Chapter 21 – Aiden

I leave the bathroom after having showered and changed, feeling better than I have since I left New York. Emily is sitting at the kitchen table, staring off into space. Tom, after eating and showering, promptly fell asleep on the couch. Marjorie and I are officially starting our watch at ten o’clock while Tom and Emily get some sleep. Then, around one or two in the morning, we’ll wake them so Marjorie and I can sleep for a few hours before we head back to the beach.

“Hey.” I pull out the chair opposite Emily and sit. “You really should try that shower. It’s great.”

She smiles. “Will it help me fall asleep?”

I shrug. “Maybe.” We fall into a comfortable silence. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. Our situation is awful, and I’m sure that’s weighing on her mind, but since Tom snapped at her, she’s been quieter and distant.

“You know,” I say, breaking the silence. “I’m a champ at pulling all-nighters. I can sit up with you and Tom if you want.”

Shock registers on her face. “You’d do that for me?”

I avert my gaze. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

A long sigh cuts through our moment, and I glance up to see Emily smiling at me. The sight warms me from the inside. “Thank you, but you don’t have to do that.”

I nod and try to hide my disappointment. When I first started dating my ex-girlfriend, we would sit up all night on the phone, talking, getting to know each other, laughing. That’s what I miss the most about being in a relationship, and a large part of me had hoped I could have a night like that with Emily. But since crashing, it’s been one crazy thing after another.

“What’s the purpose or reasoning for all this?” she asks, waving her arms around.

“This building?” I’m not sure what she’s asking me, but I don’t want her to think I’m dumb, so I don’t ask for clarification.

“This building. The plane crash. This island. Sienna and Larry’s deaths…”

“I don’t know,” I say with a frown. Like I was years ago, she’s searching for answers. I found mine in church, but I’m not sure she wants to hear that. Still, I can only tell her what I believe. “We’re not meant to know God’s plans, just that He knows what He’s doing. Including this.” I motion around to indicate the building.

“That’s not answering the question. That’s deflecting it with a fake reasoning.”

I sigh heavily. “What do you want me to say? I’m trying my hardest to stay positive. You know, the whole fake it until you make it? And please don’t call my beliefs fake reasoning. That’s not fair.”

“I’m sorry.” Propping her foot on the edge of the chair, she hugs her knee to her chest. “I’m just scared,” she whispers. “I’m scared of what the night or even the next day will bring us. I’m scared about the next hour. None of us have a clue about what’s going on, who’s out there, who might die next. And that scares the daylights out of me.”

“Emily,” I say softly. Standing, I pull her to her feet and wrap her up in a hug. She puts her arms around my neck, and her warm breath breezes across my skin. “All of us miss our families, our friends, our lives. And we’re all scared on some level, but we will get through this.”

“How do you know that?” Her words are mumbled against my shoulder.

“Because I have faith. And because we have Tom on our side, and he’s kinda scary with that gun.”

She laughs, and my heart soars. I adore that sound.

“Thank you.” She pulls back enough to look into my eyes. “I’m sorry we’re here, but I’m glad I met you.”

“Me, too. In fact, meeting you has been the only thing that’s made this situation bearable.”

A small smile pulls at her lips, and before I can talk myself out of it, I lean forward and press my lips to hers. And I don’t immediately pull away like I did the other night. At first, she’s stiff with shock, and I realize I’ve made a mistake. But before I can break away, she welcomes my kiss. Her lips are softer than anything I’ve ever felt, and her breath is so warm I’m sure my internal temperature goes up a few degrees.

The want for more radiates from both of us, and the kiss deepens. Emily moves her hands from my neck, over my shoulders, and down my arms until she slips them around my waist. I groan and force myself to break away from the kiss. If we keep going like this, we might never stop. I rest my forehead to hers and try to catch my breath.

“You should probably go sit with Marjorie.” Emily steps out of my hold and tucks her hands in her pockets.

My eyes widen, and my heart races more than it already is. Did she not like the kiss? “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I say it jokingly, but the fear of her answer is very real.

“What? No.” She shakes her head adamantly. “I just mean well, it’s ten, and your shift is starting. And I want to shower.” She looks everywhere but at me.

“Right.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “Sure. Of course. Do you want me to sit up with you and Tom during your shift?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to let you.”

