Aidan woke the next morning feeling groggy and stiff. He sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and stood up off the couch. Bathroom, he thought, as he stumbled through the apartment. He'd had a lot of soda with his pizza last night and hadn't gone to the bathroom before bed. Figuring that it must be too early for Leda to be up (his vision was still foggy) Aidan barged into the bathroom without thinking.
Heat and the smell of flowers hit him as soon as he opened the door. However what caught his attention was Leda...turned towards him and just sliding a towel around herself. She froze when she saw him, but not for long. As Aidan stared, she wrapped the towel around herself, tucked it so it would stay on, and pushed past him. He stood in the doorway for a long moment, completely stunned.
There's nothing to be stunned about, damnit, he thought, trying to shake the cobwebs from his head. She's nothing special! She was slender, but not trim and toned like the women he knew. He'd caught enough to see that she had nice legs and somewhat hips, but her breasts were of an average size, nothing to get worked up about. So why didn't he feel so nonchalant? Aidan closed the bathroom door and leaned against in, drawing in deep, steady breaths.
So what if I'm attracted to her physically, he thought. That means nothing. Still, it would make his scheme that much harder to pull off. How was he going to remember that he had a role to play when she kept distracting him. And for that matter, Aidan thought, why the hell am I doing this, anyway? Well, technically to get back at her for humiliating him but...why did that matter so much? Because he had to impress his father?
Stop thinking about it! he told himself furiously. He was not going to break his resolve just because a girl with a pretty face smiled at him. So he would simply have to do his very best to ignore her kindness. It's overbearing, anyway, Aidan thought, rolling his eyes. She's ridiculously naïve, too. He went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up, the whole time determined not to wonder just who he was trying to convince.
*****
Aidan could never have expected just what a nightmare working at a hospice could be. The sick boy didn't get worse, but he didn't get better either. He had to be well taken care of and everything he touched, everything in the sickroom, and everyone who attended to him had to be scrubbed clean. Sometimes several times a day. Aidan spent much of his time cleaning: dishes, laundry, the floors, etc. Although the staff usually shifted, taking their turns with each chore, he wasn't comfortable watching the children.
It was a learning experience, especially watching Leda. Her endless patience was both endearing and irritating at the same time. Although she spent time with every child as much as she could, Aidan saw that she had especially taken to the little blue-eyed girl, Mary. He hadn't been certain why, until his third day working at the hospice. While he was eating lunch apart from the crowd, Martha came over to him with a photo album.
"How've you been doing, dear?" Martha asked. She was always kind to him, just like Leda, despite who he was.
"Tired and sore," Aidan answered, smiling slightly.
Martha chuckled. "Hard work, isn't it? But it's very rewarding...take a look at this."
She handed him the photo album. Curious, he flipped it open. There were dates on the inside that indicated the pictures were from about two years ago up until the present. And as Aidan browsed through them, he realized each and every one was from some sort of party: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, and so on. They love their holidays, I guess, he thought. Leda was in plenty of the pictures and in many of them she was holding a small blonde girl who could have easily been her sister.
"Mary," Martha explained. "Before the chemotherapy...well, you know."
Aidan nodded. "None of them seem self-conscious, though."
"That's because of Leda," Martha said, chuckling to herself. "She tells each one of them that if they're ever embarrassed, she'll shave her head so they won't feel alone."
"Seriously?" Aidan asked, his eyebrows lifting. "And that works?"
"It does," Martha replied, smiling gently. "I'm not sure if it's because they find it funny or comforting, but it always helps break the ice."
Aidan looked back down at the photo album. In one of the pictures Leda and the children had somehow gotten their hands on a variety of large, silly sunhats. In another they were gathered around a gigantic pumpkin with a big, toothy grin. He found it hard not to smile as he looked through the photos. His father's business was a serious, solemn place. Aidan couldn't help feeling as though this place, despite the grim reality it was built upon, was a ray of sunshine in comparison.
"What about um...Leda's brother?" Aidan asked, looking up. "I don't see any family resemblance in any of these other children..."
Martha sighed. "Well, these are after he...passed away. But Nathan was...he was a fussy boy. He hated being in pictures. It's not that he was a bad boy...it's just that he got out of hand on the days he was feeling well. Like any boy his age."
"So...why does she still come here?" Aidan wanted to know. "Isn't it painful?"
"Plenty of things are painful," Martha replied, smiling gently at him. "The things in life that are most worth doing are never easy. Leda comes here because it's what she loves. It's her calling. So she's happy, because she's doing what she loves."
Frowning, Aidan closed the photo album and handed it back to Martha. She took it from him, then stood up and walked away. Which was just as well, because his mind was buzzing. Because he was the eldest son and slated to take over the family business, he'd never stopped to think about what it was he loved to do. I'm not sure there is anything I love to do, Aidan thought, sighing. I never had hobbies or played sports or anything...
