She began to know what love really meant the following weeks after.
Love was... Love was walking under an umbrella in the rain, hands locked tight together as he ensured that not one droplet from the sky stains the three thousand dollar blazer she always donned. He looked like a goof wanting the impossible back then, but she didn’t mind. She was happy. Because even through the smallest of things, he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
She had learned, love is a shield.
Love meant asking each other’s favorite color, Elsa learned that when out of the blue Aiden asked the question, then soon other meticulous questions were replied and passed, it made her happy to know there was someone who actually wanted to know who she is, and not what she had and was capable of. It was refreshing.
She had learned, love was curious.
When Aiden had laughed at her in front of the clerk when he led her to his favorite Noodle House, Elsa didn’t get mad at all. She didn’t press a rebuttal about how she would have guessed the non-star restaurant doesn’t do luxury Black Credit Cards, because she was happy. Aiden didn’t mask his real emotions and responses, and it made her feel at ease that he wouldn’t lie. A challenging race game to be the one who pays the bill occurred right after, and of course Aiden made sure to claim victory.
She had learned, love doesn’t lie or fool.
When she gaped when her hair tie gave up on its job as she had just scooped the Ramen with chopsticks, red tinged her cheeks right away after she felt gentle fingers brush the tender tresses away to her comfort. She had to insist his own bowl would get cold if he cannot lift a chopstick up with his hands quite preoccupied with her hair.
She had learned, love was putting someone else’s comfort before yours.
She learned love was also joining him for a ride home, and if they’d be fortunate enough to arrive earlier before Helena could come back from running errands, she would find herself flopped down on the plush gray sofa in Aiden’s living room, cooked kernels sporadically meeting her taste buds as she leaned against his broad shoulder, watching the afternoon shows of 90’s soap operas she grew to be fond of while the sun peaked down and further down as hour after hour flew. Cuddling wasn’t a chaste kiss, nor was it some extravagant act, but Elsa was happy. Because as long as she was there, he was content.
She had learned, acts representing love take on many forms.
When Elsa found Aiden tending to the bed of fragrant blue daisies in his mother’s garden on a sunny day off when she decided to pay him a visit in a cozy afternoon, he looked up from his work and gave her a toothy smile before picking a single flower and offering it to her, which she gratefully accepted.
When they had a game of childish splashing around his recently trimmed lawn, of course the drenched outcome would be nothing but muddled. Aiden had playfully nestled her thrashing body in his arms and directed the sprinkling hose towards the side of her face, she finally knew what it felt like to be a harmless mess.
He gave her an oversized hoodie right after they both dried off, even told her she could keep it as he mentally called himself an idiot because she deserved way, way more. Elsa was happy to accept the thick clothing and ever since then, each pricey jacket she owned was neglected. Gerda had to insist on laundering it, not knowing that the CEO wouldn’t want the evident scent of her... boyfriend fading.
In those certain days she had learned that love offers what it can.
When they announced their rather flustered relationship to a hooting, ecstatic Claire, the four-year-old practically jumped into her dearest Aiden’s arms and gave him the warmest of hugs. Elsa had stood by the doorway with a still smile, and she learned the most important lesson of all. Love was no duty, nor was it supposed to be seen as an obligation.
Love was a choice.
And she has made her choice.
And deep down, she hoped, her choice would be her first, and her only one.
•••
“Mama please hurry up!” Pleaded her intent daughter from the back seats.
Elsa chuckled from the driver’s seat and nodded affirmatively, eyes fixed on where she’s headed as she drove the light blue convertible, “Easy, Claire-bear. We should be there in a few, Aiden’s neighborhood isn’t too far away.”
“What does Aiden's house look like?”
“Pretty and simple,” Well she couldn’t find other better words to describe it. She recalled the sight of the primal white fences and the equally pristine painted outer walls, all located on the greener and better suburbs outside NYC, “You’ll love his pet dog Cyra, too.”
At the mention of a furry companion it added gasoline to the fire of excitement that swirled within the little girl’s energetic spirits, so Claire sagged in her seat and hugged her stuffed bunny tightly in anticipation. Elsa followed various turns and onward paths, before finally parking by the driveway before the garage.
Faithful barks welcomed the CEO’s way as she assisted her child with her seat belt. Elsa gave the rhapsodic Charles Spaniel’s head a pat and carried her daughter down from the car, letting the girl laugh at the thrilled dog who did spins after meeting a new friend.
“Why hello there Cyra,” Elsa smiled, reclaiming her four-year-old’s hand in hers as she walked towards the widely opened entrance.
Her heart tugged at her chest when she saw him already leaning against the door, sensually wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he strived to kiss her cheek but acquired one on his lips instead, (she couldn’t resist) “Hi,” He spoke.
She blushed furiously and murmured a greeting of her own back.
“Aiden!”
“What a good surprise to see you come along with your mama, little miss,” Aiden grinned, effortlessly lifting the girl up into a hug, “How have you been kiddo? I haven’t seen you in a while. I’ve been... busy,” He shot Elsa a light smirk, “School fine?”
“Yup!” Came Claire’s giddy reply, “Can I-?” Her eyes motioned inside, and Aiden and Elsa shared a look and nodded simultaneously, “Why not? Come in, the two of you. Mom’s inside making pie.”
Hand in hand, mother and daughter entered the house with Claire seemingly tracing every crevice of the homely place with interest, the roaming aroma of cherries drowning her nose. Aiden led them to the dining table where a lump formed in Elsa’s throat.
Helena Fireheart turned around 360° and untied the laces of her apron all the while shooting her shrugging son a teasing glare. She concentrated her delighted gaze on the CEO and the child bashfully squeezing her mother’s hand.
“I’m sorry about the ruckus dearie, my son told me he has a girlfriend just last night like the handsome idiot he is,” Helena smiled widely, bringing the younger woman into a hug which Elsa gladly accepted, “You must be the gorgeous Elsa my son gushes about twenty four seven. Both of you can call me Mama Helena,” She lowered her height equal to the preschooler hiding her face behind her mother's skirt, “And you, you must be little Claire. What an adorable young lady.”
Claire bowed her head a bit and blushed, “T-thank you.”
Helena smiled and returned to her full height, and taking Elsa’s hands in hers, she smiled and dropped her voice into a whisper, “Don’t worry, I am aware of who you are and it’s okay, love shouldn’t be concealed because of rank. And the little girl...” The older mother’s eyes warily darted to a shy Claire, “No need for explanations. I knew, Aiden told me.”
Elsa sucked in a nervous breath, “O-oh. Okay.”
Her eyes wandered about to her lover’s; Aiden mouthed a readable apology. She merely shook her head as if to say that there are no apologies needed to be said.
Carrying the large plate of the smoking baked pastry, Helena grinned and tilted her head towards the direction of her garden, “Let’s go to the garden and get us some fresh air. I whipped up a pie, hope you like cherry.”
Aiden secured an arm around Elsa’s and winked, “It's a real crowd pleaser. Your name’s Elsa, just in case.”
Elsa giggled and rolled her eyes at this.
And there she finally knew, there was nothing to be worried about in the first place.
To be continued
on the next chapter...