My brother's best friend

Chapter Twenty-Nine

After a few days in the hospital, the doctor finally sent me home. Aiden Is wrapped in a soft blue blanket that Daniel bought yesterday since most of the blankets at home are pink. I place Aiden into the car seat and get in next to him.

As Daniel drives us home Aiden's eyes grow heavy and he falls asleep. "What are we going to do with all the girl's stuff?" I ask once we enter the room. Daniel shrugs, "We can send it back, sell it, keep it. Luckily, we were prepared for anyone, making the room grey and all." I place Aiden in the crib, making sure he's tucked in.

I can't seem to leave the room, so I just keep standing there. I feel Daniel next to me, looking over my shoulder. "He's wonderful, isn't he?" I ask softly. "He is." I feel his breath fan the back of my neck and a chill run through my spine. "I have something for you." He whispers in my ear, his breath tickling the lobe.

He wraps his hand around mine and leads me out of the room. He makes sure the door isn't entirely closed and hands me the baby monitor. I follow him to Will's old room, where he's going to be staying until he gets tired of us.

I sit down on the bed and look around the familiar room. Daniel did bring over some of his stuff from his room. I can see he's brought some of his work stuff over as well, the papers strewn all over the desk.

Daniel sits down next to me and places a small photo album on my lap. A picture of a sleeping Aiden is on the cover. The first page is notes and well-wishes to Aiden from everyone. The second was a picture that was taken yesterday by Taylor, Aiden is on my chest looking in the camera's direction while I'm looking at him. I smile up at Daniel, "Thank you." He leans towards me and plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Linds, I know this isn't the most ideal situation, but I just want to tell you I'm glad I can be here with you." Fighting the urge to grab his hand in mine, I just nod, looking away from him. "You know, it isn't perfect but, I'm glad we can share the imperfectness." I feel him take my hand and give it a squeeze.

The baby monitor's light flashes and Aiden's cry comes through. I jump up but Daniel beats me out the door. I follow him to the room. I stop in the doorway and lean against the frame. I watch as Daniel bounces ever so slightly on the spot with our son in his arms. I hear him whisper, but I can't hear what he's saying.

He puts him back into the crib and sends me a smile, "All taken care of." I return his smile and we leave the room as quietly as we can. Daniel takes the monitor from me and hooks it to his belt. "Very stylish." I tease. He turns around showing off his new accessory. I let out a loud laugh before clapping a hand over my mouth. We wait a moment to hear if I woke him. Luckily, no cry came and we proceeded to the kitchen.

"I need to talk to you about something, Linds." I sit down at the counter and wait for him to continue. "I have this new project at work." "That's good." He looks away for a second, "Yeah, it is. The thing is," He looks back to me, "I will have to leave for a while." I raise a brow at him, "Leave? Leave for how long? When?"

"A few weeks?" He sounds pretty unsure. "Two, three weeks?" I ask, irritation boiling inside of me. He shakes his head, "Ten weeks." "Two months? Daniel, you can't. Think of Aiden." "I am thinking of him." He snaps. "That's why I took it." He adds. "You took it? You can't just make these decisions on your own. I have a say too, and Aiden." He shakes his head, "I knew you would react this way. That's why I didn't tell you sooner."

"When are you leaving, Daniel?" I ask through gritted teeth. "Next week." I throw my hands up in the air, "Gosh, Daniel, you-" I close my mouth, too angry to say anything. "Linds, this is for Aiden. I want to give him the best of everything."

I get up and walk to him, for a moment I feel small in front of is tower frame, but then I remember my son. "Then give him yourself, Daniel. He doesn't need the best of everything. He just needs the best father." His blue eyes are dark and stormy. "This is what a good father would do."

I want to scream that it isn't just Aiden who needs his father, it's me too. I need him. I need him here. But I don't. If he won't even stay for his son why would he stay for me, who means nothing to him?

"You can't do this, Daniel." I say, my voice louder than I thought it would be. "We're not married; you can't tell me what to do." My heart shatters into millions of pieces at his words. It takes all of me not to burst into tears. Instead, I bite my lip and look up at him. I see his face change from anger to sadness. He knows he's hurt me. "Linds-" I shake my head, "You're right. We're not married. Do what you want, Daniel."

I turn around just in time as a tear runs down my cheek. "Linds, please." I ignore him and head up to my room. I sit down on my bed. I reach for the picture on my nightstand. The one I turned to face down so many months ago. It's a family picture. A Greene-Moore family picture of over five years ago. I glide my finger over the glass.

Mom and Amanda are seated on chairs with Dad and Dwayne behind them. Taylor and I are seated at each of our mother's feet. Carter is next to Dwayne. Daniel is on his one knee and Tyler is sitting next to his sister. Levi is mirroring Daniel and Will, Carter.

We took a lot of pictures that day. It was a real struggle to get everyone to face the camera and not chatting or riffing. I picked one that was almost perfect. Almost. Daniel isn't facing the front. His head is slight to the side, a grin on his lips, looking at me. My head is also turned slightly.

I don't remember why we were looking at each other, but I do know at that moment it was just the two of us. That night he kissed me. It wasn't my first kiss, but it might as well have been. It was, is a big secret. That night I mean. I still remember feeling like I was walking on clouds. The next morning, he came to me and told me it couldn't happen again. He said he knew I had a crush on him, but it had to stop. My heart broke.

Mom didn't know why I was sad for weeks, but she did everything in her power to get me to cheer up. Nothing worked. It took me a long time to get over the fact that he left me like that. Telling me I had to cope with everything on my own.

He did it again. Twice. First the morning after Taylor's party and now this. He's leaving me to deal with things all on my own all over again.