The room was spinning around me in a blur as my eyes held onto the bed, the two figures quiet and unmoving. To my surprise, hot thick tears had begun to fall down my cheeks.


"Get up you son of a bitch!" I cried, balling my hands into fists at my side. "I can't believe you'd do this to me!"

Well, that was a lie. Sort of. Ben hadn't shown much interest in me since I was pregnant with Drake and I knew he didn't care what happened to me. In the back of my mind I guess I did sort of suspect he was going around with someone else, but I never thought it would be a man!

It also made the reason for Kennedy's frequent visits all too clear. I hoped Ben had at least been decent enough not do anything in front of Drake.


Kennedy sat up and climbed out of bed, quickly pulling on his boxers and undershirt. Without saying a word or even looking at me, he hurried passed and out the door. Ben remained in the bed. A low growl escaped my throat and I spun on my heels, storming into the living room.

"What were you thinking, Kennedy?! Ben is a married man with a son!” I cried and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. “How long has this been going on?”

Kennedy laughed and crossed his arms.

"Honey, we were together long before he even met you," he replied, clearly pleased with himself. "You were and are merely a pawn."

I snorted and shook my head. What rubbish was spewing out of that man's mouth! Oh yes, Ben was just using me to further himself. For what, trying to win the Lazy-ass Dad award?! There wasn't anything to use me for!


"You think he loved you?" he asked, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Oh, how cute, you did. Well he never loved you; ever."

Ben emerged from the bedroom and rolled his eyes at our arguing, before walking to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and looked inside.


"I suppose you're the love of his life then?" I asked dryly, eyeing Kennedy. "Nothing says I love you like a pummeling on his wife's bed."

Kennedy scowled at me and placed his hands on his hips. I wanted to laugh. Couldn't Ben have at least chosen a pretty man?

"It wasn't his wife's bed, sweetheart," he sneered. "Ben doesn't have a wife."

"Right, and he doesn't have a son," I laughed. "I think it's time you went home, Kennedy. Don't ever come back here again."


"Don't you get it, idiot? Your marriage doesn't exist!" he retorted, leaning towards me with that ugly face. "He's married to me."

I stared at him with a sarcastic smile on my lips trying not to laugh. Sure. And I was Luke Skywalker, so they really had to be married. I stifled a snort.

"Sure he is."

Kennedy looked over me and brushed past, entering the dark of the night in his underwear. I stood there for a moment silently staring at the floor.

He was serious. Kennedy was bloody serious! But I didn't understand it. Why would Ben 'marry' me if he already was to someone else? It had to be a joke or something, 'cause it didn't make sense otherwise.

I turned and watched Ben opening a back of chips while leaning on the counter. He didn't seem to care that I was upset. Not that it was a surprise or anything. I stomped into the kitchen and confronted him.


"What do you have to say for yourself?”

He continued to eat his chips silently. There was no remorse in his eyes. In fact, there was nothing. He just stared blankly at me as my chest heaved in anger, my fingernails digging into the flesh of my palms. I had to wonder if he wanted to get caught. But why?

“Is what he said true, Benjamin?” I demanded, my lips curling in disgust. “Is our marriage a complete fucking lie?”


“Oh gosh, you used my full name!” he cried sarcastically, covering his face. “I’m in so much trouble!”

Looking at him now and seeing this behavior, I couldn’t believe how different he was than when I met him. Granted it could have easily been an act –and it probably was- but he had seemed so nice, and gentle. Loving. Where had that all gone? Surely he must have picked it up somewhere.

Wait. I knew where it had gone. The day Drake was born was the day I lost my caring husband. All his love and attention was channeled into my son. Which I wanted for him of course, but why was I suddenly so insignificant?

Well duh, Aimee. Apparently he’s gay, remember? You’re missing an important part of the human anatomy.

“Stop screwing around and tell me, Ben!” I boomed, pointing a skinny finger at him. “Are you and Kennedy already married?”

A vision of Kennedy in a white wedding dress came to mind and I shuddered.

“Yes, we are,” he replied simply. I wanted to slap the hell out of him but I refrained myself. “Four years now.”

“Then what the hell was this all about, Ben?” I cried, crossing my arms. “Why would you go on with this charade with me?”


“What can I say,” he laughed, shrugging. “You were a moron and easily manipulated. You ate out of my hand and eventually gave me what I wanted.”

What he wanted; what the hell did that mean?

“What are you-“

“Drake; you gave him to me,” he cut me off. “Well actually, I had to take him for myself. It was easy to switch your pills. By the way, what kind of woman doesn’t want to give her husband a child?”

“You bastard!” I growled, swinging my arm and meeting it hard against his face. “What did you plan to do with me later, have me killed?!”

Pushing me back hard, he returned the blow. I cried out and touched my burning crimson skin. With watery eyes, I scowled at him.


“You want to see your son again?” I spat, staring him down coldly. “You just made the wrong move, asshole!”

