“I just visited Thiers in the hospital and he never made mention of this,” my father queried.
I said nothing.
There was silence at the table until Carter finally spoke up again. “Patience is the daughter of one of my father’s business companions. But she’s been out of Williamsport for quite a few years now, last I heard.”
I glanced up to see Carter explaining all of this to Michelle.
“How long ago did she move from Williamsport? Five, six years?” Tyler asked.
Sixty-seven months. Exactly five years and seven months.
But I wasn’t revealing that.
“Anyone know why she left?”
My stomach muscles tightened.
“She’s a librarian, right?”
I looked up, realizing the table was waiting for my response.
“Mother, dinner was delicious.”
“Come on, Aaron. Give us something,” Tyler insisted.
Just then my phone buzzed. I pulled it out.
“Aaron, you know we do not allow work at the table.”
I stood. “My apologies, Mother. I need to take this.” I stood and moved from the table, opening the email I’d just received. It was nothing too pressing but I used the excuse to have a moment to myself to regroup. I didn’t intend to explain my relationship with Patience, even to my family but their probing questions were getting to me. After a few minutes, I went back to sit at the table.
“When’s the big day?” My father lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Two weeks.”
I rolled my eyes at the shocked noises that went around the table.
“Two weeks? That isn’t a little fast, Aaron?”
I shook my head. “No, Mother.”
“Why so abruptly, son?”
I inhaled, bracing myself for the onslaught that was on the way due to what I was about to reveal. “Because I want my children raised in a home with their mother and father.”
“Children?” Michelle blurted, then clamped a hand over her mouth.
I looked from her to my mother who’d gasped in surprise as well.
“Twins, a boy and girl. Kyle and Kennedy. They’re five. And no,” I looked to my three brothers and finally my father, “I will not be going into more detail about it,” I stated with finality.
After a moment or two, I watched as Carter picked up his fork and continued eating. Everyone else soon followed, knowing that once I made up my mind about something that was it. If I said I wasn’t going to discuss it, then it wasn’t up for discussion. End of story.
But in truth, I knew that wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
Chapter Seven
Patience
