24|The closure

Some memories are unforgettable, remaining ever vivid and heartwarming.

--Joseph B. Wirthlin

Bree's POV.

Out of all the happiness I could sense in Aiden right now, I could feel the nervousness radiate from him. He kept telling me that he's ready to know what happened but standing right in front of the door of his house waiting for his mom to welcome us in, proved that we'll never be ready enough to face the truth. I feel guilty for forcing him into this so soon because I know it's harder for him to know about what happened since his parents are the reason for Jayden's death.

The doors open and Aiden's arm tightens around my waist making me look at him. "It's going to be okay,"

I whisper giving him an assuring look before turning to face the person standing at the door. Lindsay. Or no wait Mrs.Waters. Her guilty eyes land on Aiden first and I could see the sadness of missing Aiden before he eyes flicker to mine with an ashamed look before looking down.

The thing is, I never blamed her for what happened because I know that she was just trying to help but I was disappointed in her when she decided to not at least tell me the truth after what happened. Jackson ended up hating the Waters but that didn't stop him from believing in Aiden to help me get back to who I was.

We step in and follow Mrs.Waters lead as my eyes wander around the house noticing how similar the interior looked to their house in Washington. All the memories of Aiden breaking up with me started coming up clouding my mind. Talk about deja Vu. "Are you alright baby doll?"

Aiden whispers as we stop walking to take a seat in the leather sofa, "I'm fine I'm fine,"

I reassure him by squeezing his hand in mine but Aiden being himself doesn't even seem convinced and right now there's no denying that I'm not fine. Sighing, I just look over to his mom hoping that she'd start speaking at least now but she's busy serving some tea for all of us.

"Can we just get to the talk instead?" Aiden's stern voice breaks the silence gaining his mom's attention. All I could notice is Aiden and his mom were busy giving cold stares at each other or rather Aiden giving his mom a cold stare while she gave him a guilty look. Silence continues to lace around until Aiden diverts his gaze to quickly meet mine for a second and maybe it's only me who could sense the vulnerability in his eyes right now.

"I- I'm sorry for not telling you about Jayden and I know it's horrible of me to keep something that precious from you Aiden... But what do I do? Liam was counting months literally and I chose to be selfish right then..."

"That's all you've got to say mot-" Aiden stops speaking when an unexpected sob escapes my lips. After all these years of hearing sorry from every person who knew about Jayden, I chose this moment to notice how a sorry can make you feel worse about things. How could sorry fix what happened?!

"Please keep talking," I tell Mrs. Waters not bothering to look at her or Aiden. My gaze is fixed on my fingers entwined with Aiden's as I pay full attention to what Mrs. Waters has to say. "I was happy when I got to finally spend time with my grandso-"

"Don't you dare address him like that," Aiden's angry voice interrupts her again making me close my eyes trying to calm down.

"S-sorry... I know I don't deserve to call him that after what I did... Liam got home that day and was furious upon the whole arrangement about me helping Bree. I never understood why he despised Bree and why he thought she would be a distraction for you... I played with Jayden and waited for you to get home so that I can explain things to you and make you meet him but then your dad came home first... Never did I expect things to happen the way they did," I wait for her to complete but she goes silent making me look at her with my tear filled eyes literally begging her to tell us the whole scene.

Feeling Aiden's gaze on me I look down trying to not show him how miserable I'm feeling right now. "Liam started fighting with me and pulled Jayden out of my hands while I tried walking upstairs but then Jayden ended up slipping from my arms and went tumbling down the stairs... Maybe he wouldn't have died if Liam let me take him to the hospital immediately but he didn't let us out until he could get a false explaination from me proving that Liam wasn't the reason Jayden fell down the stairs but in the end we both were the reason he died. I-I should've taken him to the hospital immediately when I saw him losing so much blood but I didn't and I know that a sorry can never fix that. After that I could only think of keeping Liam out of the whole thing so that he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his few days in prison..."

This seems like just confirming my doubts of what would've happened but it seems like opening up the wound and it did hurt really bad. My face felt wet all over and my tears still keep rolling down. Everytime I close my eyes I see Jayden smiling and the guilt of leaving him alone here comes up. "I know sorry can't fix this Bree and I didn't realize how badly Jayden's death hurt you until Aiden distanced himself from me. I know that you'd been hurting worse than that and I can't even imagine being in your situ-"

"Right, so you just let her wallow in the pain of losing Jayden all alone and didn't even tell me when he was in the hospital!" Aiden shouts angrily making me flinch at his tone. I couldn't even recognize him for a second with all the anger showing up on his face and all along I've only seen his calm composter and never his angry one. Trust me when I say he's scary when he's angry.