Looking up, he glanced at the children, some of whom were sitting around the crafts table. After long moments of thought he rose and walked over there. Mary, who was busy sticking big red buttons onto a shoebox that had been spray painted silver, looked up as he approached. She flashed a gap tooth smile that had Aidan smiling back.
"Whatcha doing?" he asked, crouching beside the table.
"Making a photo box," Mary replied in her small, slightly lisping voice. "Leda says we don't have enough books for all our pictures so we gotta make somethin' they can go in."
It took Aidan a moment to realize that by books she meant photo albums. He imagined that she must have some trouble with the word 'album', especially with her front teeth currently missing. He settled down on the floor beside the table, deciding to watch first. Aidan never noticed when first Martha, then Leda appeared to watch him for a few minutes before getting back to work.
*****
"Oh...oh my!"
Leda clapped her hands over her mouth and fought hard not to giggle. It wouldn't be polite. Martha had no such qualms and she was laughing loudly and heartily, so that they could hear her even as she headed into the crafts room to clean up the mess. Aidan looked furious, and Leda couldn't really blame him. Aside from the massive amounts of glitter in his hair and on his clothes, he'd also managed to get silver paint all up his arms.
"I uh...I should have warned you," Leda stammered, fighting back laughter. "Tara can get um...a little carried away with the glitter. Although the paint is a new one..."
Aidan scowled. "Mary had me hold another shoebox for her while she sprayed it."
"Let me guess," Leda said, grinning. "While you have been silvered, the shoebox has not."
The look on his face was answer enough. Leda found Ginny (another member of the hospice staff) and asked her to take over her last chores. Since they had Aidan helping, not everyone had a full schedule, and Ginny was one who didn't. Leda knew from first hand experience just how uncomfortable it could be to spend any length of time covered in glitter and paint, so she decided to take Aidan home. And not a moment too soon, she thought, glancing at him. He sure looks grumpy.
By the time they reached the apartment he was showing signs of his normal self. Leda winced as he slammed the bathroom door. Maybe he'd regained his memory. I guess I should take care of dinner, she thought, as she opened up the refrigerator. If he's remembered then there's little I can do, but if not maybe I can distract him.
It was really too bad things had ended up this way. Leda had snatched a few minutes here and there when she could to watch Aidan working with the children. She'd been surprised at the level of his patience. He'd helped with a lot of the things the children didn't or couldn't do, like cutting. Watching him, Leda had been overwhelmed first by a feeling of warmth, then by the urge to brush a stray lock of hair away from his face. He definitely looks better without it slicked back, she thought.
Aidan hadn't been able to get all the glitter from his hair. Of course, since he was only wearing a towel it was hard to pay attention to his hair. Although he was usually so modest, he didn't so much as glance at her before pulling off the towel. Leda turned away, startled. She could hear rustling as he pulled on his clothes. No doubt he was still angry. That's more like the Aidan Kirkland I know, she thought, sighing.
"You know," Leda said aloud. The rustling stopped. "I was really impressed today. With you, I mean..."
"You were?" His voice was hesitant.
Leda turned to face him, relieved and yet not that he had some pants on. "Yeah. You were really good with the kids...especially Mary."
"I uh...well...there wasn't anything else to do," Aidan said quietly, looking away.
That seemed to ease his anger, but it also left him practically silent for the rest of the evening. So maybe he didn't remember anything, Leda thought. She watched him closely throughout dinner, but he showed no signs that anything had changed. Although she was unnerved by how quiet he was, she left it alone and allowed him to simply curl up on the couch after dinner. Leda settled on a chair with a book until he was asleep, then watched him for while before going to bed herself.
*****
When Friday morning came and they had heard nothing from George, Aidan had begun to worry. And yet for some reason he was neither relieved or happy when he heard pounding on the door. He dragged himself off the couch, pulled on a pair of jeans, and opened the door. George looked ruffled and irritated, and he was carrying a large suitcase with him.
"Wh...who is it?" Leda mumbled, as she peeked out of her room. "Oh...you."
"Nice to see you too," George growled. "Fortunately I can't stay...I have to be at a site we're inspecting in half an hour."
Aidan's eyebrows rose. "Dare I ask what's going on?"
"Supposedly I'm traveling with you all over the state, looking at possible sites for this mall," George replied, rolling his eyes. "Your father is currently too busy with a business deal to realize that there's a flaw in our story, fortunately."
Aidan was about to ask, but he caught himself before he did. He couldn't show any sign of memory, not yet. George handed him the suitcase, which turned out to be heavy. Can't be more clothes, Aidan thought, frowning. So what's in it?
"So, what exactly is keeping Kirkland so busy?" Leda asked, finally a little more awake.
"The Rosenfelds," George said shortly. "There's some stuff in the suitcase that I thought might help you regain your memory. Now, I'd really love to stay and chit chat, but I must go."
