Reclaimed (Powell Sanctuary #5)

Chapter 34

34

Isla

One Week Later

I comb my fingers gently through Aiden’s reddish-blonde locks.

“Aiden, I have to pee,” I whisper.

He doesn’t stir. Morning light pours into the bedroom, casting us both in a golden glow. How he can sleep through the sun in his eyes, I’ll never know. I’ve been awake for at least half an hour, replaying the events of the last week.

Benjamin’s funeral is tomorrow, and Kelly politely texted asking us not to attend. Nobody knows what Benjamin was thinking by tricking me into going outside. The only piece of evidence we have is him telling me Henry threatened his son Carter. What that threat looked like, we don’t know, because the both of them are dead and no texts or calls were found on Benjamin’s phone.

But he didn’t know this would happen, and if the choice were truly between me or his son, well, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing. As hard as it is not to pay respects to my friend, the least I can do for her is honor her request.

With Henry gone, the days of looking over my shoulder are finally over.

According to family interviews, Henry Newton disappeared suddenly after his wife dropped dead of a heart attack back in April. Credit card charges confirmed he did frequent Eve’s around the time of her death, which is where he said we met. After finding some photos of the two of them together, the detective’s best guess is that I looked similar to his wife, and his broken mind latched onto that rather than the reality that she was gone.

The story is sad, but the destruction he caused is tragic.

I’m beyond lucky to still be alive. If they hadn’t found me… I have to put the unfathomable possibilities from my mind.

My bladder gives another insistent twitch. “Aiden.” I scrape my knuckles against his scalp.

He lifts his head from my chest, his other hand caressing my growing belly. He’s been sleeping this way ever since he got me back a week ago.

“Mm. Comfy.”

“I think you’d be comfier if you used something other than my body as a pillow.”

“Can’t,” he mumbles sleepily. “Can’t fall asleep without your heartbeat.”

Said heartbeat skips and his heartbreakingly sweet words. His palm presses against my stomach. “He’s kicking.”

Closing my eyes again, I cover his hand with mine. Together, we experience the weak little punches.

I spent the night in the hospital after the ordeal for monitoring and dehydration. We got to see our little boy again, and the relief was so overwhelming both Aiden and I cried. I felt his little kicks while I was held in that cabin, but that had nothing on seeing his heart beating on the black and white screen.

“How are you feeling?” Sleepy grit deepens his voice.

“I’m good.” I scratch his head again. “How are you, lover?”

“Content.” He yawns before giving me his soft blue eyes.

With a lingering kiss against my sternum, Aiden crawls down the bed. The heat of his mouth warms the cotton t-shirt draped over my belly.

“Hey little man. You’re only about the size of a spaghetti squash, but don’t beat up your momma too hard, okay? She needs her rest.”

His hands cup the sides of my stomach as he converses.

“We both love you so much already. I’m excited to meet you and find out what parts of your momma you have. Did you get her pretty blonde hair or her long fingers or her crooked pinky toe?”

I dig my foot into his ribs. “My toe isn’t crooked!”

Both of us look toward the end of the bed at my feet sticking out from underneath the blanket. I bite my lip to stifle a laugh at the sight of my little pinkies turned inward.

“They’re adorable, starshine. Perfect like the rest of you.” He leans toward my belly like he’s telling it a secret. “Shh, don’t tell your mom, but her imperfections are what I love most about her.”

“Okay, Aiden Powell. Get off me. I still need to pee and now I need to cry.”

He crawls back up the bed, a slow, devastating smile spreading across his face. He rubs the stubble on his cheeks against the swells of my breasts. My nipples respond to the abrasive touch. “Cry, starshine. Your tears are mine to dry.”

Cupping the back of his head, I bring his mouth to mine. “As sweet as that is, I’m not interested in wetting the bed.”

“Could be fun.”

“Aiden!”

He flops off me onto his back. “Hurry back to me, Isla. I need to fuck you before we head to my mom’s.”

My thighs clench at his blunt request. “Be right back.”

The reception at the Powell family gathering would overwhelm someone who wasn’t just kidnapped. Everyone already checked in on us, either during my short hospital stay or at our house over the course of the week, but seeing them all at once gathered again has tears springing to my eyes.

So many people in this room played part in my rescue. Aiden told me how Corjan drove him to XO’s and the rest of the Powell men followed. How Juniper had the brilliant idea to check our location sharing. How Lee stepped in and kept Aiden from running into the cabin after me and more than likely saved him from getting himself shot.