I find my voice and speak out in an attempt to calm Aiden down, "Aiden-"

"No let me handle this my own way Bree. They made me leave you and they're responsible for Jayden's death. And yet my mother tried to keep me away from you after all these years just so that you don't tell me the truth. Years ago I remember you saved her when she had a concussion and she decided to be selfish when it came to our baby. How can someone even be so lost in protecting the wrong person that they stop thinking about what harm they're doing to the others? I took away your happiness when I left you once Bree and then they decided on taking Jayden away from you. He was just a small baby..." Aiden is on his knees in front of me clutching my hands in his as tears roll down his eyes. "Aiden please stop crying. For all I know you're the tough guy,"

I say trying to lighten up his mood even when I wanted to cry. This was what I was scared off for years now, the sight of Aiden breaking down in front of me. "Maybe I'm not the tough guy Bree, you're the tough person here."

Ever heard of smiling through tears even when you're feeling broken? That's me right now but maybe I don't feel broken anymore instead I feel complete. I got the closure I needed about Jayden and no, I'm not going to hold a grudge against Aiden's mom for this. On top of all this I've got my Aiden back. Yes, I just called him my Aiden cause there's no way I'll let him leave me again.

Moving my hands up to his cheeks I force him to look up at me, "I love you and thanks for standing up for me,"

A small smile makes it's way to his face as I wipe off the tears rolling down his face. "I love you more,"

My eyes flicker to his mom who's staring at us with her same guilty expression and I think she deserves to have Aiden back on her side. "I think you should get on good terms with your mom Aiden,"

His eyes meet mine in confusion but he ends up shaking his head saying no. "Please? She's alone Aiden and Jason doesn't seem to care about her but I know you do. Please don't let what happened to Jayden change your relationship with her,"

"You're asking me to do the hardest thing Bree. I don't think I can do this right now,"

"At least give her some hope that things will get better between you both?" I ask him pleading​ with my eyes. "Okay... But can you promise me that having her around every now and then wouldn't affect you?"

"Yes," my voice comes out confident and reassuring. "Okay then I'll talk with her,"

He stands up kissing my forehead in the process making me smile a little, "Uh mom?"

Mrs. Waters's eyes light up with happiness hearing Aiden calling her while Aiden is busy facing away from me and scratching the back of his head nervously, "I know you're expecting me to be normal with you like nothing happened but I cannot change the fact that you lied to me and forget everything you did. I can never forgive you for that even if Bree does but maybe you can try being a better person this time..."

"Aiden-" he cuts me off when I try telling him he's confusing her with what ever he's got to say.

"Sorry sorry. I'll just get straight to the point, I want to try mending this relationship mom but only if you are willing to accept Bree as an important part of my life and only if you can try being a better person to all of us. And maybe try apologizing to Jackson and anyone else who you guys turned your back on while they tried to tell me about Jayden,"

My eyes widen in surprise at his last statement about apologizing Jackson and everyone else, "Aiden I think that's a little too much,"

"No he's right sweetheart, I need to apologize to everyone of you for how rude I was along with Liam. I know apologizing is a really small thing for the loss we've caused you but maybe it can change things between us and I'm willing to do anything to make things better," Aiden's mom finishes giving me a gentle smile while I'm still processing her calling me sweetheart.

"Thank you Mrs. Waters but-"

"Stop over thinking this and please call me Lindsay," she cuts me off again and this time Aiden gives a me a just shut up, I know what I'm doing look. Okay wow when did Aiden turn into an asshole? "Fine,"

Rolling my eyes at Aiden I stand up joining him. Lindsay did something that surprised me, she hugged me making me smile and I hug her back whispering, "welcome to the family,"

I look over to Aiden reflecting my smile and I couldn't ask for anything more this moment. Jackson was right when he said Aiden is the only one who can introduce happiness back into my life and that is something I can never doubt.

××××

So yeah this book is coming to an end soon and I just hope you guys continue supporting me the same way you've done all along.

Once this book is over. I'll be rewriting "the reason" all over again with more surprises and a better version that what you've read. The same goes with this book too.

Hope you guys like the chapter. Any comments would be appreciated.

Have a good day!

-Ana...