Chapter 6

"Aiden have you been buying me stuff? All those clothes, pieces of jewellery and my new car did you buy all of that? I need to know." She said.

"It is good to know we are back to a basis. Why would you ask me such questions? As I said, my mother sent them. If you are done questioning me can I go?"

"I just got off the phone with your mother and she said she hadn't sent me anything in recent times! Oh, I.. em I mean not your mother. I meant to say one of her workers."

"I see. So you have been talking to my mother. That just sums it all up. I see the reason for the latest excitement. What have you been feeding her with? You must have told her about me agreeing to see a therapist. Did you also update her that you now stay in my house? I'm always trying to right my wrongs with you but you always keep on opening deep wounds. Why is that? Are you deliberately trying to hurt me or get your self sacked?"

"No. Aiden it's not that at all. She's your mother and she cares about you so much. You just cut her off just like that. How do you expect her to sleep at night knowing she hardly hears from you especially with what you are dealing with. She.."

"Stop! Just stop. Here I was thinking she was your mother. You of all people should know how incapable I am of protecting the people that mean so much to me. All I had to do was go in there and bring them out but I couldn't. It was all my fault. How do I keep my family so close and when they need me I can't even offer any help! You would not speak to my mother again starting from this moment. That's if you still want to keep your job. Have I made myself clear?"

"Aiden it's not your fault that all that happened. You almost died trying to save them. The scar on your body is a reminder that you did something. You made a move. You can't shut out the people you love forever. One day you'll come to realise this and I hope it's not too late."

"Would that be all or do I need to get a paper and pen to jot things down since you have decided to be my therapist"

“I'm sorry Sir. If you'll excuse me, I'll like to go and complete my chores for the day. ”She said.

“We are back to the boss and staff relationship I guess? You may go,” he said as he dismissed her.

Lately, he had been so restless thinking about his mother. Ever since Rachel had confronted him about buying things for her which led to bringing up his mother. Words couldn't describe the extent to which he loved his mother. He was so scared of not being able to be there for his mum. He was hoping so badly that seeing a therapist would heal him but the progress so far with his therapists seem so slow he was starting to think if seeing one was a good idea at all.

It was obvious that Rachel had been avoiding him like plague. He wondered why she always did that anytime they had a little quarrel. Today he had taken out his frustration on one of his workers that she ran out with tears running from her eyes. How was he going to keep on scaring all his workers? Even the one person he was close to was avoiding him. Here he was sitting all alone engulfed by the silence of the night waiting for Rachel to come in through the front door any moment from now. 

Just as he was about to stroll into the kitchen to fetch a cup of water, the front door opened revealing a very tired Rachel. Even with her messed up bun, tired face, creased T-shirt dress and washed denim jacket hanging over one arm she still looked so beautiful. She was a spitting image of her mother. It is funny how at one point of his teenage life he had planned to take her to his favourite place in the world. Just the two of them listening to the melodious sounds of birds and the soothing sound of the ocean. Maybe she would have seen the real him and not the bad boy of the school everyone had portrayed him to be. Unfortunately, the news of him been shipped off to a boarding school the next day destroyed his whole plan.

“If you are checking to see if I'm nowhere in sight, sorry to disappoint you. You can stop tiptoeing. Anyone who saw the way you just entered would be wondering if you are about to steal something ” he said.

“You scared me. I was trying not to make noise and I didn't want to disturb you.”

“You of all people should know that I am not going to believe that lie. There is a vast distance from my room to the parlour. You think I don't know you have been avoiding me. Where are you coming from? It's past nine and you look so tired.”

“Nowhere important. Can I go to bed now?” she questioned.

With so much anger he slammed his palm on the couch.

“You will tell me where you are coming from this very moment. I have been sitting down here waiting for you for the past two hours wondering where in the world you were with so much thought running through my mind and you tiptoe in and tell me nowhere important.”

“And if I don't?” she questioned.

“Then you will have a taste of my beastly side,” he said.

“Aiden, you have no beastly side. I have known you all my life. There is nothing you can do to me. If you think I would run in and pack my stuff and scurry out after this little display then you should think again. I'm really tired. Can I go?”

“Not everybody thinks of me that way.  Please tell me where you have been. I have been so worried that you have been coming in so late lately and I hate to think that I'm the reason for that. You look so tired. Please tell me I'm not the reason.” he said as he began to stroll towards her.”

“Please don't come any closer I beg you. I have been reading. I'm preparing for my upcoming exams and maybe I'm also trying to avoid you.”

There was so much hurt in his eyes. How is it that one moment she was saying she wasn't going anywhere and the next minute she was saying she was avoiding him? It didn't make any sense.

“Aiden it's not you who is the problem.”She said.

“Don't you trust me? I see the way you fidget anytime I'm close to you and you are doing it again. Are you afraid of me?”

“I trust you. It is myself I don't trust. I'm afraid of what your presence does to me and please don't ask me what I mean by that.”

He knew exactly what she was talking about. Ever since the incidence in the room happened, he has not been able to think straight which was so unlike him. He wanted to give her a massage to ease her tiredness but he also didn't trust himself either and Brian was still in the picture. It was indeed a messed up situation.

“Ok if you say so. I'm sorry I lashed out. How about you freshen up and come downstairs. I want to discuss something with you.”

In a few minutes, she was downstairs in a purple silky pyjamas with her hair tucked into a bonnet. He hated himself for feeling a slight ping of jealousy that she belonged to another man.

“Here's a cup of banana smoothie,” he said.

“oh... Aiden you didn't have to worry yourself. Thanks, I appreciate it. What is it you wanted to tell me?”

“I think I might have scared off one of the workers again. Before you say anything, I have been seeing a therapist. I guess it's not just working.”

“Do you still have those nightmares?”

“Yes. Once in a while.”

“Have you ever considered praying? My mum constantly told me that there is power in praying. It has helped me so many times. All you have to do is tell God. Just try having a  conversation with him. Tell him all that you've been going through. Not that he doesn't know but he just wants you to tell him. I know you were brought up in a Christian home. Please promise you me you'll do it. You will heal very soon.”

“I was so eager to get home that day, to tell you what boarding school life was all about and to see how much you have grown during my absence but when I got home your mum said you had travelled to your aunts plane for the holiday. I was so angry and disappointed. I wish I waited a little longer. Good night and the answer to your request is yes. I promise I will.”