Chapter 4. He Invited His Lover to The Funeral

"Oh...yeah, that." I looked down at my hands, contemplating.

"I've got some time now." He said, watching me in that disconcerting way again, as he waited for my response.

"I'll be going to Winsconsin." I said, setting aside the towel. I placed my hands on the cool marble counter in an effort to steady my nerves, shutting my thoughts that screamed out loud, calling me all sorts of a coward.

"Winsconsin? That's where the factory is, right? Is there a problem?"

"Not really, but I want to be hands-on when the production goes live on Monday, just to smooth out any potential problems that would delay supplies."

Aiden nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "When will you leave?"

"My flight's at eight pm."

An eyebrow rose. "Tonight?"

I nodded, keeping my expression equally neutral. The funeral should be over by then, so I'll take a cab to the airport from the main house."

Aiden was silent for a few minutes, though his gaze never wavered from me and it was an excruciating few minutes while I tried to stay still, to not fidget or do anything to give away the fact that I had something to hide.

Finally he shrugged and straightened from the doorway. "It's your decision. Martin will drive you to the airport when you're ready."

"There's no need-" I began, but he cut me off with a stern look.

"That's his job." He turned to leave, taking a few steps only to turn around again. "How long will you be gone?"

"Three days." I replied and he nodded again. This time, when he made to leave, I stopped him.

"Aiden....about the funeral." I rounded the counter island and came towards him. "Jodie said you declined giving an eulogy? I think you should re-"

"Craig and Paul's speech should be enough." He cut in, eyes going flinty the way they always did whenever the subject of his father came up and my heart twisted in pain.

Pain because I knew I was the reason for the strained relationship between father and son. Before this whole fiasco, Julian and Aiden had gotten along, if not smoothly because their hot temperaments were too alike, but at least they could stand being in the same room with each other.

Since Julian had forced Aiden into marrying me though, Aiden had stopped speaking to his father, and even though Julian was now dead, that resentment lingered.

It pained because I was powerless to do anything about it.

"I'm going to get some sleep until it's time to go to the main house." Aiden said.

"Would you like something to eat before we leave? I could ask the chef to fix some breakfast." I didn't offer to cook for him, because I knew he would turn down my offer. He didn't like me doing things for him."

"I'll grab whatever is available when I wake up" He said over his shoulder and left

I listened to his footsteps retreat down the hall and up the stairs. When his bedroom door shut, I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding and took a deep jagged breath.

I hadn't told him yet. I shut my eyes tight and leaned my head on the wall, fighting tears. Damned pregnancy hormones were turning me into a leaky valve.

The day and some hours that I'd spent on my own had weakened my resolve to *****f the bandage, tell Aiden I was carrying his child and let his wrath fall on my head.

Was I postponing the inevitable? Of course, I was not stupid. Aiden choosing to spend two nights away from our home was his way of telling me nothing had changed about the doom of our marriage.

Was I cowardly by hoping to put off the inevitable by running off to Winsconsi for a while? Yes. Definitely, yes, Burying Julian today would be hard enough on my emotional state, and I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't fall apart if Aiden demanded a divorce soon after.

I didn't want to lose two of the most important things in my life in less than 24 hrs, hence the trip. I also needed to see an ob/gyn to check out my pregnancy and I couldn't do it at any of the good hospitals here. Our company was a major supplier of hospital equipment, Aiden was on the board of trustees at most of them, so I couldn't risk word getting back to him about my pregnancy until I was ready to tell him.

And I would tell him. After I returned from my trip.

When I woke again, sunlight peeped through the spaces where the curtains didn't quite meet. I barely noticed this as I rushed out of bed and made a beeline for the bathroom, mercifully reaching it just in time before my stomach heaved up all the food I had eaten earlier. After a good two or three minutes of feeling like my bowels were being churned with a butter knife, I sat on the cold tiles, my head resting on the lid of the toilet bowl, too exhausted to pull myself up.

I heard my phone ringing and weakly crawled out on all fours back to the bedroom to answer.

"Good morning." I said and winced when my voice came out hoarse. Clearing my throat, I tried again. "Good morning, Jodie."

"Jess!" Aiden's stepmother sounded concerned. "Are you all right, dear? You sound ill."

"No, I'm fine." I sat on the edge of the bed and made my voice more upbeat. "I just woke up. That's all." 

"I'm sorry to wake you."

"I was already up when you called. It's fine, really." I assured her. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Yes. I wanted to know if you asked Aiden about the eulogy?" Jodie's tone held a hint of anxiety and I sighed, knowing I was about to get her hopes dashed.

"I spoke to him about it early this morning but he said his brother's speech would be enough. I'm sorry, Jodie."

I heard her sigh. "Ah well, it was worth the shot. And there's no need for apologies, you and I knew the chances of getting him to do it were slim in the first place. I just thought that since Julian was de-" she cut off with another heavy sigh.

Guilt tightened my chest. This was all my fault, and no amount of assurance from Jodie could erase that fact.

"It's fine. He's right though. Craig does tend to ramble on when he gets going so his speech will be more than enough to fill in."

"Mn." I said, distracted by the sound of Aiden's door opening and closing again.

His bedroom was two doors down from mine, and I strained to listen as he walked past my room door, barely hearing anything thanks to the carpet and his bare feet.

"Well then, I'll see the both of you in a few hours." Jodie said. "Have a safe drive down. The forecast calls for more rain and possible sleet, so mind the roads."

"We'll be careful, see you soon." I promised and hung up.

A glance at the time had me rising to start getting ready. I needed to finish packing for my trip and get dressed for the funeral before Aiden was ready to leave. However, a dizzy spell gripped me and I had to take a few seconds to reorient myself.

The murmur of voices drew me to the kitchen and I stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene, feeling like a knife had been plunged in my chest.

"There you are!" Vincent, Aiden's best friend, noticed me first. He gave me a warm smile over the steam from the cup of coffee close to his mouth, brown eyes twinkling with his usual good humor. " Good morning Jessica. I trust you slept well?"

"Morning," I replied, barely sparing him a glance, my gaze fixed on the other, very much unwelcome guest in the room who was currently sitting close to my husband, their heads almost touching.