Nancy and Frankie cooked up a storm and delivered us meals all week. Cortney took care of our animals so we could focus on ourselves. Bree and Whitney gathered totes of baby boy clothes and delivered them to Aiden’s house so that I didn’t have to worry about shopping now that I’m out of a job. Frankie and Jude went back to XO’s to get my replacement check.

And Juniper practically moved in. She made it three days before Lee showed up and dragged her back home.

I’ve never known the kind of love that’s in this room. And I’m beyond lucky to have been welcomed into the family with open arms.

A couch spot is vacated for us, and Aiden practically pulls me into his lap. I keep my hand glued to his. Facing down a serial killer was the most terrifying experience of my life.

But telling his family we lied about the baby is a close second.

I don’t want to lose everything I’ve gained over the last couple of months. Losing any single person in this room would gut me. And I’d deserve it.

With a deep breath, Aiden grabs my attention. At my nod, he clears his throat.

“We have something we need to say.”

The room falls silent. So many eyes swing in our direction that I feel like I’m standing beneath a spotlight on a stage. A squeeze from Aiden settles the sudden rush of panic.

“We lied to you. And in order for us to move forward, we need to clear the air.”

“Aiden,” Corjan interjects, a flash of alarm in his eyes. “You don’t need to do this.”

Aiden powers through. “A few months ago, Isla and I started a pretend relationship. The details don’t really matter, but when I brought her over here for the first time, I falsely claimed her baby as mine.”

“So you aren’t the father?” Juniper asks, her expression solemn.

My fingers tighten around his. “No,” I answer directly to my best friend. “As much as I wish now that it could be true, it’s not. The father is someone I knew at Eve’s. He didn’t want the baby, so I left. That’s the entire reason I came back to town.”

“I feel stupid I didn’t put it together.” Juniper fiddles with the sleeve of her shirt.

“You shouldn’t. I shouldn’t have hid it from you, but I love him, Juniper. I love Aiden so much that it doesn’t matter. I hope you can see that.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’d have to blind not to see it. It’s obvious to all of us that the two of you belong together.”

“This might have started off as pretend, but it’s real now.” Aiden kisses the side of my head.

“Why tell us now, though? You probably could have kept it a secret and we’d have never known.” Jack leans a shoulder against the wall separating the living room from the kitchen.

“Because when I put a ring on her finger, I don’t want there to be any doubt that it’s real. When our son is born, I don’t want anyone to question if the love I have for him is as real as the love we all have for each other. Because every person in this room has taught me you don’t have to be blood related to be a family. And that little boy is my son with as much truth as you’re my mom.” He looks to Nancy. “And you’re my family,” he says to everyone else.

“Dammit Aiden, now I’m crying,” Nancy chokes from the recliner. Lee squeezes his mom’s shoulder. “We know a thing or two about unconventional beginnings, don’t we?”

“It’s all because of you,” Aiden says to his mom. “Your heart has always had room for a kid in need of a home, so I hope you have room to love one more.”

“Of course I do!” Nancy snaps around a sob.

I sweep a finger beneath my eyes to wipe away the stray tears.

“It doesn’t need to be said, but I’ll say it anyway. We’re so glad you’re okay, Isla. We love you. And the two of you might have started out as pretend, but you weren’t fooling anyone. There hasn’t been a fake moment between you. At least not one that I’ve seen.” Nancy winks.

I cross the room and give her a tight hug. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for bringing my son back to us. He needed you.” As we pull apart, we lock eyes and her gratitude passes between us. “Still does.”

The front door flies open, severing the heartfelt moment.

“Sorry we’re late!” Cortney stomps in, white snow falling from her boots onto the black weather mat. Sebastian trudges in behind her with a scowl. She peels off her coat but stops short. “What happened? Why is everyone crying?”

“Everyone is not crying,” Jude huffs.

“Why are the women crying?” Cortney amends.

“Well if you were on time, you would have been here for us to announce that the baby isn’t mine.” Aiden tosses his casual words at his sister like a grenade.

“What?” Her shocked gaze whips between us as she stumbles into the room. “She cheated on you?”

“Ouch.” Aiden holds a palm over his heart.

“I’d never,” I promise as I kiss him softly on the lips.

“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Cortney settles her hands on her hips.

“Come on.” Whitney hands off baby Soren to Cortney. “Let’s go chat in the kitchen while I spike your hot chocolate.”

Whitney throws us a wink as she ushers Cortney around the corner.