Ben’s jaw dropped and he brought his hands up to his face. His eyes trembled within the sockets. I’d gotten him.


“Wait, I’m sorry!” he whispered shakily. “I didn’t mean –you can’t take my son away from me!”

I pointed angrily towards the door. He was out; finished.

“Take your shit, and get the hell out of my house!” I screamed. “I don’t want to ever see you around here again.”

“Aimee, please –“ he stammered.


“Get out!”

Drake’s head rested sleepily against the car seat as we drove along the road, the tall street lights casting bright rays upon us in flashes. I felt bad for waking and taking him out, but I couldn’t leave him alone and no one would come at that hour. Besides, I wasn’t sure if Ben would come back and try to take him if someone had been there.

Pulling on the familiar street, I slowed to a stop outside the two story yellow and blue stucco house and turned off the engine. Collecting Drake from the back I carried him to the front door, allowing his head to rest on my shoulder. Ringing the bell, I waited for Aidan to answer.

Heavy footfalls sounded and Aidan’s bare feet appeared on the upper stairs, more and more visible the further he descended. At the middle landing he slowed his pace and looked from me to Drake with worried eyes. Taking a deep breath, he descended the last stairs and opened the door.

“You’re here sort of late,” he noted and paused, shifting his eyes to a sleeping Drake as we stepped inside. “Is everything alright?”


“It’s over, Aidan,” I breathed shakily, tears welling in my eyes while lowering Drake to the floor. “It’s over.”

Aidan stared blankly.

“I went home and walked in on-,” I trailed off, arching my brow and clearing my throat, “Ben in bed with a, um –man. I kicked him out; we’re finished.”


For a moment he simply stared with a stunned expression as though he were processing everything I’d just said. I was dying for him to throw his arms around me, to cry and say he’d been waiting for this day; to know that I was again free for him to take.

“It’s seriously over?” he whispered, a slow building smile lighting up his eyes. “I mean, really?”

I nodded gently and allowed a tear to fall from my eye, returning the smile. My heart was brimming so full of emotion I thought I might explode.

“As over as it can get,” I laughed through tears. “It seems we were never really married; he was already wed to someone else.”


“Oh thank god!” he cried, pulling me tightly into his arms and kissing me. I was falling; falling fast with eyes wide open. “But –I have to –yes.”

To my surprise Aidan laughed and pulled away from me, running up the stairs and leaving Drake and I alone. Drake watched from the floor with wide eyes. He was just as confused as I was.

Above us Aidan ran around the bedroom, seemingly looking for something. Drawers opened and closed with a loud clang, some things toppling over here and there. He was cursing to himself, evidently unable to find whatever it was he was looking for.


I walked into the living room with Drake following closely behind me. Seating myself before the piano, I lifted him onto my lap and I touched the ebony keys. Drake squealed and slapped a hand down on them, sending a heavy tone billowing throughout the room.

Aidan emerged suddenly into the room, running to our side with a boyish grin.

“I have to talk to you about something,” he spoke softly, touching my shoulder. I nodded and shifted Drake onto the seat, following Aidan back into the kitchen to escape the racket.


“What is it?” I asked, eyeing him curiously. He looked at his hands uncomfortably and smiled, returning his eyes to mine. In an instant my stomach was taunted by butterflies.

“I’ve been holding onto something for years; something most guys in my situation would have just gotten rid of,” he began, nodding to himself. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it, for I had such strong faith that one day you’d come back to me.”


“You came to me,” I teased with a laugh.

“I packed it with my things when I was getting ready to come out here, not really sure how things would turn out,” he went on, “But I thought it might keep me strong; to persevere.”

Where was he going with this? Had he kept something of mine that I’d forgotten I’d given him?

“Okay,” I managed, unsure what else to say. The butterflies in my stomach felt as though they’d tripled in size. Why was I even nervous anyway?

Clearing his throat tensely, Aidan slowly lowered himself to one knee. My breath caught in my chest and I stared with wide eyes, unmoving. He held me in his eyes with a crooked, nervous smile and opened the little box.


“I was going to do this the day you left, you turd,” he joked, winking. “I know it’s a little late, but, will you marry me?”

Good Lord. Don’t faint. Breathe, Aimee. Remember to breathe!

My face felt so tight; I was struggling to respond with a ridiculously unnatural smile pasted on my face, laughing nervously as Drake slammed on the piano in the other room. And I do mean slammed.

“I know I might fart, pick my nose and leave the toilet seat up sometimes, but you’re the only woman I want to yell at me about it,” he snickered.

“Oh my god, Aidan,” I managed, resting my hand on my chest. “I wasn’t expecting this at all, I thought –well I don’t know what I thought. If you’d done this back then I-.”

“Is that a yes, then?” he laughed, squeezing my hand.


“Yes, it is!” I squealed, bursting into tear-filled laughter and leaping into his arms as soon as he rose to his feet.


With the ring on my finger, my future with Aidan was sealed. Things had almost come full circle.

Continue to 1.27