah, gah, bah, bah, bah, dah.”
“Is that right?”
“Fah, gab, bah.”
“Does that mean you want a cookie?”
Her head bobbled.
“You’re so smart. You know what, Little Miss, I think your brother wants me here too, but he’s just too stubborn to admit it. What do you think?”
She bobbled again, more adamantly this time. She didn’t have a clue what I was saying, however it still helped me.
It was funny how a baby could do that.
How holding her in my arms just made everything right in my world. The attachment I had to Journey grew with each passing moment.
We spent the rest of the day playing, dancing, and singing while music played through the speakers. I ignored the sensation of being watched and just enjoyed my time with her. She was standing by the edge of the coffee table holding on, bouncing to the beat.
“Go, Journey, shake your booty! Go, Journey, shake your booty,” I cheered, and she did just that. Sticking her diapered butt out into the air, she wiggled it back and forth, a proud look on her face. My girl wasn’t just copying me, she had rhythm. Music was part of her soul like it was in mine. “That’s it, Little Miss, now shimmy like this.” I showed her, moving my shoulders.
She giggled, trying to move hers without falling. I giggled right along with her.
“Now make your booty bounce, now make your booty bounce!”
“Boo! Boo! Boo!” she twerked it, vibrating her entire body, making both of us fall into a fit of giggles until she fell over from laughing so hard. I fell with her.
“I love you, baby girl.”
Her eyes lit bright and wide, and I knew she understood what I said. She opened mouth kissed my cheek, grabbing onto my face hard. Displaying just how much she loved me too.
It was a little past nine o’clock at night when I got her to fall asleep for me, laying her down in her crib.
I whispered, “I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, my angel,” kissing her goodnight. Turning on the white noise, I grabbed the monitor and shut the door behind me.
For the next hour, I cleaned up our mess from the day, deciding at the last minute to pick up Jackson’s room before I relaxed on the couch for the rest of the night. It didn’t take me long to tidy up his things. For once his room didn’t look like a bomb went off in it. And for some reason, part of me knew he did that for me.
The entire time I cleaned, the Disney movies on his shelf were calling my name, especially the one titled, Beauty and the Beast. Unable to remember the last time I watched it.
“Why not?” I asked myself, grabbing the video cassette.
I walked into the kitchen, tossed a bag of popcorn in the microwave, overlooking the fact it was my favorite.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Pulling my favorite water from the fridge, I threw the caramel popcorn into a bowl and made my way into the living room. Laughing at the thought they were the last family on earth to still own a VCR.
After popping in the movie, I grabbed the remote off the coffee table and plopped my ass on the couch. Tugging the throw blanket on top of me, I settled in. Getting nice and cozy, excited to watch one of my favorite childhood movies. But the excitement quickly came to a halt.
My heart dropped.
I stopped breathing.
My eyes zeroed in on the screen in front of me.
There they were.
A young Bailey with Aiden down on one knee, stating,
“I’m just keeping another promise to you, Beauty.”
Chapter 21
<>Aiden<>
Then: Eighteen-years-old
__________
Bailey glanced up from her book when she heard the loud exhaust from my finished muscle car pull into the driveaway. I revved the engine just to get her going, she loved when it vibrated against her body in the seats.
With a huge smile on her beautiful face, she set her novel aside on the porch swing she was sitting on. Appreciating the powerful sound the pipes made.