“Out.”
“Out?”
“It’s November thirteenth.”
“Shit!” he cursed. “No wonder Father took Mother on that unexpected trip. She always smothers him on his birthday.”
I bit my lower lip. “Can you be here in fifteen minutes?”
“I’ll be there in ten,” he agreed.
I hung up and impatiently waited for Tyler to arrive. Once he did, I grabbed my bag, the card Kyle made, gave the children each a kiss, and was out the door. I started for my Honda CR-V that I’d had shipped from Oakland—the car I rarely got to drive these days—but was stopped.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t let you do that.”
I turned to see Daniel staring down at me. “Do what?”
“I’m under strict instructions from Mr. Townsend to take you anywhere you want to go.”
I sighed. “Daniel, this is my car. I don’t need you to–”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. Boss’ orders.”
“Fine,” I conceded, not wanting to waste any more time arguing. I still couldn’t believe I’d spent the entire day angry at Aaron, forgetting that this was the one day of the year he needed themostsupport. Even though, he might not realize it. He always was isolated on his birthday. Well, he wasn’t about to do that shit anymore. Like it or not, he had a family now. One that wouldn’t let him run away from his past.
****
It took twenty minutes to get from the house to Townsend Industries. I knew this was where he’d be, working himself to the bone to push out any and all memories. I had Daniel drop me off at the front entrance of the building. Unfortunately, it was close to eight o’clock and the front of the building was locked. I opted to walk to the end of the block where I could enter the building from the garage.
As I rounded the building and made my way into the concrete garage, I saw that most of the spaces were empty. Everyone had obviously gone home for the evening, and the few cars that remained belonged to owners of nearby condos. I walked to the far end of the garage where the elevator stood; my heels against the cement were the only sound that could be heard. Suddenly, my hear rate quickened and an ugly, familiar feeling skittered down my spine. I clutched the bag I carried over my shoulder tighter to my side, and looked around. Again, all I saw were a few cars but nothing out of the ordinary. But that nagging feeling of being watched returned. The same eerie sensation I’d had in that bathroom stall in the park a month earlier returned.
I stopped walking, doing a full three-sixty turn to observe my surroundings. “Hello?” I called out.
“Mrs. Townsend?”
“Ahh!” I screamed. Before I could fumble for my keys that held my pepper spray on the chain, I realized who had called my name. “James!” I breathed, holding my hand to my chest, trying to catch my breath.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. Didn’t mean to frighten you. I was doing my rounds,” the security guard explained.
“No, don’t be sorry. I’m here to see my husband.”
James nodded and walked with me to the elevator, punching in the code that took me directly to the floor of Aaron’s office. Once the doors closed, I inhaled deeply, shaking off that creepy feeling, and forced myself to remember I was safe. The day wasn’t about me. I needed to focus on Aaron.
When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out into the empty lobby. The lights were low but I could see light coming from farther down the hall where Aaron’s office was located. I pushed through the glass doors and walked steadily in the direction of the light. His door was partially ajar, and I pushed my way in.
His head turned in my direction and my heart dropped to my knees. His eyes were dark, but not like when we were intimate, or when he was angry. They were darkened by the memories he’d been trying to fight off.
I chose to leave the lights low. His scowl deepened the closer I moved to his desk. I placed my bag next to his desk on the floor and moved files and papers aside. I pushed up on my arms, planting my bottom on his desk, next to him in his office chair. He sat back, staring at me, wordlessly. Leaning forward, I reached out and ran my fingers through his dark, silky hair.
“Poor you,” I cooed, “you’ve been fighting demons all day.”
****
Aaron
My eyes drifted shut and for the first time that day the memories hadn’t come rushing back. All I felt at that instant was my wife’s hand stroking my hair. I had indeed been fighting demons all day. It was what I did on my birthday. I fought them, alone. Pushing through and using work as a distraction.
“I was so pissed at you this morning. Not for leaving me hanging but for Kyle.”