I raise a brow. “You’re not?”

“No. I’m afraid we’ll spend too much time kissing, and then Tom will get mad. And as you said, he and his gun are scary.”

I laugh. “Fair enough.”

“And we have a long hike back to the beach tomorrow. You need to get some sleep because I’m not carrying you all that way.”

Smiling, I step closer and place a gentle kiss on her lips. “Go enjoy your shower.”

She nods then disappears into the bathroom. I head into the living room to find Marjorie sitting in the empty recliner, gun on her lap, staring at the window. Tom’s snoring loudly on the couch. There’s not another chair, so I grab one of the kitchen table chairs and set it next to Marjorie.

“It’s been quiet,” she whispers.

“That’s good, right?”

“I don’t think so.” She goes to the window, pulls the blinds to the side, and peeks out. “It’s like having kids. When they’re loud and making noise, you know where they are and what they’re doing. But when they’re quiet…” She lets go of the blinds and returns to her chair. “That’s when you have to worry.”

I don’t allow myself to think about what she’s implying. “Do you have kids?”

“A daughter. Brandy. She’s in her second year at NYU.” Marjorie smiles. “She fell in love with the city and has been begging me to visit so she could show me the sights. I surprised her for her birthday. We spent three days together in the city. I was flying back home.”

“That’s nice. I’m sure she was thrilled to have you there.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees.

“When we get off this island, I’m moving there to be closer to her.”

“That’s great. Family is so important. I can’t wait to get back home to mine.” A wave of melancholy settles over me, and I shift in my chair, sitting up straight again. I miss my parents something fierce, and I hate that I left them to go chase down a woman who doesn’t want me.

“Brandy is all I have left. Her father, my husband, died several years ago. I stayed in Alaska, though, because of the business. It was Brandy’s life, and I couldn’t bear to sell it. But now.” She shakes her head. “There are more important things.”

“Well, I’m sure your daughter will be very happy to have her mom living closer.” I smile.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No. I’m an only child. My parents can’t have kids. I was adopted as a baby.”

“Oh.”

That’s the standard response when I tell people I’m adopted. I don’t know why. It’s not like it’s a bad thing. “I was in New York visiting my birth mom. It was the first time I ever met her, and it didn’t go so well.”

“I’m sorry, Aiden.” Marjorie pats my shoulder. “Sometimes, God has plans for us that we don’t understand. I’m sure there’s a reason you ended up with the family you did.”

Yeah, because my biological mother is a rotten, selfish human being. “I’m lucky to have the parents I do. They’ve never made me feel like I’m not their son. I only wish I would’ve listened to them and not gone to the city looking for her.”

“Hey.” She gives me an awkward, one-armed hug. “I’m sure your parents understand. And you’ll get the chance to tell them when you get home.”

I nod. “Thanks.” I glance up to find Emily standing in the doorway, eyes wide and filling with tears.

“Sorry.” Emily clears her throat. “I’m just going to go to bed and get some sleep.”

Shoot. I stand. “Excuse me,” I say to Marjorie and then go into the bedroom. “Emily?”

She stands in the middle of the room, arms crossed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What?”

“Our first night here. I asked why you were in New York. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I barely knew you.”

“You barely know Marjorie, but you didn’t have any problems telling her.”

I sigh. “I know. But it’s not easy to admit to myself, or anyone else, that the woman who gave birth to me doesn’t want me. She kicked me out of her house, Emily. She didn’t even care that I was there or how I was doing.”

She drops her arms to her sides. “If anyone knows how you feel, it’s me.” She points to herself. “My parents don’t want me around, either, remember? They were shipping me off to my grandparents.”

I frown. She’s right. I never once considered that, though. To me, it seems like Emily’s parents love her enough to take drastic measures to ensure she’s safe and cared for. I was dumped on the steps of the local hospital by my parents. That’s a completely different scenario.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I guess I was embarrassed,” I finally say after several moments of silence.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you about it. Being stuck here without any answers or rescue in sight is really starting to mess with me.”

“It’s messing with all of us.” I close the distance between us and kiss her again. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll be in the next room if you need me.” I leave her alone, hoping she’ll find enough peace to get the rest she needs. I’m positive I won’t find any tonight.