That does sound better than talking to a room of strangers.
“I could try that,” I nod. “That’s a good idea.”
Brigid smiles and claps her hands together. “Wonderful! Now, are you hungry? I’ve got a pasta sauce on the stove.”
She gets up and moves to the stovetop and removes the lid from the stock pot on top. I catch a whiff of the rich smell oftomato sauce, but even though Brigid is an excellent cook, the scent turns my stomach.
“Oh, no, I think I’ll pass, thank you.” I put a hand over my mouth and turn away.
Brigid puts the lid back on and looks at me with a concerned frown.
“Are you okay, dear?” she asks. “You’ve been nauseous off and on for the past week.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “I think my stomach is just adjusting to being here or something, I’m not sure.”
At that moment, Keira comes strolling into the kitchen, her short skirt showing off her long legs, and chuckles, “Or maybe it’s because you're pregnant.”
“Oh, you stop that now,” Brigid scolds her, but we all burst out laughing at the suggestion.
Except, once we stop laughing, the thought lingers in my head. That… that can’t be true. I’m not pregnant. Right?
“Oh, by the way,” Brigid says, snapping me out of my moment of panic. “Your father is bringing home a surprise for you, Rylee, so make sure you don’t go anywhere. He should be home any minute.”
“A surprise?” I perk up, feeling a flutter of excitement. “What kind of surprise?”
Brigid chuckles. “Well now, I can’t tell you that. I’d spoil it.”
Moments later, we hear the front door open and Dad calls out, “I’m home!”
Feeling as giddy as a kid, I stand up and run out of the kitchen to go greet him at the front door, eager to see my surprise. Dad sees me coming and grins.
“There she is! I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Before I can reply, he steps aside and a tall figure walks into the house after him. Buzz cut blonde hair… the familial green eyes… slightly bent nose from when he broke it in high school.
I freeze in place and stare at him in shocked silence before I manage to stammer out, “A… Aiden?”
He gives me a hesitant smile and an awkward wave. “Hey, Sis.”
The house is quiet as I tiptoe my way down the stairs to the kitchen. I can’t sleep. Honestly, how could I possibly sleep after the evening I’ve had?
Aiden is here. I haven’t seen him since I went away to college, and he’s just popped up in Ireland out of nowhere?
After my initial shock of seeing him, I wasn’t really sure what to say to him. I let Keira and Brigid dominate our interactions for the rest of the evening, staying quiet myself and just… watching him. Apart from a few words, he didn’t really talk to me either.
Why does it feel harder to reconnect to Aiden than it did Dad?
Shaking my head, I walk into the kitchen. At the sight of someone sitting at the table, I jump and let out a startled shriek.
“Shhh,” Aiden says, giving me a sharp look. “You’ll wake everyone.”
“What are you doing down here?” I demand to know, my cheeks heating with embarrassment at my reaction.
“Jet lagged,” he shrugs. “Couldn’t sleep.”
I register the tea cup in front of him and raise a brow in surprise. “Tea?”
“I like tea.” He takes a sip, as if to emphasize the point.