And then he was out the door. Ah, the Rosenfelds, Aidan thought, setting the suitcase down on the couch. That explains so much. The Rosenfeld family owned one of the largest, most successful law firms in the country. His father had been trying for years to convince Rosenfeld Sr. to become an investor. He'd gone so far as to suggest an engagement between Aidan and the Rosenfelds' eldest daughter, but that had fortunately fallen through. Trudy Rosenfeld had been a pampered, prissy snob who spent everyday either shopping or at the beauty spa.
"So what's all this?" Leda asked, stepping up next to him.
"Not sure," Aidan replied, as he opened the suitcase. "George said it might help restore my memory..."
He's getting into this more than I am, Aidan thought, frowning. This idea is starting to get out of hand... The things in the suitcase were a testimony to George's talent for making up stories: old baby clothes, some pictures, old toys, and other similar things. Leda picked up a picture from the top of the pile, of a small boy with shaggy hair and a big, gap-toothed grin.
"Is this you?" she asked, holding up the picture and leaning against him.
That made it hard to think. "Um...I guess so...flip it over."
"Yep, Aidan, six and a half years old," Leda said, as she studied the back of the picture. "It's definitely you. You were so cute!"
"So, what...I'm ugly now?" Aidan asked, feeling a bit disgruntled.
Leda looked up at him, startled. She didn't say anything, but her cheeks turned a charming shade of pink. He watched her face, entranced by the deep blue of her eyes and the way her soft, full mouth parted ever so slightly. Aidan reached up, cradling the side of her face against his palm. He was leaning down to kiss her when the phone rang, startling both of them apart.
It was Martha. Tyler, who was supposed to be in charge of breakfast this morning, had called in sick with the flu. So Aidan and Leda scrambled to get dressed and out of the apartment. The shift in the schedule meant that help was needed and they were already supposed to be there early, anyway.
*****
The rest of the week was no less tiring than the first part of it. The boy who was sick got better, much to the relief of all the hospice staff. He had to remain in the sickroom until they were certain the illness had cleared up, and of course that meant the constant scrubbing and washing. Fortunately none of the other children showed signs of getting sick.
Leda grew more and more impressed with Aidan and his ability with the children. After the glitter incident he was a little more wary, but eventually he began joining them again. For the most part her avoided arts and crafts, but he seemed to enjoy helping them take care of the plants. Leda went upstairs one day to find Mary showing Aidan how to plant marigold seeds. He'd actually been asking her questions about how long the marigolds took to grow and how to care for them.
It's like he's a child himself, Leda thought, watching him as he read a bedtime story to the few stragglers who weren't able to sleep yet. It was Sunday night. Despite the fact that he was no doubt exhausted, Aidan read the story with enthusiasm. The first time he'd read to them, the children had stopped him constantly, telling him that he'd forgotten to do the voices. I guess when you're the son of a rich family, Leda thought, there isn't anyone to read bedtime stories to you.
By the time they got home that night they were both dead tired and hardly able to eat. Leda sat in the armchair she usually read in, trying to eat some of the lukewarm Spaghetti-Os she'd made. Aidan was on the couch, slumped down; his bowl was on the coffee table and he'd eaten hardly anything. Finally, when she couldn't force herself to eat another bit, Leda rose to collect his bowl and put them in the kitchen.
Aidan caught hold of her before she could. Startled, she set her bowl down and turned to look at him. The smile he gave her was sleepy but sweet.
"I didn't know children could be so exhausting," Aidan said quietly.
"They can be a handful," Leda agreed. "Um..."
An arm slid around her waist quite suddenly, dragging her down into his lap. Leda shrieked in surprise, grabbing hold of his shoulders as she wobbled on his lap. Aidan braced the back of her neck with his hand, his fingers tangled in her hair. She stared down at him, startled by the look in his eyes.
"I am so...tired..." Aidan groaned.
Leda laughed. "Why don't you let me go so you can sleep, huh?"
"Give me a goodnight kiss," Aidan murmured.
She should have told him to go to hell. Leda knew better than to get mixed up with Aidan Kirkland. Yet for some reason when he pulled her mouth down to his, she didn't resist. She was startled by the tender way he kissed her. His lips coaxed hers open just enough to allow his tongue into the moist warmth of her mouth. Leda trembled from head to toe, but she clung to him tightly and didn't pull away.
Aidan pulled away after a long moment. His brilliant green eyes were sleepy and yet there was definitely desire there. He shifted beneath her, hooking his foot around her leg to hold her as he lowered himself down on the couch. Leda sank against him, meeting his mouth eagerly as he kissed her again. She'd experienced the occasional kiss over the years, but none of them had been like Aidan's. Something about him sent fire roaring through her veins.
It was apparently not enough to win past exhaustion though. After a few minutes their kisses petered off into sleepy pecks. Finally Leda rested her head on his shoulder and relaxing, sighing as he close his arms tightly around her. This really isn't a good idea, she thought, trying to break through the veil of sleepiness around her mind. It really, really isn't... And yet she couldn't really find a good enough reason to move. Leda was so tired and so comfortable that she let herself drift off to sleep.
