Chapter 8
1235 Words
(Caroline’s POV)
"It's okay. Someone's just coming to visit."
The front door opens, and then I hear his voice. "Mom? You home?"
Aiden.
Charlie's whole face lights up—which is rare. He drops the blue block he's holding and scrambles to his feet, running toward the hallway.
I follow him and watch as my cousin comes through the door, gym bag slung over his shoulder, looking tired but happy. He's still in his coaching gear—whistle around his neck, school logo on his shirt—and he has grass stains on his knees.
The moment Aiden sees Charlie, he drops his bag and opens his arms wide. "There's my favorite little man!"
Charlie runs straight into those arms without hesitation, and Aiden scoops him up and spins him around. Charlie laughs—that precious, rare sound—and wraps his arms around Aiden's neck.
"Did you miss me, buddy?" Aiden asks, setting Charlie back down but keeping his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I missed you."
Charlie nods enthusiastically, still smiling. He doesn't smile like that for many people. For most people, actually. But Aiden has always been special to him. Maybe because Aiden never treats him like he's different or broken. Never gets frustrated when Charlie doesn't respond right away or doesn't make eye contact. He just loves Charlie exactly as he is.
Unlike Samuel.
The thought brings a fresh wave of anger, and I must make some kind of sound because Aiden looks up at me. His smile fades instantly.
"Caroline?" He straightens up, his expression shifting to concern. "What's wrong? Why are you guys here?"
I open my mouth to answer, but Aunt Jasmine appears from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
"Aiden, honey. We need to talk."
Something in her tone makes Aiden tense. He looks between the two of us, and I can see him putting the pieces together—me here at dawn with Charlie, the bags by the door, my red-rimmed eyes.
"What happened?" His voice is suddenly hard, protective. "Did he hurt you?"
I open my mouth, stunned at how that's his first conclusion. I mean, yes, Samuel did hurt me. But how did he guess so quickly? There could've been any reason for why I'm here this early. So how did he jump onto that specific one?
Aunt Jasmine guides him into the kitchen while I take Charlie back to his blocks, confused. I can hear her voice, low and serious, telling him everything. Can hear the moment Aiden understands what happened because he swears loudly enough that Charlie's hands fly to his ears.
I rush back to the kitchen. "Aiden, please—"
But he's already heading for the door, his face dark with fury. "I'm going to kill him. I swear to God, Caroline, I'm going to—"
"No." I step in front of him, blocking his path. "No, you're not."
"That f*****g bastard! How could he cheat on you? And of all people, with Hailey? f**k, Caroline! How can you let them off so easy?" Aiden's voice is rising, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "He's been lying to you for five years—"
"I know what he did." My voice is surprisingly calm. "I was there, remember? I heard every word."
"Then let me go over there and—"
"And do what?" I cross my arms over my chest. "Beat him up? Get yourself arrested? How does that help anyone?"
"It'll make me feel better," Aiden mutters, but some of the fury is draining out of him.
"I need you here," I tell him. "I need you to help me with Charlie, to support me through this. I don't need you in jail for assault."
Aiden runs a hand through his hair, and I can see him struggling to calm down. He's always been protective of me, ever since we were kids. When I first came to live with them after my parents died, Aiden appointed himself my guardian. He beat up a boy in seventh grade for making fun of me. Got suspended for defending me when someone said I was a charity case.
He's my brother in every way that matters, and I love him for wanting to protect me. But this isn't a problem he can solve with his fists.
"I'm divorcing him," I say, and hearing the words out loud makes them feel more real. "Mom's already agreed to help me with the papers. It's over, Aiden. I'm done with Samuel."
"Good, because I swear. If you had spouted any bullshit like enduring for Charlie’s sake, I would’ve stormed his house and killed him where he stood, jail or not." Aiden's jaw is still tight, but he nods. "He never deserved you. I never liked him."
"You never told me that."
"Because you loved him. And I wanted you to be happy." He shakes his head. "Maybe we could've avoided all this mess if I had said something sooner."
"This isn't your fault." I reach out and squeeze his arm. "None of this is your fault. It's all Samuel and Hailey."
Aunt Jasmine has been watching this exchange quietly, and now she speaks up. "Why don't you stay for lunch, Aiden? You just got back from the tournament—you must be exhausted."
"I'm fine. I slept on the bus." But he doesn't move toward the door. Instead, he looks at me, and I can see the concern in his eyes. "Are you okay? And I mean for reals and not just for show."
Am I okay? I don't know how to answer that. I'm angry and hurt and betrayed and heartbroken. I'm scared about the future, about how I'm going to manage as a single mother, about whether I'm making the right choices for Charlie.
But there is one thing that I am sure of. I am done with Samuel Daves.
Even if I tell myself otherwise, I can never bring myself to accept a man who looked at my beautiful son and saw a burden instead of a blessing.
"It's going to take time, but I'll be okay."
Aiden pulls me into a hug, and I let myself lean into him for just a moment. Let myself be the little sister who needs protecting, who needs comfort.
"Just so you know, I'm here," he says into my hair. "Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I'll always be here to provide it."
"I know."
We pull apart, and I wipe at my eyes. "I should go check on Charlie. Make sure he's not too stressed out by all the yelling."
But when I get back to the living room, Charlie is exactly where I left him, calmly sorting blocks. He's moved on to the green ones now, lining them up in a perfect row next to the red and blue. He doesn't look up when I enter, completely absorbed in his task.
This is what Samuel doesn't understand. What he's never understood. Charlie isn't broken. He's not stupid or boring or a burden. He just experiences the world differently. He finds comfort in order and routine and predictability. He doesn't do small talk or pretend to care about things that don't interest him.
He's honest in a way that most people never manage to be, and of all people, Samuel is a prime example of that.
- Writer
