NINETY-ONE

NINETY-ONE
AIDEN’S POV
‘Come sit down my little Angel, let’s talk about you. You know we haven’t had a heart to heart lately.’ I said, pulling her down on the bed.
She groaned ‘I’m not so little anymore Aiden. I will soon become an adult please stop calling me a baby’
I laughed and tugged at her cheeks ‘No matter how much you think you have grown; you will always remain my big baby’
Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment, and she pulled away saying ‘Stop Aiden, stop doing that’
I ignored her and pulled her to myself ‘Okay my hot-blooded teenager. I want to take a walk; do you want to join me?’ I asked.
She nodded ‘Of course, Uncle Aiden’
I stood up, and started wearing a shirt quickly ‘It’s Aiden not Uncle Aiden’ I said, winking at her.
She smiled ‘Yeah, Aiden’
‘Look away young lady’ I ordered with a smirk even though I was almost done buttoning the shirt.
She obeyed and looked away.
‘Alright, let’s take that walk’ I said and we left the room together, walking down the hallway slowly nodding to the greetings we were receiving from the maids.
‘Hello good morning’ I said, nodding to their greetings.
Shirley on the other hand was just offering some rather dry response to their greetings.
‘Girl, you can actually open your mouth and say good morning louder’ I told her.
She grinned ‘I said good morning’
‘Oh, you did? Maybe my ears aren’t working properly because I’m standing right here and still can’t hear shit’
‘If you say so’ she said.
I shook my head ‘You are just a replica of your father’
‘Please don’t say that’
‘I always tell the truth but anyway let’s talk about you for a minute. So, tell me have you got any boyfriend?’ I asked winking at her playfully while her face reddened with embarrassment.
‘I don’t understand what you mean’
I scoffed ‘Of course you do. Are you seeing anyone?’
Her eyes went wide. ‘What? No! Why would you even ask me that’
I chuckled, at your astonished face. ‘I’m just curious. We haven’t really talked about your dating life so I just wanted to know if you have someone in your life’
‘I don’t’ she answered quickly.
‘Then why are you blushing?’ I asked with a wide smile.
She shrugged ‘No reason’
I scoffed ‘You mean to tell me that you don’t have anyone you are crushing on?’
She rolled her eyes but I could see a faint flush rising in her cheeks. ‘There’s no one,’ she muttered. ‘And even if there was, I wouldn’t tell you.’
I snorted ‘Why not? I give great advice,’
‘Not all the time’ she said with a frown.
I acted offended ‘What?’
‘You would probably scare them off before I even had a second date.’
‘Exactly, I would always protect my little girl” I said with a grin.
She stared at me for a moment, and something softened in her expression.
‘It’s really good to hear you say that to me. I don’t hear it often’ she said in a soft tone.
‘I got you Shirley. I’m always going to protect you no matter what’ I replied.
A long pause.
‘So, let’s talk about your late mother’ I said suddenly.
I didn’t want to put her in a spot, but I just wanted her to talk to her openly about her mother since we haven’t had that conversation before.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and for a moment the fire in her seemed to dim, replaced by something heavier. ‘You know… I don’t really talk about my mother. What’s there to talk about anywhere? I didn’t even get to meet her. Each time I try to ask people about her, they just avoid the topic like a plague, like they are afraid of something or someone. But since you’re asking…’ She hesitated, chewing her lip. ‘You already know she died right after I was born, and all I have got are a few stories and even those, I’m not sure if they’re true or just things people said to make me feel better.’
I stayed quiet, letting her take her time.
‘I have always wondered what she would think of me,’ she continued, her voice low. ‘Would she be proud of the girl I’m becoming? Would she… hate the way I turned out? Sometimes I wish she was here instead of him.’ Her jaw tightened again, and I could tell the thought had been living inside her for a long time.
I reached out slowly, resting a hand on her arm. ‘Hey. Don’t do that to yourself. I never met your mother, but I know she would be very proud of the girl you have grown up to be'
‘You think so?’ she asked sniffing.
I smiled at her ‘I know so. You are fierce, strong-willed and very independent. I’m proud of you and I’m sure she is too’
She swallowed hard, and I thought for a moment she might cry, but instead she gave a small, stubborn shake of her head, as if holding herself together out of habit.
‘You’re better at this ‘comforting’ thing than I expected,’ she said finally, her tone dry.
I smirked. ‘Don’t tell anyone. I have got a reputation to maintain.’
She almost smiled, and I took that as a win.
I held her hand and smiled at her. We continued our walk and for the moment, it seemed like things were better. If only we knew the danger lurking around the corner.