Art and Sandy couldn’t have been kinder. They didn’t bristle at me for making myself at home all afternoon. Sandy had given me the phone number to the house and told me to call or stop by anytime. They were gentle with Aidan and Elliott, never pushing but inviting them into their lives here. They were older, more like grandparents than parents, but I thought that might help make them seem less threatening.
I turned to Aidan. “You don’t like something, call me or just come to the ranch.”
Aidan still had his truck since he’d bought it with his own money. That gave me peace of mind. He had a way out if things ever got bad.
He ran the sponge over the plate again and again, even though it was spotless. “What happens to us after here?”
A burn lit along my sternum at the fear in Aidan’s voice. “It’s not a short process. Your father will have to be tried.”
After our run-in earlier today, I’d called Hayes to see why the hell he was walking free. Kenny had been charged, but he’d also made bail, putting his ranch up as collateral.
“I’ll have to testify.”
It wasn’t a question. And there was a steely resolve to Aidan’s words. Still, I had the urge to comfort the boy. “I’ll be with you every step.” I met his gaze. “I’ve been there. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”
Giving the world the truth in open court had been more freeing than I could’ve imagined, even with my stepfather glaring me down.
Aidan’s jaw clenched. “I don’t want Elliott to have to testify. He’s too young.”
My chest cracked at Aidan’s fierce protectiveness of his brother. He’d taken on the role of father for the boy in every way that counted. I leaned a hip against the counter, shutting off the water. “We can talk to the district attorney. See what can be done to make this as easy on Elliott as possible.”
“He shouldn’t have to do it at all,” Aidan bit out.
“No, he shouldn’t. But you and I know that life is rarely fair.”
Aidan mumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t make out.
“But Elliott hasyou. He knows he isn’t alone. That’s more than so many kids have. More than you had.”
It killed me that Aidan had been alone in this for so long. I knew that battle, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, let alone a kind, bright kid who deserved the world.
“I didn’t protect him enough.”
A jolt of pain lanced through me. I leaned forward and gripped Aidan’s shoulder. “You gave everything for him.” He’d stepped into the line of fire more times than he could probably count. Yet, he still blamed himself.
Aidan didn’t say a word. I squeezed his shoulder, ducking down to meet his gaze. “This isn’t your fault. Your father’s a sick man.”
Aidan’s eyes glistened in the bright light of the kitchen. “I kept thinking if I just stayed two steps ahead, it would be okay. I’m usually good at it, seeing what might set him off: Not having dinner done fast enough, not getting the chores finished before he’s home, El’s toys not being put away. But I couldn’t stop spilled milk.”
A tear slipped free and slid down Aidan’s cheek. “He was going to hit Elliott. I could see it in his eyes.”
Rage pumped through my veins as I saw the incident playing out in my mind. “So, you stepped in.”
“I set him off, got him focused on me. Told him to get a grip. That it was just a little spilled milk. He usually just backhands me, but he punched me this time. I blacked out for a few seconds. When I came to, Elliott was crying. All I could think was that I’d failed. That I’d let Dad hurt him.”
I didn’t think. I simply moved, pulling Aidan into my arms in a hard hug. “You didn’t fail. You never could.”
Aidan’s chest heaved as he released it all, the weight he’d been carrying for so long. I held on tightly. “Let it go. I’ve got you.”
His sobs were silent yet powerful enough to shake us both where we stood. I simply kept holding on. I took all the pain and worry and fear. All I could think in the moment was that I needed to show him that it wasn’t too much. Thathewasn’t too much.
I didn’t know how long we stood there. I didn’t have the right words to give to Aidan. All I could give him was my presence and the knowledge that I wouldn’t leave him to deal with all this alone.
Aidan pulled back, wiping at his face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a chickenshit.”
I gripped his shoulders. “No. Don’t brush whatever you’re feeling away. You do that, and it’ll eat away at you and slowly blacken your insides.”
Aidan’s eyes hardened. “I won’t be like him.”